Beyond Numbers: Appraisal Framework of Construction Materials for Reuse

Abstract

Material reuse is increasingly promoted as a strategy to reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector. However, decisions about whether materials can and should be reused are often made without a structured method for evaluation. Technical requirements, economic constraints, documentation gaps, aesthetic considerations, and market conditions all influence these decisions, yet existing regulations do not provide a comprehensive framework that integrates these factors into a systematic assessment. This thesis develops a multidimensional appraisal framework for evaluating construction materials for reuse. The study addresses three questions: Which factors are relevant when assessing materials for reuse? How can these factors be evaluated in practice? Which construction materials and building components show the greatest reuse potential when assessed against these factors? The research combines a literature review, analysis of Scandinavian regulations and industry reports, interviews with practitioners, a survey, and mapping of reused materials across 21 reference projects. The study identifies sixteen evaluation factors grouped into four domains: regulatory boundary conditions, environmental and lifecycle performance, operational and market feasibility, and architectural and cultural value. These factors are translated into guiding questions and assessment metrics, and applied to nine material categories spanning structural, envelope, and space layers. The results show that reuse potential cannot be predicted from technical or environmental performance alone: materials with comparable climate impact can have significally different reuse outcomes depending on market maturity, regulatory burden, and aesthetic recognition. The framework provides a structured basis for capturing this complexity, supporting transparent and informed decision-making in reuse-oriented construction practice.