About the toolkit
Steel is one of the most widely used and resource-intensive materials in construction. Although it is commonly recycled at the end of its life, even greater benefits can be achieved through reusing steel. Steel reuse offers up to 97% embodied carbon savings compared to using new steel and is ten times less carbon intensive than recycling.
In our previous DISRUPT I project, we explored steel reuse from the entire value chain perspective, developing business models for key supply chain actors and gathering case studies on steel reuse, among other outputs. The DISRUPT I Toolkit can be accessed here: DISRUPT Steel Reuse Toolkit.
Within DISRUPT II, we focused on the major challenge of steel reuse โ the limited availability of reclaimed steel from demolition. We worked closely with demolition contractors and established a Working Group on Steel Reuse in collaboration with our project partners, the Institute of Demolition Engineers and Cleveland Steel and Tubes.
The purpose of this toolkit is to provide guidance on recovering steel for reuse. It will be useful not only for demolition contractors but also for other stakeholders in the supply chain, helping them better understand the demolition industry and the challenges of recovering steel for reuse. Successful steel reuse requires a collaborative approach across the supply chain.
What is in the toolkit?
This section provides a range of resources intended to support projects involving the recovery of steel for reuse.
High level Steps for Managing Recovering Steel for reuse can be used by demolition contractors and other supply chain actors, particularly clients and design teams, to coordinate reuse efforts.
Deconstruction/Demolition approaches based on building types describe the variety of methods for recovering steel sections from buildings, depending on specific site conditions and practical considerationsโprogramme timeline, effort required, and subsequent material recovery rate. We encourage aiming for approaches that maximise material recovery rates, which can be facilitated by effective coordination and management.
Extra equipment that might be required for reuse is linked to deconstruction/demolition approaches; please note the red, amber, and green dots.
Guidance for a pre-demolition audit describes its purpose, what it involves, who should participate, and signposts existing UK and EU guidance for conducting pre-demolition audits.
This section helps determine which steel elements are worth recovering for reuse and which are currently less suitable. It includes a decision-making tree and specific acceptability criteria from leading UK steel stockholders, Cleveland Steel and Tubes, and EMR. A photographic library shows images of steels in situ and post-deconstruction/demolition, along with notes on their acceptability by steel stockholders. The section also includes notes on the reusability of various structural and non-structural steel elements.
Cost considerations are divided between projects where steel recovery is driven by clients and those driven by demolition contractors. Following the advice of the Working Group on Steel Reuse, we do not provide current cost figures, as they will quickly become outdated and are highly project-specific. Instead, we provide guidance on aspects that will impact the economics of recovering steel for reuse, with some approximate proportions where applicable.
Procurement guidance covers arrangements between demolition contractors and other actors in the supply chain and how these can be improved to promote steel reuse.
Guidance note on WLCA and limitations includes recommendations on assessing the carbon impact of reused steel. It also covers Module C and Module D aspects and signposts to carbon measurement conducted by certain demolition contractors and carbon targets set by developers.
Toolbox training/talk provides information on reuse specifically intended for demolition contractors.
Reporting portal. Based on discussions with demolition contractors, a key theme that emerged is the need for an easy-to-use platform to capture steel reuse statistics, and potentially data on other materials. Currently, there is no standardised system for recording this information, and contractorsโ methods can vary. This reporting portal offers a centralised platform, allowing data to be aggregated across projects.
A ย simple online portal has been developed as part of the DISRUPT II project to track tonnes of steel recovered for reuse from deconstruction/demolition projects in the UK. Information submitted will initially be kept on file by ASBP as a record but the medium term aim is to create a map of steel reuse projects and a number counter showing total tonnes of steel reused and carbon saved.
List of projects with steel reuse focuses on recent projects where reclaimed steel was incorporated. Please note that descriptions include details on demolition or donor buildings where relevant. The list does not include adaptive reuse projects.
Case studies are based on site visits, offering valuable learning points from real-life projects, describing deconstruction/demolition approaches, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
About DISRUPT II
Steel is one of the most widely used and resource intensive materials used in construction. Although commonly recycled at end of life, the reuse of steel is minimal despite the apparent environmental, carbon and circular economy benefits. The high value of steel at end of life can be realised by being reused in a wide range of construction applications.
One of the main barriers identified during the first DISRUPT project (see below) which is preventing the significant uptake of steel reuse is the lack of available material generated during refurbishment and demolition projects. There are a number of reasons for this including a lack of incentives to reuse rather than recycling, and the need for new enabling processes and business models.
DISRUPT II addresses this key barrier by working with the demolition industry, through one of the key sector bodies,ย The Institute of Demolition Engineers; one of the largest stockholders of reclaimed steel,ย Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd; and a number of demolition contractors from across the UK, to establish the crucial evidence that is needed to enable more steel to be reclaimed. This will be supported by the larger value chain โ clients, designers, engineers and contractors.
The project worked on real life projects in the demolition industry, and create new sector guidance on procurement, risk and programme management and pre-demolition audits. Opportunities for the reuse for non-structural construction products, such as staircases, fencing and shutters, will also be assessed.
A new material reuse โplatformโ has also been launched, running alongside the ASBPโs ongoingย Reuse Now campaign, to share knowledge and increase awareness of the significant environmental, financial and social benefits of material reuse in the construction industry. The platform will play a key role in fostering engagementย between the design, engineering and demolition communities.
DISRUPT II aims to ensure a readily available supply of reclaimed steel, fulfilling a circular economy approach and helping the construction industry on the road to net zero.
With thanks to our funders and supporters
The project has received funding via Innovate UKโs Circular Economy for SMEs competition, in collaboration with the NICER programme, a four-year ยฃ30 million investment from UKRI consisting of one hub and five specialist research centres aiming to grow the circular economy community through a significant programme of outreach and collaboration. The project received a letter of support from theย Interdisciplinary Centre for CircularMetal.
Find out more
For enquiries about the DISRUPT project, please contact Richard Broad, Project Manager – richard@asbp.org.uk.