There’s a lot of enthusiasm around sustainability in design, but we need it to manifest.
Services (heating, cooling, lifts, sprinklers, plumbing, etc) have one of the shortest life expectancies of all elements of the building, due to their moving parts.By building in easy maintenance strategies from the outset, services are likely to be better maintained and need fewer replacements over their life.. Design for disassembly (to be balanced with safe deconstruction).
To facilitate truly sustainable construction, at the end of the building’s life it is important to be able to disassemble it in a safe manner.The design should accommodate reversible connections, ie things that can be undone and dismantled.This is particularly important in the superstructure, where traditionally the easiest method of deconstructing is to crush the building..
The use of bolted connections on steelwork joints is safer as hot trades such as welding are omitted.The connections are also quick and easy for less well skilled labour..
The joints can be unbolted at the end of the building’s life, potentially with the use of temporary propping.
It is important that the method statement is considered at design stage so that the assembly and disassembly method are developed concurrently (planning ahead for reuse)..the UK will achieve this transformation, particularly given existing capabilities and people.. 2.
Integration Gaps Hinder Progress: Education, Commerce, and Investment are Disconnected:.A fundamental issue is the lack of integration across key areas..
This includes a disconnect between university education and industry needs (e.g., scientists understanding automation and vice versa), and a 'peculiar' investment environment in the UK where there's a significant gap in funding to take intellectual ideas to an investible stage.. 3.Regional Silos and 'Primate City' Structure Impede Network Building:.