Building

Defect and
Structure
failure
Nangkula Utaberta
There are several common sources that caused the
building defect , some of them are:

1. Human factor
2. Biological attack
3. Chemical reaction
4. Moisture problem
5. Physical movement
Human factor:
1. Bad design – errors of computation, fail to take
account the loads of the structure, erroneous
theories, reliance on inaccurate data and etc.
2. Faulty construction – wrong construction method for
example, use of salty sandy to make concrete.
3. Extraordinary load – often natural such as repeated
heavy snowfalls or shaking of an earthquake or the
wind.
Biological attack:
1. Fungal, mould or harmful growth
2. Caused by moisture, high humidity and less
ventilated
3. Growth near kitchen, gutter, down pipes and etc.
4. Harmful growth caused cracks, provide suitable
place for seeds growth and penetration of water on
wall.
Chemical reaction:
Include sulphate attack, corrosion, carbonation, and alkali/silicate reaction
Caused cracking of the building structure and influence it stability:

1. Sulphate attack – reaction between water and soluble salt such as sodium,
potassium and magnesium. When soluble salt react with the building
materials, it caused expansion (crystallization) and cracking and spalling of
mortar and rendering.
2. Corrosion – occurred when there is water and oxygen at metal and the
reduce the strength of metal
3. Carbonization – take place in reinforced concrete. The cement produced
alkali when it is wetted. The carbonization process only take place after the
concrete that protect the steel is completely carbonized. When the concrete
is fully carbonized, it may cause the corrosion to the steel.
4. Alkali-silicate – occurred when moisture present in the cement and certain
aggregate type. It may cause deterioration of concrete. There are 3
necessary conditions: a sufficient alkaline solution in structure of concrete
aggregates susceptible to attack by the solution and a sufficient supply of
water.
Moisture problem:
1. Moisture movement is a common phenomenon affecting
building component because some materials absorb
water.
2. Source of moisture – penetrating damp, condensation,
building disaster, construction moisture.
3. Moisture move through gaps cracks and leaks.
Continuous process may caused building decay
4. Change of moisture content cause shrinkage and
expansion of building structural.
5. Cracking may occurred at the weak point of the
structural.
Physical movement
1. Generally is the vibration
2. May be caused by the vibration from adjacent object
or activities inside building.
3. Cause extra pressure to the structural.
4. Cause shaking, rattling or movement of the building
5. When it is over limited stress to the structure,
structural may be damage, for example, cracking on
wall.
To prevent defects on building, it is depended to the work
methods of each stages of the project:

1. The designer responsible

• Could be architect, engineer, contractors, manufacturers
and suppliers
• Design strategies can prevent building defects by making
right decisions
• Always improve the information through literature
searching and reading
• Manufacturer and supplier provide true information about
performance of their product to the designer.
To prevent defects on building, it is depended to the work
methods of each stages of the project:

2. The Right Construction Method

• Help to prevent the defect on building.
• Taking experience from previous faulty construction
method
• Develop in-house database using existing standards and
codes, and lesson-learned from defects gathered by
property managers
• Frequent inspection and checking to prevent errors of
workmanship and materials
• Inform immediately when find the mistake – reduce cost of
maintenance and enhance durability of building
• Follow the right step during construction and no cut costs.
To prevent defects on building, it is depended to the work
methods of each stages of the project:

3. Inspection and maintenance after construction

• Ensure the building is good in condition
• Done according to the need of the building
• It help to determine the problem of building at the early
stage
• Prevent serious building defect
• Save maintenance cost at the future
• Improve durability of building
• Maintenance plan is provided by the specialist.
To prevent defects on building, it is depended to the work
methods of each stages of the project:

4. The right used of building

• Used of building may be changed when the building’s
owner is changed.
• Changed of the building’s use may caused damage of
the structural because of the activities done in the
building.
To prevent defects on building, it is depended to the work
methods of each stages of the project:

5. Environmental Control
• It is a green approach to ensure the healthy of the
building and the occupants.
• The used of chemical substances pollutes the
environmental and caused the reaction of building
materials.
• The chemical reaction reduce the strength of the
structural.
The architect plays three important roles in construction
process which is design process, construction process
and maintenance process.

1. Design Process, in design process architect need to

do the following action:
• Design strategies that can prevent building defects by
making right decisions
• Always improve the information through literature
searching and reading
• Make sure the manufacturer and supplier provide true
information about performance of their product to the
designer.
2. Construction Process, in construction process
architect need to do the following action:
• Help to prevent the defect on building.
• Taking experience from previous faulty construction
method
• Develop in-house database using existing standards and
codes, and lesson-learned from defects gathered by
property managers
• Frequent inspection and checking to prevent errors of
workmanship and materials
• Inform immediately when find the mistake – reduce cost
of maintenance and enhance durability of building
3. Maintenance Process, maintenance process is
important because of:

• Ensure the building is good in condition

• Done according to the need of the building
• It help to determine the problem of building at the early
stage
• Prevent serious building defect
• Save maintenance cost at the future
• Improve durability of building
• Maintenance plan is provided by the specialist.
Thank You!