Durability Assurance

Durability is defined as the capability of a structure or any component to satisfy, with planned maintenance, the design performance requirements over a specified period of time under the influence of the environmental actions, or as a result of a self-ageing process [ISO 13832- General principles on the design of structures for durability.] 

For assets either with no availability to program maintenance or for physically inaccessible assets or parts of assets, then the durability requirement will typically need to increase beyond that required for a maintainable structure, to satisfy the specified design life. 

Designers and specifiers engage RemedyAP to identify risks to durability, contructability and maintainability that are associated with design features, materials selection and protective systems in their conceptual designs.  

Identifying these risks at the early stages of a project will help prevent premature deterioration of construction materials and thus reduce the project team’s defect liabilities. 

Identification of deficiencies in specifications for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings, powder coatings, galvanizing, protective coatings systems and in design features related to structural connections, the use of dissimilar metals, water shedding details and earth bonding of electrical systems become especially important in more aggressive exposure conditions such as pool side structures, chemical processing plants coastal and tropical environments. 

Builders and construction companies also manage durability risks by obtaining the same RemedyAP durability risk review prior to engaging with suppliers and sub-contractors. 

Provided that the structural design adequately prevents mechanical damage (e.g. due to vibration or overloading),  corrosion is the predominant mechanism that causes degradation of construction materials.