A peer-reviewed study by Katja Tähtinen, Aku Helin, Evgeny Parshintsev and Hanna Hovi, based on materials from the UURAKET project, examines the reuse of concrete products in building projects subject to permits and within the Finnish and European regulatory context. According to the findings, chemical hazards do not appear to constitute a general barrier to the reuse of concrete products originating from typical indoor environments. More often, potential chemical hazards are associated with attached or adjacent materials, such as coatings, or with substances absorbed into the concrete during use. The study highlights the need for clearer and more consistent regulatory interpretation and proposes a staged assessment approach to support safe and practically feasible reuse. The aim is not to increase unnecessary testing, but to identify the situations in which further investigation is genuinely needed. The article Reusing concrete products in indoor environments: chemical hazard assessment by Katja Tähtinen, Aku Helin, Evgeny Parshintsev and Hanna Hovi was published in English in Buildings & Cities in August 2026.
- Reusing concrete products in indoor environments: chemical hazard assessment | Buildings & Cities ↗︎
Chemical hazards do not automatically prevent reuse
Reusing construction products reduces the environmental impacts of construction and the consumption of natural resources. In indoor environments, however, reuse raises questions about substances and components used in products, hazardous substances attached to or absorbed into products during use, and the interpretation of regulatory obligations. Legislation and current practices provide limited guidance for these situations, particularly when products originate from older buildings and comprehensive information about them is not available.
According to the study, the relevance of hazardous substances in reuse depends on context and is linked to exposure conditions, not solely to the presence of substances. Chemical hazards can be assessed through a staged approach based on information about the building and product origin and use history, demolition audits and, where necessary, targeted assessments and investigations. This makes it possible to avoid routine laboratory testing in situations where there is no justified need for it. The empirical part of the study consists of more than 1,300 concrete material samples. The findings indicate that chemical emissions from concrete are generally low and decrease over time.
Clearer regulatory interpretation is needed
The study highlights the need to align chemical, construction and product-related legislation with the practical realities of construction product reuse. Chemical and product legislation is largely linked to placing products on the market and to the information required for them, whereas building regulation assesses the suitability and safety of a product in its intended use. In reuse, these regulatory perspectives intersect in ways that current procedures do not always address unambiguously. This can create interpretative uncertainty in the building permitting process and lead to unnecessary testing requirements or overly cautious decisions.
Based on the study, regulatory interpretation and application in reuse situations should be clarified, and assessment practices should be made more consistent. It is essential to consider the product’s origin, use history and exposure conditions. Improving the quality of demolition audits and strengthening information flow between the different stages and actors involved in reuse would also support safe reuse.
Although the study was carried out in the Finnish regulatory and operational context, the issues it identifies are internationally relevant, as regulatory gaps and uncertainties related to reuse also occur in other countries. Assessment that takes into account the use context and actual exposure conditions can support the reuse of construction products without compromising health and safety.
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Reusing concrete products in indoor environments: chemical hazard assessment | Buildings & Cities ↗︎
