Methods for designing building envelope components prepared for repair and maintenance

The principal objective of the thesis is to procure a scientific method which enables a designer to calculate the changing performance of buildings or building components during time due to deterioration and the costs which are related to repairing the damage due to deterioration. Deterioration can be in the form of rot, corrosion, chemical decomposition etc. and is due to actions from agents (wind, water, temperature, ultraviolet radiation, fungi etc.).

The change in performance over time is one of the governing factors for the length of life of the building component and the cost associated with maintaining it. This was organised into three tasks: 1. Describe how durability is taken into account in the design stage of building constructions. 2. Give suggestions to methods which can replace or enhance parts of current national and/or international standards for determining performance of building components including life cycle costs, thermal properties, durability etc. 3.

Use the findings of the second task to evaluate the performance of a number of innovative building envelope components, being designed with the aim of being prepared for repair and maintenance. (au).