Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors

Design for deconstruction (DfD) considers the end-of-life scenario of buildings at an early design stage to ensure that these buildings (or parts of the buildings) can be deconstructed without unproportional effort and material loss. After deconstruction, the elements or materials can be used for fu...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Derikvand, Gerhard Fink
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1754
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author Mohammad Derikvand
Gerhard Fink
author_facet Mohammad Derikvand
Gerhard Fink
author_sort Mohammad Derikvand
collection DOAJ
description Design for deconstruction (DfD) considers the end-of-life scenario of buildings at an early design stage to ensure that these buildings (or parts of the buildings) can be deconstructed without unproportional effort and material loss. After deconstruction, the elements or materials can be used for future purposes such as reusing (preferably), remanufacturing, or recycling. This opinion paper is aimed to advocate for DfD in timber–concrete composite (TCC) floors as it represents an important contribution toward circular economy design and creates a more sustainable built environment. Different end-of-life scenarios for TCC floors according to their original design and connection type were initially explored. Existing deconstructable connection systems that could enable DfD in TCC floors were reviewed. Furthermore, potential challenges relating to the implementation of DfD in TCC floors are briefly highlighted. Finally, a discussion around the outlook and actions that might be needed to address some of the identified challenges is provided. This paper proposes directions for future developments and contributes to the understanding and promotion of DfD in TCC floors with an emphasis on deconstructable connectors that can enable material recovery and reuse as the preferred end-of-life scenario.
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spelling doaj.art-0dbdacb3509146dab005eca6608ee54d2023-11-18T18:38:25ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-07-01137175410.3390/buildings13071754Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite FloorsMohammad Derikvand0Gerhard Fink1Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, FinlandDepartment of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, FinlandDesign for deconstruction (DfD) considers the end-of-life scenario of buildings at an early design stage to ensure that these buildings (or parts of the buildings) can be deconstructed without unproportional effort and material loss. After deconstruction, the elements or materials can be used for future purposes such as reusing (preferably), remanufacturing, or recycling. This opinion paper is aimed to advocate for DfD in timber–concrete composite (TCC) floors as it represents an important contribution toward circular economy design and creates a more sustainable built environment. Different end-of-life scenarios for TCC floors according to their original design and connection type were initially explored. Existing deconstructable connection systems that could enable DfD in TCC floors were reviewed. Furthermore, potential challenges relating to the implementation of DfD in TCC floors are briefly highlighted. Finally, a discussion around the outlook and actions that might be needed to address some of the identified challenges is provided. This paper proposes directions for future developments and contributes to the understanding and promotion of DfD in TCC floors with an emphasis on deconstructable connectors that can enable material recovery and reuse as the preferred end-of-life scenario.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1754timber–concrete compositedesign for deconstructiondeconstructable connectorsreusecircular economy
spellingShingle Mohammad Derikvand
Gerhard Fink
Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
Buildings
timber–concrete composite
design for deconstruction
deconstructable connectors
reuse
circular economy
title Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
title_full Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
title_fullStr Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
title_full_unstemmed Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
title_short Design for Deconstruction: Benefits, Challenges, and Outlook for Timber–Concrete Composite Floors
title_sort design for deconstruction benefits challenges and outlook for timber concrete composite floors
topic timber–concrete composite
design for deconstruction
deconstructable connectors
reuse
circular economy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1754
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammadderikvand designfordeconstructionbenefitschallengesandoutlookfortimberconcretecompositefloors
AT gerhardfink designfordeconstructionbenefitschallengesandoutlookfortimberconcretecompositefloors