Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Building structures have a major impact on the quality of the macro-climates of the world, in particular in terms of pollution and environmental costs associated with their creation, operation and maintenance. Emerging global trends to make buildings more efficient, effective and sustainable, led to the question can one establish how sustainable existing buildings are? Building rating tools like LEED, BREEAM and Green Star, can already be used to rate and certify buildings in terms of their environmental performance and sustainability, but seem to fall short of establishing true overall building performance sustainability. As an architect, the researcher was involved in a project to develop a process for the Provincial Government Western Cape to comply with the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, Act no.19 of 2007 (GIAMA). The problem statement of this study links to the objective to comply with GIAMA, which requires that all government buildings be assessed in terms of their sustainability. This led to a number of research questions being asked. The first of these questions are what can be learnt from currently available rating systems and would it be possible to track and monitor the sustainability performance of a building over time. This triggered a series of related questions: What role can benchmarking play in establishing and tracking a building’s sustainability over time? How can benchmarking help to identify which part of a building’s overall sustainability is most in need of resourcing, to bring it closer to overall sustainability? How can capital and maintenance expense budgets associated with the building life-cycle be effectively utilised to bring buildings closer to overall sustainability? How can the availability of detailed information pertaining to the costs and benefits of green investments in existing buildings help building owners to identify the best initiatives to invest in? The methodology used in this study to answer the above questions is based on two research approaches. The first part made use of a literature review to establish and define the knowledge framework to be used in the second case study portion of the study. The methodology used for the case study was based on applied research, where the real life problems associated with the development of a suitability benchmarking process for the PGWC was documented and assessed. The results of the study found that there exist a missing link between theoretical knowledge of sustainability benchmarking and the legislative requirement of GIAMA and that this missing link is the standardised accurate and verifiable data required for the benchmarking process. In addition to this it was also found that the social aspects of buildings are generally neglected. A universal standard for collection of the required data is also needed. The study also highlighted that a general misperception exist that Environmental Sustainability is synonymous with the Sustainability paradigm. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bou strukture het 'n groot impak op die gehalte van die makro-streke van die wêreld. Veral in terme van besoedeling en die ekologiese koste wat verband hou met die ontwikkeling, werking en onderhoud daarvan. Globale opkomende tendense om geboue meer doeltreffend en volhoubaar te maak, het gelei tot die vraag: Hoe kan 'n mens die volhoubaarheid van 'n bestaande gebou vasstel? 'n Aantal bou-graderings-stelsels, soos LEED, BREEAM en Green Star, kan reeds gebruik word om geboue te gradeer en sertifiseer in terme van hul omgewingsvolhoubaarheid, maar skiet te kort ten opsigte van algehele volhoubaarheid van ʼn gebou. As ʼn argitek was die navorser betrokke by ʼn projek om ʼn proses te ontwikkel vir die Provinsiale Regering van die Wes-Kaap (PGWK) om te voldoen aan die Wet op die Bestuur van Onroerende Regeringsbates, Wet no. 19 van 2007. Die probleemstelling van hierdie studie koppel aan die vereiste om te voldoen aan Wet 19 van 2007, wat vereis dat alle regeringsgeboue geassesseer word ingevolge hul volboubaarheid . Dit het gelei tot 'n aantal navorsingsvrae: Eerstens, watter lesse kan geleer word uit die bestaande bou-graderings-stelsels en tweedens, is dit moontlik om op die volhoubaarheid van 'n gebou te monitor en gradeer oor tyd? Dit het tot verwante vrae gelei, naamlik: Watter rol die stel van maatstawe kan speel om die volhoubaarheid van ʼn gebou te monitor? Hoe kan die stel van maatstawe bepaal watter aspekte van 'n gebou die meeste hulpbronne benodig, ten einde dit nader aan algehele volhoubaarheid te bring? Kan die kapitaal- en instandhoudingsbegrotings, wat verband hou met die lewens-siklus van die gebou, effektief gebruik word om ʼn gebou nader aan volhoubaarheid te bring? Hoe kan die beskikbaarheid van inligting met betrekking tot die koste en voordele van groen beleggings van bestaande geboue, gebou-eienaars help om die beste inisiatiewe te identifiseer om in te belê? Die metode wat in hierdie studie gebruik is om bogenoemde vrae te antwoord, is gebaseer op twee navorsings benaderings. Die eerste deel van hierdie studie het gebruik gemaak van 'n literatuuroorsig om ʼn kennisraamwerk te definieer en te vestig, wat dan in die tweede deel van die studie, ʼn gevallestudie, gebruik word. Die metode wat gebruik is vir die gevalle studie is gebaseer op toegepaste navorsing, waar die werklike probleme wat verband hou met die ontwikkeling van 'n geskikte volhoubaarheid maatstawings proses vir die PRWK gedokumenteer en geassesseer is. Die resultate van die studie was die bevinding dat daar 'n vermiste skakel bestaan tussen die teoretiese kennis ten opsigte van ‘n maatstawings stelsel vir volhoubaarheid en die wetlike vereiste van Wet 19 van 2007. Die vermiste skakel is dat gestandariseerde, accurate en verifieerbare data bemodig word vir die maatstawings proses. Daar is ook gevind dat die sosiale impakte van geboue verwaarloos word. Die studie stel voor dat ʼn universele standaard benodig word vir die versameling van die vereiste data. Die studie het ook n belangrike observasie gemaak dat daar 'n algemene wanopvatting in die industrie bestaan dat Omgewingsvolhoubaarheid sinoniem is met die Volhoubaarheid paradigma.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / The aim of this research study is to determine the cost gradient for Green Star SA-rated office buildings in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Very little work has been done on this subject, due to the fact that the „green‟ building movement is still in its infancy in South Africa. The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has developed a Green Star SA building rating mechanism based on the Australian green star-rating system. This rating system provides the building environment with an objective tool to evaluate how green a building actually is. This report includes a review of international literature, supplemented by a case study of two designed „green‟ buildings. The key objective was to determine if there is a cost premium to a Green Star-rated office building in the Western Cape. The case study subjects were two office buildings planned for an office development at Paardevlei, Somerset West in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The findings of this case study have confirmed first indications that South Africa, and specifically the Western Cape, should be no different to the rest of the world and specifically the United States and Australia when it comes to the first costs of constructing „green‟ buildings. The case study showed that there should be no cost premium for a „green‟ building that conforms to the minimum standard of 4 Star Green Star SA Office Version 1 and that a one to three per cent premium could be expected for a 5 Star Green Star SA Office Version 1 rating. It was found that the best way to calculate if a premium was paid for a „green‟ building is to compare the cost per area of the final „green‟ product with the cost per area of the original budget. Adding costs while adding „green‟ attributes proved to be an effective and convenient way of arriving at a theoretical premium for a progressively „greener‟ building and thus calculating the cost gradient for Green Star SA-rated office buildings. The conclusion is that „green‟ attributes must be incorporated into the design at the earliest possible stage and then managed in order to keep within the original budget with a clear goal of which categories are to be targeted and what rating would like to be achieved, in order to achieve a „green‟ building at no additional cost.

Este trabalho tem por finalidade a proposta de um manual com recomendações para o projeto e construção de estruturas com peças roliças de madeira tratada, oriunda de madeiras de reflorestamento no Brasil. Para isso foram realizados estudos teóricos e experimentais de elementos estruturais e de ligações em madeiras utilizando peças roliças. Foram classificadas e caracterizadas peças roliças estruturais de madeira, visualmente e mecanicamente, e apresentadas diretrizes de projetos de pontes e de galpões com sistemas estruturais e construtivos em peças roliças de madeira de reflorestamento. Os resultados serão compilados em um manual de projeto e construção de estruturas de madeira utilizando peças roliças. O estudo teve, além disso, o objetivo de divulgar, por meio de catalogações em 124 fichas técnicas, alternativas na área de estruturas e na construção civil, utilizando madeiras com peças roliças, tais como estacas de fundações, passarelas, pontes, quiosques, galpões rurais, edificações residenciais, estabelecimentos comerciais, hotelarias, igrejas, instituições de ensino, sedes de parques ecológicos e ambientais, estruturas de locais de eventos, coberturas especiais, estruturas de arquibancadas, parques turísticos e com brinquedos infantis, terminal de aeroporto, torres de observação, estruturas provisórias de cimbramentos para formas de estruturas de concreto, defensas de rodovias, barreiras acústicas, entre outros, construídos no Brasil e no exterior. Estes sistemas estruturais proporcionam a economia e favorecem o meio ambiente de forma sustentável, e principalmente promovendo o ciclo de geração das novas florestas, imprescindíveis para o sequestro de carbono. / The object of this work is to propose the draft for a handbook with recommendations for the design and construction of structures using treated roundwood originating from forest farming in Brazil. Roundwood structures were classified and characterized visually and mechanically. Guidelines were presented for the desing of bridges and barns with structural and building systems using roundwood timber harvested from reforestation projects. Results will be compiled into a manual of design and construction of timber structures using roundwood. The study also had the purpose to publicize through the cataloging in 124 fact sheets of the alternatives for wooden structures in civil construction work with roundwood, such as pole for foundation piling, walkways, bridges, kiosks, farm barns, residential housing, business stores, hotels, churches, schools, ecological and environmental parks, structures for public shows and events, special coverage structures, bleachers, tourist parks and playgrounds, airport terminal, observation towers, forming wood for concrete structures, highway barriers, noise barriers, among others, to be built in Brazil and abroad. These systems provide financial savings and are good for the environment in a sustainable manner, especially by promoting the cycle of generation of new forests that crucial for carbon sequestration.

No description available.

Este trabalho tem por finalidade a proposta de um manual com recomendações para o projeto e construção de estruturas com peças roliças de madeira tratada, oriunda de madeiras de reflorestamento no Brasil. Para isso foram realizados estudos teóricos e experimentais de elementos estruturais e de ligações em madeiras utilizando peças roliças. Foram classificadas e caracterizadas peças roliças estruturais de madeira, visualmente e mecanicamente, e apresentadas diretrizes de projetos de pontes e de galpões com sistemas estruturais e construtivos em peças roliças de madeira de reflorestamento. Os resultados serão compilados em um manual de projeto e construção de estruturas de madeira utilizando peças roliças. O estudo teve, além disso, o objetivo de divulgar, por meio de catalogações em 124 fichas técnicas, alternativas na área de estruturas e na construção civil, utilizando madeiras com peças roliças, tais como estacas de fundações, passarelas, pontes, quiosques, galpões rurais, edificações residenciais, estabelecimentos comerciais, hotelarias, igrejas, instituições de ensino, sedes de parques ecológicos e ambientais, estruturas de locais de eventos, coberturas especiais, estruturas de arquibancadas, parques turísticos e com brinquedos infantis, terminal de aeroporto, torres de observação, estruturas provisórias de cimbramentos para formas de estruturas de concreto, defensas de rodovias, barreiras acústicas, entre outros, construídos no Brasil e no exterior. Estes sistemas estruturais proporcionam a economia e favorecem o meio ambiente de forma sustentável, e principalmente promovendo o ciclo de geração das novas florestas, imprescindíveis para o sequestro de carbono. / The object of this work is to propose the draft for a handbook with recommendations for the design and construction of structures using treated roundwood originating from forest farming in Brazil. Roundwood structures were classified and characterized visually and mechanically. Guidelines were presented for the desing of bridges and barns with structural and building systems using roundwood timber harvested from reforestation projects. Results will be compiled into a manual of design and construction of timber structures using roundwood. The study also had the purpose to publicize through the cataloging in 124 fact sheets of the alternatives for wooden structures in civil construction work with roundwood, such as pole for foundation piling, walkways, bridges, kiosks, farm barns, residential housing, business stores, hotels, churches, schools, ecological and environmental parks, structures for public shows and events, special coverage structures, bleachers, tourist parks and playgrounds, airport terminal, observation towers, forming wood for concrete structures, highway barriers, noise barriers, among others, to be built in Brazil and abroad. These systems provide financial savings and are good for the environment in a sustainable manner, especially by promoting the cycle of generation of new forests that crucial for carbon sequestration.

Building production in public institutions, especially higher education buildings, has received large government investment in recent years. These investments contributed to increasing concern over the environmental issues and the quality in projects development in these institutions. The REUNI program, for example, contributed to the growth and expansion of Federal Universities, between 2007 and 2012. In this context, it is detected that, most of the delays in project development in public institutions, are caused by the characteristics of contracting and the project management in these kind of institutions. Also, public institutions contracts often hire professionals from different companies that usually do not work as an integrated team, plus they have communication difficulties and problems to understand the scope, that ended up causing incompatibility between projects and rework. Also, public institutions contracts often hire professionals from different companies that usually do not work as an integrated team, plus they have communication difficulties and problems to understand the scope, that ended up causing incompatibility between projects and rework. Besides, there is a growing demand for sustainable buildings and the projects still do not incorporate sustainability concepts. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop a Referencial Term for project contracting in public institutions, modeling the process according to the principles of Concurrent Design and incorporating sustainability concepts into this Term, through a case study of a public institution, in order to contribute to improving its design process management. To achieve the objective it was made a documentary and bibliographical research and a case study in a public higher education institution. The methodology was divided into six steps: literature review; description case study and first diagnosis; comparative of referencial terms and second diagnosis; selection and organization of sustainability concepts; development of the referencial term; validation, result analysis and future proposes. As tools to develop these steps, it was used design process and models of referencial terms, as well as, it was researched strategies, criteria and recommendations for environmental sustainability, surveyed in bibliographical sources. Also, it was used comparative tables produced by spreadsheets, flowcharts and checklists. As a result of this study, the design practice of the institution was registered, environmental sustainability concepts were inserted into design process, also, it was possible to develop, apply, analyze the Referencial Term proposed and validate it by an officer of UFS. This work contributed to improve the quality of the design process in the public institution researched and the Referencial Term proposed can be used in other public institutions. / A produção de edificações em instituições públicas, principalmente as de ensino superior, vem recebendo grandes investimentos do governo nos últimos anos. Tais investimentos colaboraram para o aumento da preocupação com as questões ambientais e com qualidade no desenvolvimento dos projetos nessas instituições. Como exemplo, cita-se o programa REUNI que, entre 2007 e 2012, contribuiu para o crescimento e a expansão das Universidades Federais. Neste contexto, observa-se que os atrasos no desenvolvimento dos projetos em órgãos públicos se devem às particularidades de contratação e ao gerenciamento dos projetos. Ademais, nas contratações públicas, os projetos são desenvolvidos por profissionais de empresas distintas, que não trabalham de forma integrada e têm dificuldade de comunicação e de entendimento do escopo dos serviços, gerando incompatibilidade entre os projetos e retrabalhos. Aliado a isso, busca-se o desenvolvimento de edificações sustentáveis, no entanto, os projetos ainda não incorporam conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa é elaborar um Termo de Referência para contratação de projetos, modelando o processo de acordo com os princípios do Projeto Simultâneo e incorporando ao Termo de Referência conceitos de sustentabilidade, através do estudo de caso de uma instituição pública contratante, de forma a contribuir para melhoria do gerenciamento do processo de projeto da instituição. Para tanto, realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e o estudo de caso na Universidade Federal de Sergipe. A metodologia foi dividida em seis etapas: revisão de literatura; descrição do objeto de estudo e 1º diagnóstico; comparativo de termos de referência e 2º diagnóstico; seleção e organização dos conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental; montagem do Termo de Referência; validação, análise dos resultados e propostas futuras. No desenvolvimento dessas etapas, utilizou-se como ferramentas os modelos de processo de projeto e termos de referência pesquisados, bem como as diretrizes, os critérios e as recomendações de sustentabilidade socioambiental pesquisados em fontes bibliográficas, quadros comparativos elaborados com o auxílio de planilhas eletrônicas, fluxogramas e listas de verificação. Como resultado deste estudo, registrou-se a prática de projeto da instituição pesquisada, inseriu-se conceitos de sustentabilidade socioambiental ao processo de projeto, bem como foi possível montar, implementar, analisar o Termo de Referência proposto e validá-lo junto a um funcionário da UFS. Com isso, contribui-se para a melhoria da qualidade do processo de projeto no ambiente da instituição pública pesquisada e o Termo de Referência proposto poderá ser utilizado em outras instituições públicas.

This research investigates the bio-products/phase change material (PCM) composites for the building envelope application. Bio-products, such as wood and herb, are porous medium, which can be applied in the building envelope for thermal insulation purpose. PCM is infiltrated into the bio-product (porous medium) to form a composite material. The PCM can absorb/release large amount of latent heat of fusion from/to the building environment during the melting/solidification process. Hence, the PCM-based composite material in the building envelope can efficiently adjust the building interior temperature by utilizing the phase change process, which improves the thermal insulation, and therefore, reduces the load on the HVAC system. Paraffin wax was considered as the PCM in the current studies. The building energy savings were investigated by comparing the composite building envelope material with the conventional material in a unique Zero-Energy (ZØE) Research Lab building at University of North Texas (UNT) through building energy simulation programs (i.e., eQUEST and EnergyPlus). The exact climatic conditions of the local area (Denton, Texas) were used as the input values in the simulations. It was found that the EnergyPlus building simulation program was more suitable for the PCM based building envelope using the latent heat property. Therefore, based on the EnergyPlus simulations, when the conventional structure insulated panel (SIP) in the roof and wall structures were replaced by the herb panel or herb/PCM composite, it was found that around 16.0% of energy savings in heating load and 11.0% in cooling load were obtained by using PCM in the bio-product porous medium.

Due to rising energy costs and concerns about global climate change, high performance buildings are more in demand than ever before. With roughly 20% of the total energy consumption in the United States being devoted to residential use, this sector represents a significant opportunity for future savings. There are many guidelines and standards for reducing building energy consumption. One of the most stringent is the Passive House Standard. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference (ACH 50), annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. For comparison, the typical West coast US residence has an ACH50 of 5 and annually uses more than 174 kWh/m2 of source energy according to the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. With these challenging requirements, successful implementation of the Passive House Standard requires effective strategies to substantially reduce energy consumption for all end uses. Heating and cooling loads are low by necessity in a Passive House. As such this makes end uses like water heating a much larger fraction of total energy use than they would be in a typical building. When air to water heat pumps are employed the energy consumption by water heating is lowered significantly. By employing innovative heat recovery strategies the energy consumption for water heating and HVAC can be reduced even further. This study uses energy modeling and project cost analysis to evaluate three innovative control strategies. Results for a Passive House in Portland Oregon show a savings of about $70 annually with a payback period of 10 years. The same Passive House in Fairbanks Alaska with a different strategy would save $150 annually with a payback period of 5 years.

This study presents findings from survey and interview data investigating replication of green building measures by Commercial Building Partnership (CBP) partners that worked directly with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL partnered directly with 12 organizations on new and retrofit construction projects, which represented approximately 28 percent of the entire U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CBP program. Through a feedback survey mechanism, along with personal interviews, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered relating to replication efforts by each organization. These data were analyzed to provide insight into two primary research areas: 1) CBP partners' replication efforts of green building approaches used in the CBP project to the rest of the organization's building portfolio, and, 2) the market potential for technology diffusion into the total U.S. commercial building stock, as a direct result of the CBP program. The first area of this research focused specifically on replication efforts underway or planned by each CBP program participant. The second area of this research develops a diffusion of innovations model to analyze potential broad market impacts of the CBP program on the commercial building industry in the United States. Findings from this study provided insight into motivations and objectives CBP partners had for program participation. Factors that impact replication include motivation, organizational structure and objectives firms have for implementation of energy efficient technologies. Comparing these factors between different CBP partners revealed patterns in motivation for constructing energy efficient buildings, along with better insight into market trends for green building practices. The optimized approach to the CBP program allows partners to develop green building parameters that fit the specific uses of their building, resulting in greater motivation for replication. In addition, the diffusion model developed for this analysis indicates that this method of market prediction may be used to adequately capture cumulative construction metrics for a whole-building analysis as opposed to individual energy efficiency measures used in green building.

Topics on the environment and sustainability attracts ever more attention today, especially in the construction sector. In Sweden, the building- and housing industry answers for a significant share of the total energy consumption, waste production and greenhouse gas emissions. The construction sector is often depicted as conservative with a low rate of productivity and innovation. Sweden’s National Board of Housing, Building and Planning suggests that errors and damages in construction causes expenses corresponding to tens of thousands new housing units each year in Sweden. In a time of climate action and pursuit of more circularity in resource use this issue becomes a burning question. There is no doubt that the industry has adopted the increasing awareness on sustainability issues. Carbon emission levels and renewable energy is being measured as any other key performance indicator. The strive for increased sustainability in construction becomes relevant for any actor who wants to remain relevant on the market. Considering recent studies emphasizing errors, damages, and inadequacies in construction a relevant question to ask would be if the reality lives up to the ambitions of a sustainable building industry. This study investigates underlying factors causing errors and damages in construction. Development on sustainability matters is plotted in relation to how it has affected the industry. Chosen literature covers sustainability development, building errors and damages as well as complexity matters unique for the construction industry. The study’s literature review is balanced by multiple interviews and a survey conducted with industry working professionals. The results suggest that the development of errors and damages in construction has been stable in recent years. However, data collection thru interviews and surveys declares that most participants has experienced an increase in errors and damages. The distribution of information and knowledge regarding errors and damages in construction has increased, which may have caused a perceived increase of errors and damages. Whether increased focus on sustainability matters has affected the occurrence of errors and damages depends on which time span is being considered. Sustainability related adaptions of work methods and materials may give rise to errors and damages in the short term. Hence, the heightened sustainability focus together with a rapid development pace calls for caution when designing buildings. The study’s data collection suggests an increasing lack of competence regarding the design of buildings and contract documents. Ambiguous and more demanding requirements together with lack of general liability and competence supply is described as the most urgent issues affecting errors, damages, and deficiencies in construction. / Frågor som berör miljö- och hållbarhet får allt mer uppmärksamhet i samhället, inte minst inom byggsektorn. I Sverige står bygg- och fastighetssektorn för en betydande andel av landets totala energianvändning, avfallsproduktion och utsläpp av växthusgaser. Byggsektorn beskrivs traditionellt som konservativ och beskylls ofta för att ha en låg produktivitetsutveckling och innovationsgrad. Boverket hävdar att fel, skador och brister i byggandet orsakar kostnader motsvarande ett produktionsbortfall på tiotusentals bostäder i Sverige varje år. I en tid av klimatomställningar och strävan mot ett mer cirkulärt användande av naturresurser blir denna fråga ytterst relevant. Att branschens aktörer tagit till sig det ökande hålbarhetsfokuset råder det inga tvivel om. Företags koldioxidutsläpp och andel förnybar energi är nyckeltal som deklareras i allt högre utsträckning. Att bygga hållbart är en självklarhet för vilken aktör som helst som vill behålla sin position på marknaden. Med bakgrund i de studier som lyfter fram fel, skador och brister inom byggandet är det relevant att fråga sig ifall verkligheten lever upp till ambitionen om det hållbara byggandet. Denna studie undersöker bakomliggande orsaker till att det uppstår fel och skador i byggandet. Branschens utveckling kopplat till hållbarhetsfrågan kartläggs i syfte att identifiera hur den påverkat byggandet. Den litteratur som studerats berör hållbarhetsutveckling, byggfel och byggskadorsamt den komplexitet som ofta är unik för byggbranschen. Genom intervjuer med tjänstemän samt en enkätstudie med yrkesarbetare ges en verklighetsanknytning och avstämning mot aktuell litteratur. Studiens resultat påvisar att utvecklingen av byggfel och byggskador varit oförändrad i närtid. Inom ramen för studiens datainsamling uppger majoriteten av de tillfrågade att de upplevt en ökning av fel och skador. Samtidigt har information och spridning av upptäckta fel och skador i byggandet ökat, vilket i sig kan ha föranlett en upplevd ökning. Huruvida det ökade hållbarhetsfokuset inom byggsektorn har påverkat förekomsten av byggfel och byggskador beror på vilken tidshorisont som beaktas. Hållbarhetsrelaterade omställningar av arbetsmetoder och material riskerar att ge upphov till fel och skador på kort sikt. Med ökat fokus på hållbarhetsfrågor och snabb utveckling ökar behovet av att kunna se den långsiktiga hållbarheten vid valet av byggtekniska lösningar. Studiens datainsamling pekar på ökande kompetensbrist i fråga om byggnaders och byggbeskrivningars utformning. Tvetydiga och mer omfattande kravställningar i kombination med bristande helhetsansvar och kompetensförsörjning beskrivs som de största riskfaktorerna i fråga om fel, skador och brister i byggandet.