Aspects of a steel-framed building’s life cycle that influence its environmental sustainability

Abstract

The assessment of the environmental impact caused throughout the life cycle of a structure is a major step towards optimizing its sustainability. Based on methodologies such as life cycle assessment, these calculations can be used to determine the life cycle stages -as well as the very processes or materials-that are responsible for the largest environmental impacts. It is then in the hands of those carrying out the construction works to incorporate this knowledge into standard project delivery with the aim to minimize environmental impacts and ultimately increase the sustainability of the construction sector. This research aims to materialize this prospect by investigating the environmental impact caused by the life cycle of a steel-framed building in order to determine the aspects that significantly influence its sustainability. An existing building is selected as the basis of the calculations and the influence of several factors is assessed through the results that are obtained. The conclusions drawn highlight the issues that affect the environmental sustainability of steel construction, while also furthering knowledge concerning the determination of factors and criteria that can be used as the basis for recommendations that can be applied to similar projects is produced.