Short answer
Designers should actively explore and advocate for deconstruction-friendly design principles and material choices that facilitate future reuse of structural elements.
- Field
- Resource Management
- Source
- Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability (2018)
- Method
- Literature Review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Prioritizing the recovery and reuse of structural building products from end-of-life structures offers significant circular economy value creation potential, yet faces substantial technical and innovative challenges. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2018 study published in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability. Using Literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should actively explore and advocate for deconstruction-friendly design principles and material choices that facilitate future reuse of structural elements.
Structural Product Reuse in Buildings: A Circular Economy Imperative
Prioritizing the recovery and reuse of structural building products from end-of-life structures offers significant circular economy value creation potential, yet faces substantial technical and innovative challenges.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability · 2018
Key Findings
- 01The construction industry has the highest potential for circular economy value creation.
- 02Recovery and reuse of structural elements (concrete, brick, masonry, steel) from end-of-life buildings is largely underdeveloped compared to non-structural or heritage items.
- 03Significant challenges exist in the recovery and reuse of high-volume structural materials, with limited attention to advanced techniques and innovation.
- 04Developing innovative techniques for structural product recovery is a key step towards redesigning building systems for a circular economy.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should actively explore and advocate for deconstruction-friendly design principles and material choices that facilitate future reuse of structural elements.
How to apply
When designing new buildings or renovating existing ones, consider the ease with which structural elements could be disassembled and reused in the future. Investigate available technologies for assessing the condition and suitability of salvaged structural materials.
Project actions
- 01When researching material choices, consider their potential for reuse at the end of a product's life.
- 02Investigate case studies of buildings designed for deconstruction or that have successfully reused structural elements.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Highlights a critical area for circular economy development in a major industry.
- +Identifies a gap in current research and practice regarding structural material reuse.
Limitations
The research is based on a literature review, so practical implementation challenges and costs might not be fully explored. Specific technical details of recovery processes are not provided.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings is based on the comprehensiveness of the literature review. Validity is supported by the consensus within the reviewed literature on the challenges and potential of structural product reuse.
Think critically
To what extent can current demolition practices be retrofitted with deconstruction techniques for structural elements, and what are the economic barriers to widespread adoption?
Design Principles
"Design for Deconstruction and Reuse: Integrate end-of-life considerations into the initial design phase to facilitate the recovery and reuse of building components."
Designers and engineers can unlock considerable environmental and economic benefits by shifting from demolition to deconstruction and reuse strategies for structural components. Addressing the challenges in this area is crucial for advancing sustainable construction practices and resource efficiency.
What This Means for Your Design
It's much better for the environment and economy to take buildings apart carefully to reuse the big parts (like steel beams or concrete blocks) than to just smash them up. But, it's hard to do this for structural parts, and we need new ideas and methods to make it work.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of considering material end-of-life in your design project, especially if it involves construction or large-scale products.
- 2.Cite this paper when discussing the challenges and opportunities of circular economy principles in the built environment.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The recovery and reuse of structural products from end-of-life buildings represent a significant, yet largely untapped, opportunity for circular economy value creation within the construction sector. While non-structural elements are more commonly salvaged, the high-volume structural components like concrete, masonry, and steel present considerable challenges that require innovative solutions and advanced techniques to overcome, thereby enabling a more sustainable approach to building lifecycles.
Source
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability
Recovery and reuse of structural products from end-of-life buildings
journal · 2018
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about structural product reuse in buildings: a circular economy imperative?
- Designers should actively explore and advocate for deconstruction-friendly design principles and material choices that facilitate future reuse of structural elements. Evidence: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability (2018).
- Why does "Structural Product Reuse in Buildings: A Circular Economy Imperative" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers can unlock considerable environmental and economic benefits by shifting from demolition to deconstruction and reuse strategies for structural components. Addressing the challenges in this area is crucial for advancing sustainable construction practices and resource efficiency.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should actively explore and advocate for deconstruction-friendly design principles and material choices that facilitate future reuse of structural elements.
- What were the main findings?
- The construction industry has the highest potential for circular economy value creation.. Recovery and reuse of structural elements (concrete, brick, masonry, steel) from end-of-life buildings is largely underdeveloped compared to non-structural or heritage items.. Significant challenges exist in the recovery and reuse of high-volume structural materials, with limited attention to advanced techniques and innovation.. Developing innovative techniques for structural product recovery is a key step towards redesigning building systems for a circular economy.
- What research method was used?
- Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2018 journal from Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing new buildings or renovating existing ones, consider the ease with which structural elements could be disassembled and reused in the future. Investigate available technologies for assessing the condition and suitability of salvaged structural materials.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses on existing literature and may not capture all emerging or proprietary technologies. Specific regional regulations and market conditions for reused materials are not detailed.