Design for Disassembly and Adaptability (DfD/A) is a sustainability approach that can help extend the lifespan of buildings, reduce generation of construction waste at the end-of-life and reduce construction’s footprint as well. This study qualitatively assesses six light wood-frame exterior wall assemblies designed for thermal performance. The assemblies studied are typical of low- and mid-rise wood buildings.
Results indicate that the exterior wall systems tested against the evaluation grid have a score of 15 points out of 40 points. Mere focus on thermal performance with no attention to deconstruction of components at the end-of-life is the reason for the poor score received from the evaluation. Findings indicate the need for incorporating DfD/A principles at the early-design stages of systems.