This Standard provides a guideline and methodology for assessing the condition and performance of existing building envelope systems and components, and identifying problematic and dysfunctional elements. As the adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and improvement of existing buildings have assumed a more prominent role in meeting national needs, the ability to accurately assess the conditions of a building is imperative. The condition of the building envelope is most important since failures can result in safety and health problems, as well as structural damage. Proper evaluation of the building envelope is often the first step toward stabilization and rehabilitation of the building. This Standard is a compilation of basic information, procedures, and references, and will be an asset to the investigator developing a logical approach to the assessment of the building envelope in order to focus on fundamental defects rather than outward symptoms.

In Structural Condition Assessment, editor-in-chief Robert T. Ratay gathers together the leading people in the field to produce the first unified resource on all aspects of structural condition assessment for strength, serviceability, restoration, adaptive reuse, code compliance, and vulnerability. Organized by the four main stages of a structural evaluation, this book provides an introduction to structural deterioration and its consequences, the business and legal aspects of conducting an evaluation, initial survey and evaluation techniques for various structures, and specific tests for five of the most common structural materials (concrete, steel, masonry, timber and fabric.)

Any structural system in service is subject to age-related deterioration, leading to potential concerns regarding maintenance, health & safety, environmental and economic implications. Condition assessment of aged structures is an invaluable, single source of information on structural assessment techniques for marine and land-based structures such as ships, offshore installations, industrial plant and buildings. Topics covered include: - - Current practices and standards for structural condition assessment - - Fundamental mechanisms and advanced mathematical methods for predicting structural deterioration - - Residual strength assessment of deteriorated structures - - Inspection and maintenance of aged structures - - Reliability and risk assessment of aged structuresProfessionals from a broad range of disciplines will be able to gain a better understanding of current practices and standards for structural condition assessment or health monitoring, and what future trends might be. - Single source of information on structural assessment techniques for marine and land-based structures - Examines the residual strength and reliability of aged structures - Assesses current practices covering inspection, health monitoring and maintenance

Provides design professionals & local building officials with a standard methodology to evaluate buildings of different types & occupancies in areas of different seismicity throughout the U.S.

The Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) handbook can be used by trained personnel to identify, inventory, and screen buildings that are potentially seismically vulnerable. The RVS procedure comprises a method and several forms that help users to quickly identify, inventory, and score buildings according to their risk of collapse if hit by major earthquakes. The RVS handbook describes how to identify the structural type and key weakness characteristics, how to complete the screening forms, and how to manage a successful RVS program.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue Reducing the Seismic Vulnerability of Existing Buildings: Assessment and Retrofit that was published in Buildings