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64 Barry’s Advanced Construction of Buildings
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Aggregates (sub-bases to roads and foundations)
Concrete (including products extracted in their original form, e.g. blocks and slabs)
Glass
Gypsum
Masonry (bricks and blocks)
Metals (aluminium, copper, lead, steel, tin, zinc)
Mineral waste (tarmacadam and road planings)
Paper based products
Paving slabs and flags
Plastics
Soil (top soil and excavation spoil)
Stone and granite sets
Timber
The design and construction of new buildings should consider the whole life cycle of the
building, which includes demolition (disassembly) and materials recovery. This requires
clear decisions to be taken at the design and detailing phases about the materials to be used
and the manner in which they are assembled and fixed to neighbouring components.
Method statements should clearly describe the assembly and disassembly strategy.
2.4 Reuse and recycled materials
The careful dismantling (disassembly) of buildings provides an opportunity to use reclaimed
components and materials in new construction projects. With a little thought, it is possible
to divert materials and components from landfill to reuse and recycling. This can help to
reduce the amount of new material extracted/used and also help to reduce the amount of
material sent to landfill, thus helping to reduce the impact of construction activities on the
environment. Materials and components can be reconditioned and reused (termed ‘architectural
salvage’) or they can be recycled and incorporated into new building products.
Photograph 2.31 and Photograph 2.32 show concrete and brick crushing and grading
machines. The plant crushes and grades the concrete from roads, concrete blocks and
bricks, so that it can be used as hardcore on the same site.
Salvaged materials
Materials recovery from redundant buildings has occurred throughout history, with materials
being reclaimed and reused in a new structure. Stone and timber were reused in
vernacular architecture, while more recently steel and concrete have been recovered and
reused.
Architectural salvage, taking materials such as roof slates, bricks and internal fittings
from redundant buildings for use on new projects, such as repair and conservation work,
is a well-established business. The cost of the material might be higher than that for an
equivalent new product because of the cost of recovery, cleaning/reconditioning, transport
and storage associated with the salvage operations. Reuse of materials and components in
situ may be possible for some projects, which may help to reduce the cost and associated