This Digest gives guidance to professional engineers on the structural appraisal of existing buildings,including making a structural appraisal for a material change of use. Part 2 introduces structural appraisal, and discusses the factors that might influence the outcome of an appraisal, and what might be involved in preparing for it. It looks at the many factors that can influence the structural behaviour and performance of buildings, including: through-life perspectives; cultural heritage issues; sources of hazard and risk; accidental loadings and actions; structural systems and materials; stability and resilience of buildings; loads and actions; verification criteria; safety considerations; material influences; defects, deterioration and damage mechanisms and sustainability issues.

Contents

1 Introduction to structural appraisal
2 Establishing the brief for a structural appraisal
3 General considerations and influencing factors
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Through-life perspectives: deterioration,
repairs, alterations and historical
insights
3.3 Cultural heritage issues
3.4 Sources of hazards and risk
3.5 Loads and actions – structural Eurocode
approach
3.6 Accidental loadings and actions
3.7 Structural system and materials
3.8 Stability and resilience of buildings
3.9 Loadings and actions – existing,
historical and future
3.10 Verification criteria
3.11 Safety considerations: acceptable risk
levels for existing structures
3.12 Defects, deterioration and damage
mechanisms: condition of the structural
parts now and in the future
3.13 Sustainability-related influences on
decisions and option selection
3.14 Malicious actions or attacks and
vandalism
References

Format
12pp A4, 1 line drawing, 2 photos