Interrelations between the types of damages and their original causes in the envelope of buildings

Abstract

The envelope is the skin that covers buildings and protects them from weather and outdoor actions. Consequently, this envelope is prone to have many deficiencies. This paper analyses 2030 cases that correspond to current Spanish buildings, from which the pathology combinations are categorised. In other words, each case studied is associated and quantified with the type of existing damage, the construction unit in which the damage occurred, and its original cause, thus showing the most recurrent and dominant combination and the construction typology where pathology combinations took place. A total of 10 groups of pathology combinations were determined in the horizontal envelope, and 34 groups in the vertical envelope. The results could be useful for technicians to have a very significant view of the most troubled points of envelopes, so preventive measures can be adopted when writing the project (design phase) and performing construction works. In this manner, damages would be reduced in the building envelope, as well as use costs, and habitability conditions would be improved, thus contributing to the most sustainable behaviour of the building process.