Sheila Conejos

The journal retracts the article “Climate Change Impacts on Facade Building Materials: A Qualitative Study”

At present, climate change is considered a considerable future threat due to its possible catastrophic impacts on humans, their properties, and also the environment. Therefore, most people and organizations have paid attention to this area. Thus, special consideration should be given to building operations, as buildings and building operations are capable of being impacted by various negative consequences of climate change. As façade-maintenance workers experience considerable climate change impacts as they perform their work for prolonged hours, at height, on the exterior of buildings, this study focuses on identifying the impacts of climate change on façade-access methods and façade-maintenance workers. Thus, in this study, a qualitative research approach was undertaken with an interview research design. A comprehensive literature review was conducted along with 12 semi-structured expert interviews selected through judgmental sampling. Software-aided thematic content analysis was carried out to analyze the collected data. The findings indicated that climate change could have significant impacts on building operations, as the attention paid to climate change adaptation by building operations is negligible in various countries, especially in developing countries. A significant impact was identified on façade-maintenance workers and façade-access methods caused by climate change, creating various risk factors for their occupational health and safety. Furthermore, the research methods that have been applied in this study are also capable of expanding to address various other probable operations. Accordingly, this research is exploring a new field of study that should be given more consideration by researchers due to its significant importance in scenarios that are experienced worldwide.

Recently, various parts of the world are being affected by different climate change incidents causing hindrances to day-to-day activities. The concept of constructing sustainable buildings has gained traction as climate change and other risks increase, allowing them to endure future natural or artificial disasters while maintaining functionality. As facade building materials are impacted considerably by climate change due to exposure to various such conditions, the focus of this study is to identify the climate change impacts on facade building materials. A qualitative research method with an interview research design was used for the study. Twelve semi-structured expert interviews by selecting the experts through the judgmental sampling method were undertaken along with a detailed analysis of the literature. The gathered data were evaluated using software-assisted thematic content analysis. According to the results, climate change has a substantial impact on facade building materials, despite the fact that few governments, particularly those in developing nations, have given considerable attention. Moreover, these identified impacts on facade building materials from climate change have the potential to cause catastrophic occupational health and safety risks for facade maintenance workers which also should be gained more consideration in the world as per the findings of this study in order to create a safer working environment for the workers to carry out their activities. Additionally, the research techniques used in this study can be expanded to cover a variety of other potential building materials and operations. As a result, this research is focused on a new subject matter that must be given more concern by researchers, because of its significance in the current global settings.

Purpose: The maintenance of green building technologies such as building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is a challenge due to the non-existence of maintainability considerations during the design stage. This led to building defects which accounts to high expenditures throughout the building's lifecycle. The use of BIPV in buildings is an emergent trend, and further research is requisite for their maintainability. This paper assesses the performance and maintainability of BIPV façade applications based on the green maintainability design considerations.Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative method is undertaken in this study, which includes field surveys, instrumental case studies and stakeholder interviews to probe the issues linked with the BIPV's maintainability.Findings: Findings have shown some technical defects discovered in BIPV applications in tropical areas, as well as issues on cost, aesthetics and implementation are the main causes for the low adoption of BIPV in Singapore.Originality/value: Understanding the research outcomes will embolden designers and allied professionals to team up in ensuring the long-term maintainability and sustainability of green building technologies. This research gives recent and important information in the design, installation and maintainability of BIPV, as well as good practices that would add value to facilities management and to the design of green building technologies.

Purpose: The self-cleaning properties of nanostructured titanium dioxide facade coatings are useful in Singapore's tropical climate. However, its potential maintenance issues need to be determined right at the design stage. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the development of the design for maintainability tool which is a multicriteria design decision score sheet that evaluates the maintainability potential of nano-facade coating applications on high-rise façades with concrete and stonemasonry finishes and curtain walls.Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative methods (expert and practitioner surveys) are conducted in this research study. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and sensitivity analysis were used to develop a robust Design for Maintainability tool.Findings: Safety measures indicator received the highest weighted score by experts, while the maximizing performance, minimizing risk, minimizing negative environmental impact and minimizing consumption of matter and energy were the top ranking main criteria by both experts and practitioners. The top ranked design for maintainability sub-criteria identified by practitioners and experts were risk management, maintenance considerations, climatic conditions, safety measures, lifecycle cost and maintenance access, sun's path, rainfall intensity, biological growth measures and building age profile.Originality/value: Most researches on the maintainability of nano-façade coatings uses experimentation to test the durability of nano-façade coatings, while this study focuses on design based empirical data such as establishing and ranking the list of design for maintainability criteria or indicators to minimize future defects and maintenance issues. The design for maintainability tool contributes to the maintainability of nano-façade coatings leading to maximizing its performance while minimizing cost, risks, resource consumption and negative environmental impact.

Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) applied on building has proven economic, environmental and social benefits which made it one of the widely accepted green building design strategies to support sustainable development. However, incorporating vertical greenery systems into innovative facades generates maintainability challenges. This paper highlights the best and good practices Design for Maintainability scoresheet, as well as the VGS defects and issues. The Design for Maintainability (DfM) assessment scoresheet will be beneficial in assessing and avoiding potential VGS defects leading to its maximum performance, longevity and sustainability. This research has established a list of best practice guidelines and measures with weighted scoring system for evaluating the maximum performance and efficient maintainability of VGS applications on facades while minimizing cost, risks, negative environmental impacts and consumption of matter/energy. The paper’s contribution will be the improvement of the designers’ decision making process, expanded library on vertical greenery systems defects as well as the importance of integrating maintainability of high-rise VGS facades in tropical conditions during its design inception.

Purpose: Vertical greenery systems (VGS) have been a widely accepted design strategy that contributes to creating sustainable built environments. However, green building technologies (e.g. VGS) have grown in complexity which poses maintainability challenges. Designing with maintainability in mind is crucial in delivering efficient and sustainable buildings. This paper aims to assist designers and allied professionals in terms of integrating maintainability and sustainable design in developing high-rise VGS directly from its design inception. Design/methodology/approach: The study is grounded on the “Green Maintainability” concept which link maintainability, sustainability and facility management right at the outset. The Green Maintainability factors are translated into critical design criteria which are used to analyze the selected instrumental case studies to evaluate the high-rise VGS performance and maintainability potential. A qualitative approach via the triangulation of data collected from relevant literatures, field surveys and walkthrough interviews is undertaken. Findings: Findings have shown that the major VGS defects which are mostly occurring in the case studies are issues concerning fallen leaves and dirt accumulation; safety issues during cleaning and repairs; insufficient maintenance access; algae/ mould growth; withering plants; water stagnation/ ponding; poor/faulty irrigation and water dripping and unavailability of natural elements. Best practices and lessons learned revealed few design oversight and technical issues concerning high-rise VGS façade implementation. While maintenance cost, biodiversity and lack of coordination among involved professionals are the additional issues which emerged during the stakeholders’ walkthrough interviews. Originality/value: Current researches conducted on the maintainability of green building technologies (e.g. high-rise VGS) are still few. This research study is the first comprehensive assessment to determine the green maintainability potential and performance of high-rise VGS in tropical conditions.