Classification of connections and joints in buildings for sustainability (CCJB-S): a provisional scheme

Abstract

It is well-established that connections and joints in buildings (CJB) might constraint the recovery of building materials and components for reuse and recycling through irreversible assembling methods and contamination of materials, thus increasing construction waste. To uncover the framework and main concepts regarding building materials circularity (BMC) related to properties of CJB, a literature review was performed. It resulted in a claim for a context to discuss the properties of CJB that goes beyond BMC aspects and that can be provided by the sustainability framework for it has both the social and cultural roots, besides the environmental and economical ones that circularity already intends to address. This paper presents the first step in providing an updated knowledge organization system on CJB to assist in CJB design that comprises the sustainability framework and that is comprehensive by accommodating multiple solutions of CJB: the classification of connections and joints in buildings for sustainability (CCJB-S).