V.P. de Freitas, N. Valentim Lopes and M.S. Angélico
The purpose of this paper is to describe the procedure of repairing the glass and metal dome roof in Oporto in Portugal. It aims to discuss the project for the rehabilitation of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the procedure of repairing the glass and metal dome roof in Oporto in Portugal. It aims to discuss the project for the rehabilitation of the main building – the Hall of Nations in Palacio Da Bolsa in Oporto. Previous attempts of repair are to be described.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is concerned with the methodology of repairs used on the metal and glass roof for the building under study. Lessons learned from previous repairs and how they have been taken into consideration are described.
Findings
The successful completion of the repairs and its success are the main findings.
Practical implications
Lessons learned from this repair are given to provide guidance for future roof repairs.
Originality/value
The repairs described in this paper – to the Hall of Nations in Palacio Da Bolsa in Oporto – are unique to the location of the building in question.
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J.M.P.Q. Delgado, V.P. de Freitas, A.S. Guimarães and C. Ferreira
Crawl space ventilation became essential to avoid moisture damage. Historical houses with wood floor and crawl spaces unventilated correctly often face problems of biological…
Abstract
Purpose
Crawl space ventilation became essential to avoid moisture damage. Historical houses with wood floor and crawl spaces unventilated correctly often face problems of biological degradation. This paper seeks to address these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work a case study of the Egas Moniz museum house, in Estarreja, Portugal, with different building pathologies, such as biological degradation and development of micro‐organisms and fungi, is presented. An experimental campaign was carried out with continuous monitoring of the relative humidity and temperature, to validate the real climatic conditions in the crawl spaces. Additionally, the authors analyse the treatment technologies used in the past and the characteristics of the rehabilitation solutions in order to control the hygrothermal behaviour. Simultaneously, numerical simulation was done using the software tool WUFI‐2D to simulate the hygrothermal building behaviour and a sensitivity study of parameters used was done.
Findings
The in‐situ experimental results showed that high values of relative humidity imply biological degradation of the wood floor and the numerical and analytical models used showed the same tendency. The numerical results showed the importance of crawl spaces with a good ventilation to avoid mould growth and, also, suggested that controlled mechanical ventilation is preferable to strongly continuous mechanical ventilation in this type of spaces. The experimental study shows that the continuous functioning of a ventilation system may lead to the occurrence of interior condensation, so a hygro‐regulated system is thus essential to control unwanted condensation, with an appropriate functioning criterion.
Practical implications
In accordance with the numerical and experimental results, the authors proceeded to the implementation of a hygro‐regulated system to ventilate the crawl spaces of the Egas Moniz museum house.
Originality/value
This paper presents a new proposed intervention methodology, in crawl spaces, to avoid mould growth, based on an extraction controlled by a hygro‐regulated ventilator.
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Keywords
Sara Stingl de Freitas and Vasco Peixoto de Freitas
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of cracks on external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) along the thermal insulation joints and the information…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of cracks on external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) along the thermal insulation joints and the information available on the building pathology catalogue – PATORREB. The aim is to establish the methodology to study the cause of the pathology observed on a building which is located on the interior of Portugal based on in situ probing together with the analysis of hygrothermal and mechanical behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
An in situ analysis was performed to assess the causes. The hygrothermal dynamic behaviour of the wall was analysed with a numerical simulation advanced tool considering the climatic conditions, the characteristics of the thermal insulation plates as well as the support and finishing layer properties. Moreover, a qualitatively analysis of the mechanical behaviour, based on the bonding process, thermal insulation and exterior rendering properties was performed.
Findings
It was concluded that the insulation properties – thermal expansion coefficient and stiffness, the thermal expansion coefficient of the exterior rendering, together with adverse climatic conditions were critical for the appearance of cracks along the plate joints, particularly with spot bonding. The expansion and retraction stresses and the restrained movements of the components can result in bending moments, especially when the insulation material has a high stiffness value, which will create the crack on the rendering system.
Originality/value
A combination between a hygrothermal and mechanical analysis of an ETICS pathology concerning the appearance of cracks with a subsequent integration into a building pathology catalogue.
Details
Keywords
Inês Flores‐Colen, Jorge Manuel Caliço Lopes de Brito and Vasco Peixoto de Freitas
The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology in order to improve inspections' diagnosis during façades' service life through in‐service criteria. On‐site performance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology in order to improve inspections' diagnosis during façades' service life through in‐service criteria. On‐site performance assessment and deciding on the maintenance of renders can only be improved if quantitative parameters are pre‐established at the design stage and monitored under service conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is based on a set of in‐service parameters inferred from visual observation and measurements and their methods of assessment (based on visual inspections, auxiliary techniques, in‐situ and laboratorial testing). These have been arrived at by inspecting the façade rendering on 44 buildings (cement‐based renders), of different ages and types of degradation.
Findings
This paper focuses on 23 proposed mechanical and physical‐chemical parameters that can complement the ones already established by standards or technical data, obtained in lab conditions, using standard specimens or small models. They are assessed by techniques that have been applied to renders or other façade elements such as concrete or timber structures. The reliability of this in‐service performance assessment is discussed together with its potential as an aid to deciding on predictive maintenance action after an inspection's diagnosis.
Originality/value
The originality of this approach stems from the fact that in‐service parameters derived from both laboratory and in‐situ measurements can improve understanding of the behaviour of façade rendering, which is an important step in planning and monitoring maintenance. Two aspects are emphasised: the behaviour of materials/systems is assessed in real conditions, and the subjectivity of in‐service diagnosis is reduced when more than one performance parameter is assessed.
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Keywords
Elton Bauer, Vasco Peixoto de Freitas, Niubis Mustelier, Eva Barreira and Sara Stingl de Freitas
Infrared thermography is increasingly being used to diagnose pathologies in buildings, such as façade defects. The purpose of this paper is to assess the results reproducibility…
Abstract
Purpose
Infrared thermography is increasingly being used to diagnose pathologies in buildings, such as façade defects. The purpose of this paper is to assess the results reproducibility and the equipment influence on the measurements. To do so, it was defined as case study the assessment of rendering delamination.
Design/methodology/approach
Two infrared cameras of different makers were used to detect the presence of defects deliberately created in specimens. The tests were done in the laboratory with a heat source. The defects were detected through a temperature gradient between the zones with and without defect.
Findings
With this thermographic imaging, it was possible to identify the defects in the specimen both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results were found to be reproducible in the three cycles performed. The influence of the equipment on the results was of little significance for the quantitative assessment criterion “temperature difference between zones with and without defect”, but for the criterion “absolute surface temperature”, the difference in the results yielded by the two cameras was around 1.8°C.
Originality/value
The results suggest that there is reproducibility of the measurements, considering both the qualitative and quantitative approach, when assessing delamination, irrespective of the maker of the equipment used. The influence of the equipment on the results depends on the quantitative assessment criterion used.
Details
Keywords
João Morgado, Inês Flores-Colen, Jorge de Brito and Ana Silva
The purpose of this paper is to propose a maintenance programme for flat roofs in existing buildings, based on the inspection of 26 buildings in-service conditions, located in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a maintenance programme for flat roofs in existing buildings, based on the inspection of 26 buildings in-service conditions, located in the Lisbon region, in Portugal. A proactive maintenance of flat roofs in existing buildings allows reducing their pathology, thus improving their performance and service life.
Design/methodology/approach
The maintenance plan was established based on the degradation state of the maintenance source elements (MSEs) analysed, the aggressiveness of the surrounding environment and the age of the roofs and maintenance actions carried out during the roofing systems’ life cycle.
Findings
The maintenance plan proposed in this study includes the prioritization of the interventions, the definition of the required maintenance operations and the definition of the frequency of the intervention, considering the service lives of the MSEs.
Research limitations/implications
The study addresses only roofs located in the Lisbon area. Even though a relatively large sample of 26 roofs was used, the findings and conclusions can clearly be extrapolated for a much wider scope.
Practical implications
The maintenance plan proposed in this study considers a planning of proactive maintenance operations to continuously and effectively monitor all the relevant MSE.
Originality/value
This plan allows minimizing the incidence and spread of defects, thus enabling the optimization of resources, reducing the costs of the entire maintenance system and improving the quality of the built environment.
Details
Keywords
Nathan Van Den Bossche, Anke Blommaert and Bruno Daniotti
Quality failures in the design and construction process can entail significant delays and costs. Databases of building defects have proven to be useful for drawing conclusions on…
Abstract
Purpose
Quality failures in the design and construction process can entail significant delays and costs. Databases of building defects have proven to be useful for drawing conclusions on underlying causes of building defects and for identifying potential improvement actions to reduce the occurrence of building defects.
Design/methodology/approach
The database comprising 27,074 cases from a Belgian insurance company was studied, and it was found that moisture problems account for 48% of all building defects, and stability problems 23%. To better analyse the geographical variability, the data were enriched with demographical, geographical and climatological factors of the municipality the concerned buildings were located in. This combined information was used to determine underlying external factors that impact the probability that specific types of building defects occur.
Findings
The analysis of the data shows that external factors do indeed have a statistically significant impact. The factor with the highest impact is the number of walls the building has in common with its neighbours. The most significant climatological factor is the wind speed.
Originality/value
A better understanding of the frequency of building defects and factors that contribute to the likelihood are important variables to consider in quality control and prevention.
Details
Keywords
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) contributing to occupants’ health symptoms is a universal, typically ventilation-related, problem in schools. In cold climates, low-cost strategies…
Abstract
Purpose
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) contributing to occupants’ health symptoms is a universal, typically ventilation-related, problem in schools. In cold climates, low-cost strategies to improve IAQ in a naturally ventilated school are rare since conventional methods, such as window opening, are often inappropriate. This paper aims to present an investigation of strategies to relieve health symptoms among school occupants in naturally ventilated school in Finland.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach is adopted to thoroughly investigate the process of generating the alternatives of ventilation redesign in a naturally ventilated school where there have been complaints of health symptoms. First, the potential sources of the occupants’ symptoms are identified. Then, the strategies aiming to reduce the symptoms are compared and evaluated.
Findings
In a naturally ventilated school, health symptoms that are significantly caused by insufficient ventilation can be potentially reduced by implementing a supply and exhaust ventilation system. Alternatively, it is possible to retain the natural ventilation with reduced number of occupants. The selected strategy would depend considerably on the desired number of users, the budget and the possibilities to combine the redesign of ventilation with other refurbishment actions. Furthermore, the risk of poorer indoor air caused by the refurbishment actions must also be addressed and considered.
Practical implications
This study may assist municipal authorities and school directors in decisions concerning improvement of classroom IAQ and elimination of building-related symptoms. This research provides economic aspects of alternative strategies and points out the risks related to major refurbishment actions.
Originality/value
Since this study presents a set of features related to indoor air that contribute to occupants’ health as well as matters to be considered when aiming to decrease occupants’ symptoms, it may be of assistance to municipal authorities and practitioners in providing a healthier indoor environment for pupils and teachers.
Details
Keywords
Evandro Eduardo Broday and Manuel Carlos Gameiro da Silva
The changes brought by Industry 4.0 go beyond transformations in the industrial environment. The increasingly frequent digitization and robotization of activities is not only…
Abstract
Purpose
The changes brought by Industry 4.0 go beyond transformations in the industrial environment. The increasingly frequent digitization and robotization of activities is not only restricted to the industrial environment, but also to people's daily routine. People spend a large part of their time inside buildings, and maintaining adequate Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is an essential factor for a healthy and productive environment. In this sense, the purpose of this study is to verify how the Internet of Things (IoT) is being used to improve the indoor environment, through sensors that instantly measure the conditions of the environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The aim of this paper is to verify, through a literature review, how IoT is being used for building control (for energy saving purposes) and to monitor IEQ conditions inside buildings, in order to provide a better environment for occupants, in terms of health and comfort. By combining keywords in databases, PRISMA method was used to select the articles for analysis, and 91 articles were analyzed.
Findings
The main findings in this research are: (1) the main purpose for applying IoT inside buildings is to reduce energy consumption; (2) there is an interest in developing low-cost sensoring devices with a learning approach; (3) Machine Learning methods are mainly used for energy saving purposes and to learn about occupants' behavior inside buildings, focusing on thermal comfort; (4) sensors in the IoT era are a requirement to help improve people's comfort and well-being.
Originality/value
Studies directly correlating IoT and IEQ are limited. This paper emphasises the link between them, through the presentation of recent methods to control the built environment.
Details
Keywords
Joana Dos Santos Gonçalves, Ricardo Mateus, José Dinis Silvestre, Ana Pereira Roders and Luís Bragança
This research presents the development of a Building Passport for Sustainable Conservation (BPSC) as a questionnaire with a set of 23 core indicators, for a baseline assessment of…
Abstract
Purpose
This research presents the development of a Building Passport for Sustainable Conservation (BPSC) as a questionnaire with a set of 23 core indicators, for a baseline assessment of heritage buildings. The aim of this tool is to identify priorities for future interventions, by recognising the contributions of heritage buildings to sustainability that should be preserved and the fragilities that need to be improved.
Design/methodology/approach
The BPSC uses a selection of core indicators for sustainability observable on heritage buildings. It was applied to four different case studies of modern heritage in the Netherlands, to verify its applicability and limitations.
Findings
The results suggest that this tool has the potential to contribute to an expedite assessment, reaching consensual evaluations of priorities for sustainable conservation, while reducing the time and cost of the process, contributing to support informed redesign decisions.
Originality/value
Recently, existing building sustainability assessment (BSA) tools have been adapted and new BSA tools developed for heritage buildings. Some tools target existing buildings, but seldom cover cultural significance and heritage values. Others target the after-redesign situations – aiming at assessing how sustainable the redesign is. Often BSA tools are complex and time-consuming, with extensive indicators and data requirements. The BPSC developed in this research covers the main aspects of sustainability and related heritage values, in a simpler tool for a baseline assessment.