Author: Richard Krammer

Group Practice Leader Construction

The Perfect Storm – Managing the Geopolitical Shift in Construction

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With the aftershocks of the pandemic, the ripple effects of the Ukraine war, and more frequent and severe natural catastrophes that affect our climate and today’s population, we are at a crossroads, and the construction sector is no exception.

In the wake of the Ukraine war and the world-wide vulnerability experienced during the Covid pandemic, priorities have changed. The pandemic and its economic effects disrupted our traditional understanding of what is a given and what is to be expected. It also accelerated what the common world view may have thought probable or even possible.  When the Ukraine war erupted, it revealed the believe that economic competition would remain the main battleground in our world.

All the while, the voices proclaiming that mankind had chosen a path that is neither sustainable nor compatible with the resources available would not fall silent. Nonetheless, seals and certificates distinguishing low energy, low emissions or sustainably produced products have gained increasing acceptance.

Construction challenged by sustainability and supply chains

In terms of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals, urgent action needs to be taken to combat climate change (goal number 13). Is it just another empty resolution or is there more than meets the eye? The ESG framework has been called into life as a way of assessing companies’ environmental, social and governance performance. It takes a close look at the value creation chain from raw material extraction to the final product and incorporates circular economy principles of reusing resources where feasible. The construction industry is caught in the middle of it all.

Increased cost of materials and energy, rising inflation and a shortage of skilled and unskilled labour pose an unprecedented challenge to an extremely fragmented industry. Its big players often choose to subcontract the majority of their project work. Hence, the availability of subcontractors, the flexibility of their workforce and the accessibility of products and materials are key to even get started.

The pandemic and the Ukraine war have both shown how fragile optimized supply chains are. While efforts were made to optimize costs, maintain quality, and sustain just-in- time principles, companies had to grapple with reduced resilience as a side-effect. 

While resilience is essential, the disruption of life – at least in Europe – had an immediate effect on the construction industry, highlighting several areas of concern.

Where is the workforce?

Human resources became scarce. The workforce that used to be able to simply cross borders was no longer available. Travel restrictions were in place – whether due to the pandemic or the war – and many Ukrainian men went back home because they were enlisted in the military. This added to the problems which employers in the construction industry already experienced before the war.

Then there is the psychological effect. Investment decisions are heavily influenced by trust in a stable and predictable environment. Assumptions in financial models, allocation of resources and long-term commitments are all made against the background of expectations of how the world could look tomorrow. The new reality challenges decision makers in that they have to acknowledge that developments thought of being unlikely or just theoretical are realistically after all. Increased tensions between NATO and Russia ignited by a war in the middle of Europe were not something that would figure as a concrete threat scenario in many business plans. It will take time until trust and understanding of the changed dynamics settles in.

Shifting trends in supply chains


The global supply and value chain for construction materials can be divided into four distinct stages:

  • raw materials
  • material production
  • retail and
  • end users

Large companies dominate each step and assert their power, especially in the retail phase. The producers of raw materials are mainly global giants and very large aggregate mining providers who offer their large-scale production to leading international construction companies.

Their business must tackle the challenges posed by a construction materials market that is increasingly exposed to events around the world. Hence, the focus is shifting to reshoring, nearshoring and friendshoring.
As military conflicts, increased regulation, trade wars and inflation continue to present new risks, these supply chains will also have to adapt.

The cost of it all


Soaring energy prices, despite having already increased before the Ukraine war, exacerbated problems for the construction sector. Many of the materials used in contemporary construction are based on an energy-intensive production, with steel and cement being only two key examples. In addition to these highly relevant input factors hampering production, the construction operations themselves are equally affected, compounding the effect.

On top of it all, inflation leads to rising construction prices. This makes even public infrastructure authorities reconsider their investment plans in the hope that lump sum contracts or at least partly guaranteed contracts become available again.

Optimism prevails


While the above may seem to draw a gloomy picture, this is not the sentiment perceived in discussions with market proponents. A shift in priorities and a more acute awareness for the changing environment, coupled with necessary steps that need to be taken to move forward prevail. The focus is on productivity and increasingly also on sustainability. What seems to dominate the industry is an unwavering getting-things-done mindset despite the knowledge that there is change on the horizon which is approaching faster than expected.

Richard Krammer

Group Practice Leader Construction & Real Estate

T +43 664 810 29 63

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ESG in construction wants to aim high

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The issues of sustainability and responsibility are not new to the construction and real estate industry. But the determination to act seems to be greater than ever before due to ESG.

On the one hand, storms and floods, on the other, drought and forest fires – scattered across the globe and almost simultaneously. This clearly shows us that “environmental” is not an issue that can be confined or pushed aside locally. Only globally coordinated efforts will keep our planet livable in the long term. Social and governance issues are also increasingly dominating the headlines. Larry Fink, the head of the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock, has put these issues on a high public profile. Since then, more and more funds and insurance companies have declared that they will pay even more attention to environmental, social and corporate governance criteria when investing.

The topic has gained momentum and entire industries are adapting their reporting. They are examining strategies and business models, and they are looking at taxonomies to see which provider of scores, KPIs and indexes is viable.

Construction and real estate sector directly affected

According to an analysis by the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) and the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles (INREV), the construction and real estate sector is already responsible for about 40% of energy consumption and 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. At the same time, a strong change is also taking place here globally. China, for example, has consumed more cement in 3 years than the USA in the entire 20th century. In addition, productivity in the construction sector still has considerable potential. While productivity per worker in the manufacturing sector has risen by around USD 30,000 since 1994, it has actually fallen slightly in the construction sector (source: Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich – Additive Manufacturing in Construction, 2021).

In a survey conducted by Globaldata in Q2/2021, the increasing relevance of ESG in the construction sector became clear once again, with increased construction costs and the associated reduced profitability proving to be the biggest obstacles. Nevertheless, ESG is being strongly pushed by the regulatory environment. 61 % of the respondents have noted an increasing demand for sustainable construction methods, only 6 % say that the demand for sustainable construction methods has decreased.

Insurance in demand

This development also has an impact on insurance companies: In real estate transactions, ESG due diligence and the associated questions regarding transaction insurance such as warranty and indemnity insurance are increasingly arising.

There are also new insurance solutions such as Energy Efficiency Insurance. This solution insures the value of remediation concepts and covers financial losses resulting from a faulty remediation concept or insufficient or missing results. This additional security is an important tool in financing discussions with banks or investors.

Last but not least, parametric insurance is on the rise. Similar to a financial option, it insures a loss that occurs when a measurable value is exceeded or not reached. Examples of this are, for example, too few hours of sunshine for renewable energy (lack of sun) or too much or too little wind for electricity generation (lack of wind). Parametric insurance can smooth out volatility and establish more comprehensive protection.

Sustainability trends in construction

Certifications:
The number of certified buildings will continue to increase in order to meet demand from the financing side. The best-known certifications include klima:aktiv, ÖGNB/TQB, ÖGNI, Leed, Breeam, GRIHA, CRREM, GSAS, EDGE and WELL. In individual cases, so-called Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are also used, with the help of which the environmental compatibility of buildings can be assessed.

Modular construction:
Further development of modularly combinable prefabricated elements enables more sustainable and efficient manufacturing, whereby the controlled manufacturing environment can bring additional benefits. Modularly manufactured structures can also be partially disassembled and relocated or repaired, reducing the need for raw materials and energy for new construction. On-site construction times are usually significantly reduced.

Sustainable materials:
Wood as a carbon store is increasingly being used as a substitute for other materials such as concrete, steel and aluminium, although here too the sustainable management and origin of the raw material must be considered. But there are countless lesser-known, innovative developments such as AshCrete (made from 97% recycled material from fly ash, among other sources) or Grasscrete, which provides open spaces for green growth while counteracting heat islands in cities. Other products include Holcim’s EvopactZERO or Ferrock from Ironkast in the field of concrete, Cross Laminated Timber or Wienerberger’s climate-neutral bricks, and solar panels integrated into the roof.

Low and no energy:
There is an increased awareness of energy consumption among investors and end users. The focus is on renewable energy and on replacing artificial light with efficient design, insulation and efficient windows or glass fronts or heat recovery. A net zero energy building, or “zero energy house” as a continuation of the idea of a passive house, is therefore a building in which the energy consumed by the building does not exceed the renewable energy produced on site.

Renovations/retrofits:
In order to improve energy efficiency and enhance quality of life (supported by the EU Green Deal or the regulatory environment), there is a strong focus on the adaptation and modernisation of existing buildings. In 2020, the European Commission published “A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening Our Buildings, Creating Jobs, Improving Lifes” with the aim of doubling the annual renovation and refurbishment rate in the following 10 years. By 2030, more than 35 million buildings are to be renovated and made more energy efficient.

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Richard Krammer

Group Practice Leader Construction & Real Estate

T +43 664 810 29 63

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The New Timber Construction Era

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Why risk managers are taking up the cudgels for sustainable timber construction, and how the insurance market can be brought on board.

Although wood has been used as a building material for a very long time, the great construction success has only occurred internationally in recent decades. This has also put the insurance market on the map. But insurers have been slow to embrace the new developments.

In the absence of empirical values or broadly based studies, reservations were voiced at the beginning against the new timber construction era. On one hand, because of a supposedly increased fire risk or insufficient experience with the behavior of the building material in case of fire. On the other hand, because of the possibility of serial damage in the serial production of components, which could have massive consequences in the construction and assembly insurance, as well as in the liability insurance. Finally, design activity was also a concern for insurers.

In the meantime, empirical values are available. It has been shown that a differentiated approach to risk assessment is required in industrial timber construction. Glulam, for example, as used in the Milwaukee tower, achieves a fire resistance of 120 minutes and more. In addition, this wood has a higher stability in case of fire than steel. The outer layers do not burn but char, forming a protective layer so that the load-bearing wood core remains intact.

With regard to the residential tower in Milwaukee, specific tests were carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory. The results were positive, so that the authorities and public fire protection officers, who have the welfare and safety of the residents and fire departments in mind, also confirmed the feasibility.

Hard market for the construction industry

The occurrence of fire damage on construction sites is a significant risk. This damage is mainly caused by improper hot work but occurs to a much lesser extent during the construction of a wooden building. The construction industry is countering with appropriate processes to take precautions in organizational fire protection. Likewise, various interest groups have published guidelines that continue to sharpen conscious handling. In fact, there are no indications or statistics to prove that, despite the growing share of timber construction in the total insured construction risks, there has been a disproportionate increase in losses.

However, the construction industry is not spared from the hardening of the insurance market. The extent of the rising premium costs and the shortage of capacities sometimes lead to a massive impact on the profitability of individual project contracts or even entire companies. Even more so than for construction and erection insurance, this applies to the area of planning liability. Poor technical results of insurers, especially due to major claims, are negative for risk appetite. The consequences: a high need for information in the risk assessment phase, rising premium costs or deductibles, and coverage restrictions in insurance protection (for example, for fire damage in facade construction). A prominent example: the major fire at London’s Grenfell Tower in June 2017, where the facade construction, which, however, was built of conventional materials without wood, created a chimney effect and cost the lives of more than 70 people.

Magic word „risk transparency“

As the investigation results at the Ascent Tower project show, it is important to differentiate. Individual cases that are not related to wood as a building material must not lead to erroneous conclusions.

Also, in negotiations with the coverage market, it is essential to make the characteristics of the building materials transparent and to work out the sensitive points for the risk assessment. GrECo supports clients in placing corporate and project insurance policies on the national and international insurance market. A major focus is on the joint development of risk transparency; an aspect that is also served by the general education provided by organizations such as the “Structural Timber Association” or the “UK Timber Frame Association”. These educational activities are relevant for the London insurance hub and can positively influence risk appetite or lead to more open discussions with insurers.

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Richard Krammer

Group Practice Leader Construction & Real Estate

T +43 664 810 29 63

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When Cyber infects the construction site

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Cyber risk management and insurance in Construction

The construction industry becomes more connected through electronic solutions and remotely accessible systems. Until now, labour productivity in the construction sector has not seen the same increase like in general manufacturing but it is expected that this will change in the foreseeable future. Despite an improved procurement and supply-chain management it is particularly digital technology, new materials and advanced automation that promise the largest gains.

A specific trait of companies in the construction sector is the fact that each building is, to a varying extent, different to any other. As a consequence, builders and joint venture partners, vendors, subcontractors, suppliers and financial institutions are mixed together in changing constellations every time. They co-operate on a contractual framework specifically drafted for this definite project and tasked with creating something which has not been done in this exact configuration before. At the same time trying to perform as efficiently as possible to produce works fit for the purpose and free of defect, while securing the sometime slim operating margin the industry offers. This is contrary to any stationary industry, where locations and stakeholders are a lot easier to oversee processes more standardized and accessible for optimization and immunization to threats.

The main attack vectors in the construction industry in cyber are:

  • Social engineering: psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. People and companies change from project to project and also within projects fluctuation of personnel happens.
  • Access points: construction trailers, site offices and decentralized IT are often more vulnerable and easier to access physically than on-site premises or offices in buildings
  • Increasing digitisation of the value creation change, from project management software over electronic flow of designs and BIM to Internet of things (IOT) and automatized machinery
  • Ransomware: a piece of malicious software that blocks access to a system, encrypts it or threatens to publish the victim’s data unless a ransom is paid (extortion)
  • Dependency on subcontractors and suppliers: if a subcontractor or supplier is affected by a cyber attack it may negatively influence the timely completion of a project
  • Hacktivists identifying companies as targets because of their involvement in certain areas/projects (fossil fuels, nuclear power plants, some sort of industrial plant)
  • Human error / malicious (ex-)employees

Some of these assets are at risk by a cyber-incident:

  • Intellectual property, proprietary assets, information protected by non-disclosure agreements including contractual fines if information gets disclosed
  • Architectural drawings / specifications, building schematics and blueprints
  • Compromised core systems (finance and accounting, logistics, communications) and as a consequence theft of funds, loss of contracts and contractual penalties
  • Business interruption events, literally paralyzing a company partly or in whole
  • Loss or theft of confidential information
  • Third party liability arising from any of the above
  • Loss, theft or extortion of funds
  • Reputational risk

To illustrate cyber claims examples in the construction industry, we consider the following units of a construction company and claims we have observed:

Recent media coverage of incidents only support our illustration. In October 2018 for instance, Ingérop was victim of a cyber attack where perpetrators were able to get documents relating to nuclear plants, jails/correctional facilities and railway lines. The breach comprised 65 Gigabytes, including the exact locations of video surveillance intended for use in a French high-security prison as well as plans to an ultimate disposal site for nuclear waste and sensitive details on more than 1.200 employees of Ingérop.

Two of the largest construction companies in Austria were affected recently as well. In one instance in 2020, the company’s communication system was affected internationally, including encryption of files on network drives, ultimately rendering the company unable to act for several days, while the actual impairment of operations (and correspondingly, increased IT costs) went on for several months thereafter. The second well known incident in Austria was a Phishing email disguised in an email titled “Information on the Corona Virus”. In this case, the actors gained access to the data of the project owner, a municipality, and consequently tried to extort them.

Also in 2020, a ransomware attack on Bouygues led to internal applications, intranet and the email-system had to be taken offline, with even phone services failed intermittently. The hacker group Maze consequently demanded 10 million EUR in ransom based on the attack, which presumably originally affected only part of the system in Toronto and Montréal, and consequently affected systems worldwide.

Do you need insurance?

It is and entrepreneurial decision which risks to take and which ones to transfer. The cyber arena provides exposures which simply did not exist 5-10 years ago. And just like the business environment changes, so does the response of the companies adapt to those changes.

As of today, insurance premiums are still low and wide coverages available. In the wake of the numerous cyber incidents registered in recent times the premiums are however bound to go up and covers to get more restrictive. Costs following a cyber-breach can easily reach millions of Euros, composed of – depending on the loss scenario:

  • First party losses such as business interruption and immediate costs of crisis management and first response, including technical experts and forensic experts
  • Third party losses stemming from legal liabilities such as the GDPR, including financial loss due to contractual penalties, and crisis communication requirements

As even the most advanced IT security cannot guarantee full safety (think of the recent Solarwinds hack which even affected the source code of widely used Microsoft products, though the full extent is yet to be assessed), it seems prudent to install a safety net which will step in should security measures fail and covers the worst case scenario of company closure.

The mere question of when a cyber-insurance policy is triggered is simple:

  • Data breach (violation of data protection laws (e.g. GDPR)
  • Network security breach: targeted or non-targeted cyber-attack (e.g. computer virus)
  • Operator Error: error or omission that results in a damage of data (e.g. programming error)
  • Technical failure: computer system malfunction (e.g. overheating)

The way ahead and how we can help

The evolvement of technology will continue to coin and form the value creation in construction. A conscious analysis will help to contribute to the resilience of the organisation and minimize negative effects cyber incidents may have. GrECo Risk Engineering offers specialized services supporting in the assessment of cyber exposures and choosing adequate insurance levels. With CyberSolid, GrECo exclusively offers an insurance solution with extensive cover and easy and simple application.

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Richard Krammer

Group Practice Leader Construction & Real Estate

T +43 664 810 29 63

Stephan Eberlein

Group Practice Leader Financial Lines

T +43 664 962 40 60

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