Reducing seismic vulnerablity: Retrofitting historic buildings

The value of preserving historic buildings is increasingly accepted by society, which not only recognizes built cultural heritage as a part of its identity but is also more cognizant of its economic value. In Europe, for example, tourism accounts for 10 percent of the GDP in the EU and 12 percent of employment.1 Built cultural heritage is a fundamental element of what draws tourists to European destinations. To a great extent, the value of historic buildings rests in the integrity of their components as unique products of the technology of their time and place. Unfortunately, cultural heritage buildings are particularly vulnerable to disasters, for a variety of reasons. They are often damaged or in a state of deterioration; they were built with materials with low resistance; they are heavy; and the connections among their various structural components are frequently insufficient. The main causes of damage are lack of maintenance, water-induced deterioration (from rain or rising damp), soil settlement, and extreme events such as earthquakes. Earthquakes have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in the last decade, in addition to the tremendous losses in built cultural heritage.

A system's model for maintenance support and decision making in building services systems

Modern buildings are designed to enhance the match between environment, spaces and the people carrying out work, so that the well-being and the performance of the occupants are all in harmony. Building services are systems that facilitate a healthy working environment within which workers productivity can be optimised in the buildings. However, the maintenance of these services is fraught with problems that may contribute to up to 50% of the total life cycle cost of the building. Maintenance support is one area which is not usually designed into the system as this is not common practice in the services industry. The other areas of shortfall for future designs are; client requirements, commissioning, facilities management data and post occupancy evaluation feedback which needs to be adequately planned to capture and document this information for use in future designs. At the University of Reading an integrated approach has been developed to assemble the multitude of aspects inherent in this field. The means records required and measured achievements for the benefit of both building owners and practitioners. This integrated approach can be represented in a Through Life Business Model (TLBM) format using the concept of Integrated Logistic Support (ILS). The prototype TLBM developed utilises the tailored tools and techniques of ILS for building services. This TLBM approach will facilitate the successful development of a databank that would be invaluable in capturing essential data (e.g. reliability of components) for enhancing future building services designs, life cycle costing and decision making by practitioners, in particular facilities managers.

Linking energy and maintenance management for sustainability through three American case studies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings and lessons learned from three case studies conducted for facilities located in California, North America. The findings aim to focus on energy and maintenance management practices and the interdependent link between energy and maintenance. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on a positivist epistemological philosophical approach informed by action research. The research cycle was completed for each case study. A case study report was provided to each facility management team to foster collaboration with the researcher and to document case study process and results. Findings – Composite findings of the case studies include: there is an interdependent link between energy and maintenance management; reactive maintenance and energy management methods are commonly used; and more proactively operated and managed buildings require the interdependent link between energy maintenance management to be better understood. Research limitations/implications – The three case studies were located in California. Although the case study results can be generalized, determination of how to generalize and apply the results to commercial buildings outside of the USA is beyond the scope of this paper. Practical implications – Detailed discussion of the needs of the three facility management teams are discussed by identifying a current challenge, developing a solution and documenting lessons learned using the research cycle. Originality/value – The paper seeks to demonstrate the interdependencies of energy and maintenance management, two topics which are often researched interdependently. Additionally, the paper provides insight about maintenance management, a topic often cited as being under researched.

Survey data book and standards for operation and maintenance of physical plant in colleges and universities /

143, 147, omitted in numbering.

Funk & Wagnalls home maintenance handbook;

Mode of access: Internet.

Understanding air conditioning systems for better energy efficiency : operations and maintenance procedures for utility cost control /

"ILENR/BE-87/01."

Historic preservation : maintenance procedures.

Issued Feb. 1977.

Operator, organizational, direct support, and general support maintenance manual : press shelter, NSN 3610-00-987-9067, component of printing plant, special warfare, transportable, NSN 3610-00-889-3311.

Includes index.

Operator, organizational, direct support, and general support maintenance manual : editorial and photomechanical shelter, NSN 3610-00-9987-9066, component of printing plant, special warfare, transportable, NSN 3610-00-889-3311.

Includes index.

Operator, organizational, direct support, and general support maintenance manual : editorial and photomechanical shelter, NSN 3610-00-987-9066, component of printing plant, special warfare, transportable, NSN 3610-00-889-3311.

"June 1978."

Direct support and general support maintenance manual for shelter system, collective protection, chemical-biological, inflatable, trailer-transported, M51 (NSN 4240-00-854-4144).

Includes index.

Operator's and organizational maintenance manual : shelter system, collective protection, chemical-biological, inflatable, trailer-transported, M51 (NSN 4240-00-854-4144).

"August 1975."

Direct support and general support maintenance manual for shelter system, collective protection, chemical-biological, inflatable, trailer-transported, M51 (NSN 4240-00-854-4144).

"December 1975."

Organizational maintenance repair parts and special tools list : shelter, expandable, (MUST), Brunswick Corp. model SE-1 (NSN 5410-00-933-9387).

Includes index.

Organizational and direct support maintenance repair parts and special tools list : shelter, inflatable, w/airlock (Airesearch Manufacturing Co. model S1W2), FSN 5410-933-9388.

"October 1968."