Selected Methods for Condition Assessment of Structural, HVAC (Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning), Plumbing, and Electrical Systems in Existing Buildings

摘要

This report was developed with the intent of assisting government officials, designers, builders, code officials, and others involved with making technical decisions relative to building rehabilitation to evaluate the condition of existing buildings. The report describes evaluation methods available specifically for use with the structural materials of concrete, steel, masonry, and wood, as well as, for use with the supportive systems of heating/ventilating/air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical. Both commonly used methods and other possible (but more technically complex) laboratory methods are described for the reader. Comparative tables are provided, where possible, to aid the reader in making a quick selection of the evaluation method most appropriate for the particular parameter to be tested. Considerably more information is included in the area of structural systems than in the rest of the report because of the fact that this report supplements a previous effort to develop a technical manual on structural strength for rehabilitation of existing buildings.