Circular economy and fire safety

Construction has an enormous impact on resource consumption and waste production. In Germany, the total amount of waste generated in 2021 was 411.5 million tons, with construction and demolition waste accounting for more than half. Globally, the construction sector accounts for almost 40 percent of CO₂ emissions.

The principles of the circular economy can help to reduce the environmental impact. In the circular economy, the focus is on the recovery and reintegration of materials into the value creation process. For example, materials used in construction can be leased, reused, recycled or reused in other ways. These processes offer sustainable added value, as the production of building materials accounts for around 60 percent of the total energy requirement in the life cycle of a building.

However, the safety of recycled building materials in the event of fire is an important issue. Luca Dressino and his co-authors have investigated this, as recycled building materials often do not meet current testing standards. Fire safety planners must therefore work with the authorities to develop concepts for the use of reused building materials. This includes the evaluation and documentation of the materials as well as compliance with safety standards and fire safety classifications.

Various building materials such as recycled concrete can be used without hesitation and contribute to achieving climate targets. However, prefabricated concrete components, steel structures or modular timber components must be considered separately in terms of fire safety. Many materials, such as ventilation pipes, are not suitable for reuse in terms of fire safety or cost-effectiveness.

You can find the full article in the latest issue of FeuerTrutz on feuertrutz.de (German only).