The latter aims to support companies in their efforts for careful disposal, facilitating the reuse of products, equipment and materials, as well as the reuse or recycling of construction waste.
Definition: Selective deconstruction consists of the careful dismantling of the structural elements of a building, carried out with a view to maximizing the reuse of recoverable materials, equipment and components. These practices, essential in demolition, renovation or rehabilitation projects, allow for a substantial reduction in waste and preservation of natural resources. Faced with environmental challenges and changing societal expectations, these reuse practices are now regaining a major place and are increasingly integrated into construction projects, both public and private.
Qualification 1162: a standard to structure the sector and guarantee traceability
The 1162 professional qualification is distinguished by rigorous technical criteria that ensure the competence and reliability of companies. To obtain it, companies must demonstrate their mastery of several essential aspects:
- Training and supervision of teams: The participants must be specifically trained in selective deconstruction and its technical and safety constraints.
- Suitable equipment: The company must have suitable equipment for the removal, protection and packaging of materials and products to be reused.
- Implementation of precise operating procedures: Qualified companies must be able to develop removal protocols adapted to each type of material and product.
- Traceability of Product, Equipment, Materials and Waste (PEMD) flows: Documented and transparent management of materials and waste is essential to guarantee monitoring until reuse, recycling or repurposing.
An initial audit of the company, including a site visit during construction, is required to obtain the qualification, in order to ensure compliance with health, safety and resource management requirements. This audit also ensures that qualified companies operate in line with market expectations in terms of sustainability, particularly when external or temporary service providers are involved.
A relevant selection criterion
The 1162 qualification offers project owners and project managers the guarantee of working with expert companies, capable of planning the deconstruction stages precisely and controlling material flows. By promoting traceability and optimal management of materials, it reduces unforeseen events and optimizes costs and construction deadlines, essential elements in responding to public and private calls for tender. It also makes it possible to meet the growing requirements for reuse, included in many sustainable construction labels.
A response to the challenges of reuse and new regulations
Reuse practices, already well established in tradition, are now being reactivated by regulatory texts such as RE 2020 and the AGEC law of 2020 (Anti-waste for a circular economy), but also by the objectives of the REP (Extended Producer Responsibility) sector applied to Building Construction Products and Materials (PMCB). The objective set by the latter is to increase the reuse rate to 5% of materials by 2028, compared to less than 1% currently, according to ADEME estimates in 2021.
To meet this ambition, the 1162 qualification offers a structured and professional framework allowing companies to stand out in selective deconstruction, a rapidly expanding field that is crucial for reducing the carbon footprint. Selective deconstruction also facilitates the reuse of bio-sourced materials and contributes to a more reasonable carbon footprint at the building scale.
In a context where the construction industry must meet the challenges of the ecological transition, the 1162 qualification represents a key tool for promoting reuse and enhancing the know-how of companies. It marks an important step towards more sustainable and resource-friendly construction, for the benefit of companies, project owners and the planet.