1

Table of content

Table of content

2

List of contributing stakeholders

3

List of acronyms

4

1

Introduction

52

General principles

83

Principles by target group10

3.1 Target group 1: Building users, facility managers and owners

10

3.2 Target group 2: Design teams (engineering & architecture of buildings)

11

3.3 Target group 3: Contractors and builders

12

3.4 Target group 4: Manufacturers of construction products

13

3.5 Target group 5: Deconstruction and demolition teams

14

3.6 Target group 6: Investors, developers and insurance providers

15

3.7 Target group 7: Government / Regulators / Local authorities

15

Annex 1 – References

19

Annex 2 – Terms and definitions

20

2

List of contributing stakeholders
Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE)Benelux Secretariaat-Generaal
Bruxelles Environnement / Leefmilieu Brussel
Cembureau - European Cement Association
CEN/TC350 Sustainability of Construction Works
Cerame-Unie - European Ceramic industry Association
Construction Products Europe (CPE)
Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
European Aggregates Association (UEPG)
European Aluminium
European Builders Confederation (EBC)
European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI-BOIS)
European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC)
European Demolition Association (EDA)
European Federation for Construction Chemicals (EFCC)
European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD)
European Insulation Manufacturers Association (EURIMA)
European Manufacturers Association for Plaster and Plasterboard Products (Eurogypsum)
European Property Federation (EPF)
Ministère de la Transition écologique et solidaire
Housing Europe - European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing
International Recycling Federation / Fédération Internationale du Recyclage (FIR)
International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)
Lafarge Holcim
Maltese Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Projects
Nobatek/ INEF4 - Institut national pour la Transition Energétique du Bâtiment
Norwegian Building Authority
Plastics Europe
PU Europe - European voice of the polyurethane (PUR / PIR) insulation industry
Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM)
Rockwool GroupRoyal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Saint-Gobain
Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
The European Steel Association (Eurofer)3

List of acronyms
BAMB

Buildings As Material Banks

BIM

Building Information Modelling

CDW

Construction and Demolition Waste

DfD

Design for Deconstruction

DfD/A

Design for Disassembly and Adaptability

DGNB

German Sustainable Building Council

EN

European Standard

EPR

Extended producer responsibility

EU

European Union

GPP

Green Public Procurement

ISO

International Organization for Standardization

IT

Information technology

LCA

Life Cycle Assessment

LCC

Life Cycle Costing

PET

Polyethylene terephthalate

RBD

Reversible Building Design protocol/tool

SVHC

Substances of Very High Concern

CPR

EU Construction Products Regulation

4

1

Introduction

Background
More than at any time before, we need to apply circular economy and resource efficiency principles to buildings to
reduce resource use in the future. The European Commission has reaffirmed this message by the European
1

Green Deal . However, it is far from easy to implement concepts of resource efficiency and the circular economy
to buildings. The actors involved are facing several existing or potential dilemmas: structural resistance versus
easy to disassemble, longevity versus flexibility, simple versus composite products, renovations versus new-build,etc.
2Within the context of the Construction 2020 initiative, the Thematic Group 3 on “Sustainable use of natural
resources” – bringing together a diverse group of relevant stakeholders from the European Commission, Member
States and the construction value chain – has taken several steps towards a circular economy approach andincreased resource efficiency in the building sector. For example, Thematic Group 3 developed an EU
Construction & Demolition Waste Protocol and Guidelines – published in 2016 and widely promoted since.

3

Building on the above actions, Thematic Group 3 started a new initiative, following the announcement of the4

Clean Energy for All Package. The EU Construction and Demolition Waste Protocol and Guidelines for pre5demolition waste audits focused on the reuse and recycling of this particular waste stream. In contrast, the focusof the current initiative is to present a set of principles for the sustainable design of buildings with the aim togenerate less construction and demolition waste as well as facilitate the reuse and recycling of construction
materials, products and building elements, and help reduce the environmental impacts and life cycle costs of thebuilding.
As part of the preparation of this document, Thematic Group 3 has held several meetings and exchanges in 2017,2018 and 2019 to deepen the insights into this complex matter and to provide room for a balanced representationof views. This document builds heavily on the insights and expertise shared by participating stakeholders. The
document has benefited from various rounds of exchange before evolving into this final version.
Aims of this document
To inform and support actors along the construction value chain, this document provides principles for circular
design of buildings. Behind these principles lie a vast amount of knowledge and information. The document is
6aligned with the launch of Level(s), a voluntary reporting framework to improve the sustainability of buildings. In
particular, this document contributes to Level(s) Macro-objective 2: Resource efficient and circular material life

1

COM (2019) 640 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1579087430180&uri=CELEX:52019DC0640
In 2012, the Commission published a Communication Strategy for the sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector and its enterprises.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52012DC0433 . The document is a part of the Europe 2020 initiative. It focuses on
the promotion of favourable market conditions for sustainable growth in the construction sector (COM2012/0433).
3
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-construction-and-demolition-waste-protocol-0_en
4Annex: Clean Energy in Buildings, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:fa6ea15b-b7b0-11e6-9e3c01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF
5This is the second outcome of Thematic Group 3 as requested by the first Circular Economy Action Plan. It provides a methodology to perform
an assessment before demolition and renovation in order to support national authorities in achieving the EU 2020 target for CDW recycling.
file:///C:/Users/parenal/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/Guidelines%20for%20the%20
waste%20audits.pdf
6
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/buildings.htm
25cycles. This macro-objective is about the reduction of waste, the optimisation of material use, and the reduction ofenvironmental impacts of designs and material choices throughout the life cycle.

7

It is possible to reach this macro-objective through specific objectives or “life cycle tools: scenarios for building
8

lifespan, adaptability and deconstruction” . For the purpose of this document, we have summarised thesescenario headings as follows:
1. Durability: building and elemental service life planning, encouraging a medium to long term focus on thedesign life of major building elements, as well as their associated maintenance and replacement cycles;
2. Adaptability: to extend the service life of the building as a whole, either by facilitating the continuation of theintended use or through possible future changes in use – with a focus on replacement and refurbishment;
3. Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management: facilitate the future circular use of building
elements, components and parts, with a focus on producing less waste and on the potential for the reuse, or
high-quality recycling of major building elements following deconstruction. This includes efforts along the value
chain to promote: 1) the reuse or recycling of resources, (i.e. materials) in a way that most of the material’svalue is retained and recovered at the end of a building’s life span; 2) the component design and the use ofdifferent construction methods to influence the recovery for reuse or recycling to avoid down-cycling.
Target audiences for this document
This document is intended for those involved in the construction industry, including economic operators in thevalue chain, policy-makers, legal and technical actors. They are organised in 7 target groups:
1. Building users, facility managers and owners;
2. Design teams (engineering & architecture of buildings);
3. Contractors and builders;
4. Manufacturers of construction products;
5. Deconstruction and demolition teams;
6. Investors, developers and insurance providers;
7. Government/ Regulators/ Local authorities.
Structure of this document
The document is divided in two chapters: Chapter 2 presents general principles and Chapter 3 presents principles
relevant to each target group.

7

JRC Technical Reports (2017) “Level(s) – A common EU framework for core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings”, Parts 1
and 2, p. 33 and further, https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Efficient_Buildings/docs/170816_Levels_EU_framework_of_building_indicators_Parts.pdf
8
JRC Technical Reports (2017) “Level(s) – A common EU framework for core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings”, Part 3,
p. 69 and further. https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Efficient_Buildings/docs/170816_Levels_EU_framework_of_building_indicators.pdf

6Figure: Scope of the principles – by specific objective and target group

Durability

Specific objective
Adaptability

Reduce waste

Target group
Building users, facility managers and owners
Design teams
Contractors and builders
Manufacturers (of construction products)
Deconstruction and demolition teams
Investors, developers and insurance providers
Government/regulators/local authorities

As demonstrated by the figure above, nearly all target groups can contribute to meeting the specific objectives
durability, adaptability and reduction of waste (including high-quality recycling). Hence, an integrated approach
along the value chain is vital.
In Chapter 3, circular economy principles are presented in sub-sections for each target group. In most sections,the principles are organised by specific objective: durability, adaptability or reduction of waste. The
government/regulators/local authorities section is structured according to the Regulate/Realise/Stimulate/Invest
objectives.

7

2

General principles

How to read these principles:
Every principle is presented in bold.
Supporting statement(s) just below in italics.
-

Key actions to implement the principle.

Overall principles
A. Design principles of circular economy and sustainable buildings are applicable to all actors along thevalue chain.
Engage with all actors along the value chain, including building users, investors and regulators.
-

Promote understanding and use of existing standards, schemes and examples that enable a more holistic
design and adjust business models for including circularity in construction;-

Apply ISO standards for DfD/A (ISO20887) and Levels(s), as well as pre-development audits and otherguidance.

B. Sustainable choices must take into account total life cycle costs, financial and non-financial return on
investments.
Actors along the value chain respond above all to financial incentives – and these need to be tailored to eachsituation.
-

Look at the financial aspects through a whole life cycle perspective and therefore do a cumulative costcalculation taking into account costs, revenues and residual value;-

Consider scenarios in which estimated costs for new materials, furniture and waste elimination are
significantly higher than the actual costs, and in which certain elements could be sold for reuse and/or
recycling.

C. Viable business models must exist or be developed for each economic operator in the supply or value
chain.
A reliable marketplace for used products and materials must exist or be created.
-

A favourable legislative environment, incentives from public decision-makers (e.g. public procurement),
innovative and circular businesses as well as financial models, must be put in place to ensure a long term
vision and support building owners’ decision-making;-Innovative circular business models such as “take-back” business models or “product as a service”
business models can offer interesting solutions for some products and systems.

D. Principles need to be applied taking into account proportionality - benefits should outweigh the costs.
It is important to consider the burden and costs for operators to follow these principles.
-

Operators should prioritise those principles which are most relevant and generate the highest benefits andlowest costs;-

Externalities should be taken into account when assessing costs and benefits.

E. Better knowledge is needed about construction techniques to facilitate deconstruction and to enhance
durability and adaptability of a building.
In all parts of the value chain, workers need to have the right skills and incentives to apply this knowledge anduse the appropriate tools.

8-Designers and project managers should ensure safety and consider the feasibility of demolition/renovation
for the workers;-

Allocate specific funds for the upskilling of workers;-

Integrate deconstruction techniques into apprenticeship schemes.

Durability
F. Durability of buildings depends on better design, improved performance of construction products andinformation sharing.
Structural elements should last as long as the building does, whenever possible. If it is not possible because
of intrinsic obsolescence or anticipated change in requirements (e.g. IT infrastructure), they should be
reusable, recyclable or dismountable.
-

Favour construction systems that incorporate circular economy thinking. For instance, enable systems tobe easily maintained, repaired and replaced as this will prolong the life cycle of buildings;-

Ask for detailed information from providers and designers on products, materials and the design of thebuildings. Conserve, update and share the information so that it can remain valid and relevant during thewhole life cycle of the building.

Adaptability
G. Prevent premature building demolishment by developing a new design culture.
-

Anticipate changes in requirements;-

Enable adaptations and transformations of the building for better use and reuse, new ways of using it, andprepare for the end-of-life and future lives of the building and its components.

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
H. Design products and systems so that they can be easily reused, repaired, recycled or recovered.
When recycling, it is preferable that products and systems should be upcycled, too.
-

Make use of easy to dismount elements and products;-

Prescribe in procurement contracts that waste should be separated on site to facilitate recycling;-

Use simple and recyclable products.

9

3

Principles by target group

3.1

Target group 1: Building users, facility managers and owners9

Durability
1. Minimise the total cost of ownership over time.
Owners and building users have an interest in overall and longer-term horizons.
-

Reduce the total cost per square meter / comparative average;-

Use tools to enhance the building’s value.

2. Promote durability during the use phase.
-

Provide incentives through performance-based contracts that promote the optimal use of the building.

3. Perform appropriate maintenance of buildings and buildings components to minimise running costs.
The life cycle of a building can be extended by maintaining and repairing the building while reducing the use of
new resources and the production of waste; information and guidelines help achieve proper maintenance anduse to meet these aims.
-

Adapt and transform the building while reusing elements it is built of;-Consider innovative circular business models and elaborate guidelines concerning the elements of fittings(e.g. carpets, kitchens, etc.), in terms of their selection, installation, maintenance, and disposal.

Adaptability
4. Minimise the financial cost of use through adequate tools.
Such tools support ease of maintenance, adaptations, repair, monitoring and running costs. It is important toprovide information on maintenance needs. Information on what is possible through reversible building designand how to do it is crucial to inform the users and facility managers of the potential of the building.
-

BIM and building passports can support the transfer of information and apprise the users and maintenanceteam on how to best use/maintain/repair or adapt the building and its systems and products;- A user guide for the building and its equipment is useful for owners/users of the building and its equipment.
5. The building should be adapted if it extends the lifetime at reasonable cost.
Adaptability can improve the response to shifts in market demand (e.g. transforming an unused office building
into apartments). Adaptability can also help secure financing: for example, the potential of a second life cycleof a building can ensure cheaper financing and loan insurance.
-

The transformation to a circular approach requires a systemic vision around an integrator of use(s)responsible for animating the design and use of multifunctional, circular, collaborative or even inclusive useof the building with all the actors involved.

6. Promote and maximise the adaptability of buildings from a user’s perspective.
Information and guidelines should help users, owners, and facility managers to make modifications to thebuilding and so have a lower impact on waste generation.

9

It is important to recognise that incentives for building users, facility managers and owners may differ.

10-The possibility to reuse building materials when the use is changed should be explained in an “as-built
document”. Changes during use should be registered in some kind of “building logbook”;-

If reversible building design is used, it can support the flexible use and ease of adaptation of space when
the purpose and requirements of a building are changed during its lifespan.

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
7. Minimise the use of natural resources during the building’s life.
A reusable building parts inventory will inform the users and facility managers both during the life cycle of abuilding and in the next life cycles.
-

Establish contractual arrangements to return non-used items to providers;-

Use the products/elements to the maximum and, when it is possible, prefer repairing rather than changing
them.

3.2

Target group 2: Design teams (engineering & architecture of buildings)

It is essential to have knowledge of circular economy principles to design buildings and materials.
Architects and designers should be familiar with design requirements and strategies, the concept of life cycle
assessment, the potential to increase the content of recycled materials in products, future reuse potential(product, component and building); (future) recyclability and transformation capacity (reuse potential andreversible building design score).
-

Encourage designers to adopt a life cycle approach when designing new buildings;-

Use existing guides on DfD/A and feedback from previous project examples.

8. Architects and designers need to take into account whole life costs and benefits.
The whole life cycle must take into account the operational cost of the building as well as the potentialchanges to the building’s use. They include environmental and social impacts and benefits, transformation
capacity, reuse and recyclability potential.
9. The project management team needs to be engaged in the process and to consider assessment
methods.
-

Establish a number of relevant indicators with regard to the overall circular management system in abuilding, taking into account those provided by Level(s).

Adaptability
10. Promote and ensure reversibility and adaptability of the building.
The periods between changes of use, renovation or reconstruction are becoming shorter and shorter. Architects
and designers should consider several aspects, including climate change adaptation, functional adaptability andwider resilience issues.
-

Before any construction works start, including demolition, an external, independent and neutral expert
10

should provide an assessment and an audit ;It is essential to design a building with different use scenarios in mind so that it can be easily adapted in the future.

11. Assess the proposed building design for suitability.

10

Guidelines for the waste audits before demolition and renovation works of buildings

11

The suitability of different solutions, parts and construction products are to be taken into consideration in thecontext of the specific project. This includes materials, products and systems based on their technicalcharacteristics, their adaptability and life span (technical and economical) and their environmental impact.
-

This will facilitate the maintenance and repair of the building while reducing the use of new resources andthe creation of waste;-

It will allow for the adaptation and transformation of the building while reusing the elements it is alreadybuilt from to the extent possible.

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
12. Use materials that are easy to recycle or reuse, and which facilitate high quality waste management.
-

Make use of existing environmental product declarations, product safety data sheets and make sure tocomply with the CPR;-

Enable designers to explore possibilities of using products and materials already available within existingbuildings.

13. Take into account the variety of circular economy aspects when designing the different systems andelements.
Such as: the size/volume/weight, etc., of materials to manage in the demolition process; functional
decomposition; systemisation; hierarchical relations between elements; base element specifications; assembly
sequences;geometryoftheconnections;

type

of

connections;

life

cycle

co-ordinationinassembly/disassembly and the recyclability of materials and reusability of products, and how material choice
can influence the quality of waste management.

3.3

Target group 3: Contractors and builders

Durability
14. Use construction techniques that promote the durability of buildings and the resilience of thematerials.
-

Simulate different scenarios of durability and compare costs;-

Include the resources needed for resilience to installation error;-

To enhance the building’s durability, use construction techniques that facilitate maintenance and repairs todifferent parts of buildings and building products and systems.

Adaptability
15. Use construction techniques that promote the adaptability of buildings.
Depending on the frequency of maintenance, repair and transformation needs, it is possible to define several
stages of reversibility for various parts of the building, allowing for different construction techniques.
-

Focus on key performance indicators, such as whole life costing and benefits.

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
16. For maximum benefits, construction, demolition or renovation need to be planned carefully.

11This can bring about important cost benefits, as well as environmental and health benefits and carbon
savings. Such preparatory activities are particularly crucial for larger buildings.

11

See also principle 2 from the EU Construction & Demolition Waste Protocol; https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-construction-anddemolition-waste-protocol-0_en

12-

Carry out a pre-demolition audit (or waste management audit) before any renovation or demolition project
and for any materials to be re-used or recycled, as well as for hazardous waste.

17. Facilitate deconstruction by using construction techniques as set out in design guidelines andstandards.
-

Use construction techniques which contribute to easy and clean building deconstruction;-

In anticipation, choose techniques/assembly systems of construction products that allow at least selective
deconstruction (sorting at source) and at best dismantling;-

Support the uptake of BIM so that the future building deconstruction, including recycling and reuse, isrendered easier and safer.

18. Give preference to use of recycled, recyclable, reusable and/or reused products.
-

Check the purchase documents, the products datasheet, and the availability of recycled materials in the
area.

3.4

Target group 4: Manufacturers of construction products

Durability
19. Consider the potential durability level for the whole life cycle of the building based on evidence from
LCC of the product.
-

Use whole life costing and environmental assessment integrated with supplementary information beyond
the building life cycle;-

Use qualitative and resistant products for their environmental and use attributes.

20. Ecodesign principles should be used and durability assessed.
Product standards, if not yet developed, should include durability and a verification system to confirm suchdurability.
21. Solutions should be developed for greater adaptability.
For example, in works, prefabrication and modular systems.
Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
22. Increase products’ recycling and recovery potential by providing the necessary information.
Knowing what the product consist of is very important with regard to reuse potential and recycling, to avoid, forinstance, contamination of an identified material stream with an unidentified one.
-

Ensure good traceability of where the product is manufactured.

23. Use harmonised materials passports and building passports.
Existing Environmental Product Declarations and national tools - to help the manufacturer to understand how
the product is used/applied - should be developed and used. This will support the choices to be made during
the use of the building, end-of-life, and recovery.
-

Know for what purpouse the product has been designed (e.g., repair, reuse, remanufacturing,reconfiguration?);-Know how the product is implemented/installed in, and connected to, the building and other construction
products and systems;-

Keep available information about the technical characteristics of materials and products and promote
traceability of the changes and uses of the product during its life cycle.

24. Minimise the use of natural resources of construction products wherever feasible.

13

It is best to choose reused or recycled materials that provide durability, technical and environmental
performance, and that meet the same maintenance requirements and standards of the primary material.
-

Provide information to the users and decision-makers on the reuse, recycling and recovery potential of
construction products and materials to encourage a reduction of natural resource depletion;-

Use quality materials and with intrinsic finishing;-

Design by using standard dimensions so to reduce off-cuts.

25. Avoid hazardous substances.
This refers to Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and other substances, solutions, and material
compositions which could hamper reuse or recycling, or curb their use in public and private buildings,
wherever feasible, as this will make future reuse/recycling more difficult.
-

Alert the relevant actors about the products used, especially the presence of hazardous substances in thebuilding/construction/structures.

Target group 5: Deconstruction and demolition team 12

3.5

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
26. Recycling conditions (including infrastructure) and circular value chains and loops must be in place
for all potentially recyclable materials.
There might be long distances between the demolition site, the recycling facilities, the (re)manufacturing
plants and new construction site and therefore call for transport. The value is also dependent on the quantity,i.e. small amounts of waste have less or no value.
-

Regional loops must be developed and include sorting and recycling facilities where inert waste is turned
into recycled aggregates and where mixed waste is sorted;-

Consider subsidies/rebates for building materials composed of recycled materials.

27. Make effective use of pre-deconstruction or pre-development audit and appropriate information tools
13

.

-

Identify the resources contained in the building and identify outlets and forms of recovery;-

Ensure selective deconstruction and take full account of state of the art practices;-

Assess construction and demolition materials and waste streams prior to deconstruction or renovation;-

Make use of tools developed (e.g. BIM, materials passports of construction products and systems as wellas building passports) to enable rapid and accurate assessments of recovery, reuse and recycling
potential of specific products and systems and corresponding value propositions.

28. Tailored dismantling techniques should be applied.
The sorting must be made with dismantling; the materials must be separated into batches with a place ofdestination/treatment according to a “road map" (pre-demolition audit), as accurately as possible, establishedbased on a list of products.
29. Preliminary sorting should take place on site.

12

For more principles on construction and deconstruction waste, see the EU’s Construction and Demolition Waste Protocol
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-construction-and-demolition-waste-protocol-0_en
13
See https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-construction-and-demolition-waste-protocol-0_en

14Machinery can support workers and improve safety, whilst new scanning techniques can help with material
identification.
-

Separate at source at least hazardous and non-hazardous waste;-

Disassembly of buildings is constrained by the space available on site. Therefore, a balance should be
struck on sorting as much as possible during the selective deconstruction phase and having the sorting
infrastructure nearby.

3.6

Target group 6: Investors, developers and insurance providers

Durability
30. Enhancing durability will decrease financial risk.
The importance of durability of products and materials should be promoted within the overall approach tobuildings and products, and how this can be appropriately accounted for financially.
31. Life Cycle Costing should be promoted when preparing investment decisions.
The increased revenue streams that can be generated through reversible design should be integrated into thewhole costing analysis.
-

Capitalise future risks of difficulty to deconstruct buildings and cost of waste management;-

Consider the residual value of buildings to help with savings in mortgages and money flows;-

The use of the ISO standard for DfD/A credits within GPP and sustainable building rating schemes provide
an incentive to consider at this stage.

Adaptability
32. Adaptability of buildings should be appropriately accounted for financially.
Any measure that is of benefit to the owner will minimise the risk of default.
-

Governments and building owners should consider the importance of adaptability within the overall
approach to buildings and products, and how this can be appropriately accounted for financially.

Reduce waste and facilitate high-quality waste management
33. The use of recycled and recyclable materials should be appropriately accounted for financially.
Finance/Insurance companies can set requirements for investing in projects.
-

Require or allow options for the use of recycled materials;-

Apply minimum standards for due diligence and determine and assess the circularity of the project.

3.7

Target group 7: Government / Regulators / Local authorities

On different levels, governments can affect preconditions for a circular construction sector through various
incentives, policies, standards and regulations. They can notably:-

Regulate: through the enactment and implementation of legislation;-

Realise: by using mechanisms such as public procurement to drive change;-

Stimulate: by providing incentives and encouraging experimentation;-

Inspire: by providing leadership, vision and the dissemination of good practices.

34. Adopt an integrated and holistic vision to provide a stable regulatory/legislative framework.
-

Ensure a holistic approach in measures: include reversibility and resource recovery and recycling next to otherrequirements such as energy efficiency;-

Stimulate the innovation and the development of new joining technologies that enable the reuse, recycling or
recovery of components, without affecting the whole life impact of the building;15-Take a holistic approach and measure, or assess, the environmental performance over the whole life cycle (ifnot multiple life cycles) of the building and the building products, to ensure that legislative acts are notopposed to one another;-

Integrate circular economy principles in existing legislation and policy instruments wherever possible;-

Energy refurbishment of 3% of buildings owned by the national government required by the Energy Efficiency
Directive (2012/27/EU amended by 2018/2002/EU) offers the opportunity to integrate resource efficiency andcircularity aspects within the refurbishment requirements;-

Policy incentives that support sustainability and the internalisation of external cost could also provide support
for the best design choices within a long-term vision;-

Encourage early-on ‘risk-free’ options, i.e., options without creating environmental or health hazards(according to the precautionary principle):i.

Distinguish between resources, materials/products and buildings;

ii.

Integrate the use of bio-based materials in the approach.

Regulate
35. Decision-making and assessment tools are to be used actively during policy development.
This will also provide the tools to measure and assess if policies are to be implemented by the stakeholders
affected.
-

Promote systematic data collection in a structural way that could be used for impact analysis. For instance,
create a database and libraries that are freely accessible before moving to legal versions in harmony with thedevelopment of community regulation;-

Recognise relevant impact indicators for adaptability, deconstruction, reuse and recycling that can be
integrated into building policies;-

Adopt a multi-life cycle approach (cradle-to-cradle) as an assessment tool to support the decision-making
process, thus ensuring the holistic perspective of buildings, and quantifying all potential benefits from acircular model).

36. Reinforce policies that promote reuse and high-quality recycling of buildings/building materials.
-

Limit landfilling to the necessary minimum , taking into account the iniquity of materials used in the past;
provide for a responsible phase-out strategy;-

Promote selective deconstruction to enable removal and safe handling of hazardous substances;-

Facilitate reuse and high-quality recycling by selective removal of materials, and ensure the establishment ofsorting systems for separate fractions of CDW;-

Promote the reduction of the content of hazardous substances and SVHC in materials and products;-

Promote repair activities;-

Aim for standardisation that can ensure the performance of products containing recycled materials;-

Implement new business models, such as EPR, to support the development of the secondary materials
market;-Encourage new business models to support products as a service;-

Promote the use of local recycling infrastructure, which should be sufficiently developed for each kind of
construction waste and recovered products;-

Consider setting quantitative targets when developing policies;-

Integrate life cycle approaches in construction policies;-

Take into consideration the cross-border trade of re-used products (for example. through harmonisation ofstandards).

Realise37. Use and promote the range of potential policy tools already available, especially GPP.
-

For any public works, use GPP with (i) innovative indicators and criteria, such as for buildings andmaintenance, in the specifications and (ii) innovative procurement procedures that require reversible design16and deconstruction and high-quality recycling. Evaluate the project's environmental impact compared to lessinvasive alternatives;-

The BAMB Reversible Building Design tools are defining reversible design indicators that enable theassessment of the reuse potential and transformation capacity of existing buildings, as well as of new building
designs. These indicators could be used for public procurement as well as to define building permit criteria
and assessment;-

Use life cycle assessment approaches to incentivise overall performance increases;- Government and building owners can specify, in the tenders and proposals, the use of sustainable building
rating schemes such as the ISO standard for DfD/A and Level(s) providing a robust approach to DfD.
Stimulate
38. Promote the adaptability of buildings.
-

Publish guidance documents that promote adaptability –building owners and finance/insurance companies will
follow accordingly;-

Promote the multiple use of buildings, so construct buildings with suitable dismountable internal partition, etc.,
and provide incentives for that purpose;-

14

Adaptability can be promoted at different scales : component, building and neighbourhood level:i.

Adaptability at component level (reversibility, independence of layers, compatibility, etc.) should bepromoted to stimulate reuse of components and materials and make maintenance and refurbishment
easier;ii.

Adaptability at building level (extensibility, versatility, accessibility of layers, etc.) should be promoted tomake a building more future proof and ready for new needs and different uses;iii.

Adaptability at neighbourhood level should be promoted to maintain good social cohesion and flexible
infrastructure that meet the demands of changing societal needs.

39. Ensure long-term quality of buildings.
-

Enable governments and owners of buildings and infrastructure to consider the importance of recyclability
within the overall approach to buildings and products, and how to account financially for this appropriately.;-Re-use awareness will be achieved by whole (and even multiple) life costing carried out in conjunction withenvironmental assessment beyond the building life cycle;-

Prohibit planned obsolescence, and mitigate obsolescence / ensure mastery of products’ lifespans throughtechnological development.

40. Provide incentives for the development of design principles for circular and sustainable buildings.
-

For instance, by planning for end of life at the design stage, requiring separate targets on the design ofbuildings, which have a minimum level of reusable components, measured using reversible building designindicators, and combined with separate targets on reuse, recycling, recovery at end of life. The more buildingsthat are designed in this way, the larger the pool of future resources will be;-

Reversible products might use more resources at the start (due to more robust design, for example), but makeit possible to recover the resources but also reuse the product in multiple life cycles;-

Stimulate innovation in circular materials, circular design and production facilities.

14

Framework ‘design for change’ developed in a research project of OVAM commissioned by the Flemish government (Environment, Nature andEnergy Department), conducted by a consortium of Unit Smart Energy and Built Environment (VITO), TRANSFORM Research team (Vrije
Universiteit Brussel) and ASRO (KU Leuven) ( https://www.ovam.be/sites/default/files/atoms/files/TWOL-Design-for-change.pdf)

17Inspire
41. Develop or stimulate building actors to develop integrated design and decision-making guidelines andtools that take into account long-term impacts.
-

Promote their use in building rating schemes – thus encouraging their use in the design. Key standards toconsider/promote for the design process are, amongst others:i.

EN and ISO standards for building structures;ii.

Whole-building LCA (EN15978);iii.

Level(s);iv.

Reversible Building Design protocol/tool (RBD) ;15v.

Cost-benefit analysis;vi.

ISO standards for DfD/A (ISO 20887);

vii.

Role of BIM.

42. Adopt a long term vision integrating multiple-use and life cycles to support an effective approach to
reducing the use of natural resources.
-

Promote the multiple-use design of buildings – aim for reuse and/or renovation of buildings (repurposing), andpromoting the multi-functionality of buildings over time;-

Stimulate scenario-thinking during the pre-design phase (with the architect and the building owner/client) to
get insights into the different possible uses of the building over time;-

Create awareness about the fact that reversible products might use more resources at the start, but make itpossible to recover resources and also reuse the product in multiple life cycles.

15

Developed under the project BAMB, https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-andprotocol.pdf

18

Annex 1 – References

BAMB - Buildings As Material Banks, available at https://www.bamb2020.eu/
European Commission, EU Construction & Demolition Waste Management Protocol, September 2016, available
at:http://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-construction-and-demolition-waste-protocol-0_en .
European Commission, Annex: Accelerating Clean Energy in Buildings (Annex to the Communication from theCommission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, theCommittee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank - Clean Energy for all Europeans, COM(2016) 860
final, Brussels, 30.11.2016, available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:fa6ea15b-b7b0-11e69e3c-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF
Johnson J, The Concrete Initiative - Closing The Loop: What Type of Concrete Re-Use Is the Most Sustainable
Option?,Theconcreteinitiative.eu,

2016,

availableathttps://www.theconcreteinitiative.eu/newsroom/publications/165-closing-the-loop-what-type-of-concrete-re-use-isthe-most-sustainable-option
Norwegian building authority, Norwegian Regulations on technical requirements for construction works (Forskriftomtekniske

krav

til

byggverk(Byggteknisk

forskrift-

TEK17),

July

2017,

availableathttps://dibk.no/globalassets/byggeregler/regulation-on-technical-requirements-for-construction-works--technicalregulations.pdf
Steel

And

The

Circular

Economy-

Designfor

Deconstruction

andReuse,

Steelconstruction.info

https://www.steelconstruction.info/Steel_and_the_circular_economy#Design_for_deconstruction_and_reuse
Steel

Construction

Products,

Steelconstruction.info,

availableat:https://www.steelconstruction.info/Steel_construction_products#Fasteners_and_fixings
The Norwegian Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Foundation, Norwegian EPD programme - The
Norwegian adaptation of the ISO 14025 Type III environmental declaration, available at https://www.epdnorge.no/getfile.php/1346991478769108/Dokumenter/Dokumenter%20godkjente%20verifikatorer/The%20Norwegian%20EPDprogramme%20-main%20document%20rev17042014%20m%20vedlegg.pdf
Framework ‘design for change’ developed in a research project of OVAM commissioned by the Flemish
government (Environment, Nature and Energy Department), conducted by a consortium of Unit Smart Energy and
Built Environment (VITO), TRANSFORM Research team (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) and ASRO (KU Leuven) (https://www.ovam.be/sites/default/files/atoms/files/TWOL-Design-for-change.pdf)
Level(s) - Building sustainability performance, available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/buildings.htm
BAZED, available at www.bazed.fr . The BAZED project proposes a design approach for the prevention of waste,
tools and the feedback of experiences through one or more lines of action: conservation of the existing, ecodesign, dismantling, etc.
These approaches are broken down according to the different players in the construction industry: project owners,
prime contractors and companies.

19Annex 2 – Terms and definitions

Adaptability
Possibility to change or modify a product, system or module to make it suitable for a particular purpose.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.7.3.79, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/fr/#iso:std:iso:6707:-1:ed-5:v1:en]
Assembly
Set of related components attached to each other.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.3.5.5, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/fr/#iso:std:iso:6707:-1:ed-5:v1:en]
Assembly sequences
The sequences in assembly create dependencies between building elements, by locking elements together. The
way we assemble a building sets the mirror image of the building during its disassembly and transformation
phase. Two major assembly/disassembly sequences can be distinguished: a parallel sequence and a sequential
sequence.
[SOURCE: Reversible Building Design Tools (WP3), BAMB Reversible Building Design Guidelines (synthesis of
D10, 3/2018), http://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-andprotocol.pdf]
Base element
A building product (system/component/element) is a carrier of a specific building’s functions. Each assembled
product represents a cluster of elements that are carriers of sub-functions. To provide independence for elements
within two clusters, each cluster should define its base element, which integrates all surrounding elements of thatcluster. This element functions as intermediary between elements as well as between clusters. Such anintermediary share element functions on two levels: (i) it connects elements within the cluster and (ii) performs as
an intermediary with other clusters. Base elements/intermediaries can be found at all levels of technicalcomposition of a building (see figure below).

20

Building system as
Intermediary base element[SOURCE:

Dr.

Elma

Durmisevic

-

H2020

Element as

Accessory connection

intermediaryas intermediary

project

Buildings

As

Material

Banks(BAMB),

https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-and-protocol.pdf ]Building
Construction works that provide shelter for its occupants or contents as one of its main purposes, are usuallypartially or totally enclosed and designed to stay in one place permanently.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.1.1.3, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/fr/#iso:std:iso:6707:-1:ed-5:v1:en]
Circular economy
An economy where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in the economy for as long as
possible, and the generation of waste minimised.
[SOURCE: EC. 2015. Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy. COM(2015)614 final.
Brussels, 2.12.2015, https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2015/EN/1-2015-614-EN-F1-1.PDF]
Component
Product manufactured as a distinct unit to serve a specific function or functions.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2014, 6.1.3, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:6707:-1:ed-4:v1:en]
Construction works
Everything that is constructed or results from construction operations. [SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.1.1.1]
Buildings and civil engineering works.
[SOURCE: Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 laying
down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive
89/106/EEC, Article 2, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32011R0305]
Construction and demolition waste
Waste generated by construction and demolition activities.
[SOURCE: Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending
Directive

2008/98/EC

on

waste,

Article3,

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.150.01.0109.01.ENG]

21

Deconstruction
Process to address the end-of-life of a structure (building, infrastructure, etc.) including the analysis of its contents(audit, assessment and project), securing the current construction (technically and environmentally), thedecontamination and removal of any hazardous waste existing, plus the demolition activities to enable the desiredchange and the recycling operations to recover the value of the existing materials.
[SOURCE: Stakeholders of the Construction 2020 Target Group 3]
Demolition
Removal by destructive methods.
Disassembly
Non-destructive taking apart of a construction works or constructed asset into constituent materials orcomponents.
[SOURCE: ISO/FDIS 15392, 3.11, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:15392:ed-2:v1:en]
Design for deconstruction
Approach to the design of a product or structure that facilitates deconstruction at the end of its useful life, in sucha way that components and parts can be reused, recycled or recovered for further economic use or, in some otherway, diverted from the waste stream.

22

Downcycling
A process in which the material’s quality, potential for future reuse, and economic value decreases during theconversion process.
[SOURCE: (Based on) Deconstruction and Materials Reuse – an International Overview, CIB Publication 300,
Final Report of Task Group 39 on Deconstruction Edited by Abdol R. Chini, University of Florida,https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB1303.pdf]
Durability
A constructed asset or any of its components, that makes it perform its required functions in its service
environment over a specific period without unforeseen maintenance or repair.
[SOURCE: ISO 17738-1:2017, 3.6, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:17738:-1:ed-1:v1:en]
Extended producer responsibility scheme
Set of measures taken by Member states to ensure that producers of products bear financial responsibility or
financial and organisational responsibility for the management of the waste stage of a product’s life cycle.
[SOURCE: Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending
Directive

2008/98/EC

on

waste,

Article3,

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.150.01.0109.01.ENG]

23

Functional decomposition
Functional decomposition defines the level of integration of functions within elements and the dependence offunctions. It embraces the functional separation and the functional autonomy.
Functional autonomy defines the dependency between independent functions of an element (e.g. structure,finishing, technical elements, piping, etc.) by planned or unplanned interpenetration of components having
different functions.
This means that relocation or resizing of components that have one function influences the integrity of othercomponents that have other functions.

[SOURCE:

Dr.

Elma

Durmisevic

-

H2020

project

Buildings

As

Material

Banks(BAMB),

https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-and-protocol.pdf ]24

Geometry of the connections
The geometry of the connections refers to the geometry of the product edge and the standardization of theconnections, which will affect the ease of disassembly as well as the assembly sequence.

[SOURCE:

Dr.

Elma

Durmisevic

-

H2020

project

Buildings

As

Material

Banks(BAMB),

https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-and-protocol.pdf ]Hazardous waste
Waste that displays one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Annex III of the Directive 2008/98/EC of theEuropean Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
and repealing certain Directives, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098]

25

Hierarchical relations between elements
The type of relations between individual elements within a building has a significant impact on the disassembly
potential of a structure.
The number of links between the different elements, as well as how the different clusters or functions connect toeach other, will have an impact on the ease of disassembly.
When the relations (read connections) between different clusters of functions or sub-assemblies is limited to therelation with the base element of this sub-assembly, the disassembly of the different sub-assemblies will befacilitated as well as the adaptation within one sub-assembly (assembly C in the image below).
When relations are made between the different elements (other than the base element) of different subassemblies, the disassembly and adaptations will be more elaborate (assembly A and B in the image below).

[SOURCE:

Dr.

Elma

Durmisevic

-

H2020

project

Buildings

As

Material

Banks(BAMB),

https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-and-protocol.pdf]
Level(s)A voluntary reporting framework to improve the sustainability of buildings. Using existing standards, Level(s)provides a common EU approach to the assessment of environmental performance in the built environment.
[SOURCE:

Building

sustainability

performance-

Level(s),

EC

DG

ENV,

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/buildings.htm]

26

Life cycle assessment
Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product systemthroughout its life cycle.
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.2, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:14040:ed-2:v1:en]
Life cycle co-ordination in assembly/disassembly
Co-ordination of elements, with those that have a long life cycle and greatest dependencies in assembly, should
be assembled first and disassembled last taking into account use, technical and size aspects.
[SOURCE:

Dr.

Elma

Durmisevic,

Reversible

Building

designguidelines,

BAMB

Project,

https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-and-protocol.pdf]
Life cycle costing
Methodology for systematic economic evaluation of life cycle costs over a period of analysis, as defined in theagreed scope.
[SOURCE: ISO 15686-5:2017, 3.1.8, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:15686:-5:ed-2:v1:en]
Manufacturer
Any natural or legal person who manufactures a construction product or who has such a product designed or
manufactured, and markets that product under his name or trademark.
[SOURCE: Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 laying
down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive
89/106/EEC, Article 2, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32011R0305]
ModularComposed of modules for easy construction or arrangement and adaptation or disassembly.
[SOURCE: (Based on) ISO 7176-26:2007, 4.8.11, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:7176:-26:ed-1:v1:en]
ModuleSet of standardised parts or independent units.
Obsolescence
Loss of ability of an item to perform satisfactorily due to changes in performance requirements.
[SOURCE: ISO 15686-1:2011, 3.14, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:15686:-1:ed-2:v1:en]
Pre-demolition audit
The demolition contractor carries out an advanced inspection of the demolition project and an inventory of thematerials (hazardous and non-hazardous) to get insight into the nature, quantity and any contamination of theextracted demolition materials. An inventory is made of the risks to occupational safety and safety risks to thesurroundings.
[SOURCE:EU

Construction&

Demolition

Waste

Management

Protocol,https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/20509/attachments/1/translations/en/renditions/native]
Pre-development audit
Pre-development audits include demolition and refurbishment assessments of what can be reused fromdeconstruction and stripped out, respectively. These should also inform the potential to reuse products andmaterials in subsequent construction and/or fit out (of refurbishment).
[SOURCE: Reuse of building products and materials – barriers and opportunities, Gilli Hobbs, Katherine Adams
BRE, Watford, United Kingdom, June 2017, https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Reuse-ofbuilding-products-and-materials-barriers-and-opportunities.pdf]

27

Prevention
Measures taken before a substance, material or product has become waste that reduces:(a) the quantity of waste, including through the reuse of products or the extension of the life span of products;(b) the adverse impacts of the generated waste on the environment and human health; or(c) the content of hazardous substances in materials and products.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
and repealing certain Directives, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098 ]RecoveryAny operation, the principal result of which, is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which
would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in theplant or in the wider economy. Annex II sets out a non-exhaustive list of recovery operations.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
and repealing certain Directives, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098]
Recycling
Any recovery operation, by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances,whether for the original or other purposes. It includes the reprocessing of organic material but does not include
energy recovery and the reprocessing into materials that are to be used as fuels or for backfilling operations.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
and repealing certain Directives, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098]
Recyclable
Characteristic of a product or associated component, that can be diverted from the waste stream throughavailable processes and programmes, and can be collected, processed and returned to use in the form of raw
materials or products.
[SOURCE: ISO 14021:2017, 7.7.1, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:14021:ed-2:v1:en:sec:7.7.1]
Refurbishment
Modification and improvements to an existing building or civil engineering works in order to bring it up to an
acceptable condition.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.5.1.45, https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:6707:-1:ed-5:v1:en]
Remanufacturing
Remanufacturing is the process of returning a used product to, at least, its original performance with a warranty
that is equivalent to or better than that of the newly manufactured product.
[SOURCE: European Remanufacturing Network, Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of theEuropean Union, https://www.remanufacturing.eu/about-remanufacturing.php]
RepairReturning a product, component, assembly or system to an acceptable condition by renewal or replacement ofworn, damaged, or degraded parts.
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2017, 3.1.5.4, https://www.iso.org/standard/72244.html]
Replacement
Change of parts of an existing item to regain its functionality.

28

Repurposing
Using an obsolete item considered by its owner as a waste, with another use totally different from the initial one.
[SOURCE: Structures and Architecture: New concepts, applications and challenges, How to build the future withlimitedandfiniteresources,

Paulo

J.

Cruz,

Y.

Sieffert&

D.

Daudon,J-M

Huygen,2013,

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780429159350]
Reusability
Ability of a material, product, component or system to be used in its original form more than once and maintain its
value and functional qualities during recovery to accommodate reapplication for the same or any purpose.
[SOURCE: (Based on) Level(s) – A common EU framework of core sustainability indicators for office andresidential buildings, Part 3: How to make performance assessments using Level(s), Macro-objective 2
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/levels-common-eu-framework-core-sustainability-indicators-office-andresidential-buildings-part-3]
Reuse
Any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose forwhich they were conceived.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
andrepealingcertainDirectives,

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098Selective demolition
Removal of materials from a demolition site in a pre-defined sequence in order to maximize recovery andrecycling performance.
[SOURCE: (Based on) Level(s) – A common EU framework of core sustainability indicators for office andresidential buildings, Part 3: How to make performance assessments using Level(s), Macro-objective 2
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/levels-common-eu-framework-core-sustainability-indicators-office-andresidential-buildings-part-3]
Systemization
Systematization refers to the grouping of sub-systems and the constituent components in a building to encourage
open/independent strands of construction/layers; includes structure and material levels and clustering aiming tolimit the number of disassembly sequences.
[SOURCE: Testing BAMB results through pilots and prototyping (WP4), BAMB pilots – “4 Pilots built + Feedback
report” (D14, 2/2019), https://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20190228-BAMB-D14.pdf]
Upcycling
A process in which the material’s quality, potential for future reuse, and economic value is increased during theconversion process.
[SOURCE: Deconstruction and Materials Reuse – an International Overview, CIB Publication 300, Final Report of
Task

Group

39

on

Deconstruction

Edited

by

Abdol

R.

Chini,

University

ofFlorida,https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB1303.pdf]
Type of connections
The type of connection refers to the way in which elements are connected to each other using, for example, dry or
wet connections, as well as the type of these connections and the (planned) design.
[SOURCE: Reversible Building Design Tools (WP3), BAMB Reversible Building Design Guidelines (synthesis of
D10, 3/2018), http://www.bamb2020.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Reversible-Building-Design-guidelines-andprotocol.pdf ]Waste management

29

The collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste, including the supervision of such operations and theafter-care of disposal sites, and including actions taken as a dealer or broker.
[SOURCE: Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste
and repealing certain Directives, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32008L0098 ]30