Second life for pre-stressed concrete hollow core slabs – time to act

The construction sector contributes to approximately 50% of global carbon dioxide emissions and natural resource consumption, along with generating a significant amount of landfill waste. Thus, there is an urgent need to actively involve our professional community in fostering real environmental change. Embracing circularity in construction presents significant opportunities for decarbonization, particularly in the context of prestressed precast concrete structures. This paper explores the potential for reusing prestressed hollow core slabs already built-in, as well as the principles of designing for future dismantling and reassembly. A second life for hollow core slabs is possible, as has already been confirmed by practical realisations in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland.