BCRC Durability Design in the Circular Economy

The built environment encompasses all spaces and structures created by humans for human use, forming a dynamic setting in which assets are continuously built, operated, maintained, and eventually renewed or replaced.

Each asset within this environment undergoes a complete lifecycle comprising five distinct phases: designing and planning, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and ultimately, renovation or demolition.

Durability Design as a Core Principle of the Circular Economy

By strategically embedding sustainability at every stage of this lifecycle, we can better embrace the principles of a circular economy—minimising waste, reducing embodied carbon, and maximising resource efficiency.

Central to achieving these circular economy goals is Durability Engineering, which ensures assets remain functional, resilient, and environmentally sustainable for generations to come.

The circular economy in construction prioritises resource efficiency, material reuse, and lifecycle optimisation. Durability engineering ensures that structures are designed to maximise service life, reducing the need for premature repairs, replacements, and demolitions. This approach helps conserve raw materials and minimises environmental impact.

Key aspects include:

1. Advanced Material Selection – Using high-performance concrete, incorporating supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like GGBS and fly ash, and implementing technologies to reduce and delay the corrosion of reinforcements.
2. Optimised Design – developing the tailored design to the specific operational, environmental, and structural needs of the asset, implementing methodologies such as probabilistic durability design and carbonation/chloride ingress modelling to predict deterioration mechanisms and mitigate risks.
3. Lifecycle Thinking – Designing structures with maintenance, adaptability, and end-of-life material recovery in mind.

Durability Engineering: Extending Infrastructure Life for a Circular Economy

Durability engineers apply a range of strategies to enhance circularity in the built environment, including:

1. Design for Longevity and Resilience

1. Implementing methodologies such as probabilistic durability design and carbonation/chloride ingress modelling to predict deterioration mechanisms, mitigate risks and optimise design choices.
2. Low-permeability concrete and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash and slag can enhance durability and reduce carbon emissions.
3. Employing cathodic protection and corrosion inhibitors to mitigate steel reinforcement deterioration.

2. Preventative Maintenance and Structural Health Monitoring

1. Integrating smart monitoring systems (IoT sensors, AI-driven diagnostics) to detect deterioration early and extend service life.
2. Conducting regular condition assessments to implement timely interventions, reducing the need for major repairs or replacement.

3. Adaptive Reuse and Retrofit Solutions

1. Strengthening existing structures with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and other retrofit solutions instead of demolishing and rebuilding.
2. Enhancing fire and seismic resilience through targeted upgrades to extend usability and safety.

4. Material Recovery and Circular Deconstruction

1. Designing for disassembly and reuse, allowing for easier recovery of high-value materials at the end of a structure’s lifecycle.

Promoting recycled aggregates and reclaimed concrete to minimise the environmental impact of demolition

Durability Engineering’s Impact on Sustainability and Carbon Reduction

Durability engineering significantly reduces embodied carbon in construction by extending the usable lifespan of structures, thereby minimising the frequency of repairs, replacements, and new construction. Through advanced design strategies, engineers can create lighter, stronger structures using less concrete and steel, directly reducing initial material use and embodied emissions. Additionally, incorporating high-durability concrete, which includes supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash, slag, and silica fume, further enhances structural resilience while significantly lowering carbon emissions associated with concrete production.

Moreover, the proactive use of repair and retrofit technologies, including Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) and corrosion mitigation techniques such as cathodic protection, extends the life of existing structures. These methods help prevent premature deterioration and avoid the environmental impact of demolition and reconstruction.

Overall, durability engineering provides a clear pathway to sustainable development by ensuring buildings and infrastructure remain functional and safe for longer periods, significantly decreasing their lifecycle environmental footprint and advancing the principles of a circular economy.

BCRC- Durability and the Circular Economy

At BCRC, we are committed to driving innovation in durability engineering, ensuring that the built environment aligns with the circular economy. Our expertise in durability design, material performance, and lifecycle assessment helps future-proof infrastructure while promoting sustainability. As the industry moves towards a more circular approach, durability will remain at the core of resilient and resource-efficient construction.

By integrating advanced materials, predictive maintenance, adaptive reuse, and deconstruction strategies, the industry can significantly reduce waste, lower embodied carbon, and build a sustainable future.

BCRC integrates durability and circular economy principles, shaping a more resilient and environmentally responsible built environment.