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Lack of Representation in Regulations potentials to contribute to a more sustainable built environment
Necessary incentives and motivations do not exist for the through material reuse and increased carbon storage capacities.
construction sector to implement DfD in composite systems, Finding solutions to the challenges raised in this paper requires
partially because DfD principles are not included in building a multidisciplinary approach toward the design, construction,
codes and other relevant regulations. and deconstruction of TCC foors. For this, some of the actions
Currently, an overview of the design for disassembly and that might be needed are listed below:

adaptability principles is available in ISO 20887:2020, and its • The potential benefts of DfD in TCC foors that are listed
relevance to timber buildings has been recently examined. in this paper should be investigated to see whether these
However, although it is a commendable guideline, ISO benefts are achievable in practice. Future studies on this
20887:2020 is still quite general and does not provide any subject should consider both the cost and environmental
specifc standards regarding the expected performance levels. benefts of the deconstruction approaches discussed in this
paper and compare them to the conventional demolition
Lack of Awareness and Resistance to Change approach.
A lack of awareness is an important barrier to the implementation • Versatile deconstructable TCC connectors should be
of circular economy practices in the construction sector. This developed that can be used for various construction

can also affect the adoption of DfD in TCC structures. methods and foor confgurations. Although previous
In this regard, DfD principles are currently not represented research works on deconstructable TCC connectors have
extensively, even in higher education. Therefore, future decision focused on the use of screws, such connectors should be
makers, including designers or engineers, might graduate integrated into a system that can deliver higher stiffness
with limited knowledge of DfD and its relevance to different and higher strength, e.g., by combining them with a notch
structures. This might contribute to increased resistance to connector.
change in the construction sector, where designers typically • Commercialisation should be considered for deconstructable

prefer to use traditional design approaches. TCC connectors developed in the scientifc literature to
increase market accessibility. Furthermore, future research
Relevance to Practical Implementation should try to minimise the additional cost associated with
The discussions provided in this opinion paper should promote the use of deconstructable connectors, e.g., by reducing
and raise awareness about the importance of applying circular the complexity of the proposed connection systems.
economy practices in the construction sector, with emphasis • To create the required incentives and confdence amongst
on the use of DfD in composite systems such as TCC foors builders, integrating the DfD principles into building codes
to prevent major waste management issues at the end of and/or relevant legislation should be considered. Establishing
service life. legislation, grading standards, and product certifcations

Despite representing the authors’ viewpoints, the stated for salvaged timber materials could also promote DfD in
challenges against DfD in TCC foors and various end-of-life TCC foors.
reuse scenarios discussed here could serve as a catalyst for • In addition to the above aspects, it is important to
future research and development programs on the subject. raise further awareness amongst the next generation of
designers and engineers in relation to the implementation
Outlook of DfD practices in TCC foors of DfD. FDM
Overall, applying DfD practices in TCC foors offers several ENQUIRY NO. 1302