Practice world

Civil Engineer Sigurd Hveem at the Norwegian Building Research Institute, BI, describes the laboratory and field tests carried out on the dynamic response of different lightweight timber floors to establish new design guidelines. NBI are also looking at theoretical calculation methods in order to predict the results obtained by measuring dynamic properties.     

Practice world

Vytantas Stankevi?ius, Head of the Laboratory of the Lithuanian Scientific Research Institute of Architecture and Construction, at Kaunas and his colleagues, J. Karbauskaité and G. Dapkus, report on the studies they have carried out on the microclimate of special services spaces which are distinguished by higher air temperatures and relative humidity of up to 80%. The authors confirm that higher thermotechnical standards should be set for such spaces.     

Practice world

Life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) is used to assign energy values to product flows in each phase of an activity's life cycle. In the case of a residential building, this usually comprises energy embodied in the manufacture of building materials, energy used in the building's operation, and in periodic maintenance. In order to place these amounts of energy in a national context, the energy embodied in other goods and services consumed by householders also needs to be considered. This paper uses LCEA to demonstrate the need for considering not only the life cycle energy of the building but also the life cycle energy attributable to activities being undertaken by actual users of the building. The life cycle energy of an Australian residential building as well as common activities of households are analysed and simulated over a 30 year period using a worked example of a two bedroom, brick-veneer, semi-detached unit. The importance of considering the energy embodied in the initial construction of a residential building as well as the consumption of goods and services by householders is demonstrated as having long-term implications. In order to encourage sustainable living practices it is suggested that architects more closely consider the activities of householders when designing residential buildings, especially in temperate climates. The paper concludes by identifying future areas of research for LCEA in the residential sector.

Les études de cycle de vie antérieures à: la construction ont tendance à omettre les phases situées après la démolition. Si le recyclage n'a pas été prévu, il n'est donc pas possible d'en évaluer les bénéfices. Une étude paramétrique portant sur une maison individuelle fait le point sur les économies d'énergie potentielles après la démolition rendues possibles par la réutilisation des divers matériaux de construction. Les résultats indiquent qu'il est peut être plus important de concevoir un bâtiment en vue de son recyclage que d'employer des matériaux exigeant peu d'énergie lors de la fabrication, ce qui fait que la mise au point d'un recyclage efficace dépend de sa prise en compte et de son intégration lors de la phase de conception; de cette façon la réutilisation et l'adaptation des éléments de base existants sont des composantes importantes de ce recyclage.     

Practice world

ABSTRACT

Heritage buildings are valuable assets to the community. Thus, they require continuous monitoring to preserve their values. But, in many cases, these values are influenced negatively due to improper interventions. Cultural heritage significance is a core value that should be preserved. Therefore, this study focuses on examining the impact of physical alterations on this value to detect the failures in conservation practice in Khartoum. Through this research, three selected cases of the colonial era are evaluated according to the cultural heritage criteria. Conservation experts of architectural, archaeological, and civil engineering backgrounds are interviewed for this evaluation. Then, the outcomes are analysed to diagnose intervention problems. They reveal that the most negatively impacted values are architectural, aesthetic, and technical. Failures are the results of legislative problems, the lack of awareness, end users’ interference, the unqualified workmanship, political interests, and community exclusion. Hence, this paper provides suggestions to enhance future practice.