Moving HSB Living Lab: A Reuse Evaluation Framework for a Preliminary Assessment of the Reuse Potential of Building Products

Abstract

This thesis investigates how to make a preliminary reuse evaluation of used building components, decoupled from a receiving project. In order to test the evaluation a modular residential building is used as a case study. The objectives of the project are to define how different parameters affect the reuse potential of the building products, and to use this knowledge to compare reuse scenarios. Due to existing research gaps on how to evaluate relevant reuse parameters, a framework is developed, suggesting what parameters are relevant, how to evaluate them and how to aggregate the results. The project highlights the great complexities of evaluating and reusing building compo nents, drawing insights from both literature and stakeholder interviews. The first part of the outcome of this project include the first iteration of a preliminary Reuse Evaluation Framework, designed to guide future reuse practices. The evaluation is based on grad ing various product properties to acquire scores for the key criteria Recovery potential, Environmental impact and Market readiness. Thereafter weights are assigned to each criteria, based on the preferences of the decision maker, giving a final reuse potential. The second part of the outcome include an inventory of the case study, as well as the application of the framework through the evaluation of selected building components in two different reuse scenarios. The studied scenarios are: 1. reusing the whole modules of the building (relocating the building); 2. reusing the individual building products. Based on the assumptions made in the study, the results show that reusing individual building products give higher reuse potential for most evaluated products, as compared with reusing them as part of the modules. This is in part due to the low market readiness and adaptability of the modules. Ultimately, which scenario is preferable also depends on circumstances that are outside of the scope of the evaluation framework, such as site-based building regulations. However, the results can indicate what to consider and what direction to take in a reuse project.