UNIVERSITY OF SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY

Fourth Year First Semester Assignment 01

Urban Planning, Sustainable Building Design and Construction ETB 4213

NAME :- GUNASINGHA DS
INDEX NO :- EGT/16/439
DATE :- 02/08/2020
FIELD :- CBST

1
Question 01
a) Identify and discuss the practices in recycle and reuse of construction materials in
the building construction industry.

various types of construction materials are used in building services. Some are
recyclable and some are non-recyclable. Nowadays recycling and reusing is an area which
is increasing in building construction sites. Various strategies have introduced like zero
waste, integrated recycling, reuse of materials, international approaches, resource
optimization, waste reduction, deconstruction are some examples. When considering
recycling reusing first of all a feasibility study have to be done. That means, we have
to study what are the construction materials used, What amount needed, which type of
construction materials are used, how to dispose them, and have to examine waste
management procedure and life cycle management of the material used and cost,
economic factors, social factors and environmental factors have to be considered.

when considering the waste management it include reduce reuse recycle and
this have to be considered when using recycling and reusing practices. It is best to
reduce first, then reuse and then can recycle. Recyclers can handle waste by collecting,
segregating, processing and manufacturing their collected goods into new products. Reuses
with little or no processing, keep materials out the waste stream by passing the goods they
collect on to others. There are also forms of managing materials that are not quite reuse and
not quite recycling. Reuse prevents the solid waste from entering to the landfill and some
useful material which/ are going to be discarded can be can be kept to use back after
repairing.

Green building concept is sustainable design and construction. This minimizes

environmental impact, reduces maintenance, and creates a more desirable workspace for the
building occupants. Green building focuses on siting issues, energy and water efficiency,
recycled content building materials, minimizing local and global environmental effects
caused by buildings, and indoor environmental quality. The concept focuses on setting of
minimum energy standards, energy certification and assessment of heating and cooling
installations.

Incorporating reusable/recyclable/biodegradable building materials in project can

reduce waste, pollution, and energy use. Therefore, can use,

• Wood (reusable/recyclable/biodegradable)

• Earthen Materials (reusable/biodegradable)

• Steel, Aluminum, Iron, Copper (reusable/recyclable)

• Bricks (reusable/recyclable)

• Concrete (may be crushed and recycled)

• Gypsum/Drywall (recyclable, sometimes biodegradable)

2
 Green building materials consist of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. When
assessing green construction material,

• What amount can be recycled

• Whether the material are natural or renewable

• Resource efficient manufacturing process - reduce energy consumption,

minimize waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging),
and reduce greenhouse gases.

• Availability - energy saving material availability and transportation

• Durability

When constructing new buildings, minimum energy performance

requirements can be applied by the optimum use of factors relevant to enhancing energy
performance. Application of alternative energy supply systems and increasing potential, the
technical, environmental and economic feasibility of alternative energy supply systems have
to be done.

➢ Construction waste impact minimization,

• Design with standard sizes for building materials.

• Specify materials and assemblies that can be easily disassembled at the end of
their useful life.

• Design precast concrete members for concrete construction.

• Design spaces to be flexible for changing uses.

• Consider reusing materials or installing salvaged materials from off-site sources.

➢ Design to Prevent Waste Using Construction Methods

• Design with standard sizes for building materials.

• Specify materials and assemblies that can be easily disassembled at the end of
their useful life.

• Design precast concrete members for concrete construction.

• Design spaces to be flexible for changing uses.

For wood construction, use advanced framing techniques trusses for roof or floor framing,
finger- jointed studs and trim, and engineered wood products.

3
➢ Practice Job-Site Waste Prevention Methods.

Set up central cutting areas for wood and other materials. Reuse concrete forms or
choose reusable metal or fiberglass forms. Clearly mark areas key to waste prevention, such
as the material storage, central cutting, and recycling stations.

➢ Purchase to Prevent Waste.

Purchase salvaged, recycled, or recycled-content materials and equipment.

Check to ensure the correct amount of each material is delivered to site. Maintain an upto-
date material ordering and delivery schedule to minimize the amount of time that materials
are on-site and reduce the chance of damage. Replace toxic materials with less toxic or non-
toxic products to reduce hazardous packaging.

• Those recognized tips can use for Construction Waste Reduction:

✓ Make a waste reduction or recycling plan before starting work, and communicate
it to all parties.

✓ Create a system of where things go so you handle materials as little as possible to

save labor

✓ Remove salvage items early in the process.

✓ Re-use scrap on the job. Use one centralized wood-cutting station to promote
reuse.

✓ Use standard dimensions to reduce cut-off waste.

✓ Get a grant from the State to create your own innovative project.

When carrying out a waste management program in the building

construction site, in recycling and reusing, basic steps have to be fulfilled.

1. Research

Doing a study which includes manufacturers' information such as Material

Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, product warranties,
source material characteristics, recycled content data, environmental statements, and
durability information. involve researching other environmental issues, building codes,
government regulations, building industry articles, model green building product
specifications, and other sources of product data.

2. Evaluation

Check all the information gathered during research and assess all the
information and provide the corrections that needed to be done. Such an
4
 assessment is life cycle assessment (LCA) which is an evaluation of the relative
"greenness" of building materials and products. One tool that uses the LCA
methodology is BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability)
software.

3. Selection

Selection of the best material and consideration of how the recycling

process can be done. This include reducing the quantities of disposed biodegradable
waste, hazardous waste management, packaging and waste packaging management,
waste oil management, battery and accumulator management, construction waste
management, reducing and preventing pollution due to titanium dioxide production
waste, and waste electric and electronic equipment management.

b) Identify and discuss the storage and disposal of construction waste practices in
building construction industry. You need to provide 5 minimum examples to
support your answer.
In situations where construction waste could not be prevented
and recovered, they need to be stored in an appropriate manner and kept under control. Non-
hazardous construction debris and construction debris classified as special waste are
landfilled in either municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills or in landfills that only accept
construction debris. Around the world, decisions on the types of waste acceptable at landfills
were entirely based on site-specific risk assessment. Licenses controlled the quantities and
types of waste to be accepted and often, in the case of hazardous waste, specified maximum
loading rates for particular wastes or components substances. Designers need to be aware and
take into consideration policies and guidelines for material storage and disposal at the design
stage of construction project.
In the composition of construction and demolition waste there are
materials like concrete, bricks, wood, glass, metals, plastic, solvents, asbestos and excavated
soil, many of them being recycled by various processes.
Due to the very large quantities of construction and demolition
waste, they occupy important storage areas in landfills. Moreover, if they are not separated at
source they might contain traces of hazardous substances.
The potential resource for recovery of construction and
demolition waste includes the large number of deteriorated or abandoned buildings, most of
them built in a previous period, whose life stage approaches the demolition phase, the
existing waste having resulted from already performed demolition works, which is
temporarily stored or abandoned, and also high quality waste resulting from on-site
construction activity or other redundant materials, with quality below the imposed standards
values.

5
Waste disposal Methodology
Preparation of Waste: Prepare and maintain recyclable waste materials according to
recycling or reuse facility requirements. Maintain materials free of dirt, adhesives, solvents,
petroleum contamination, and other hazardous substances.
Procedures: Separate recyclable waste from other waste materials, trash, and debris. Store
recyclable waste as directed in approved C&D waste management plan.
1. Provide appropriately marked containers or bins for controlling recyclable waste
until they are removed from Project site. Include list of acceptable and unacceptable
materials at each container and bin.
2. Stockpile processed materials on-site without intermixing with other materials.
Place, grade, and shape stockpiles to drain surface water. Cover to prevent
windblown dust.
3. Stockpile materials away from construction area. Do not store within drip line of
remaining trees.
4. Store components off the ground and protect from the weather.
5. Remove recyclable waste off Owner's property and transport to recycling receiver
or processor.

COLLECTION AND HAULING

Containers containing construction and demolition waste are collected and
transported to diversion facilities via truck. Trucks and containers of various types are mated
to allow for maneuverability and modular interoperability.
TIPPING
Identification of loads on arrival at construction and demolition debris diversion
facilities is an important step in ensuring materials are appropriately handled. Facility
management plans typically describe materials that can be accepted. Loads which contain
materials that are not accepted may be turned away, in which case the materials likely will be
disposed in a sanitary landfill. The four hazardous waste characteristics are: corrosivity,
ignitability, reactivity, and toxicity.
PICKING
Materials are typically handled with equipment specifically designed to support
heavy loads and resist abrasion. Materials are discharged from containers onto a tipping or
receiving floor, usually beneath a roof cover or inside an industrial building. Materials such
as steel reinforcing bar, carpeting, and large pieces of wood, concrete and materials with
dimensions greater than 3 feet are usually picked before the sorting process can begin in
earnest.

6
SORTING
Sorting generally involves loading materials onto an inclined metal belt - a chain
belt - and passed across a manual sort line consisting of a flexible rubber belt and integral sort
stations providing a place for several workers to stand, usually opposite from one another
down the length of the belt. Materials are identified, grabbed, and deposited in vertical
openings at each sort station. The effectiveness of the manual sort line is largely determined
by the performance of the picking operation which precedes it.

CONTAINERIZATION AND TRANSPORT

Picked and sorted materials are deposited by means of equipment and manual labor
into industrial containers of various types. Combination compactor-balers are used in some
applications to produce dense bales of materials which are then loaded into intermodal
shipping containers for transport. Once containerized, recyclable materials are commoditized
and traded in the global marketplace.
DISPOSAL
Diverted materials are destined for incorporation in new products as recycled material, or are
processed for reuse. Materials destined for disposal in landfills include refuse, materials
contaminated with waste or which have been ruined, and materials for which markets do not
exist.

DISPOSAL OF WASTE: Except for items or materials to be salvaged, recycled, or

otherwise reused, remove waste materials from Project site and properly dispose of them
according to local, state, and federal regulations.
1. Except as otherwise specified, do not allow waste materials that are to be
disposed of accumulate on-site.
2. Remove and transport debris in a manner that will prevent spillage on adjacent
surfaces and areas

Example of some waste materials and their disposal methods

Cardboard and Paper: Cardboard and paper recovered from construction and demolition
debris waste have value as recyclable materials, however are generally of a lower grade than
cardboard collected at curbside, as a result of consequential exposure to water, and
contamination with dusts. Cardboard and paper are usually baled for economical transport to
paper and cardboard mills.
Plastic: Post-consumer plastics 1 (PET) & 2 (HDPE) are valuable commodities. Plastics 3
through 7 are generally recyclable but have less value. Generally plastics are not recycled
into material of the same type and grade (down cycled). PET is readily converted into a wide
variety of products. HDPE is down cycled into plastic lumber, trash receptacles, etc. Plastic
film is a nuisance material that impedes efficient picking and sorting of all other materials.

7
When prices of the recycled commodities are low, plastic materials may be exported and or
combusted for their energy-producing potential. Plastic may be granulated or chopped into
flakes and placed in industrial tote bags for transport.
Wood: Sort and stack members according to size, type, and length. Separate lumber,
engineered wood products, panel products, and treated wood materials. Wood is highly useful
in a wide variety of industrial processes including manufacturing of high recycled content
products. Wood is a valuable commodity and merits diversion. Wood waste can also be
processed to make feedstock for biomass and combined heat and power plants.
Concrete: Concrete is crushed, and embedded metals removed for recycling. Rock and
cement pieces are crushed, screened and separated to produce useful aggregates of various
dimensions. It is advisable to characterize painted concrete and concrete which has been
contaminated with wastes before recycling.
Window glass: Window glass is a nuisance material with a nominal value as a recyclable
commodity. Its relatively high weight per volume is a factor in restricting economical
transport. Window glass usually ends up in a landfill unless a recycler is located in the
vicinity of the diversion facility.
Asphalt roofing: Asphalt roofing shingles may be ground, sized and graded for remelting in
asphalt paving applications, road base, new roofing, and fuel oil. Asphalt shingles consist of
felt saturated with asphalt, and with mineral stabilizers and rock granules added.
Contaminants including metal items and any wood waste must be removed.
Piping: Reduce piping to straight lengths and store by type and size. Separate supports,
hangers, valves, sprinklers, and other components by type and size.
Examples.
Minimize waste
Some building-related waste can be minimized. For example, construction products can be
selected on the basis of its being designed and manufactured to be shipped with minimal
packaging. Also consider that selection and use of recyclable materials and products offers
potential to minimize waste
Incineration
This method is mainly used to dispose of the medical waste as well as chemical waste. In this
method, garbage is burnt at a high temperature in a special furnace called Incinerator. This
reduces large amounts of garbage into a small amount of ash which can be disposed of in the
landfill site. Advantages of Incineration It is the most suitable waste disposal method to
dispose of the medical and contaminated waste. Disadvantages of Incineration Energy is used
for burning which makes the method costly. It may lead to air pollution.
Eliminate Waste
Some waste generated in the process of construction can be eliminated. For example, durable
modular metal form systems for use in concrete construction may be selected on the basis of
being readily demountable and reusable on other projects, thus eliminating wood waste

8
associated with formwork fabricated of plywood and dimensional lumber. Elimination of
waste can be beneficial to reduce impacts on human health and the environment.
Landfilling
A low-lying Open area out of the city where garbage is collected and dumped is known as a
landfill. The garbage is loaded into the truck and dumped in the landfill. When that area is
fully covered with the garbage, it is covered with layers of soil. Now it can be converted into
a park or a playground. Advantages of Land-filling it is an easy method of waste disposal.
Disadvantages of Landfilling Garbage remains open for a long period of time. This can
attract flies and cause various diseases.
Reuse materials
Some materials can be reused. For example, doors and windows in good, resalable condition
might substitute for new products, or be donated and or sold for use on another project; a
form of beneficial reuse. Materials and products which cannot efficiently and effectively be
eliminated, minimized or reused ultimately are collected, and unless managed, will probably
be disposed at the lowest cost. In many areas of the country, disposal fees at solid waste
landfills are substantially higher than the cost of separation and recovery, including the
disposal cost for residues.

Question 02
a)Identify the durable construction materials in building sector and briefly discuss
the advantages and disadvantages of those.?

Durable construction materials in building sector

• Concrete made using recycled concrete or natural aggregates.
• Fiber reinforced polymer composites.
• stone
• plastic
• Synthetics
• Steel
• Composites
• Fiber glass
• Fiber cement

9
Advantages
• Natural stone is ecofriendly material.
• Natural stones like granite and slate are a very strong and impervious
material and durable countertops and floors can be made.
• Concrete can be cast into any shape and can withstand high temperature and
makes building fire safe due to its noncombustible nature
• Steel has high strength and has a easy fabrication in different sizes, fire
resistance
• Plastic is economically easy and don’t conduct electricity or heat and can be
molded into any shape.
• Composites are light in weight and inexpensive and provide good insulation for
the structure and save energy.
• Fiber glass gives super insulation
• Fiber cement are cheaper and has a good durability and has a good
resistance against fire.
• Demolished concrete can be recycled and can be used in new applications
and gives environmental benefits.

Disadvantages
• Stone has limited chemical and stain resistance and some stones are soft,
brittle, and very susceptible to chipping, developing cracks and breaking.
• Insulation measures need to be put in place to counteract the thermal
conductivity of steel.
• when considering concrete the tensile strength of concrete is relatively
low.
• When considering plastic, it is not biodegradable and raw material cost is
high and difficult to dispose.

10
 b) Identify five local materials which are in lower embedded energy. You may
compare those with current common materials used in the construction industry.
Embodied energy is the energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the
production of a building, from the mining and processing of natural resources manufacturing,
transport and product delivery. Embodied energy does not include the operation and disposal
of the building material, which would be considered in a life cycle approach. Embodied
energy is the ‘upstream’ or ‘frontend’ component of the life cycle impact of a home. Reuse of
building materials commonly saves about 95% of embodied energy that would otherwise be
wasted. However, some materials such as bricks and roof tiles may be damaged when reused.
Savings from recycling of materials for reprocessing varies considerably, with savings up to
95% for aluminum but only 20% for glass. Also, some reprocessing may use more energy,
particularly if long transport distances are involved.
Embodied energy (carbon) of a building material can be taken as the primary energy
consumed (carbon released) over its life cycle. We have to consider about extraction,
manufacturing and transportation stages of material. Local law embodies energy material are:

Table 1 Embodied energy for common building materials

Straw bale-
earlier times those are mostly use in rural areas. Total product life cycle it
consumes less carbon content. That’s mean low embodied energy. Now a day’s new building
construction technology use cement plaster instead of using straw bale. Cement plaster and
aluminum portions and consume high embodied energy than straw bale.in side the house or
building were cool in straw bale construction.in the steel and cement concrete construction
thermal comfort is also not good.
Adobe block-
those are today also used in construction industry. Total life cycle of those are also
contain low embodied energy. Due to reason of the design requirements and less availability

11
of raw material mostly use cement block for new construction. Cement blocks are consuming
high embodied than adobe block. Because it requires long production cycle sand more natural
resources.

Rammed earth
In Sri Lanka these concepts are use in since long times ago. Some kind of rural
villages now days also use those material for making walls. We call it for wattle and daub.
Life cycle of those wall contain low embodied energy. Can be able perform well when
considering the thermal comfort. But in new building construction commonly used to
making walls by cement brick and plaster with cement sand mixed layer. Which consume
higher embodied energy and comparatively less thermal comfort.

Roofing material (clay tiles)

Most of time we use for house roof covering by clay tiles. That make by
natural material of mud. Which contain law energy embodied. But asbestos and steel sheet
and concrete used for roof in new construction. That’s material comparatively uses
more energy embodied than clay tiles.

Timber-
Theoretically renewable material. Mostly used in building construction industry to
make roof, door and windows and furniture’s. These are Use low energy embodied thought
the life cycle. Newly constructions use plastic, steel plates like those things for as behalf of
wood. because of the design requirements and availability of material. But steel plates,
plastics is high energy embodied material than wood.

c)List and discuss the toxic construction materials use in Sri Lanka and identify
fewer toxic alternatives.

• Phthalates
These are the chemical compounds formed due to phthalic acid. Phthalates are
used to soften plastic materials. Several studies show that phthalates are very toxic to human
health.
• Volatile organic compounds
These are the atmospheric pollutants released from building materials which
contain organic solvents like paints and varnishes. The reduction of indoor ventilation to
minimize energy consumption.
• Asbestos-based materials

12
 Asbestos covers several mineral fibers with 5-mm length and 3mm in diameter such
as chrysotile, crocidolite, ammonite, anthrophyllite, trifoliate and actionlike. And it increases
the risk of cancers. Cement materials containing asbestos have a low toxicity risk but it is
also true that cement will lose its binding capacity under environmental erosion, and that
some cracking accidents could take place releasing asbestos fibers.

• Radioactive materials
Cause cancer formation. Some industrial by-products used for concrete
production such as phosphogypsum, some blast furnace slags and some fly ashes. Some
phosphogypsum possesses heavy metals and radioactive elements such as radium (226Ra),
lead (210Pb) and uranium (238U, 234U) that come from phosphate rocks. The use of
phosphogypsum with a concentration level of 370Bq/kg (in which 1Bq corresponds to 1
nuclear disintegration per second) has been prohibited since 1992 (EPA 1992).

• Lead plumbing
Lead plumbing is responsible for health problems, because a film of corrosion
products is formed on the pipe’s surface that eventually will be leached away.
 Extreme green board.
 American Rockwool
 Forever board
 Nontoxic tie bond weather master sealant.
 Wool insulation
 Structural insulation panels.
 Bio composites .

References
 https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/disposing-of-construction-waste/
 http://www.level.org.nz/material-use/minimising-waste/reuse-and-recycling/
 https://hipages.com.au/article/low_embodied_energy_building_materials
 https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/greenproducts/raise-the-roof
 https://www.constructionkenya.com/4426/dangerous-materials-construction/
 Akadiri, P.O.; Chinyio, E.A.; Olomolaiye, P.O. Design of A Sustainable Building: A
Conceptual Framework for Implementing Sustainability in the Building
Sector. Buildings 2012, 2, 126-152.

13