Because there are more and more materials with recycled content coming on to the market it is possible to select recycled options for a very high proportion, or even for all of the materials required for a new housing development. However, the following are likely to be the most common qualities looked for in selecting a recycled material and therefore covered by the searchable database on this site:
Additional relevant information given on this page covers:
| Quality and Durability | |
Quality and durability are vital aspects of building materials. For some recycled materials such as bricks, slates or timber, appearance will not be good-as-new, but will be compensated for by other aspects of quality. For others, such as ‘plastic’ wood used as interior or exterior trim, durability will be as good or better than the conventional product, but aspects such as behaviour when exposed to UV light and methods of fixing need to be checked.
The existence of certification by a reliable authority will clearly be a pointer to quality, and if there is none the manufacturer should be contacted for advice.
| Certification | |
Many recycled products conform either to a manufacturing or performance standard, generally British or European (denoted as BS - British Standard or EN - European Norm), or to a specific British Board of Agrement (BBA) standard for building products. They may also be certified by a European building technology agency if manufactured in Europe.
The availability of these standards (and of the relevant literature giving the technical context) is generally a reliable guide to performance. Where there is no certification, there may be no relevant standard applicable to new and innovative products. In this case the manufacturer should be asked for advice information.
| Guarantees | |
It is recommended to check whether the manufacturer offers a guarantee for the product, and for how long. Sometimes guarantees are offered for particular applications, and this can be checked direct with the manufacturer
| Insurance | |
Most new housing developments have insurance backing from one of the three major specialist providers - NHBC, Zurich Municipal and Building Life Plans (successor to HAPAM).
National House-Building Council (NHBC) requires materials used in the construction of new homes to be fit for their purpose. NHBC standard, Technical Requirement R3, provides some guidance on situations where reclaimed materials may be used. Where reclaimed materials are proposed, NHBC will only accept them with prior agreement and should be consulted at the earliest opportunity. Where appropriate, independent certification, to establish suitability, may be required.
Zurich Municipal require the provision of sufficient information and evidence of third party accreditation before they are able to approve the use of recycled materials. Reclaimed materials need to be approved by on-site inspection. Their Building Guarantee Technical Manual provides guidance on the above issues.
Building LifePlans are interested in promoting the use of re-used and recycled materials as long as these are fit for purpose. They will make a decision on whether to offer insurance cover based on correct design and construction to good standards, and on the merits of individual materials. In order to review new materials they will require as much information as possible on the material's characteristics. Building Life Plans produce a Component Life Manual, available from them, which assigns a life to most construction components, including some made from re-used and recycled materials.
| Environmental impact covered by the database | |
(More information on the environmental impacts of some common construction materials can be found in the Environmental Impacts section listed in the menu to the left.)
Environmental impact will probably be a real consideration to users of this website. The product search categories, rating methodology and case studies are all useful in guiding the specifier in this area. In the database the specifier will find information on the following aspects:
This information is not complete, as we are dependent on manufacturers or distributors for information. However in many cases it is possible to get additional technical information from manufacturers or distributors.
There is a substantial number of products in the database with a recycled content of 80 to 100% available for specifiers interested in this aspect of environmental protection.
| Cost / value for money | |
Cost details are given in the database; different recycled products can be more expensive or cheaper than the conventional item. Where they are more expensive, this may be because as a new product, they are not yet being ordered in sufficient volume to bring the price down. An additional factor is that discounts may be available for bulk purchasing.
In life cycle cost terms products may in fact be cheaper over their full life because they need to be replaced less frequently, or need less cleaning or maintenance.
| Obtaining the product | |
A factor to be taken into account is that recycled products may only be available direct from the manufacturer rather than through builders’ merchants. However, many products on the database are available ex-stock within a short time after ordering; products made outside the UK generally have a distributor in this country.
In all cases an address and telephone number are provided for manufacturers or distributors. In most cases, a named contact, an e-mail and a website address are available. For most products, literature including technical data, installation and case studies is available either by post or via a website.
For re-used materials not easily available, it may be worth considering Salvo, the national re-used materials information service, to source them, for which a charge may be made.
| Installation | |
Where products are unfamiliar or, as in the case of sheet plastic for interior fittings, require cutting to size with special tooling, we have endeavoured to ensure that the information has been provided on the website. Often, manufacturers and distributors provide information on installation, or will install the product themselves where necessary.
| Re-used and Recycled Materials | |
A distinction is normally drawn between re-used and recycled materials.
Re-used materials are those which are recovered from the waste stream and put back into use with minimal or no re-processing. Examples include bricks, which require removal of any adhering mortar and inspection for cracks before re-incorporation in masonry walling, or timber doors, which may only require simple repairs.
Recycled materials are those which require re-processing before re-use, either as a primary material such as aluminium, or as a secondary material. An example of the latter is rubber floor tiling made from crumbed motor vehicle tyres.
Re-use materials are preferred in environmental terms because energy, resource use, and often energy used in transport, are less than is the case with recycled materials.
| Database Product Selection Criteria | |
The selection criteria used for inclusion of products on this website are as follows: