Life of apartment buildings

Adverse conditions such as ground contamination, high or fluctuating temperatures and relative humidity can reduce the life span of a स्त्रुक्टुरे।

Generally, reinforced concrete apartment buildings in the country last only for 30 to 50 years compared to the expectation of 70 to 80 years. The short life span is an economic burden for not only owners and residents but to the nation as a whole.
A recent Japanese report urged the housing industry in that country to adopt, as a goal, an average life span of 200 years.
This will enable reducing the wastes during demolition and enhance energy conservation, harmony with the environment and resistance to disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones and help in regular and easy maintenance.
The major factor influencing long-term service life of concrete structures is the nature of exposure conditions and environment to which concrete is subjected, especially soon after casting and subsequent early stages.
It is to be noted that while the manufacture of concrete is under the control of the engineer, the early age environment is a factor beyond human control and not accounted for either during construction or during design.
Adverse conditions such as ground contamination, high temperature, humidity, fluctuating temperature and relative humidity can cause damage and reduce the life span of the structure.Reinforcement
The early age environment is the most critical factor which influences concrete degradation, affecting long-term serviceability of RCC apartment structures. Severe exposure conditions such as those present in coastal areas are known to indicate deterioration, cracking and reinforcement corrosion.
While reinforcing steel is protected by design by ensuring adequate cover, there are several electrical, plumbing and other steel items which are embedded in the cover region of concrete as inserts, not knowing the damage they can cause for long-term serviceability.
It is the interaction between concrete, steel insert and environment that dictates the material performance and hence the life of the structure itself.
The exposure conditions in the coastal areas are recognised as some of the most aggressive climatic conditions which pose severe challenges to the design and construction engineer.
In this type of exposure, the quality and extent of water curing, and the subsequent interaction between concrete and environment can often control and dictate concrete material performance resulting in premature deterioration and low durable service life of concrete structures.Deterioration
The material composition and shape must be sustainable to reduce environmental pollution and conserve material and energy resources. However, the sad fact is that in spite of the excellent strength and durability properties, concrete materials deteriorate at an unacceptable rate when they are exposed to real environment at locations where we have ignored the acetylic concepts of corrosion in inserts and fixtures which normally happens in the corner region of concrete.
Recent studies have shown that environmental effect reduces the strength and stiffness of structure at different rates.
The performance is related to deformation/deterioration aspects not necessarily under the control of the designer but largely in the hands of the user.
Apartment housing nowadays insists that on both shared and private spaces the RCC frame is the skeleton which bears the load and accounts for service life and stability of structure.
To extend service life, all materials which are used as inserts or allotments on the RCC frames should be barrage (non-corrosive). Though such materials may be costly at installation, the life cost will be less. Life extended
The use of stainless steel inserts for the pipes, electrical and plumbing system reduces the need for repair and extends the life of not only services but the entire structure.
Mild steel holding fast-frame clamps embedded in concrete tend to corrode and disrupt the whole RCC frame itself. When the gab corrode, products of corrosion will occupy 5-6 times the volume of the original steel.
The excess volume creates cracks in concrete. Stainless steel holdfast frame clamps serve a life time and save both doors and windows and the RCC frame in which they are embedded or attached. Stainless steel does not corrode and is compatible with the chemicals in concrete.Reduction in CO2 emissions
Longer-lasting housing will lead to reduction in CO2 emissions while dismantling and rebuilding structures call for the production and transportation of materials which causes carbon dioxide emissions.
Achievement of durability as a prime aim rather than strength-based design and construction approaches will ensure quality service-life performance of RCC apartment structures