Tomonari Yashiro

Associate Professor, Institute of Industrial Science University of Tokyo
(4-6-1 Komaba Meguro-ku Tokyo 153-8505 Japan)

Abstract

Waste from dismantled residential buildings has the potential to create problems caused by construction wastes in terms of quantity as well as quality. The potential of reuse of waste from dismantled buildings depends on the selection of the dismantling method. The paper presents the grouping of dismantling methods of detached residential buildings; one of the typical methods is the machinery method, in which machinery devices are used to demolish the structure and fabric of buildings. The other prototype is a method in which building elements are separated manually into original sub-assemblies or into raw materials. This paper indicates influential factors in the selection of dismantling methods. These factors can be categorized into five groups: motivations for dismantling, resource input to dismantling site works, legal and financial frameworks, intensity of demand of recycled materials, and building fabric composition together with site conditions. These factors could be obstructive factors in reuse of waste from dismantled buildings. This paper presents a set of potential measures to mitigate the obstructive influences by these factors such as the dissemination of 'design for environment' practices, and the improvement of the capacity of dismantling specialist contractors. The need of establishing a holistic and comprehensive approach through the feedback process of trial and error is emphasized.

Key words: construction waste, residential buildings, dismantling, design for environment, capacity of specialist contractors