Package
Overview
Design
for Deconstruction is a response to the large quantities of waste
produced by the demolition of buildings. The systematic dismantling
of buildings to recover materials and components for re-use, rather
than demolition and disposal to landfill or a best- recycling, requires
a change in design methods and construction techniques. Existing buildings
have not been designed for dismantling and demolition is often the
only viable alternative, although attempts are being made to develop
techniques and tools for dismantling existing structures and changes
to legislation are starting to impact on the economics of demolition
and disposal. However, this research emphasised the importance of
a move towards ensuring that all new building address the issue of
future disassembly. This is a significant task not least because building
designers and owners see property as permanent, not a disposable item
to be replaced at regular intervals, despite the fact that most buildings
are not permanent and will become obsolete in a relatively short time.
Recognition of this fact at the design stage is a key factor in designing
buildings for future disassembly. The focus of this research was to
investigate the technical barriers to the design and construction
of new buildings with a view to end-of-life dismantling. One such
barrier is how to ensure that a building designed for ease of deconstruction
can be robust in service. Prefabricated buildings have achieved notoriety
for lack of durability (often as a result of poor detailing and construction
practice) and a lack of structural integrity. If it is easy to dismantle
a building intentionally, will it be capable of surviving damage,
be that accidental or malicious? Another technical barrier concerns
the foundations of buildings, which are usually designed to be left
in place – no thought is given to their removal. The research
investigated recent developments in this field. In an effort to minimize
the running costs of buildings, air tightness requirements have recently
been improved. This presents a technical challenge since construction
joints designed for future disassembly will also have to provide an
airtight seal, along with good in-service structural performance,
durability and fire resistance. The project also identified the technical
barriers to design for deconstruction and research solutions to overcome
these.
Package
organisation:
| Buick
Davison |
Principal Investigator
|
University
of Sheffield, Steel Frame & Composite Structures |
0114 2225354
j.davison@shef.ac.uk
|
| Roger Plank |
Investigator |
University of Sheffield,
Structural Fire Engineering Research Group |
0114 2220303
r.j.plank@shef.ac.uk
|
| Ahsan Khan |
Researcher |
University of Sheffield |
0114 2225763
a.khan@shef.ac.uk |
