Jesús Cuadrado

A proposal for environmental indicators towards industrial building sustainable assessment

The construction sector carries out a very important role in the development of society. It is a basic component of economic activity, having a great influence on employment generation and country growth. The sector generates appreciable environmental changes and effects throughout the planet, leading to gradual exhaustion of natural resources and contamination of basic elements, such as air, water and soil. Recently, there have been advances in favour of more environmentally friendly buildings. Basically, sustainable construction has centred on residential and office buildings. It could be said that there is a lack of sustainability in the construction of industrial buildings, as they present characteristics which differ from other building typologies. This article aims to assess and analyze industrial building environmental effects, and considers a set of green study criteria, such as: location, materials, energy and water consumption, construction and deconstruction characteristics, and waste management in industrial building. At the same time, the studies are hierarchically structured into different assessment elements, such as: criteria, subcriteria and, finally, indicators, comprising the assessment model.

Sustainability assessment methodology for industrial buildings: three case studies

ABSTRACT Few other sectors have such a great impact on sustainability as the construction industry, which has expressed growing concerns in this regard for a long time, mainly focusing on the environmental dimension. The sustainability assessment methodology tested in this study is the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment – MIVES, applied to industrial buildings. In addition to traditional requirements (environmental, economic, and social), this non-commercial methodology involves other aspects of sustainability that are also important (employee safety, functionality, and corporate image) to establish a means of evaluation. Its reliability is tested here through its application to three case studies. MIVES is an AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methodology that can be applied in any field. In this study, its specific focus is on improvements to sustainability in construction.

Sustainability-Related Decision Making in Industrial Buildings: An AHP Analysis

Few other sectors have such a great impact on sustainability as the construction industry, in which concerns over the environmental dimension have been growing for some time. The sustainability assessment methodology presented in this paper is an AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) based on Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) and includes the main sustainability factors for consideration in the construction of an industrial building (environmental, economic, and social), as well as other factors that greatly influence the conceptual design of the building (employee safety, corporate image). Its simplicity is well adapted to its main objective, to serve as a sustainability-related decision making tool in industrial building projects, during the design stage. Accompanied by an economic valuation of the actions to be undertaken, this tool means that the most cost-effective solution may be selected from among the various options.

Innovation evaluation model for macro-construction sector companies: A study in Spain

The innovativeness of the traditional construction sector, composed of construction companies or contractors, is not one of its strong points. Likewise, its poor productivity in comparison with other sectors, such as manufacturing, has historically been criticized. Similar features are found in the Spanish traditional construction sector, which it has been described as not very innovative. However, certain characteristics of the sector may explain this behavior; the companies invest in R+D less than in other sectors and release fewer patents, so traditional innovation evaluation indicators do not reflect the true extent of its innovative activity. While previous research has focused on general innovation evaluation models, limited research has been done regarding innovation evaluation in the macro-construction sector, which includes, apart from the traditional construction companies or contractors, all companies related to the infrastructure life-cycle. Therefore, in this research an innovation evaluation model has been developed for macro-construction sector companies and is applied in the Spanish case. The model may be applied to the macro-construction sector companies in other countries, requiring the adaption of the model to the specific characteristics of the sector in that country, in consultation with a panel of experts at a national level.

Study of historical developments in the use of fire resistant steels

Abstract This paper presents a review of the most relevant articles on fire-resistant (FR) steels, as part of a research project at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) on the FR properties of steelstructures. An important characteristic of FR steels is that they maintain their mechanical properties at high temperatures better than the more widely used structural steels, mainly due to their special chemical composition and the thermal treatment used in their manufacture. The available information on FR steel tests has been analysed. All the data allow us to study the evolution of mechanical properties at different temperatures. We have, in particular, conducted a comparative evolution of the yield stress (YE) and the yield stress ratio (Ra) at different temperatures. A summary is also presented of the most important elements in their composition and the different manufacturing treatments of these steels and their influence on the initial YE and RA at different temperatures. For example, molybdenum and niobium improve the YE considerably at elevated temperatures. The alloy Cr–Mo–V–Nb is considered effective in FR steels and the use of boron is recommended, if an FR steelstructure is required to withstand temperatures higher than 700°C and to decrease the percentage of carbon. In view of the temperatures associated with manufacturing treatments, it should be recalled that although accelerated cooling, such as quenching, increases YE at room temperature and at high temperatures, it reduces the Ra of these steels. The most effective thermal treatment is air cooling, although special attention should be paid to the influence of slab reheating and the finish rolling temperature.

Influence of the thickness of intumescent paint in the position of steels (fire safety)

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze a new structural design applied in industrial frames using two type of steels (S275 and fire resistant (FR)) with different mechanical resistance against fire. To do it, the authors have taken into account variables such as intrinsic metallic design, span length, intumescent paint thickness, and fire time exposure, which offers information about new scenarios of design in industry. Design/methodology/approach The key methodology followed has taken into account a modeling program that uses the following variables: 25 and 35 m of span, 45 and 60 fire exposure times, and seven different intumescent paint thickness. An optimum structural design has been evaluated by discretization of each scenario with the particular type of steel, S275 and FR. The obtained approach could be a good guideline for future designs. Findings The results and analysis have shown a very good and valid idea of a new structural typology using optimum intumescent paint thickness into the final design of the industrial frame considering that it has two different types of steel. It is in realty a handicap since usually mechanical engineers employ structural steel without paying attention to this new feature. Practical implications Cheaper structural designs could be obtained using the two different types of steel considering the proper positioning into the full building. Originality/value The validity of design of two types of steel plus intumescent paint in building construction has been shown, and this study will encourage designers to use it, in particular in buildings with high fire risk.

MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF HAVANA THROUGH THE PRIORITIZATION OF EMERGENCY ACTIONS

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1982, the Historical Center of Havana, occupying an area of 2.14 km, has 3,510 buildings, many of which now severely dilapidated. In fact, the Historical Center is in need of preferential action, due to the severity of the deterioration of its buildings. The situation is continually worsened following each hurricane season, and their accompanying tropical storms that have caused irreparable damage to buildings over the years. After a careful inspection of the heritage buildings of the Historical Center, it was possible to identify those in danger of imminent collapse and those with a useful life that could be prolonged through the implementation of the necessary emergency actions. In response to both challenges, a multi-criterion instrument based on the MIVES system was applied, with the purpose of prioritizing in an objective and justifiable way the necessary repairs and degrees of intervention. This instrument is based on requirements, criteria and indicators, all of which are selected, analysed and approved by a specially appointed panel of experts that quantifies all the factors in the value chain.