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3. Chemical
activities creating environment likely to promote deterioration of materials
e.g. using inappropriate cleaning agents, spraying de-icing salt, etc.
connecting dissimilar materials e.g. connecting 2 metals with different
chemical activity levels (fixing aluminium windows with stainless steel rivets)
chemicals inherent in the building materials may cause deterioration e.g.
sulphate salt in clay brick, impurities in sand or aggregate
existing chemicals around the building elements may also attack the building
materials e.g. carbon dioxide in air, salts in ground water or soil, gaseous
sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides generated from pollutions
furring deposit in hot water services hard water
4. Biological
timber and wood products affected by fungus or insect attack e.g. termite
tree root affecting foundation of building e.g. settlement
micro-biological growth (e.g. fungi, mosses) on porous surfaces such as
cement render, external concrete or brick walls and pavings
micro-organisms like algae, fungi and bacteria may also attack some types of
polymers (e.g. in sealant)
5. Structural
foundation and soil movement even or differential settlement e.g. landslide,
piles of inadequate depth, dewatering
shrinkage and creep RC frame {creep is defined as the increase in strain (size
change) under a sustained constant stress after taking into account other time-
dependent deformation not associated with stress Source: Neville & Brooks
Concrete Technology}
overloading or misuse of building, alternation works removing structural
members
ageing of structural members
loading distribution differs from the design
6. Mechanical
vibration from machines, traffic
mechanical damage by neighbouring construction works (demolition,
percussive piling)
earthquake
8. Human Factor
clean and maintain wrong ways, tools, etc.
unawareness of sources of deterioration find out and cure the source
failure to establish an acceptable standard of maintenance
delay maintenance or repair until emergency condition
inadequate funding or allowance/budget for maintenance funding common
in scattered ownership private housing
inadequate knowledge of the legal obligations
9. Faulty Design
designers responsibility architects, engineers and consultants are competent
persons who should possess adequate professional knowledge to advise the
client on design, choice of materials, maintenance needs, etc.
poor specification of materials
poor joint design (e.g. precast elements, expansion joints)
substitution of unavailable materials by unsuitable replacements
insufficient funds therefore adopting sub-standard materials
fail to consider the access for repair and maintenance
inadequate consideration on future maintenance problems e.g. unavailability
of materials
inadequate allowances movements of elements (thermal, moisture, creep,
settlement, etc.)