No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Membrane and Flashing Condition Indexes for Built-Up Roofs. Volume 1. Development of the Procedure
Abstract
Because no systematic procedures exists to determine priorities and select repair strategies for low-slope roofs, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USA-CERL) is developing a roof maintenance management system that will provide a practical decisionmaking procedure to identify cost-effective repairs. This volume describes part of the overall system; the development and verification of roof condition indexes for rating built-up roofs, based on a visual distress survey. Separate indexes were developed for the membrane and flashing components. Each index is expressed as a numerical rating ranging from 0 to 100, and provides a measure of the component's ability to perform its function, needed level of maintenance, and leak potential. The roof condition indexes have been field tested and validated through the assistance of several roof experts from both the military and private sectors. The testing was conducted at seven different military installations located in widely different climates. Field tests indicated that computed condition indexes correlate highly with the mean subjective ratings of experienced roof experts. Volume II presents the distress types, severity levels, and measurement criteria. The manual also presents procedures for distress density calculations necessary to determine the indexes.
... Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) has pioneered the use of engineered management systems in many construction sectors including roofing, paving and rail networks [42] [43] [44] [45]. ...
... For example, any number of database applications can manage work orders, trouble calls, equipment cribs, stores inventory, and preventive maintenance schedules, and many include features such as time recording, inventory control and invoicing. The Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) has pioneered the use of engineered management systems in many construction sectors including roofing, paving and rail networks42434445. ...
Asset managers are faced with many difficult decisions regarding when and how to repair their building stock. The reasons for the difficulties relate directly to the lack of usable data, information and knowledge related to service life prediction, and the lack of tools to assist the asset manager in making a proper repair choice. The Building Envelope Life Cycle Asset Management (BELCAM) project addresses these two deficiencies: its goal is to develop methods to predict the service life of the building envelope and its elements, and to assist asset managers in maintaining these building components. The project in the initial stages focuses on roofing, and seeks to integrate existing enabling technologies used in this domain, namely: maintenance management, life cycle economics, service life prediction, user requirement modeling, risk analysis, and product modeling. Although there exists degradation models for flat roof systems, as well as a number of roofing maintenance management packages, these have yet to be integrated into a consistent resource that satisfies the asset manager's requirements. Indeed, efforts have been made in the past to provide designers insight into the functional use and related performance requirements of building elements; however, little of this information has been used in the context of maintenance of facilities. This paper describes details on the programmed approach adopted within the BELCAM project to achieve practical solutions for asset managers. Examples are provided to illustrate the concept as applied to the roofing domain. Les gestionnaires de biens doivent prendre plusieurs décisions difficiles relativement au moment et à la façon de réparer les bâtiments dont ils ont la responsabilité. Ces difficultés découlent directement du manque de données, d'informations et de connaissances utilisables permettant de prévoir la durée de vie en service, ainsi que du manque d'outils permettant de faire les meilleurs choix quant aux réparations à effectuer. Le projet BELCAM (étude sur la gestion des biens au cours du cycle de vie de l'enveloppe du bâtiment) permet de combler ces deux lacunes, en cherchant à mettre au point des méthodes qui permettent de prévoir la durée de vie en service de l'enveloppe d'un bâtiment et de ses éléments et en appuyant les gestionnaires dans l'entretien de ces éléments. Les premières étapes du projet, qui portent sur la toiture, visent à intégrer les technologies habilitantes utilisées dans ce domaine, notamment la gestion de l'entretien, les aspects économiques de la durée de vie en service, la prévision de la durée de vie en service, la modélisation des besoins des utilisateurs, l'analyse des risques et la modélisation des produits. Il existe déjà des modèles de dégradation des toits plats ainsi que de nombreux logiciels de gestion de l'entretien des toitures, mais ils n'ont pas encore été intégrés dans un outil cohérent satisfaisant aux exigences des gestionnaires de biens. En effet, même si l'on a déjà réalisé des travaux pour donner aux concepteurs un aperçu de l'utilisation fonctionnelle des éléments de construction et des exigences connexes de performance, ces informations n'ont guère été utilisées relativement à l'entretien d'installations. Cet article décrit en détail l'approche programmée adoptée dans le cadre du projet BELCAM pour offrir aux gestionnaires de biens des solutions pratiques. Nous donnons des exemples de ce concept appliqué au domaine de la toiture. RES
... The concepts and theory behind the condition index methodology and the process used to develop and field validate the distress definitions and deduct value curves are described elsewhere (Shahin, Bailey, and Brotherson 1987a). The procedures for determining membrane and flashing condition indexes for built-up roofs (BUR) as described elsewhere (Shahin, Bailey, and Brotherson 1987b) provide the basis for this work. ...
Because no procedures exist to inspect and evaluate the condition of single-ply membrane roofing systems within the ROOFER program, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL) has developed this inspection and distress manual for these roofing systems. Included is the standardized information needed to conduct the visual inspection survey, including names, descriptions, severity levels, measurement criteria, causes and photographs of membrane and flashing distresses. Procedures for distress density calculations are also provided. Roof inspectors can use this information to objectively determine the indexes that reflect the (1) ability of the membrane and flashing to perform their functions, (2) needed level of maintenance, and (3) waterproof integrity.
Good roof performance requires proper design and specification, quality materials, professional workmanship, and proactive maintenance. Shortcomings in any phase of roof asset management will compromise performance and shorten service life. The objective of this study was to identify relationships between roof asset management processes and performance problems identified in an inventory of United States Army low-slope membrane roofs. First a review of literature pertaining to roof asset management was conducted. Next, a large Army roof inspection database was analyzed to identify the types and relative frequencies of common defects, and their impacts on performance. The writers and experienced inspectors then applied both engineering and field experience to provide expert analysis of the data. Approximately 75% of the performance problems in the sampled inventory were attributable to deficiencies caused by factors other than natural degradation. The writers conclude that roof performance can be significantly improved by strengthening quality assurance processes during installation, particularly by ensuring that installers comply with contract specifications and utilize industry-accepted construction practices.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.