Disassembly

Dis is a Latin prefix meaning apart, so disassembly simply means to take something apart.

In construction terms PAS 1192-2:2013: Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling (BIM), defines assembly as: 'Group of components or types to enable the reuse of standardised design or specification elements improving productivity of design and delivery as well as providing a location to hold specifications and lessons learnt in a simple and useable way. They may hold benchmark data for cost and carbon impacts. The contents of assemblies may themselves have attributes and classifications. These properties may include key data which is attached (to the object) for use once it is placed into a model and may include cost, CO2, programme, maintenance and other key information.'

So disassembly can mean to take apart a building or component. This is important when considering the recycling or reuse of materials and the circular economy, as different elements may be reusable or if recycled the parts need to be separated by materials. Design for disassembly ( also called design for deconstruction) is a design approach that tries to consider and design a building to allow for easier disassembly and therefore reclaiming, reuse and recycling at the end of the buildings useful life.

For more information see: Design for disassembly.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Assembly area.
• Assembly and recreation definition.
• Assembly building.
• Assembly drawing.
• Design for deconstruction.
• Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA).
• Modular buildings.
• Modern methods of construction.
• Preassembly.
• Plug and play skyscrapers.
• Pod.
• Volumetric modular construction.
• Volumetric unit.
• Reassembly.
• Self-assembly.