ABSTRACT
When it comes to the end-of-lifetime, buildings are mostly not interesting anymore for engineers. From the engineering point of view, it may be interesting to analyze, if deconstruction or refurbishment as an alternative could be taken into account. The demolition process itself seems to be relatively easy to handle. In fact, this is wrong. Demolition techniques and the management of construction and demolition waste of buildings are key issues in the development of sustainable construction. Prevention, reuse and recycling are the basic approaches to waste management. Demolition techniques which have hitherto been unsafe, dangerous and uncontrolled are today developing into an engineering discipline. Thus demolition of buildings is now a well-planned part of civil engineering with many aspects to ensure a safe demolition phase. Well engineered projects can influence on costs, on duration and on the impacts of a project.
