Durability is a key factor in sustainable construction, helping to ensure that buildings can maintain their intended function over time. Insufficient durability can result in significant repair and reconstruction costs, as well as environmental impacts.

Durability also helps reduce maintenance costs by reducing unplanned equipment downtime. This is especially important for heavy equipment like cranes.

Importance

The ability of construction materials and buildings to resist decay and deterioration is one of the most critical aspects of building performance. Durability is often a combination of several factors, including raw material selection, quality control, design considerations and maintenance practices.

For example, concrete and steel are highly durable building materials that can withstand the natural aging of their components over time. These materials can also be repurposed over the lifetime of a building, which is a key aspect of sustainability.

Many times, durability goes hand-in-hand with low maintenance. For example, a concrete building requires minimal maintenance over the course of its life span compared to a wood structure that may require regular repainting. The longevity of a structure is also important because it helps reduce annualized embodied environmental impacts.

Factors Influencing Material Longevity

The longevity of construction materials is influenced by numerous factors. It is challenging to determine the exact lifespan of a building based on its materials without detailed specifications, but buildings with high durability can last 30 or more years before major repairs are required.

The durability of a building is determined by the choice and quality of its construction materials, along with careful construction practices. Concrete is an excellent example of a material da 1×2  that can be highly durable when correctly formulated, placed and cured. In addition, safeguards such as impressed current cathodic protection can extend the life of reinforced concrete and steel components.

Durability usually goes hand-in-hand with low maintenance. For instance, exterior siding that needs to be repainted regularly is not as durable as pultruded fiberglass window frames and sash that require little maintenance to perform their intended function over a long period of time.

Strategies for Enhancing Material Durability

Whether constructing a high-rise skyscraper or crafting a piece of furniture, durable construction materials allow for long-term use. However, maximizing product durability requires careful planning and meticulous execution. Durability strategies include:

Incorporating durable design features into products from the outset. Modular design facilitates component interchangeability and repairability, extending product lifespans and reducing waste.

Conducting lab tests that mimic real-use aging to identify durability challenges and test solutions. Educating consumers about product longevity to encourage more sustainable consumption habits.

Minimizing return rates, lowering maintenance expenses and limiting downtime to save on operational costs. Investing in durable projects allows businesses to minimize waste, optimize inventory and allocate resources towards core operations. Durable projects also minimize recurring costs, increasing the return on investment. This helps businesses achieve financial goals and sustain long-term success.

Environmental Impact of Construction Materials

The construction industry uses a lot of resources and produces a lot of waste. The chemicals used on site, the Diesel used by diggers and trucks, and the building materials themselves all have an impact on the environment.

Durable buildings can help reduce these environmental impacts by spreading upfront embodied impacts over a longer period of time. They also require less maintenance, which can reduce the need for new materials and energy.

Low-impact building materials are natural and found on-site or close by, such as timber, clay, straw, rammed earth and cob. They are usually cheaper to use and don’t need factories to manufacture them or large transportation distances to be delivered to your site. They can also be recycled, which further reduces their impact on the environment.

Maintenance Practices for Construction Materials

Construction equipment requires regular maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operation. This includes lubrication to reduce friction and wear, as well as calibrating load capacity indicators to avoid overloading that can lead to accidents and expensive damage.

Proper maintenance practices significantly impact equipment longevity, as well as the return on investment in resale or trade-in value. Well-maintained machinery lasts longer and also works more efficiently, preventing costly breakdowns and minimizing project delays.

Mechanically induced failure is the most common cause of heavy equipment breakdowns, and it can be prevented through routine and preventive maintenance inspections. It costs the most in direct operating expenses due to mechanic fees and equipment downtime, and it also costs indirectly in lost productivity.