| dc.description.abstract | For a long time, the construction industry has been dominated by a linear mindset in building projects. The contemporary focus on our earth’s climate, has put pressure on the industry in regard to its relation for circular economy. As a consequence, the development within the industry is adapting a practice of reuse of building materials. This master’s thesis describes general challenges in regard to reuse of hollow-core slabs, while exploring solutions that could contribute to simplifying the process.
The thesis’s method is based on literature and acquiring relevant documentation, combined with interviews of a specific focus group. The participants of the interview were chosen based on their experience with the reuse of hollow-core slabs. The results of the study show that the reuse of hollow-core slabs in construction projects could potentially result in great environmental savings. As a result of insufficient sample projects and experience, the reuse process tends to be characterized by a small degree of standardization and established methods for implementations. The contemporary building designs are not made to be compatible with reuse, which leads to the process often being quite expensive and time consuming. Combined with the fact that the production of new hollow-core slabs is cheaper and it’s a highly optimized process, makes choosing a climate friendly option unprofitable.
In conclusion, government incentives can contribute to reducing both costs and risks associated with methods of reuse. For the practice to establish itself within the industry, the need for a business branch that can process, document, and store the elements on a bigger scale becomes more evident. Developing standardized mechanical solutions for the attachment of hollow-core slabs, will be crucial in order to make disassembly an effective process in the future. In order for the practice to work, improved laws and regulations that is suited towards the reuse of building materials will also be needed. | |
