Recycling of materials has always had a role in construction (underpinning architectural salvage shops/dealers around the country), but what if we widened such efforts so at dismantle all buildings at the end of their lives rather than just demolish them?
The re-use of generic (rather than specialist) material(s) is one key aspect of turning construction greener, requires no special equipment; just time & effort.
An interesting proposal?
#construction #recycling
https://theconversation.com/demolishing-buildings-is-bad-for-the-planet-heres-an-alternative-223596
I was intested to see when witnessing the demolition of a building constructed of reinforced concrete, the care with which the drivers of the demolition machines separated the steel rebar and RSJs from the mass concrete. I understand that the rebar then goes to one of the local steel works to be remelted and the concrete is processed on site into aggreagate to make further concrete.
This is in Luxembourg where recycling is quite advanced!
@Paulos_the_fog @ChrisMayLA6 are there good techniques for pre-stressed concrete demolition yet? Standard reinforced concrete, the steel is laid out and the concrete is poured around it. In pre-stressed, the steel is put under tension while the concrete cures. Sometimes done on site, but normal pre-fabricated in a factory. Makes structures more efficient and lighter. But demolition is dangerous due to the huge energies that get unlocked when the concrete is chipped away.
Yeah pre-stressed concrete lintels were commonly used when I was in the bulding trade years ago. One the demolition front, I'm not too sure.
Whjatz I did notice was the somewhat cavalier attitude to site safety on Luxembourg demolition sites!
They had guys hosing down the dust and they were working within the arc of slew of the demolition plant! That would not be allowed in the UK! It was particularly dangerous on the site I witnessed being demolished as large chunks of masonry were being disloged and falling close to the guys with hoses and on each ocassion, a huge cloud of dust was released meaning that the guys manning the hoses became invisible to the operators of the demolition machines but were within the arc of slew of the plant - that is lethally dangerous!
@Paulos_the_fog
Thanks; really interesting (and boosted)