Building Failures: Diagnosis and avoidance

Book Cover......Page 1
Half-Title......Page 2
Title......Page 3
Copyright......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgements......Page 9
1 Introduction......Page 10
2 Agencies causing deterioration......Page 13
2.1 SOLAR RADIATION......Page 14
2.1.1 Temperature effects......Page 15
2.2 MOISTURE......Page 16
2.3 BIOLOGICAL AGENCIES......Page 18
2.4 GASEOUS CONSTITUENTS AND POLLUTANTS OF AIR......Page 20
2.5 GROUND SALTS AND WATERS......Page 21
2.7 JUXTAPOSITION OF MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS......Page 22
3.1 ASBESTOS CEMENT......Page 24
3.2 ASPHALT AND BITUMEN......Page 26
3.3 BRICKS AND TILES......Page 27
3.4 CEMENT AND CONCRETE......Page 29
3.5 METALS......Page 34
3.5.1 Aluminium......Page 35
3.5.2 Copper......Page 36
3.5.4 Steel......Page 37
3.5.5 Zinc......Page 39
3.7 MORTARS AND RENDERINGS......Page 40
3.8 PLASTICS......Page 41
3.9 NATURAL STONE......Page 43
3.10 TIMBER......Page 46
3.11 MOISTURE MOVEMENT......Page 47
4.1 WATER ENTERING DURING CONSTRUCTION......Page 49
4.2 GROUND WATER......Page 50
4.3 RAIN AND SNOW......Page 51
4.4 MOISTURE FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES......Page 54
4.5 CONDENSATION......Page 55
4.6 AVOIDANCE OF CONDENSATION......Page 58
5.1 TYPE AND STRUCTURE OF THE SOIL......Page 62
5.2 INTERACTION BETWEEN SOILS AND BUILDINGS......Page 63
5.3.1 Effects of vegetation......Page 64
5.3.2 Other causes of ground movement......Page 65
5.3.3 Effects of foundation movement......Page 66
5.3.4 Avoidance of failure due to soil movement......Page 67
5.4 FILL......Page 70
5.4.1 Settlement of fill......Page 71
5.4.4 Avoidance of damage by fill......Page 72
6.1.1 Hardcore and sulphate attack......Page 74
6.1.3 Hardcore and compaction......Page 76
6.2 DAMP-PROOFING OF FLOORS......Page 77
6.3 CONCRETE FLOORS......Page 78
6.3.1 Screeds......Page 79
6.3.2 Granolithic concrete and terrazzo......Page 83
6.4 MAGNESITE FLOORING......Page 84
6.5 TIMBER FLOORING......Page 86
6.6 CLAY FLOOR TILES......Page 89
6.7 PLASTIC SHEETS AND TILES......Page 90
7.1 MOISTURE PENETRATION FROM THE GROUND......Page 92
7.2 RAIN PENETRATION......Page 94
7.2.1 Cavity fill for existing buildings......Page 96
7.2.2 Built-in cavity insulation......Page 97
7.2.3 Cavity trays at junctions......Page 99
7.3 COLD BRIDGES AND INTERSTITIAL CONDENSATION......Page 102
7.4.1 Movement due to moisture changes in the masonry units......Page 103
7.4.3 Cracking due to roof movement......Page 106
7.5 DAMAGE TO WALLS BY CHEMICAL ATTACK......Page 107
7.6 DAMAGE TO WALLS BY PHYSICAL ATTACK......Page 111
7.7 PROBLEMS WITH RENDERINGS......Page 114
8.1 DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENT......Page 117
8.1.1 Temperature effects......Page 118
8.1.2 Moisture effects......Page 119
8.1.4 Effects of differential movement......Page 120
8.2 INACCURACIES IN CONSTRUCTION......Page 121
8.3 FAULTS CAUSED BY MOVEMENT AND INACCURACY......Page 122
8.5.1 Metallic fasteners......Page 125
8.5.2 Adhesives......Page 126
8.6 PREVENTION OF LOSS OF INTEGRITY IN CLADDING......Page 128
8.7 WATER ENTRY......Page 131
9.1 DOORS......Page 135
9.2 WINDOWS......Page 136
9.2.1 DPC at window openings......Page 138
9.3 PREVENTION OF FAILURE AND REMEDIAL WORK......Page 143
10.1 FLAT ROOFS......Page 145
10.1.1 Dripping of moisture......Page 146
10.1.2 Warm-deck and cold-deck roofs......Page 148
10.1.3 Asphalt coverings......Page 150
10.1.4 Built-up bituminous felt roofing......Page 155
10.1.5 Polymer roofing......Page 160
10.1.6 Parapets......Page 161
10.2 PITCHED ROOFS......Page 164
11.1 HEATING INSTALLATIONS......Page 170
11.1.1 Scale formation......Page 171
11.1.2 Corrosion......Page 172
11.2 CHIMNEYS AND FLUES......Page 173
11.3 PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE......Page 174
11.4 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY......Page 178
12.1 COST AND TYPES OF DEFECT......Page 179
12.2 CAUSES......Page 181
12.3 REASONS FOR FAILURE......Page 182
12.4 PROBLEMS OF INNOVATION......Page 184
12.5 TOWARDS BETTER CONTROL......Page 186
REFERENCES......Page 191
Further reading......Page 194
Index......Page 195