YAB 615E - Performance of Buildings Elements under Environmental Effects

Course Objectives

- To provide students with comprehensive knowledge related to the long-term performance and service life of building materials, components and elements, and to gain experience in scientific research in this field;
- To investigate the adverse effects of environmental factors such as climate and air pollution in determination of durability and service life of buildings;
- To study the measuring/monitoring techniques and assessment methods used for determination of building's performance at the level of materials, components or elements through examples, and to discuss the use and benefits of scientific knowledge in practice;
- To evaluate the building-environment mutual interaction by taking into account the approaches of life cycle analysis and sustainability.

Course Description

Long-term performance, durability and service life of buildings; Systematic methodology for SLP (Service Life Prediction) of building components; Characterisation of degradation environment; Performance parameters; Natural and artificial weathering; Continuous (microenvironment) monitoring at site; Material degradation; Laboratory tests; Physical properties, structural and chemical analysis; Maintenance procedures; Sustainable building approach; Life cycle assessment.