Ishara Rathnayake, Pournima Sridarran, Mahesh Abeynayake and Shashini Jayakodi
The creation of occupant satisfaction can be reached through the involvement of building performance mandates (BPMs) while enhancing the functionality of buildings. BPMs comprise…
Abstract
Purpose
The creation of occupant satisfaction can be reached through the involvement of building performance mandates (BPMs) while enhancing the functionality of buildings. BPMs comprise five mandates namely, spatial performance, thermal performance, indoor air quality performance, acoustic performance, and visual performance. BPMs have been recognized as a vital element when refurbishing post-fire apparel buildings. However, the evaluation of post-fire refurbishment projects is mainly focused on mechanical and physical properties while ignoring the BPMs. Further, there is insufficient literature on the BPMs in post-fire building refurbishment. Hence, the purpose of this research is to identify the importance of BPMs, and its challenges and propose strategies to enhance the building performance of post-fire refurbished apparel manufacturing buildings in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was conducted by involving a qualitative research approach. An extensive literature review and eighteen semi-structured interviews under three fire-affected apparel cases were involved as data collection methods and collected data were analyzed using content analysis.
Findings
Findings highlighted the procedure of post-fire refurbishment and the importance of BPMs for apparel buildings to enhance building performance in post-fire situations. The research identified 42 challenges encountered in maintaining BPMs of post-fire refurbished apparel buildings and provided 70 strategies to overcome the identified challenges.
Originality/value
This study offers a comprehensive analysis of challenges in maintaining BPMs and strategies to overcome the identified challenges which facilitate enhancing the performance of post-fire refurbished apparel buildings in Sri Lanka.
Details
Keywords
Protein‐energy malnutrition is regarded as one of the public health problems in many parts of developing countries. One of the factors responsible is poverty, which has reduced…
Abstract
Purpose
Protein‐energy malnutrition is regarded as one of the public health problems in many parts of developing countries. One of the factors responsible is poverty, which has reduced quality of dietary intakes of many homes, particularly children. Therefore, this study aims at formulating weaning food from locally available food materials using traditional processing methods.
Design/methodology/approach
The cooking banana and bambara groundnut seeds were purchased from local market in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The cooking bananas were peeled manually and sliced into pieces length wise, oven‐dried at 60 °C for 24 h, dried, milled and sieved through a 0.4 mm wire mesh screen. The undehulled bambara groundnut (BG) seeds were cleaned, cooked for 1 h, dehulled and fermented for four days using traditional methods. The fermented BG samples were oven dried, milled and sieved. The food samples were mixed in ratio of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40 of cooking banana and BG flour, respectively. Nutrend (commercial formula) and ogi (corn gruel, traditional weaning food) were used as control. The samples were subjected into chemical, physical properties (water absorption capacity, least gelation and swelling capacity) and sensory attributes (taste, aroma, colour, texture and overall acceptability) using standard methods.
Findings
Of all the developed food samples CBG3 (70 per cent of cooking banana and 30 per cent of BG flour mixed) was rated highest; and the amount of CBG3 needed to supply the nutritional requirements of infant was almost within the range of nutrend. The microbial and antinutrient level of the food samples were relatively low and within the tolerable range for animal consumption.
Originality/value
It can be concluded that the nutritional composition of cooking banana can be enhanced through fermented BG flour supplementation. The nutritional composition of the food sample containing 70 per cent cooking banana and 30 per cent BG flour is adequate to support child growth and development. Hence, it can be used as a substitute for the expensive commercial weaning formula.
Shavindree Chrishani Nissanka, Chamindi Ishara Malalgoda, Dilanthi Amaratunga and Richard Haigh
There is an urgent need to translate climate change awareness into tangible climate adaptation strategies. The built environment is identified as one of the kick-off points in…
Abstract
Purpose
There is an urgent need to translate climate change awareness into tangible climate adaptation strategies. The built environment is identified as one of the kick-off points in making climate change adaptation as the built environment shares a dual-way relationship. While the built environment largely contributes to the climate change-triggering factors, it also becomes highly vulnerable in the face of climate change impacts. Tied up with the interconnectedness of the built environment processes and associated systems, the involvement of numerous stakeholders from different spectrums creates the need for a holistic and multi-stakeholder approach in developing climate response strategies for the built environment. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the roles and responsibilities of the different built environment stakeholders in climate change adaptation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study consisted of a scoping review at the initial stage, contextualising studies based on secondary data, and semi-structured expert interviews in five different countries: the UK, Sweden, Malta, Spain and Sri Lanka. The paper summarises the findings of the individual country-level desk studies and 65 built environment stakeholder interviews representing national and local governments, communities, academia and research organisations, civil organisations, professional bodies and the private sector. The findings were validated through focus group discussions in two stakeholder seminars.
Findings
The findings summarised a set of key roles and sub-roles for each stakeholder category, considering the current status and needs. The national governments need to set a long-term vision, enabling multi-sector interventions while promoting investment and innovation in climate change adaptation. The local governments overlook local adaptation plans, while the community is responsible for decarbonising operations and practising adaptation at the local level. Civil organisations and professional bodies are the voice of the community, linking policy and practice. Academia and research are responsible for nurturing skills and new knowledge, and the private sector must contribute by adopting climate resilience into their business portfolio and corporate social responsibility.
Research limitations/implications
This research is part of an Europe-Union-funded research project, Built Environment leArning for Climate Adaptation (BEACON), which aims to develop skills and competencies of the built environment professionals so that they will be adequately equipped to handle the adaptation process of the built environment needs to adapt in facing the climate change impacts.
Originality/value
The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the roles and responsibilities pertaining to each category of the different stakeholders in effectively adapting the built environment to withstand the climate change consequences. Demarcation of each stakeholder’s roles and responsibilities separately facilitates collaboration and coordination between the different parties and provides a more holistic approach to climate change adaptation in the built environment.