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- Design for disassembly
- NPS® Flex
NPS® Flex
The future of construction: our demountable version of NPS® beams and columns designed according to the Design for Disassembly principle. With NPS® Flex, we have made NPS® products – already fully recyclable – into reusable construction elements.
The joint is separated from the concrete casting, so that the beam and the column can be easily separated from each other and reused. NPS® Flex facilitates the disassembly and reuse of NPS® elements, increases the value of the building and supports the achievement of a ‘Cradle to Cradle‘ building.
Beyond recycling:
NPS Flex® designed to be disassembled and reused
Buildings are responsible for approximately 40 per cent of global energy consumption and 33 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
1 Construction and demolition waste accounts for 25-30 per cent of all waste generated in the EU. 2 The construction industry accounts for up to 60 per cent of all raw materials employed globally, including minerals, metals and wood. 3 Taken together, data and research suggest that the construction industry has a significant impact on global resource use, but also offers significant opportunities to improve sustainability through building design, construction and operation practices.
In this scenario, there is an urgent need to move the circular economy beyond recycling towards Design for re-assembly. Demountable structural systems that allow the re-use of structural elements are an option.
The composite action of steel and concrete optimises the structural properties of the two materials. However, employed are connectors embedded in the concrete in situ. This makes deconstruction time-consuming and energy – intensive.
With NPS Flex® we have developed a steel-concrete composite solution designed to be disassembled, making the building elements reusable.
1 Source: International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook, 2019 // 2 Source: European Commission, EU Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol, 2016 // 3 Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Global Material Flows and Resource Productivity, 2016
Further benefits beyond raw material recycling
In addition to the advantages of standard NPS® structures, NPS Flex® offers even more efficient management of structures in their end-of-life phase.
Here are some reasons why:
- Waste reduction: Design for Disassembly allows the building design process to start at an early stage and be integrated into the entire building life cycle. NPS Flex® enables the reuse of structures and not just their downcycling. This reduces potential future waste disposal costs and the burden on the community where the building is located, contributing to the conservation of resources
- Reducing costs and maintaining the value of the building: when a building is designed with NPS Flex® it can be more cost-effective to remove and reuse structures, as the process is simpler and requires less labour. This value comes from the reduction in adaptation and removal costs incurred by a future owner. In addition, it makes it easier to maintain components and to activate leasing and take-back systems.
- Achieve higher sustainability goals: many countries and organisations have set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The NPS Flex® designed for disassembly helps achieve these goals and demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability.
- Flexibility: NPS Flex® allows greater flexibility in the future use of a building, particularly for speculative building types with high changes in the use of interior spaces or for owner-occupiers’ needs to adapt buildings to accommodate future changes. When occupants’ needs change, the building can be more easily reconfigured, adapted or dismantled to create new spaces or buildings.
Comparison NPS® Features
|
NPS® Flex |
NPS® System | |
|---|---|---|
| NATIVE FEATURES | ||
| 40% faster construction time* | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-supporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seismic resistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated fire resistance | ✓ | |
| Slim-Floor solution | ✓ | ✓ |
| Standard spans up to 15 m | ✓ | ✓ |
| Slimmer column sections* | ✓ | ✓ |
| Functional flexibility | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suitable for wiring | ✓ | ✓ |
| EXECUTION FEATURES | ||
| Only 3 people for installation | ✓ | ✓ |
| 5 minutes to install a beam | ✓ | ✓ |
| 8 minutes to erect a column | ✓ | ✓ |
| Almost none temporary material on site | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy maintenance of components | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESG FEATURES | ||
| Made with recycelted steel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Environmelntal Product Declaration | In Progress | ✓ |
| Contribute to DGNB or LEED | ✓ | ✓ |
| 100% recyclable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reducing potential future recycling costs | ✓ | - |
| Reusable in new buildings | ✓ | - |
| Optimised impact of D Life Cycle Stage | ✓ | - |
| Enabling product leasing and take-back systems | ✓ | - |
* Compared to on-site concrete solutions
2016: Supply of the first demountable NPS® structures
In recent years, Tecnostrutture has already supplied NPS® demountable structures.
Examples include the fully demountable single-storey building supplied in 2016. The NPS® columns and beams were placed between two existing buildings.
The following year, in 2017, we supplied the NPS® demountable structure for an industrial building.
Both projects are located in northern Italy, near Padua.
2021- 2022: Master's thesis on Design for Disassembly and NPS®
The master’s thesis on ‘End-of-Life Deconstruction of Composite Structures’ (University of Genoa) focused on the deconstruction of steel-concrete composite structures.
In particular, it was studied how the deconstruction of NPS® structures by Tecnostrutture was carried out so far.
Limits and advantages were analysed with the aim of improving the design of composite structures to optimise their end-of-life phase.
Master’s thesis written by Mohamad Khalil, supervisor Prof. Chiara Calderini. Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Course.
2022: Development of NPS FLEX®
The main points addressed during the development of the new product are:
- Complete reusability of the individual elements at the end of the building’s life cycle
- structural efficiency, durability of the structure and optimisation of the steel/concrete ratio
- Conversion of the building for different purposes and flexibility of use
- Complete hybrid structure for full integration with other materials such as wood
- Efficiency on site
The solution developed is NPS Flex®. A complete industrialised construction system designed for the disassembly and reuse of all structural elements at the end of the building’s life.
The special features of NPS Flex® are three:
- Reusable structural elements
- High potential in phase D of the LCA
- Maintaining the value of the building
These new advantages are in addition to the standard features of NPS® such as long spans, reduction of raw materials compared to traditional solutions, high percentage of recycled material, solution in slab thickness and integrated fire and earthquake resistance.
2023: Real life testing and patent
NPS Flex® is a complete, industrialised construction system designed for the disassembly and reuse of all structural elements at the end of a building’s life.
The system consists of NPS® composite beams with integrated fire resistance up to 120 minutes and NPS® Slim composite steel-concrete columns.
The beam-column connection system can be easily dismantled as required by simply acting on a few bolts provided during construction. The bolted system stabilises structures both during erection and throughout the life of the structure.
A connection system between the beams and the floors is provided by inserting shaped ribbed reinforcements.
The transmission of vertical forces is completely absorbed by the beam-to-column bolted system. Horizontal actions, such as wind, on the other hand, are delegated to bracing structures that can be built on site such as stairwell partitions or by a metal bracing system typical of normal steel structures.
2023: Market launch of NPS FLEX®
NPS Flex® is now available for use in your next projects.
The reusable NPS Flex structure® offers a unique and sustainable solution for building construction. Easy to assemble, it can be moved fast and offers a wide range of design possibilities. Customisable to the specific requirements of a particular project, it is suitable for a variety of application areas: from residential to office and tertiary. This makes NPS Flex® the ideal choice for those who want to greatly reduce the environmental impact of the structure, counting on flexible, high-quality and durable elements.
Start using NPS Flex®