ABSTRACT
The achievement of satisfactory performance for the whole of the required service life of a concrete structure, i.e. durability, is dependent upon many factors throughout the specification, design and execution phases. This paper describes the rudiments of a Durability Audit that is being developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in collaboration with UK industry. The aim of the audit is to ensure that concrete structures are durable for their required service lives in the environment to which they are exposed.
The audit will require demonstration that durability has been taken fully into account at each appropriate stage, from specification of the required service life by the client, through characterisation of the environment, design for durability, planning of maintenance and specification of materials, to quality of execution. It will not, in itself, dictate the required level of durability or, indeed, say how it is to accomplished. It will thus not affect the flexibility or freedom of the designer in finding the best solution for each situation.
The paper also gives a brief description of the intention for a ‘trial run’ of the system in the construction of a new building within BRE. It also indicates some of the work required to develop the system to a stage where it is ready for implementation.
