Activities on durability of building projects: Background study

This paper is a part of a Nordic programme on the ageing, durability and service life of building materials and components. Its aim is to provide a broad basis for further work on durability. The preparatory study has been performed in collaboratorion with several interested parties in different parts of the world. The study starts with an analysis of recent programmes and projects in the field of durability. These projects are printed as an Appendix which is published as VTT Research Notes 97. The paper goes on by describing some recent trends and actions taking place in some international organisations. The study is mainly concentrated upon the external envelope of buildings, and the agents affecting them in use are briefly discussed. After a discussion of the degradation mechanisms of some materials, the evaluative techniques available for durability studies are listed. The main aim of the preparatory study is to form a programming aid for the Nordic research programme it will also be used as a part of the Nordic contribution to the work of the CIB/RILEM Committee on Prediction of the service life of building materials and components.