02-04-2021, 11:22 AM
1
Disposables
Can't remember whether it was the razor blade or the bottle top which is considered to be the first purposely designed disposable object.But when one watches programs showing massive buildings and machinery which only lasted a few short years before they were abandoned, and when one looks at other buildings and houses which lasted a mere few decades before they were left to decay or were pulled down and replaced, one cannot but wonder just how bad built-in obsolescence or failure to consider useful life expectancy has become.
Surely the human race can do better than that.
02-04-2021, 11:31 AM
2
Re: Disposables
I quite agree Spitty. About a year ago we bought a kitchen recycling bin (not cheap) which had a ten year guarantee. A few weeks ago, the catch broke ( A tiny plastic lug broke). Unfortunately they no longer supply the part so the whole lot had to be binned (excuse the pun). They did send us a new one to be fair but the whole thing was useless because of a small piece of plastic.
02-04-2021, 11:53 AM
3
Re: Disposables
Originally Posted by Longdogs
->
I quite agree Spitty. About a year ago we bought a kitchen recycling bin (not cheap) which had a ten year guarantee. A few weeks ago, the catch broke ( A tiny plastic lug broke). Unfortunately they no longer supply the part so the whole lot had to be binned (excuse the pun). They did send us a new one to be fair but the whole thing was useless because of a small piece of plastic.
Spec savers mate!.....😂🤣😅
02-04-2021, 12:31 PM
5
Re: Disposables
Originally Posted by Dextrous63
->
Can't remember whether it was the razor blade or the bottle top which is considered to be the first purposely designed disposable object.But when one watches programs showing massive buildings and machinery which only lasted a few short years before they were abandoned, and when one looks at other buildings and houses which lasted a mere few decades before they were left to decay or were pulled down and replaced, one cannot but wonder just how bad built-in obsolescence or failure to consider useful life expectancy has become.
Surely the human race can do better than that.
But why? Take the electric lightbulb. Typical life is around 1500 hours.
It COULD be very much more but the profit comes from selling THEM.
Same sorta thing with buildings. A building has a mission life. That affects so very much. Where's the profit from the market if the market requirement is for a building that will be unwanted after (say) 30 years? Why build one with a mission life of 60 years before major maintenance work or rebuild will be needed?
IT'S HOW BUSINESS WORKS, GRASSHOPPER!
02-04-2021, 12:38 PM
6
Re: Disposables
Originally Posted by The Artful Todger
->
But why? Take the electric lightbulb. Typical life is around 1500 hours.It COULD be very much more but the profit comes from selling THEM.
Same sorta thing with buildings. A building has a mission life. That affects so very much. Where's the profit from the market if the market requirement is for a building that will be unwanted after (say) 30 years? Why build one with a mission life of 60 years before major maintenance work or rebuild Willbe needed?
IT'S HOW BUSINESS WORKS, GRASSHOPPER!
IMHO it would be a rather nice thing if the cost of erecting industrial buildings also included a fund somewhere for dismantling them afterwards and returning the land to it's former glory, or at least to have it demolished.
Housing stock should surely be designed with longevity in mind. I read a few years back that modern houses are designed to have a life expectancy of circa 50 year. Seems a bit short to me!
02-04-2021, 02:18 PM
7
Re: Disposables
Originally Posted by Zaphod
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Ah but the trouble is you see that if things are made which last too long there's nobody left to buy them coz they've already got one, see?
Remember nylon shirts?
Or The Man in the White Suit?
Indeed.....👍👍
02-04-2021, 03:41 PM
8
Re: Disposables
Dex, I have said that in generations to come, ours will be lost. Because of planned obsolescence, the internet, and disposable technology, there will be no sign that we ever existed.Planned demolition should be part of every building permit and approval. Owners should have to maintain funds in escrow that is passed from owner to owner to pay for demolition after abandonment for a certain period of time.
02-04-2021, 03:50 PM
9
Re: Disposables
Originally Posted by Dextrous63
->
I take your point, up to a point.IMHO it would be a rather nice thing if the cost of erecting industrial buildings also included a fund somewhere for dismantling them afterwards and returning the land to it's former glory, or at least to have it demolished.
Housing stock should surely be designed with longevity in mind. I read a few years back that modern houses are designed to have a life expectancy of circa 50 year. Seems a bit short to me!
02-04-2021, 03:54 PM
10
Re: Disposables
Wait..... or did Longy know all along and was just being jokey?
Anyway, l better get back to the subject of the thread.
Don’t we now live in a ‘disposable’ society? Nothing is built to last. We just throw away and replace just for the sake of convenience.
Aren’t we a more intelligent race now with brilliant, progressive and futuristic minded people inventing or improving products every second?
As for buildings, l think they should be built to last not be a temporary place to be knocked down and replaced with another temporary building. That takes up too much time and time is precious.
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