Build Re Use – 100 percent re-use and recycling with regard to short service-life buildings

Primary resources for construction are limited. Thus, their re-use is necessary and worthwhile. Re-using building components not only protects ecosystems from mining and waste disposal but also reduces dependence on raw materials.

Currently, re-use of components like beams, windows and suspended ceilings does practically not occur, even though it is technically feasible.
For some buildings, short use periods of 3 to 15 years are common, either for the whole building or for specific components. Reasons for that are frequent changes in the utilization and high expectations on functionality.

BuildReUse has developed principles for the circular construction and deconstruction for three building typologies with short use periods (supermarket, office building, temporary building for health care). For these building types, implementing re-use has a high impact on resource use.
The project has looked for barriers and potentials for re-use and circular construction methods and developed solutions for specific needs.

Moreover, processes as well as cooperation models and business models in construction were investigated – starting from the three specific buildings – and developed to include the principles of circular economy.
Another important step is to consider re-use in quality assessment. This motivated the formulation of requirements on products and the development of a rating system regarding re-use.

The optimized processes and technical solutions as well as barriers and potentials for stakeholders have been discussed with building owners and stakeholders.
The main results of the project are summarized in three guidelines:

• Cooperate in Circular Economy
• Recover components
• Plan constructions

You can find more results in the download area below, like the link to the webinar as well as reviews for two of the workshops.