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Reuse of solid interior products and installations

  • kjag55
  • Jan 9
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jan 21

Solid interior products and installations are not often discussed in the context of reuse, and some of them are not currently included in the LCA methodology (the elements included in the LCA can be found here).

Nevertheless, they are a considerable part of the overall carbon footprint of the building, and their reuse should be considered in new construction and renovations.

 

According to Lendager's analysis made for office renovation, reusing existing flooring with minimal surface treatments, retaining most interior walls and furniture, and leaving technical installations (e.g., ventilation ducts, plumbing, radiators) in place resulted in substantial new material (~235 t) and carbon emissions (~93 t) savings, which corresponds to 1.7 kgCO2_eq/m2/year saved.

 
  • What can be often reused: fire safety equipment, radiators, ventilation ducts, pipes, sanitary appliances, doors.
  • What is challenging to reuse: small pieces of electronic equipment (as they become obsolete relatively fast due to technological development), whole windows (as they might not be compliant with current standards on thermal insulation, tightness, etc.), lighting equipment (due to increasing energy-efficiency standards).
 

The rule for reuse is that products should be complete and in the same condition as before dismantling.

 

Sources and further readings

1)    EU Construction & Demolition Waste Management Protocol, including guidelines for pre-demolition and pre-renovation audits of construction works, 2024.

2)    Bengt Dahlgren Gothenburg's guide, 2022.

3)    IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. Arbetsguide - Återbruk av fasta interiöra byggprodukter, 2018.

4)    IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. Arbetsguide - Återbruk av möbler och annan lös inredning, 2018.

5)    IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. BYGGÅTERBRUKSGUIDEN - En vägledning för att underlätta återbruk av byggprodukter i bostäder, 2021.

6)    Karlsson A, Ratfelt A, Eerola P, Bladh S. Återbruksguiden för installationer – Bengt Dahlgren, 2022.

7)    CCBuild. Återbruk av belysning - Demonterings- och hanteringsinstruktioner, 2018.

8)    CCBuild. Återbruk av beslag och dörrautomatik - Demonterings- och hanteringsinstruktioner, 2018.

9)    CCBuild. Återbruk av vägg och tak - Demonterings- och hanteringsinstruktioner, 2018.

10) CCBuild. Återbruk av VVS-produkter - Demonterings- och hanteringsinstruktioner, 2018.

11) CCBuild. Återbruk av dörrpartier - Demonterings- och hanteringsinstruktioner, 2018.

12) Erfaringsrapport ombruk (Eng. Experience report reuse) - Kristian Augusts gate 13, 2021.

13) Circle House - Denmark's first circular housing project, 2018.


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