Hennebique's Béton Armé system started out by using concrete as a fireproof protection for wrought iron beams, on a house project in Belgium in 1879.

He realised however, that the floor system would be more economic if the iron were used only where the slab was in tension, relying on the concrete in the compression areas.

His business developed rapidly, expanding from five employees in Brussels in 1896, to twenty-five two years later when he moved to Paris.

[4] In 1892 ne established international engineering agency in Paris and registered his first patent for usage of the reinforced-concrete named "Special combination of metal and cement".

Another fragment lies by the side of the river Tawe, where a plaque commemorates Hennebique and his achievement, although unfortunately it spells his first name incorrectly (Francais rather than François).

Most of these were by other firms licensing the technology, although Hennebique designed some structures himself, including the 1899 bridge at Châtellerault (pictured).

[7] Possibly the largest early use of the Hennebique system in Ireland was in the 1924 Irish Independent building which is located at 87-90 Middle Abbey Street, designed by Donnelly Moore Robinson and Keefe Architects.