Harcourt Technologies Ltd (HTL.tech), a construction 3D printing technology company in Ireland and the UK, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by constructing Europe’s first social housing project compliant with the ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 additive manufacturing standard, adopted by Ireland. Using COBOD’s BOD2 3D construction printer, HTL.tech showcased how 3D construction printing can meet housing demands efficiently while adhering to rigorous safety and performance standards.
The ISO/ASTM 52939:2023 standard ensures 3D printed structures meet the same benchmarks as traditional methods – establishing 3D construction printing as a recognized building technique. This achievement earned HTL.tech the Standards Innovation Award from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).
“This honour recognizes HTL.tech’s exceptional integration of standards into HTL Technologies’ processes for 3D house construction printing. Their innovative efforts are helping to position Ireland as a leader in this field,” said Geraldine Larkin, CEO of NSAI.
The project in Grange Close, Ireland, features three 110m² (1,184ft²) apartments – totaling 330m² (3,552ft²). It was completed in just 132 working days – a 35% reduction in build time compared to traditional methods. Half of the time savings came from 3D printing the wall system, while the precision of the technology streamlined the integration of other components – enhancing overall efficiency.
The load-bearing wall system, compliant with Eurocode 6 masonry standards, features two 10cm (3.9 inches) concrete walls with a 150mm cavity – eliminating steel reinforcement. The project used 90m³ (3,718ft³) of high-strength concrete (47MPa).
COBOD also upgraded the BOD2 printer’s concrete hose to a 65mm diameter during the project – increasing output by 40%. With this upgrade, HTL.tech anticipates reducing printing times for similar structures from 12 days to just 9 days.
