Distribution and location of damages in Swedish buildings

Abstract

Different damages and defects in buildings create huge cost for owners and the society. Besides free water damages, current knowledge about damages in buildings in general focuses on costs and has a qualitative approach rather than based on real quantitative facts. This paper presents the location and distribution of 1105 different damages, failures, and functional defects in Swedish buildings based on real damage investigations. Besides moisture inventories, most of the damage investigations were initiated by perceived SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) or visible free water. Possible negative effects on the indoor environment caused by different types of microbial growth were the most common damage. Damages often become noticed and, at a later state, located in ordinary rooms or classrooms. Most of the damages were located in the exterior wall and generally in wooden materials. The number of reported damages in the form of emissions from flooring due to degradation of glue was low in the studied sample.