ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Since economy and the corresponding demand on resources is growing continuously for centuries, civilization has to deal with the planetary boundaries. Point 12 of the SDG's (Sustainable Development Goals) of the United Nations includes the target to achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by 2030. To reach this goal, the building industry needs to become more sustainable, too. The improvement of reassessment and maintenance procedures for existing structure is an important part to reduce waste and save natural resources. Besides, the preservation of existing structures is of cultural interest. Current Eurocodes are focused on the construction of new structures. If no national recommendations exist, CEN member countries need to apply the principles of EN 1990:2010-12 together with load and material specific codes for the verification of load-bearing capacities of existing structures. However, these codes do not contain recommendations for existing structures, e.g. how to include information gained in situ. In this contribution, an assessment scheme is presented that allows a stepwise evaluation of existing structures taking into account this information. The application of this concept is illustrated by a structural example. The concept has been developed for timber structures but is also applicable to other construction materials in principle.
