Assessment of Damage in Low-rise Buildings

Download or read book Assessment of Damage in Low-rise Buildings written by and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 8 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Digest discusses the assessment and classification of visible damage resulting from structural distortion. The assessment is based on a description of work considered necessary to repair the building fabric; classification into six categories is recommended, taking into account the nature, location and type of damage. The most common causes of damage are discussed. It is concluded that for damage of Category 2 or less cracking may result from a combination of causes which are difficult to identify and the cost and effort involved in carrying out an identification would be disproportionate to the scale of the damage, except for circumstances where the movement is likely to be progressive. It is rare for damage to progress beyond Category 2 and when it does ground movement is usually the cause. The various causes of ground movement giving rise to damage are described briefly and emphasis is given to the identification of conditions where the movement might lead to progressive deterioration. The Digest will assist building professionals, property valuers and insurance advisors both in putting building damage into its true perspective and in determining necessary action, either in the form of seeking expert advice or in recommending simple repairs.