With DIN SPEC 91484 to the circular standard?
Circular construction is considered key to making the growing construction sector more sustainable and resource-efficient. However, putting this change into practice requires clear guidelines that enable the reuse and recycling of building materials. The first concrete laws, such as the administrative regulation of the state of Berlin, which prescribes the examination of the reuse potential of all public buildings, are just the beginning. The EU Commission is also recommending the use of building products from recycled sources with the EU taxonomy for sustainable economic activity. But how can this change be implemented in practice?
The DIN SPEC 91484 provides a standardised procedure for the systematic recording of construction products in order to assess their reuse potential prior to demolition or renovation. This so-called pre-demolition audit was developed specifically for the construction industry to identify building materials that are suitable for high-quality reuse instead of being disposed of in landfills. The aim of this standard is to reuse materials in their original state.
The DIN SPEC 91484 procedure is a two-stage process: first, a preliminary evaluation of the materials is carried out, followed by a detailed assessment to determine the potential for reuse. This systematic approach ensures that construction companies and other stakeholders know at an early planning stage which materials can be reused in future projects. This not only reduces the amount of waste generated, but also significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, thus helping to conserve valuable resources. DIN SPEC 91484 provides companies with a clear framework for action that enables them to accurately document and evaluate construction products. This not only facilitates decision-making, but can also serve as a basis for future legal regulations, as more and more legal requirements are focusing on sustainability in the construction industry.
The following organisations were involved in DIN SPEC 91484: Concular, Abbruchverband Nord e. V., Arcadis Germany, ATP Sustain, BTU Cottbus, Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung e.V., Circular Structural Design, Contura Ingenieure, CYRKL Zdrojová platforma, s.r.o., Deutscher Abbruchverband e. V., Ed. Züblin AG, Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen Hamburg, Senatskanzlei Hamburg, Franßen & Nusser Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB, Goldbeck, Greyfield Development, Hagedorn Service, Hochschule München, InteriorPark, Johann Bunte Bauunternehmung, Kadawittfeldarchitektur, List Eco GmbH & Co. KG, Otto Wulff Bauunternehmung, TU Hamburg, Umtec Partnerschaft mbB, Universität Kassel, Universität Siegen