Comparing technical disassembly potential methods for concrete and timber buildings

Design for disassembly (DfD) is posited as a key strategy for enhancing sustainability in the construction sector, and introducing appropriate assessment methods could promote longer lifespans for buildings and building components. This paper investigates the technical disassembly potential (TDP) of two nearly identical four-storey residential buildings (one with a concrete frame, the other with a timber frame) using two theoretical assessment methods: an alteration of the Dutch Green Building Council’s Disassembly Potential 2.0 (DP2) and the Technical Disassembly Potential of Buildings (TDPB), which is developed in this study. Key factors considered include connection types, connection accessibility, geometry and interdependency. The timber building achieved significantly higher scores than the concrete building when using both assessment methods. According to the DP2 method, the timber building scored 0.42 and the concrete building 0.21, while the TDPB method produced scores of 0.61 and 0.29, respectively. Even though both methods rank the buildings in the same order, the underlying differences between the scores are substantial due to differences in the weighting criteria. The TDPB method enables a more objective and transparent assessment of TDP by relying on weighting factors based on quantitative metrics rather than environmental impact, which form the basis of the DP2 method.

PRACTICE RELEVANCE

Appropriate methodologies for assessing the disassembly potential of buildings are crucial to minimising demolition waste, extending the lifespan of components and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the greatest impact, DfD should be incorporated at the earliest stages of design. DfD is affected by technical, societal and economic aspects, whereas this study focuses solely on technical aspects. The proposed methodology could be further developed into a more comprehensive DfD methodology if societal and economic aspects were to be included. The study shows that the proposed method is a streamlined yet reliable alternative to existing methods. Furthermore, two case studies were evaluated to validate the practicality of the framework. Embedding DfD principles into building design and permit application processes, even if only in the form of technical disassembly evaluation, promotes the construction sector to transition toward more circular, resource-conscious practices, ultimately lessening the environmental footprint of the built environment.