Design guidance of steel structures for reusing and recycling steel

Recently, sustainability has become a popular term in the construction industry, and construction companies as well as architects have been paying more attention to material reusing and recycling trends. This writing shall discuss more about this trend and focus on giving design guidance for steel structures for reusing and recycling steel at the end of its life.

1. Trends of reusing and recycling construction material

1.1 Trends of reusing and recycling construction material in general

Recently, there has been an increase in awareness of the importance of sustainability in the construction industry and a desire to reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of construction activities. One of the most popular trends reflecting this fact is an increase in the reusing and recycling of construction materials. 

Here are some advantages of steel reuse and recycling construction material:

• Resources saving: Reusing and recycling construction materials can help reduce the need for new materials reducing the amount of energy and resources needed to extract, process, and transport those materials.
• Cost savings: Reusing materials from existing buildings can reduce the need for new materials while recycling materials can reduce disposal costs.
• Waste reduction: These processes help reduce the amount of waste generated by construction activities, which reduces the need for landfill.

Overall, reusing and recycling construction materials is beneficial in several ways because it is suitable for sustainable trends, offers a number of environmental benefits, and saves a lot of costs. 

1.2 Trends of reusing and recycling steel

Many types of used materials can be incorporated into new construction. And steel can be considered the one of most common materials to be reused and recycled. 

In fact, developed countries in the world are working hard on these processes. Japan is the world's leading country in steel recycling with a recycling rate of about 90% while Germany recycles about 80% of their steel material. China and the United States, the two largest steel manufacturers worldwide, have a significant steel recycling industry. There are several giant steel recycling facilities in these countries.

Although Vietnam’s economy is less developed than those countries, Vietnamese construction companies have been aware of conserving natural resources and reducing pollution. There are some examples of factories in Vietnam specializing in steel recycling such as Phu My Hung Corporation’s steel recycling facilities, the factory of Vietnam Steel Corporation - a state-owned enterprise, Hoa Phat Steel’s steel recycling facility in Hai Duong province, and so on.

2. Design guidance of steel structures for reusing and recycling steel

Most waste from a building is caused by decisions made at the design stage, so design guidance for sustainable buildings plays the most important role in making materials available for reusing and recycling.

Below is some design guidance for easy reusing and recycling of steel material:

1. A disassembly plan must be taken into account right at the start of the process. Design engineers should set up strategies for the dismantling of the building.
2. The lifespan of all components used in construction should be considered so that each component can easily be removed and recycled when obsolete.
3. The building should be built in layers that can be easily replaced as necessary throughout the life of the building. 
4. Structure grids (arrangements of structural elements, such as columns and beams) should be simple for disassembling. 
5. Regular-sized components should be used for easy removal or reused at the end of the building’s life.
6. Sufficient space should be provided for the machinery that will be needed for dismantling.
7. Methods of fixing should be taken into account. Generally, mechanical fixings are easier to separate than adhesives or cement. Materials secured with bolts or screws are easier to deconstruct than those secured with nails or rivets. Processes that are inherently irreversible, such as welding, should be avoided.

   

8. Complex composite materials, materials applied in wet construction such as situ concrete or plaster are difficult to separate and recycle. 
9. It is suggested that prefabricated components that are assembled on-site can often be easily disassembled for reuse or recycling.

   

10. Hazardous materials create many future problems and should be avoided.
11. Information about materials, construction, and the use of buildings’ parts should be updated constantly during the building’s life.

3. BMB Steel’s approach to trends of reuse and recycling steel material

Since its establishment, BMB Steel has always focused on finding more effective sustainable solutions for the company’s construction to help our customers optimize costs and make their buildings more environmentally friendly.  We take pride in providing customers and clients with high-quality services and products. We provide the service of designing, fabricating, and erecting pre-engineered steel buildings, which are easily reusable and recyclable due to the nature of their design and construction. 

We also offer other services of steel structures that meet your specific demand.  Consider our company and you will not regret the decisions.

Above is some information about reusing and recycling steel material in the construction industry. Hopefully, this article has provided you with useful information. Visit BMB Steel’s website to read more about pre-engineered steel buildings and steel structures. You can also contact us for design consulting and steel production services.