Fundamental Fund (FF) 2025
Study on the Implementation of Circular Economy within the Thai Construction Industry Supply Chain via Digital Technology Integration
Full project details will be published soon.
Assessment of Material Reusability for Existing Buildings to Achieve Circular Economy in Construction
Fundamental Fund (FF) 2026
The Thai construction industry's reliance on a linear "take, make, dispose" model drives significant resource depletion and waste. Transitioning to Circular Economy (CE) by reusing and upcycling building materials is essential to meet global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8.4, 12.2, 12.5). However, widespread material reuse is hindered by technical, economic, and regulatory barriers, including high deconstruction costs, lack of certification standards, and uncertain cost-benefit outcomes. Furthermore, current research primarily focuses on downcycling (e.g., crushing concrete) rather than systematically assessing the pre-deconstruction reusability of structural components. To address this gap, this study develops a comprehensive framework to assess building material reusability prior to demolition. By analyzing material quality, extraction methods, and insights from expert interviews, this research provides actionable guidelines to optimize resource efficiency and accelerate CE adoption in Thailand.
Assessment of Material Reusability for Existing Buildings to Achieve Circular Economy in Construction
Background
The global construction sector, particularly in rapidly developing regions like Thailand, is a massive driver of resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions, heavily exacerbated by the 30 billion tons of concrete produced annually. Transitioning to Circular Economy (CE)—through strategies like reusing building components and recycling crushed concrete—is essential to mitigate these environmental impacts. While government regulations and financial incentives are proven drivers for CE adoption, widespread industry shift is currently paralyzed by financial uncertainty. Specifically, the high processing costs and quality concerns associated with recycled concrete make its economic profitability unclear. Therefore, further research is urgently needed to evaluate the economic viability of concrete reuse and to overcome the financial barriers hindering CE implementation.
Objectives
- To explore building materials, including their characteristics, that can be reused for new building construction
- To explore factors that can be used for assessing reusability of building materials
- To develop an assessment framework to determine the reusability of building materials of the existing buildings
- To test the framework with case studies in Bangkok, Thailand
Literature Review
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Methodology
- Review existing literature to pinpoint the material traits and critical factors that facilitate successful building material reuse
- Select and interview experienced industry professionals (owners, consultants, designers, demolition contractors) to validate literature findings and gather real-world perspectives on upcycling
- Analyze interview data to identify common themes, barriers, and enablers regarding material reuse in the industry
- Develop a practical, adaptable assessment framework that evaluates material condition, structural integrity, and regulatory compliance for upcycling in new designs
- Apply the developed framework to an existing building case study to test its practical effectiveness and make necessary refinements
- Summarize findings and provide actionable industry recommendations
Results
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Analysis
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Recommendations
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Conclusion
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Research Team
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Fundamental Fund (FF) 2025
Reusability Assessment of Structural Steel in Existing Buildings
This study proposes a mixed-methods framework—combining Nondestructive Testing (NDT), Destructive Testing (DT), and expert surveys—to standardize the reusability assessment of structural steel. Validated on a 19-year-old, 1,900 m² warehouse in Thailand, NDT revealed structural irregularities caused by environmental wear and aggressive demolition. Subsequent DT tensile testing (benchmarked against ASTM, TIS, and Eurocode 3) confirmed that five major structural sections retained standard mechanical properties, whereas slender cold-formed sections failed due to severe geometric thinning. Ultimately, this framework provides actionable guidelines to advance sustainable infrastructure and Circular Economy adoption in Thailand.
Fundamental Fund (FF) 2025
Reusability Assessment of Materials and Components of Existing Buildings
This study explores the potential for reusing materials from end-of-life buildings in Thailand under the Circular Economy framework. Through stakeholder interviews, the research identifies key barriers to adoption, including the absence of legal frameworks, insufficient economic incentives, and low consumer trust. To overcome these challenges, the study proposes actionable recommendations—such as establishing reuse-specific legislation, promoting Design for Disassembly, and offering financial incentives—to transition material reuse from isolated efforts into a standardized, sustainable practice across the Thai construction industry.