Towards Prediction of Building Service Life: The Standards Imperative.
Towards Prediction of Building Service Life: The
Standards Imperative.
(603 K)
Frohnsdorff, G. J. C.; Martin, J. W.
Durability of Building Materials and Components.
International Conference, 7th. Chapter 147. Volume 2.
Testing, Design and Standardization. Proceedings. May
19-23, 1996, Stockholm, Sweden, E. & F. N. Spon, New
York, Sjostrom, C., Editor(s), 1417-1428 pp, 1996.
Keywords:
building materials; computer integrated knowledge
systems; design life; performance concept; reliability
based standards; service life prediction;
standardization; standards
Abstract:
Twenty years ago, predicting the service lives of
building materials and components was only a distant
vision. Today, the possibility of incorporating
predictions of service lives of materials and components
into the design process for whole buildings is being
given serious attention. The change in perspective is
due to the sustained efforts of a small group of
researchers and to developments in computerized
knowledge systems and advances in building materials
science. This paper reviews progress and suggests
directions for further development. It emphasizes that
standardization will be critical to acceptance of
service life predictions in the building design process.
The authors challenge researchers who want their work
to have the greatest practical impact to participate in
the standards-development process and help fashion the
body of standards needed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899