Facade Failures Research Articles

Building Facade Failures due to Rainwater Entry in Turkey

Facade failures due to rainwater entry are common in Turkey although, few systematic studies have been completed to determine the types of defects and failures and their causes as would permit developing appropriate repair solutions. The intent of this study is to determine the types of defects and failures caused by rainwater ingress to building facades based on case studies of failure in Turkey. Thus, defects and failures can be characterized and classified, such that the most common types of failure can be revealed and adequate repair solutions proposed. A review of literature was conducted of studies undertaken in Turkey on rainwater entry and building defects. Additionally, field inspections were carried out for 16 public buildings in Istanbul and information regarding failures was gathered from local authorities. Based on data evaluated from previous research and field inspections, it was determined that majority of the buildings had cladding walls with stucco being the most common cladding material. Failures occurred in cladding facades with stucco included detachment of cladding, staining, and cracks; the most common failure was blistering and exfoliation. Air and rainwater leakage due to defects in sealants was the most common failure in buildings with panel and stick wall systems.

Assessment of the condition, cause and possible other defects on the wooden façade of ThermoWood in terms of blackening the entire facade of the family house

The aim of the paper was to provide information about defects and causes of faults on the wooden facade of ThermoWood. The examined failure is the blackening of wooden elements on the entire area of the family house facade. The family house is now in a finished form and is therefore permanently used for housing people. Current damage does not jeopardize the stability of the object. A test sample of the blackened facade from the north-east side of the building at locations available and with a predominant blackening ratio was taken to determine the cause of the failure. The evaluation was based on general technical requirements for carrying out the work related to the implementation of the facade, technological details. Local examination of the facade revealed that the blackening occurs across the surface and shows signs of fungus. For this reason, a sample of the facade was taken from the north-eastern part and the opinion of the Czech Mycological Society was requested based on the photo documentation including the description of the impregnation used. At the end of the paper, we propose a comprehensive solution to the facade failure with the provision of the disposal and elimination of possible sources supporting the mold formation.

Building facade failures in the urban environment

In the urban environment, building facades can be exposed to conditions that are not present in other environments. These include acid rain, higher atmospheric carbon dioxide and other agents that can deteriorate or attack the facades of city buildings or other urban structures. Sulfurous, sulfuric and nitric acids present in polluted air dissolve calcite minerals in marble and limestone facades or in concrete and mortar aggregates. Harsh cleaning chemicals or methods used to wash away city soil and soot can damage facades. Sealants can degrade and discolour from airborne deposits and contaminants. Facades may suffer impact and abuse from adjacent building construction activities. While failure of building facades or their connections can result from countless causes, the extent and consequences of such failures are often exacerbated by pollutants and chemicals that are commonly present in the urban environment. This paper addresses special considerations, conditions and risks that are associated with building facade failures in cities. The majority of urban facade failure descriptions and cases presented in this paper are based on the author’s experience in the USA.

Performance-Based Concept for Design of Structural Silicone Joints in Façades Exposed to Earthquake

Facade failure due to seismic event represents a potential hazard to people and can cause serious damages to buildings with consequent high-cost remedial works. As a result, interest in the design of buildings and facades to resist seismic loads and displacements has increased. Current standards and literature recognize the benefits offered by Structural Sealant Glazing (SSG) systems to enhance the performance of unitized curtain walls exposed to earthquake but no precise criteria are available for the seismic design of the structural silicone joints. This paper proposes a design concept to evaluate the effect of forces and displacements imposed to the structural joints due to panel seismic racking; referring to the design philosophy developed by Japanese Standard, the concept is engineered based on three performance levels associated to different design requirements which aim at balancing costs and risks with no compromise on safety. Tensile and shear tests performed on sealant H-specimens and Hockman cycle tests simulating accelerated life cycles at different deformation rates are used to exploit the deformation capability of the joints correlated to residual strengths. Results from static racking tests on full-scale facade panels are used to validate the proposed design concept.

Building Facade Failure Risk Assessment

Building facades can fail in a variety of ways. Masonry can crack or deteriorate over time, supports can corrode, surface seals can leak, or the wall may trap moisture-laden air that triggers condensation and mold growth. Some types of facades have characteristics that make them more susceptible to failure. An understanding of these vulnerable facade characteristics can help building designers and owners avoid (or at least be prepared for) facade failures.

Building facade failures

Building facades serve mainly to protect occupants and contents from the elements. Failure of the building envelope (i.e. walls, roof and windows) to function as intended usually has a significant impact on the serviceability of the building. Roofs and windows periodically fail and are replaced; however, the building facade is expected to endure the forces of nature for the service life of the building. The increasing complexity of modern buildings, combined with decreasing tolerance for undesirable performance of building systems, has resulted in an ever increasing frequency of building facade failures. This paper addresses common serviceability and performance problems associated with various types of building facades. Methods and tools useful for investigation of facade failures are discussed. The paper is not intended to be a comprehensive guide for the forensic investigator, but is offered as an aid to help recognise symptoms and evaluate conditions that underlie common building facade failures. The types of building facades and investigation methods discussed in this paper are primarily based on the author’s experience within the USA.

Evolution of the Development of the Chicago Facade Inspection Ordinance

Abstract In Chicago, IL, there are hundreds of high-rise buildings that were constructed starting in the 1890s. The exterior facade on these buildings includes terra cotta panels, thick stone panels, thin stone panels, brick veneer, precast concrete, poured-in-place concrete, steel panels, aluminum panels, and glass/aluminum curtain wall. After pieces of a terra cotta facade fell from a building in 1974 and killed a pedestrian, Chicago prepared its 1978 facade inspection. This ordinance was the first facade inspection ordinance in the United States. This ordinance was subsequently repealed. Due to subsequent facade failures, Chicago prepared its 1996 facade ordinance and amended this ordinance in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The amended ordinance is currently the most comprehensive facade ordinance in the United States. Approximately 70 % of eligible buildings in Chicago have complied with the ordinance. This paper presents information on the evolution and development of the ordinance.