Mária Kozlovská

Assessment and biomonitoring indoor environment of buildings

Abstract Ensuring hygiene and health protection is one of the basic construction requirements. Such requirements are examined when commissioning new constructions and examining defects in constructions already in use. One substantial defect is biocorrosion which represents a synergistic process with a complex variety of factors. It is caused by biochemical manifestations of various micro-organisms (micromycetes). Micromycetes producing mycotoxins therefore play an important role regarding the so-called ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ that has become a global problem nowadays. The case study presented here aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the diagnostic methods used in assessing the presence of micromycetes in a building’s internal atmosphere and on the internal surfaces of a construction built using traditional construction methods. The methodology of comparing methods is based on their effectiveness, taking into account the identification of type and intensity of micromycetes presence in the air and on the material surfaces in the monitored areas.

Comparison of Conventional and Advanced Concrete Technologies in terms of Construction Efficiency

Nowadays, high-performance concrete (HPC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) are ranked among advanced concrete technologies. The application of the mentioned advanced technologies may have potential to improve the construction efficiency from several points of view. For instance, reducing of construction time and construction material, construction quality improving, environmental impact minimizing, and increasing of both durability and lifetime of structures as well as reducing of total construction costs may be obtained. Particular advanced concrete technologies are described and the possibilities of their utilization in both monolithic structures and precast units are presented in the article. The main benefits of modern methods of construction (MMC) based on advanced concrete technologies application in precast elements production are presented. Regarding the selected aspects of construction efficiency assessment, a comparison of conventional and advanced concrete technologies that are applied in monolithic structures and precast units is made. The results of this comparison, estimated in semantic differential scale, are presented in the article. By the results of the comparison, the significance of applying the advanced concrete technologies in modern methods of concrete structures production is demonstrated in order to improve construction efficiency.

Lean Production as an Innovative Approach to Construction

Abstract Lean production presents a new approach to the construction management which has enabled enterprises to attain very high levels of efficiency, competitiveness and flexibility in production systems. Nowadays, a number of industrial processes are managed in accordance with these advanced management principles [1]. The principles of lean production are applied within the integrated design and delivery solutions (IDDS) and prefabricated construction. IDDS uses collaborative work processes and enhanced skills, with integrated data, information, and knowledge management to minimize structural and process inefficiencies and to enhance the value delivered during design, build, and operation, and across projects. Prefabrication presents a one of opportunities for construction methods, which allows the compliance with principles of sustainable design, provides the potential benefits such as faster construction, fewer housing defects, reduction in energy use and waste and elimination of environmental and safety risks. This paper presents the lean production within the IDDS and its potential in the modern prefabrication. There is created a field providing of benefits of lean production in construction industry.

The benefits of modern method of construction based on wood in the context of sustainability

The construction industry is a major consumer of material and energy resources. Global developments in construction give sustainability a crucial role in overall healthy functioning of society as well as the whole environment. Modern methods of construction represent a response to the sustainability trend, since they bring faster construction and better environmental, energy and economic parameters. The aim of this article is to analyse and evaluate the benefits of modern methods of construction in the form of prefabricated panel wood construction (PWC). With the aid of a case study, certain environmental and economic parameters of PWC on the one hand and traditional masonry construction from ceramic bricks on the other hand will be studied and compared. The environmental evaluation of building material composition was conducted by means of the ‘Cradle to Gate’ model within the LCA method. The parameters in question will be studied in terms of embodied energy, global warming potential and acidification potential. The economic parameters to be analysed include construction time, construction costs and particularly the environmental burden caused by transport of materials to the building site. The submitted experimental study and its results should help break barriers sustained by traditional technologies and point towards healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives in construction processes.

Integration of Occupational Safety to Contractors` or Subcontractors` Performance Evaluation in Construction Projects

Abstract Several factors should be considered by the owner and general contractor in the process of contractors` and subcontractors` selection and evaluation. The paper reviews the recent models addressed to guide general contractors in subcontractors’ selection process and in evaluation of different contractors during the execution of the project. Moreover the paper suggests the impact of different contractors’ performance to the overall level of occupational health and safety culture at the sites. It deals with the factors influencing the safety performance of contractors during construction and analyses the methods for assessing the safety performance of construction contractors. The results of contractors’ safety performance evaluation could be a useful tool in motivating contractors to achieve better safety outcomes or could have effect on owners` or general contractors’ decision making about contractors suitability for future contracting works.

Surface temperature analysis of the board with built-in infrared heating

The paper presents partial results of research and develops of innovative board with built-in infrared heating film. The base of technical solution of innovative board is enclosed by the infrared h...

Virtual Reality as Innovative Approach to the Interior Designing

Abstract We can observe significant potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) in interior designing field, by development of software and hardware virtual reality tools. Using ICT tools offer realistic perception of proposal in its initial idea (the study). A group of real-time visualization, supported by hardware tools like Oculus Rift HTC Vive, provides free walkthrough and movement in virtual interior with the possibility of virtual designing. By improving of ICT software tools for designing in virtual reality we can achieve still more realistic virtual environment. The contribution presented proposal of an innovative approach of interior designing in virtual reality, using the latest software and hardware ICT virtual reality technologies

Monitoring the Error Rate of Modern Methods of Construction Based on Wood

Abstract A range of new and innovative construction systems, currently developed, represent modern methods of construction (MMC), which has the ambition to improve the performance parameters of buildings throughout their life cycle. Regarding the implementation modern methods of construction in Slovakia, assembled buildings based on wood seem to be the most preferred construction system. In the study, presented in the paper, were searched already built and lived-in wood based family houses. The residents’ attitudes to such type of buildings in the context with declared designing and qualitative parameters of efficiency and sustainability are overlooked. The methodology of the research study is based on the socio-economic survey carried out during the years 2015 - 2017 within the Slovak Republic. Due to the large extent of data collected through questionnaire, only selected parts of the survey results are evaluated and discussed in the paper. This paper is aimed at evaluating the quality of buildings expressed in a view of users of existing wooden buildings. Research indicates some defects, which can be eliminated in the next production process. Research indicates, that some defects occur, so the production process quality should be improved in the future development.

Potential of Progressive Construction Systems in Slovakia

Construction industry is a sector with rapid development. Progressive technologies of construction and new construction materials also called modern methods of construction (MMC) are developed constantly. MMC represent the adoption of construction industrialisation and the use of prefabrication of components in building construction. One of these modern methods is also system Varianthaus, which is based on, insulated concrete forms principle and provides complete production plant for wall, ceiling and roof elements for a high thermal insulation house construction. Another progressive construction system is EcoB, which represents an insulated precast concrete panel based on combination of two layers, insulation and concrete, produced in a factory as a whole. Both modern methods of construction are not yet known and wide-spread in the Slovak construction market. The aim of this paper is focused on demonstration of MMC using potential in Slovakia. MMC potential is proved based on comparison of the selected parameters of construction process – construction costs and construction time. The subject of this study is family house modelled in three material variants – masonry construction (as a representative of traditional methods of construction), Varianthaus and EcoB (as the representatives of modern methods of construction). The results of this study provide the useful information in decision-making process for potential investors of construction.

Modern method of construction based on wood in the context of sustainability

ABSTRACT Global developments in construction give sustainability a crucial role in overall healthy functioning of society as well as the whole environment. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) represent a response to the sustainability trend, since they bring faster construction and better environmental, energy and economic parameters. The aim of this article is to analyse and evaluate the benefits of MMC in the form of Prefabricated Panel Wood Construction (PWC). With the aid of a case study, certain environmental and economic parameters of PWC on the one hand and traditional Masonry Construction (MC) from ceramic bricks on the other hand will be studied and compared. The environmental evaluation of building material composition was conducted by means of the ‘Cradle to Gate’ model within the LCA method. The parameters in question will be studied in terms of embodied energy, global warming potential and acidification potential. The economic parameters to be analysed include construction time, construction costs and particularly the environmental burden caused by transport of materials to the building site. The submitted experimental study and its results should help break barriers sustained by traditional technologies and point towards healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives in construction processes.