Abstract
The design, realisation and operation of buildings should be based on the principles of sustainable development, and consequently on the goal to conserve natural resources as a critical aspect of it. To this end, improving the resource efficiency in all building-related activities – from design to end-of-life – is necessary. Yet, such an effort cannot be fully successful if not based on comprehensive information. On the architects’ side, there is a need for information on construction products to be fed into the assessment of building design variants. The exchange of information between product and building level is a topic dealt with in European (CEN TC 350) and International (ISO TC59 SC17) standardization. However, the demand on product information goes beyond the content of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). It is therefore necessary to discuss what are the additional needs for product information and how to provide this information to be practical for a building assessment. Finally, it is necessary to discuss how buildings should be documented along their life cycle to provide useful information for third parties. Third parties are – among others - valuation professionals, facility managers or demolition/dismantling companies. An approach to building files/building information packs will be presented, where information on the physical composition of the building and its material flows in the life cycle (material inventory) becomes an integral part. With regard to standardization, how to determine and present a recycling potential of a building will be discussed. Current research projects in Germany will inform the discussion.
Highlights
The careful use of resources – here in the sense of natural resources – is part of the management rules to support sustainable development [1]
The demand on product information goes beyond the content of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
It is necessary to discuss what are the additional needs for product information and how to provide this information to be practical for a building assessment
Summary
The careful use of resources – here in the sense of natural resources – is part of the management rules to support sustainable development [1]. The discussions about the use of natural resources were entirely focused on determining the timing of the running-out of reserves of fossil fuels (oil peak). The activities of manufacturing, construction, use and disposal of buildings and structures are associated with significant energy resource consumption and undesirable effects on the local and global environment, and with substantial material flows. 40% of the global raw materials consumption can be attributed to the construction sector [6]. In this sense, focusing more intensively on the determination, assessment and targeted influencing of material flows associated with the construction and real estate sector becomes a necessity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
