Materials, products, or systems?
When referring to construction products there can be confusion with the terms. It is very usual to englobe in the same term (‘construction products’) three different concepts: construction materials, construction products, and construction systems, which, although very similar, present a series of differences between them.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:
This term includes manufactured products such as components, fittings, items of equipment and systems; naturally occurring materials such as stone, timber, and thatch; and backfilling for excavations in connection with building work.
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS:
Construction products are processed, finished items that are offered for sale to be used in construction activities. They are manufactured combinations of materials and perhaps other products, processed to create items such as doors, windows, light fittings, and so on.
They must be distinguished from ‘constructions materials’ which are raw, unprocessed substances such as sand, cement, or steel.
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS:
Construction systems are essentially the combination of different construction products and/or materials.
The term is referred to the different ways in which materials and/or products are combined to construct the elements of a building, bridge, or any other construction. They are usually classified according to the mass of the system into heavyweight and lightweight construction.
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