Certified circular demolition: more environmental benefit, more clout

Interest in circular demolition is growing. It is a development that is not only a consequence of the constantly rising prices and often long delivery times of scarce raw materials. The increasingly sharp focus on sustainability, the environment and CO2 reduction, among other things, is also increasing interest in this specific dismantling method. Through testing and certification, the Geldermalsen-based Normec Certification offers further added value around the circular demolition of buildings. Arjen Werkmeester, commercial director of Normec Assurance, explains.

The independent Normec continuously builds the highest quality of work and life for everyone. With all expertise under one roof, the company relieves clients from A to Z in the areas of testing, inspection, compliance and certification. The goal: to enable organizations to operate, innovate and improve more safely, quickly and (cost) efficiently. The latter discipline is the specialty of Normec Certification, which as a full-fledged business unit of Normec Group is considered the largest and leading certification body in our country. A qualification that the knowledge partner rightly holds, according to Arjen Werkmeester. "In recent years we have grown from eight to about fifty in-house auditors who can offer no less than 34 different schemes under accreditation, including ISO 9001, SCL, CO2 Performance Ladder, ISO 27001 and ISO 14001. A very extensive and varied package that makes us a prominent player in certification country." 

Supplement

One of the certifications to be obtained through Normec Certification, is the BRL SVMS-007. "With this, demolition companies, contractors and environmental engineering companies, among others, demonstrate that they carefully prepare demolition projects and guarantee their safe and environmentally responsible execution," Werkmeester said. "But if the requirements are a step higher and the client decides that an object must be demolished in a circular way, then it is advisable for the demolishing party to opt for a supplement to the BRL SVMS-007: the Regulation Verification Circular Demolition Project. With this, the demolisher confirms that he is taking a circular approach to the project and is committed to a high-quality reuse of at least 90% of the released materials. All this is assessed by our specialists during an audit conducted in parallel with the demolition. This covers both the physical execution and the administrative processing and repurposing of the waste stream. Compliance with the applicable guidelines can lead to a certificate. A valuable piece, however, that is valid only once. In fact, the certificate must be requested for each individual demolition project. But then you have a document that really makes a difference in terms of sustainability and costs."