January 2023
Case Study #03 – MH, EM
Why this case?
Efficiency of pre-deconstruction audits
Case Study #03 aims to assess how waste audits or pre-deconstruction audits, seeking to maximise the reuse and recycling of products, can and have to be made compatible with the diagnostic phase that serves as the basis for the development of the renovation design phase.
Waste audits, as currently designated by the European Union, aim to facilitate and maximise the recovery of materials and components from the demolition and renovation of buildings and infrastructures for benefitting reuse and recycling, without compromising the safety rules and practices defined in the European Demolition Protocol.
The integration of this process with existing ones, such as the diagnostics, and the use of innovative technologies, such as LiDAR to obtain essential data in an expedited manner, are crucial for successful implementation.
Case Details
MatosinhosHabit, EM
- Project
CH de Custóias
- Location
Matosinhos
- Owner
MatosinhosHabit, EM
- Intervention
Complete Renovation
- Number of houses
58 (after renovation)
Overview
The different steps of the project
All case studies follow the same structure and similar approach setting the background for guidelines, innovative processes, or sustainability goals disclosure.
Case Study #03 builds on the European guidelines for conducting waste audits and the current EU waste legislation. It is aimed to demonstrate how processes can be combined and streamlined using technologies available on the market. In addition to obtaining a 3D model in IFC, it was possible to assess, classify and quantify different types of waste/materials that could be reused/recycled to meet the targets currently in effect by law.
- 01
Case History
Article 50 of Law no. 52/2021, which amended Decree-Law no. 102-D/2020 of 10 December, known as the General Waste Management Regime, states:
"The preparation of designs and their execution on site must favour the adoption of methodologies and practices that:
a) Minimise the production and hazard of CDW, namely through the reuse of materials and the use of materials that are not likely to produce CDW containing hazardous substances;
b) Maximise the recovery of waste/materials in the various types of works, as well as the use of recycled and recyclable materials;
c) Encourage construction methods that facilitate selective demolition oriented towards the application of the principles of prevention and reduction and the waste hierarchy, ...., to recover and allow the reuse and recycling of the largest quantity of construction elements and/or materials."
This case study assessed the methodologies and practices that could be implemented in the real-life situation of a refurbishment of a residential building.
- 02
Case Plan
Using the technical elements of the project as a baseline, namely the refurbishment design pieces, and on-site reconnaissance/diagnostics using innovative technologies (LiDAR), a 3D IFC model was created and associated data collected, enabling a pre-demolition waste audit to be carried out. The results make it possible to assess the viability of the proposed method and its ability to fulfil the targets set out in Law 52/2021.
- 03
Case Development
Given the specific requirements for carrying out waste audits and the necessity of adjusting such audits in the context of the preparation and development of a refurbishment project which, according to the Renovation Wave strategy, should pursue objectives of economic rationality, energy efficiency, sustainability and digitalisation, a technological solution that serves multiple purposes was adopted and tested.
In an integrated and sequential logic of diagnostic and design activities, an initial action involves the simplified digitisation of the spaces that comprise the building and some of the most relevant objects. Focusing on the objectives of a waste audit, the applications have characterisation functions that allow an on-site assessment to be carried out in accordance with the models set out in the European Union document.
- 04
Case Outcomes
Digitalisation is not only valuable for the process of conducting waste audits, it can also greatly simplify the process of identifying, characterising and quantifying the elements/potential waste involved in the intervention.
The use of systems capable of digitising (simplified 3D modelling) spaces can serve as a basis for design, especially when the buildings are old, and the drawings are on paper or non-existent.
Repeating the information collected in other case studies will enable the establishment of indicators that support the more expeditious identification of waste/products and their expression (by weight) in the works.
It is clear from this study that there are advantages in combining processes and using new technologies. There is room for improvement in the waste audit document to adopt more digital procedures and combine them with current processes that are performed during the construction process.
