Building Regulations Research Articles

Comparative analysis of approaches for automated compliance checking of construction data

While the domain of Automated Compliance Checking (ACC) has gained track, the construction industry has been flooded with different approaches. This paper studies these different approaches for use in compliance checking of construction data. The approaches are compared by defining constraints for the same set of five requirements, each of a different category, stemming from the Flemish building regulation on accessibility. Eight approaches have been selected for comparison: two IFC-based approaches (Solibri Model Checker and the upcoming buildingSMART standard IDS), two general data standards and their accompanying schema definition languages (JSON Schema and XSD), and four Linked Data approaches (OWL, SWRL, SPARQL, and SHACL). Besides the pure functional analysis, the relative uptake and support in tooling are also considered. While XML/XSD and JSON/JSON Schema and the Linked Data approaches are in essence domain-independent, only the latter has an extra layer for agreeing on high-level data modeling (and thus data validation) patterns in the construction domain with the EN17632-1:2022 standard. SHACL is considered the most adept method from the Linked Data approaches since it is fully standardized for both inputs and outputs and was developed for validation use cases.

RENTAL HOUSING IN MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMPLEXES. STANDARDIZATION PROPOSALS

The article considers proposals for changes to regulatory documentation in Ukraine, for the introduction of a new typological unit - rental housing. From the point of view of the historical evolution of residential construction, - replenishment of the typological series of residential buildings with the type of "rental housing", - the return of the concept of "income building", which spread in Europe from the end of the 19th century - the beginning of 20th century. An urgent problem at the moment is the shortage of housing. Including for young families. The war destroyed housing in many cities and towns of Ukraine. As a result, there was a large category of people - temporarily displaced persons. People who, unfortunately, lose their homes every day as a result of rocket and artillery shelling, urgently need to rebuild or build new houses and apartments in the safest possible places. The provision of housing is at the core of human nature as a civilized individual. Thus, according to the model of "Maslow's pyramid" - a diagram that hierarchically represents human needs - these needs are based on physiological needs, and the second place is occupied by the safety of health, property and the future of a person. The following social and psychological factors are based precisely on stability in the field of safety and physiology. Therefore, among other things, it is high-quality and safe housing that will give a person psychological confidence and will be able to influence various social factors at the national level, including the demographic situation, which suffered a very significant negative impact during the war. Providing clear regulatory limits and definitions will allow designers to be armed with clear tools to implement the new typological unit of "rental housing". Implementation of the principle of parametric normalization will allow finding innovative design solutions. Current building regulations of Ukraine do not define "Rental housing" as a separate typological unit. Similarly, in the new National Classification of Buildings and Structures NK 018:2023 [23], the type "rental housing" did not appear, although the Law of Ukraine "On Rental Housing" has currently been adopted in the first reading. The functional classification of housing for temporary residence refers to premises such as residential apartments, apart-hotels, hotel apartments and others - to buildings of public purpose. At present, only such type of individual accommodation as dormitories refers to residential buildings. Therefore, the inclusion of such types of buildings as rental residential buildings in the regulatory documentation in Ukraine is an urgent and socially significant task.

The Performance Assessment of the Structural Bracing Model for Multi-Story Building

Earthquakes are a severe issue for construction. The building collapsed due to the earthquake because it could not bear the earthquake load. Even more so, it was constructed using outdated and different building regulations that do not comply with modern building codes that account for seismic loads. As a result, disaster mitigation methods, such as retrofitting, must be implemented. Retrofitting procedures are commonly used in many developed countries. The bracing system is a typical retrofitting method used on building structures. In this study, a retrofitting program was carried out on The State Finance Building II Semarang, which was built in the 1980s, one of the old buildings in Semarang City, using a reinforced portal structure. This study's bracing system is a Concentrically Brace Frame (CBF) with Inverted V Brace and V Brace variations. The structural analysis software ETABS V.18.2.0 analyzes the building's structure. The structural review includes story drift, the P-Delta effect, and horizontal torsion irregularities. According to the results, steel bracing can minimize the period and displacement associated with story drift, making the structure more stable, with a maximum displacement reduction of 59.66% for inverted V-type steel bracing. Aside from that, steel bracing also can minimize the occurrence of torsion in the building. As a result, steel braces can be used to strengthen the structure.

Ventilation regulations and occupant practices: undetectable pollution and invisible extraction

This sociotechnical investigation examines the use of ventilation systems in homes in London, UK. These homes were built with ventilation systems as described by guidance in the UK Building Regulations Approved Document F. These systems are assumed to provide adequate ventilation rates. However, previous measurements in these homes show that ventilation rates are inadequate. Using social practice theory as a framework to analyse the qualitative data, the intended use of the ventilation systems is compared to participants’ actual practices of manipulating the indoor air, revealing discrepancies between the two. Occupants had limited knowledge of indoor pollutants but were highly motivated to control and interact with the smells and air in their homes. They primarily used technologies that were not part of the planned system, because the latter’s functioning was opaque to occupants and not well connected to their other practices. The highlighted discrepancies in four case study homes between planned and actual ventilation system operation help to identify how future systems could be improved to ensure adequate ventilation rates and good indoor air quality in airtight homes. Policy relevance This research investigates the extent to which the intended operation of domestic ventilation systems set out in Approved Document F to the UK Building Regulations is accomplished in practice. The findings show that ventilation equipment is not used as intended. The research suggests a need for future guidance to more actively consider routes by which occupants can learn how to use and maintain their ventilation systems, and how to identify and remove indoor air pollution. There is a risk of continuing underventilation in homes unless efforts are made to ensure the systems are easily interpretable and robust to a reasonable range of internal conditions and social contexts.

Numerical simulation study of the effect of integrating hemp concrete and passive strategies on the energy consumption of a residential building in Al-Hoceima

In this work, we present an energy efficiency study for a residential building located in the city of Al-Hoceima, Morocco. The aim is to bring the building into compliance with the technical requirements of the Moroccan Thermal Building Regulations (RTCM). To achieve this, several modifications and interventions were carried out, such as the use of hemp concrete for insulation and the integration of passive strategies to minimize energy loads. Similarly, this energy study is carried out as a simulation using TRNSYS software, so that the building is modeled as a multizone entity with an occupancy schedule. The simulation results show that the technical requirements of the RTCM are achieved using a construction containing hemp concrete with an optimum thickness of around 10cm, this thickness can be reduced to 4cm using double glazing, or to 1cm using controlled natural ventilation in summer and winter.

Application of Novel Phase Change Material Constructive Solution for Thermal Regulation of Passive Solar Buildings

A comprehensive investigation regarding the hygrothermal behavior of a constructive solution containing phase change materials (PCMs) was performed on a full-scale test cell, divided into two similar compartments. This involved hygrothermal monitoring (indoor air temperature) of the two compartments, in which one had PCM incorporated into the floor mortar. The main goal of this research was to investigate the potential of this kind of solution for overheating mitigation. The numerical study was conducted using EnergyPlus® software (version 9.0), exploring different natural ventilation flow rates to gauge the novel solution’s potential to reduce overheating rates. The results from the monitoring studies revealed prolonged periods of thermal discomfort in both test cells, particularly overheating. However, it was proven that the PCM application in one of the test cells led to a reduction of almost 10 °C in the maximum peak of air temperature. In the simulation analysis, the increase in the ventilation rate led to a linear decrease in the overheating hours of up to one renovation per hour, and then the reductions were attenuated.

Как и почему «человейники» разрушают социальный комфорт мегаполисов?

The problem of construction of residential areas in large Russian cities in the form of so-called ‘human buildings’ in the form of a concentration of high-rise apartment buildings (MKD), which arose several years after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, is becoming more and more aggravated every year. MKDs are often built in violation of current building codes and regulations; almost all new residential complexes lack the necessary social infrastructure (primarily kindergartens, schools, clinics), which, in the absence of sufficient space for residents’ personal cars, creates conditions for uncomfortable living in MKDs. This approach does not correspond to modern ideas about the comfortable life of people in large cities, and it does not take into account such an important factor as internal mass migration (the outflow of residents from the northern and eastern regions of the country).

‘The window area shall be at least one-tenth of the area of the room’: The origins of a daylight (and ventilation) requirement in modern building codes

Current New Zealand (New Zealand Building Code), Australian (National Construction Code) and American (International Building Code) building codes include deemed-to-satisfy requirements for a given proportion of a house’s floor area (e.g. 10%) to be in windows. These, plus the current English Building Regulations, also require a proportion of windows to be openable (e.g. one-half or 5% of the floor area). A detailed summary table supported by code extracts is used to trace the evolution of these requirements. Even the architects of antiquity provided only rules for window proportions but not for window area or size based on room dimensions. The paper demonstrates the evolution of this 21st century requirement follows a direct line to the English 1859 model ‘ Byelaws as to New Streets and Buildings’. Prior to that date, only two rules from 1842 (room volume based) and 1734 (height and volume based) have been found which gave a required window area based on room size. It is hypothesised that one of these led to the current rules. Although the current proportion rules may be appropriate, no empirical research-based origin has been identified.

Investigating the air quality surrounding new schools in England: polluted playgrounds and school buildings are a source of avoidable harm

ObjectiveTo assess levels of pollutants at the sites of new schools and whether pupils are likely to be protected from associated risks.SettingAir pollution causes damage to children’s health by increasing...

Experimental study of fire exposed expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation protected by selected coverings

Insulation products made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) are commonly utilized in buildings. However, Norwegian building regulations restrict the use of such combustible insulation due to an increased risk of fire spread and generation of smoke and toxic gases. Installation of fire protection coverings has been adopted as a mitigation strategy to address these safety risks. Notably, the current regulations lack pre-approved solutions describing what is considered an adequate protection of combustible insulation. The present study investigated the fire protection properties of selected coverings used to protect EPS insulation in inner walls. Eight comparative fire tests were conducted using an indicative fire resistance test furnace. The test specimens consisted of EPS blocks mounted on a wooden frame and covered with one or two layers of selected board coverings. The specimens were positioned vertically within the test furnace, and each fire test lasted for 10 or 15 min. Test results revealed that only two configurations consisting of either two layers of 12.5 mm gypsum boards or a combination of 12 mm oriented strand board (OSB) and 12.5 mm gypsum board showed no evidence of damage to the EPS substrate after a 15-min fire exposure. Consequently, the findings suggest that a total covering thickness of at least 24.5 mm, comprising two layers of boards, is necessary to prevent adverse effects on EPS insulation. Furthermore, fire tests conducted on coverings with introduced damages and defects showed that the affected area around the damages and defects were limited. For the standard EPS substrate, this area extended from 28 mm to 90 mm, while for the fire-retardant EPS substrate from 28 mm to 75 mm after a 10-min fire exposure. These results suggest that minor physical failures in the covering have limited impact on the fire safety of the system.

Identifikasi Penerapan Desain Universal pada M Bloc Space di Jakarta

The revitalization of the Perum Peruri area in Jakarta has changed its image from a relatively closed industrial area completed with its own employee residence into an open creative space designated especially for the millennials. The adaptive-reuse concept was used to prioritize the preservation and conservation of a state-owned heritage asset. The objective of this study is to identify the implementation of universal design guidelines by means of matching the outcome of the revitalization towards the government of the Republic of Indonesia regulation inscribed in Permen PUPR no. 14/PRT/M/2017. This study employs two approaches, a qualitative approach which descriptively matches the revitalization of M Bloc Space towards the regulation mentioned and a quantitative approach by means of distributing questionnaires to gain insights into the users’ perception of the implementation of universal design principles at M Bloc Space. The study shows that there are limitations to universal design implementation due to the design restriction as regulated in the heritage building regulation. It is important to stress that this study does not emphasize on the heritage part of the M Bloc Space development, rather its adaptation toward the needs of many of its users.

Life cycle environmental benchmarks for Flemish dwellings

To reduce the environmental effects caused by building construction and operation, life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly applied. In recent years, national building regulations have implemented LCA requirements to support building life cycle impact reduction. A key element in these regulations are environmental benchmarks which allow designers to compare their building designs with reference values. This study aims to develop bottom-up life cycle environmental benchmarks that represent the range of environmental impact results achieved with conventional construction in Flanders, Belgium. For this purpose, the study investigates the potential of using a database of building energy performance calculations. Specifically, this study considers 39 residential buildings identified as representative of the Flemish energy performance of buildings database of 2015–2016, applying modifications to establish scenarios that are still relevant in 2025. The buildings are assessed with the Belgian LCA tool TOTEM to calculate an aggregated environmental score based on the European product environmental footprint (PEF) weighting approach and including 12 main impact categories. In addition to the aggregated score, the climate change (CC) indicator is analysed individually. In view of the benchmarks, variations were applied to the 39 original buildings in terms of heating system and materialisation. The variation in heating system included changing gas boilers to electric heat pumps to comply with upcoming (2025) Flemish building regulations. The variations in building materials included three sets of conventional Flemish building element compositions that were applied to generate a wider spread of impact results as a basis for benchmarks. Benchmark values were derived through a statistical analysis of the 117 modelled variants: a best-practice value (10th percentile), reference value (median) and limit value (90th percentile). For the environmental score, the benchmark values are 86, 107 and 141 millipoints per square meter of gross heated floor area (GHFA) (mPt m−2GHFA), respectively; and for CC, the benchmark values are 844, 1015 and 1284 kg CO2-eq m−2 GHFA. Finally, the study discusses the representativeness, implications and limitations of the final benchmarks and benchmark approach.

Corruption in Turkey and earthquakes: Policies for tackling corruption in the construction sector

AbstractThe earthquake in Turkey has resulted in thousands of fatalities and injuries and is considered one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. The disaster has also brought to light another major issue in Turkey, namely, corruption. Failure to comply with building regulations and successive government amnesties for unlicensed construction contributed to the high death toll. This paper aims to draw attention to the ongoing issue of corruption and the potential life‐saving benefits of ethical practices in business and government. Finally, relevant useful policies targeting corruption in real estate have been proposed.

Reconstruction of a subsoil model for local seismic response evaluation through experimental and numerical methods: The case of the Wellington CBD, New Zealand

Defining a reliable subsoil model is one of the most crucial points in the evaluation of the local seismic response, especially when the study area presents a complex geological setting. Performing a large number of investigations during and subsequently a seismic crisis (following a strong earthquake) is useful for collecting valuable data. By applying a multidisciplinary approach, these data can be used for constraining and test the model, as well as for directly evaluating the effects of strong earthquakes on the environment and the distribution of structural damages in heavily populated areas. In the present study, through a new multidisciplinary experimental–numerical approach, we investigated the role of local site conditions on the damage observed in the Central Business District (CBD) of Wellington (New Zealand) after the 2016 M7.8 Kaikōura event.Numerical 1D/2D site response analyses were carried out to explore the hypothesis of damage exacerbation due to basin effects. Our numerical models were then validated by comparing the corresponding numerical amplification functions with those derived from the application of the standard spectral ratio technique to a large accelerogram dataset. This dataset was obtained by GeoNet stations deployed in the study area, including those operative during the 2016 M7.8 Kaikōura event. Differences in ground motion for near- and far-field events were highlighted.Our results show that the site response in the Wellington CBD was controlled by complex 2D/3D valley effects (mainly edge effects), which were related to the local buried geomorphology. Overall, these findings suggest that the type and location of an earthquake influence the maximum distance at which 2D effects (generated at the basin edge) are still detectable. Comparing our dataset with those from other published studies would be useful for clarifying the factors leading to an exacerbation of the seismic response in alluvial basins. This study has also possible implications for seismic hazard mitigation in cities built on such basins. We conclude that robust numerical 2D models can provide and capture notable characteristics of the ground motion associated with basin effects. These characteristics are fundamental for understanding basin effects and should be considered when formulating building regulations.

Energy-Efficient Strategies for Mitigating Airborne Pathogens in Buildings—Building Stage-Based Sustainable Strategies

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread global effects. The advent of novel variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, along with the spread of diverse airborne viruses across different geographical locations, has caused reflective apprehension on a global scale. This resurgence emphasises the critical importance of carefully constructed structures installed with efficient ventilation systems, including both natural and mechanical ventilation techniques, as well as mixed-mode ventilation approaches in buildings. Building engineering and architectural designs must go beyond traditional considerations of economics and structural durability in order to protect public health and well-being. To attain a high quality of life, it is necessary to prioritise sustainability, energy efficiency, and the provision of safe, high-quality indoor environments. Empirical scientific investigations underscore the pivotal role played by conducive indoor environments in averting the transmission of viral diseases such as COVID-19 and mitigating challenges associated with sick building syndrome, primarily stemming from suboptimal indoor air quality. This work provides a summary and a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threat) analysis of strategies designed for engineers, architects, and other experts in the field to implement. These strategies are intended for integration into new constructions and the retrofitting of extant structures. Their overarching objective is the minimisation of viral transmission within indoor spaces, accomplished in an energy-efficient manner consonant with sustainable development objectives. The significance of these strategies lies in their ability to impact changes to national and international building codes and regulations, strengthening infrastructures against probable airborne viral threats. Encompassing both object-centric and subject-centric approaches, these strategies collectively furnish a holistic framework for mitigating the dissemination of pathogens, exemplified by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and similar airborne viruses, across diverse typologies of buildings.

Enablers for accelerating biophilic design adoption in Australian buildings

Integrating biophilic design elements, such as green roofs and walls, has been proven to enhance the well-being of building occupants while boosting cities' ecological resilience. While many developed countries have acknowledged these benefits and are incorporating biophilic design principles into their new and refurbished buildings, Australia needs to catch up. This study aims to identify strategies to promote the integration of biophilic design in Australian buildings. To achieve this goal, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 architects and building sustainability consultants. The data was analysed using both manual and natural language processing techniques. The study uncovered nine strategies to accelerate the adoption of biophilic design, including making biophilic design a foundational subject in architectural and building sustainability education, enhancing building codes and regulations to mandate minimum biophilic features, demonstrating the business benefits of biophilic design to clients, embedding biophilic design as a core value in design organisations, and disseminating research and information on the cost-effective implementation of local vegetation for biophilic design. The study proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating nature into buildings, highlighting macro and micro enablers and their interactions. The findings offer practical strategies for stakeholders, including governments, design organisations, and professionals, to promote the adoption of biophilic design in Australia. Additionally, the study identifies opportunities to improve building design education and rating schemes to encourage the adoption of biophilic design.

Comparison of bearing capacity and hogging of axially loaded columns in a foam concrete casing

This work identifies the operation characteristics of axially loaded metal columns located within a foam concrete casing. The structures based on steel elements structurally combined with monolithic non-autoclaved foam concrete, used as filling for cladding, were investigated. The load-bearing capacity of axially loaded columns in free and constrained loads were compared. The columns were loaded using vertical test benches, and longitudinal deformations were recorded using a TK-50M strain gauge. Transverse movements (hogging) were measured using a dial gauge. Comparative theoretical calculations for the bearing capacity of loaded columns were carried out in accordance with the building rules and regulations SP 16.13330.2017 “Steel structures”. In experiments involving static axial loading of open-section columns, an increase in the stability of constrained columns was determined, and the ratio of longitudinal hogging of columns in a free and constrained state was shown. In addition, it was revealed that the size of the casing influences the magnitude and nature of the longitudinal bending. Therefore, it became possible to save metal by reducing the cross-section of the columns, while maintaining a bearing capacity similar to that of the free columns. The study demonstrated that as the ratio of the area of the surrounding foam concrete casing to the cross-sectional area of the loaded column increases, metal savings are correspondingly higher.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ЗЕЛЕНОЇ ЗОНИ НА ТЕРИТОРІЇ КАМПУСУ КИЇВСЬКОГО НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ ІМЕНІ ТАРАСА ШЕВЧЕНКА (ВИСТАВКОВИЙ ЦЕНТР)

B a c k g r o u n d . The relevance and purpose of the research. Institutions of higher education (HEIs) are mostly city-forming objects, and the design of the surrounding territory affects their image, the aestheticization of the environment, and performs a decorative function. Today's challenges require the improvement of landscapes and architecture of higher education institutions, and this problem is urgent, because universities gather a large number of young people from different regions and countries of the world, who have to live and study in appropriate comfortable conditions. Mostly, the problem of organizing the territory is considered from the point of view of greening, rather than a comprehensive landscape project. Therefore, the formation of a holistic space of the university campus, taking into account modern scientific approaches to the design of landscape architecture objects in the conditions of global climate change, seems to be extremely relevant. The goal is to conduct an analysis of the features of the organization of the green zone of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University campus (Exhibition Center campus) taking into account the requirements that are put forward to the higher educational institution. Research materials and methods. The object of research was the territory of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University campus (Exhibition Center campus). M e t h o d s . Methods of searching for information in printed and electronic publications, searchable scientific databases, as well as methods of data analysis, comparison and generalization, field surveys, measurements on geodetic maps using the AutoCADin vector format. R e s u l t s . The standards for greening the territory of the ZVO were analyzed. The state of green spaces of higher educational institutions depends on the selection of plants adapted to climatic and soil conditions, as well as recreational loads. Most Ukrainian institutions of higher education do not meet the standards of "green universities". The functional zoning of the KNU campus (Exhibition Center) complies with building regulations, but the green area on the territory is distributed unevenly. It is necessary to pay attention to the use of phytoorganic background of green park plantings as an option of aerofitotherapy, taking into account modern data on the positive effect of biogenic volatile organic substances on the human body. C o n c l u s i o n s . The green zone is an integral element of the structure of educational campuses, when developing each of the design options for the solution of the territory, it is necessary to offer a new image that corresponds to modern trends in design and will make it possible to create a functionally sufficient and unique environment.

Should Danish building regulations legalise basement dwellings? – Consequences for daylight and view out investigated through case studies

Densification of cities is ongoing for sustainability purposes, but it has consequences for daylight availability in dwellings and the view out. Despite 'comparable conditions', national daylight and view-out regulations differ between Nordic countries, particularly regarding allowing dwellings below ground level. Two case studies investigate daylight and view-out access in modelled basement dwellings through simulations of daylight autonomy and renders of view-out content. Results indicate that basement dwellings can meet daylight and view-out access requirements in suburban, low-rise neighbourhoods but cannot meet the requirements in medium- to high-rise urban contexts. This study will contribute to future political decisions on national building regulations in Denmark and may influence future decisions on urban planning and building development.

Applying infrared thermography to a latest residential building in France: case study, verifying dwellings national thermal regulations RT 2012 mainly thermal bridges assessment

High-performance insulation and airtight building envelopes are the two most important factors to optimize the building energy efficiency and thermal performance. However, thermal performance of building envelopes can be significantly affected by thermal bridging. Thermal bridges can take place at different locations of the building envelope, causing added transmission losses, increasing heat flow, lower inner surface temperatures. Thermal bridges are regarded in all national regulations for new buildings of all states of European Union (EU) but there are no specifications assessing balconies to wall junctions and the impact on the building thermal performance is not well regulated. In this paper, balcony to wall thermal bridge assessment using infrared thermography is highlighted. The originality is that, infrared thermography, has been applied to a real living latest building in the north east of France showing that there is noncompliance in the national regulations as some exigencies are not met. Thermography of thermal break windows and window doors has also revealed air leakage. The goal, is to illustrate that thermal imaging is a means of quality assurance to new building specifications and should include a clause specifying quality assurance procedure for balconies junction in national building regulations for all states of the EU.