Abstract
In this paper, a circular-economy framework is applied to the prefabricated building sector to explore the environmental advantages of prefabrication in terms of reduction, reusability, adaptability, and recyclability of its components. A qualitative approach is used to revisit the design, construction, and demolition stages of prefabricated buildings; in so doing, the circular-economy framework is applied to foster circular prefabricated modi operandi. Prefabrication of buildings can be divided into four entities: elements and components, panels (or non-volumetric elements), volumetric, and entire modules. Through an analysis of published research on how the circular economy can be applied to different industry sectors and production processes, seven strategies emerged, each of which revealed the potential of improving the circular economy of buildings. The first strategy is reduction of waste through a lean production chain. By reusing the waste, the second strategy investigates the use of by-products in the production of new components. The third strategy focuses on the reuse of replacement parts and components. The fourth strategy is based on design toward adaptability, respectively focusing on reusability of components and adapting components for a second use with a different purpose. Similarly, the fifth strategy considers the implications of designing for disassembly with Building Information Modeling so as to improve the end-of-life deconstruction phase. The sixth strategy focuses on design with attention to recyclability of used material. Finally, the seventh strategy considers the use of tracking technologies with embedded information on components’ geometric and mechanic characteristics as well as their location and life cycle to enable second use after deconstruction. It is demonstrated that prefabricated buildings are key to material savings, waste reduction, reuse of components, and various other forms of optimization for the construction sector. By adopting the identified strategies in prefabricated buildings, a circular economy could be implemented within the construction industry. Finally, seven guidelines were distilled from the review and linked to the identified strategies. Owing to their degree of adaptability and capacity of being disassembled, prefabricated buildings would allow waste reduction and facilitate a second life of components.
Highlights
We discovered that the application of the circular economy (CE) framework on buildings is limited to the use of by-products in concrete production and recycled concrete [3,4,5]
The barriers that stop the CE from being applied to traditional buildings are mainly related to their monolithic nature, architectural aspects that lead to a lack of standard measures, and an underdeveloped closed-loop supply chain
While the CE principles might not be applied to traditional buildings, they can be implemented in prefabricated buildings
Summary
The relevance of the circular economy (CE) is increasingly recognized among researchers and practitioners in industry, society, and academia [1]. This study’s objective is to investigate the CE in the context of prefabricated buildings so as to identify opportunities for the development of a closed-loop supply chain in the construction industry. With innovation in the steel industry, lighter construction is increasingly popular, paving the way for the innovation: movable prefabricated buildings built with panels or modules that challenge the very notion of permanence. Prefabricated buildings are defined as constructions manufactured at an industrial site and moved and assembled in different degrees on-site [15]. Based on this definition of prefabricated buildings, we define traditional buildings as a construction where structural and non-structural components are manufactured on-site
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
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.