A Scoping Review and Reference Model for Circularity of Engineered Wood Products

Abstract Timber reuse is increasingly positioned as a strategy to meet rising demand for timber in construction while reducing environmental impacts. Engineered wood products (EWPs) offer considerable potential because of their structural performance and dimensional stability. However, uncertainty regarding in-service degradation, particularly exposure to moisture, limits confidence in their suitability for high-value reuse at end of life. Although circular timber research widely emphasises design for disassembly, condition verification during the use phase remains insufficiently integrated into reuse frameworks. This scoping review analyses 35 publications to examine how moisture-related risks are addressed in circular timber construction. Moisture is widely acknowledged as a durability risk, but it is not routinely monitored in a way that supports reuse decision-making. Digital tools such as BIM, Digital Product Passports, material passports, and sensors are often proposed but remain weakly connected to condition-based decision-making. To synthesise these insights, this review develops a reference model structured around four domains: Digitalisation and Traceability, Disassembly Potential, Material Integrity, and Systemic Enablers. The model explicitly integrates in-situ moisture performance into circular timber frameworks by linking documented material condition to reuse confidence. The findings highlight the need to integrate long-term monitoring and data continuity into timber reuse workflows, providing a structured basis for reuse decisions informed by verified performance data.