“The building façade is subject to harsh environmental influences resulting in the gradual deterioration of even the most durable elements. Although designed to be robust and withstand the elements deterioration is a fact of life.”
Phil King, Project Director | Arup’s Façade team see the diagnosis and assessment of building defects as an essential part of their work. Without knowing how facades fail we cannot design better solutions for new facades.
Design, workmanship, errors, exposure, chemical reactions, corrosion and damage will all combine to reduce the performance of the enclosure. As a consequence existing façades require periodic appraisals to assess the rate of deterioration and to identify appropriate responses to maintain acceptable performance and manage risks. This may range from conservation restoration approaches for historic buildings to remedial/renewal strategies for more modern construction. | These surveys include due diligence and condition surveys of cladding systems on buildings that are being bought and sold through fault/failure investigations to surveys of new and recently completed cladding systems for potential purchasers.
Equally owners and facility managers may need urgent investigation of failures or breaks. Falling façade elements pose serious hazards giving rise to a whole gamut of consequences. Similarly a façade that leaks or is permeable to air and noise is also letting undesirable heat and humidity cross the internal seals, adding to running costs and compromising occupant comfort and satisfaction of their space.
Surveys can be external visual inspections by our team of engineers fully trained in rope access techniques, internal visual inspections, intrusive investigations and testing. From these surveys, AFE are able to advise on access and refurbishment strategies, facade repair and retention work, assessment of structural capability and options for recladding.
Phil.King@arup.com |
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