GFRC in Ethiopia: what it is and who makes it

GFRC stands for glass fibre reinforced concrete. It is a mix of cement, fine sand, water and alkali-resistant glass fibre, cast or sprayed into a mould as a thin shell.

Because the reinforcement is fibre and not steel bar, a GFRC piece can be thin, light and almost any shape.

GRC (glassfibre reinforced concrete) is the name used in the UK and much of the world. GFRC is the name used in North America. They are the same material.

• Cladding panels for façades and feature walls
• Curved and double-curved shapes
• Benches, planters, bollards and bins
• One-off pieces made from an architect’s drawing

• It is lighter than solid precast or stone, so it puts less load on the building
• It takes fine detail and sharp edges from the mould
• It has no steel bars inside to rust
• It is cement-based, so it does not burn
• It can be made in any colour

The double-curved saucer edge of the Jimma Sini, the planter bollards and bins at Haya Arat and the curved benches in Kebena Park are all GFRC.