An investigation of the difficulty of implementing design for disassembly principles in the construction industry of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Construction materials take up the highest percentage of natural resource consumption while providing a considerable amount of waste. Also, the construction industry is responsible for a substantial percentage of greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming. Design for disassembly would provide a solution by delivering disassembly measures for a buildingcomponents, and materials could be reused keeping them in a closed loop to minimise manufacturing of new construction materials. This paper will discuss the difficulty of implementing principles of design for disassembly in Sri Lanka by considering the expert opinion collected through a questionnaire as quantified qualitative data. Samples will be based on convenience in nonprobability sampling method. Findings of the paper express, market demand for reused components and materials is the most challenging barrier for implementing Design for Disassembly in Sri Lanka, following compatibility with commercial market standards. In the local construction sector possibility of implementing design for disassembly is heavily based on the selection of materials and construction system.