High-performance weather-protective flashings

Typical problem areas associated with weather-protective flashing are identified, based on a comprehensive investigation of building damage cases in Norway. A total of 175 assignment reports associated with damaged flashing for the period between 1963 and 2001 are analysed. The investigation clearly shows that certain faults and deficiencies are recurring items. Windowsill/weatherboard flashings comprise as much as 41% of the building damage cases associated with weather-protective flashing. Damage in connection with parapet flashing comprises 27% of all cases included in this investigation. With few exceptions, instances of damage are located in Norway's coastal areas. Existing flashing solutions in the Norwegian Building Research Institute's Building Research Design Sheets have been further developed, based on the results from the analysis. Improved high-performance flashing solutions are presented for a number of typical problem areas. An illustrated summary of problems frequently encountered with different flashing variants is also presented. Finally, recommended best-practice flashing solutions for a number of typical problem areas are provided. The results will be implemented in the Building Research Design Sheets, and will also be used as a basis for the carrying out of new field studies and laboratory investigations.     

Managing and interpreting uncertainty for climate change risk

Climate change is a significant risk for the built environment because it implies not only warmer weather, but also more extreme weather events, such as storms, droughts and heat waves. Considerable uncertainty about the future also exists, partly because of the response of society's apparent reluctance to mitigate climate change by reducing fossil fuel consumption. An adaptive response to the challenge draws on the literature on climate change, the urban environment, natural hazards and risk analysis. Two concepts - life cycle costs and the avoidance of ruin - provide a useful framework for factoring the uncertainty associated with climate change into a risk analysis for the built environment. Monitoring, prediction, data management and communication are the unglamorous underpinnings of a successful urban risk-management strategy. For cities to develop a significantly improved response capacity, the active support of senior levels of government is essential because cities have neither the legal powers nor the resources to tackle climate change on their own. Ultimately, the biggest challenges are institutional and behavioural.     

Rethinking urban capacity: identifying and appraising vacant buildings

Policies related to urban development and regeneration have prompted a need for greater levels of information concerning vacant land and property. A need is identified to create efficient use (and reuse) of existing real estate. Drawing on information primarily collected for property taxation, a methodology is presented to create comprehensive data sets relating to vacant non-domestic buildings to help identify the type, size and location of long-term vacant property. The case is made for this methodology to be extended and for improved access to comprehensive data to enable scarce real estate resources to be used in a more sustainable manner.