A design-build contractor risk assessment framework for new technical solutions in the construction industry

Design–build contractors are often challenged to introduce new technical solutions into construction projects. However, they might not have methods and resources required to avoid serial failure, which is defined as multiple cases of failure when a technical solution fails to sustain the performance requirements. Here, the focus is on serial failures arising from the design or production that could have been predicted through calculations or assessment during the design phase. This work aims to reduce the occurrence of serial failures related to new technical solutions by suggesting a systematic approach for risk assessment with a focus on moisture safety, seen from a design–build contractor perspective. Earlier studies on methods and tools for evaluation and risk assessment of technical solutions were used to define a framework for the risk assessment approach. Current practices of implementing new technical solutions and the need for improvement were explored via semi-structured interviews. Two case studies of recent new technical solutions were used in the subsequent evaluation: cross-laminated timber in the construction phase and joint sealing tape in precast concrete sandwich facades. Besides the technical findings of risk evaluations based on the framework used in each case study, the proposed risk assessment framework is shown to provide a structured evaluation method that can be applied as a pre-qualification for new technical solutions before their implementation in construction projects. The company-level perspective, tollgates to structure the process, expert involvement in workshops and structured documentation and communication of assessment and results are the framework’s key elements. The framework facilitates the implementation of new technical solutions and helps the design–build contractor to prevent or reduce the occurrence of serial failures when introducing new technical solutions

Impact on a CLT structure concerning moisture and mould growth using weather protection

Timber buildings, including cross laminated timber (CLT), are gaining market shares globally, mainly due to anticipated environmental benefits, but a new technical solution also raises new questions. Durability is critical to obtain real sustainable constructions built for the future. There are field studies concerning hygrothermal conditions of timber structures, however, there is a lack of documented experiences combining hygrothermal conditions, mould growth potential and weather protection during construction using CLT. The use of full weather protection is being debated in the building industry as well as in the research community, due to lack of knowledge of the combined effects. How does weather protection during the construction affect hygrothermal conditions and risk of mould growth in a CLT structure? A case study using a weather protected six-storey CLT building was performed. The hygrothermal conditions - indoors and outdoors - were monitored during construction and samples from CLT were analysed with respect to mould. The results were analysed together with simulations of mould growth using actual hygrothermal conditions. Theoretical conclusions show the weather protection gives significantly improved conditions resulting in lower potential of mould growth compared to outdoor conditions. The results also show lessons to be learned concerning planning of the construction site

SYNAPS systems analytical process oriented tool for sector integration

“Sustainable development” is mentioned in most documents concerned with society and progress. However, in today’s society there are many conflicting views concerned with what sustainable development is and specially how it may be achieved and the three sustainability dimensions balanced and finally measured. Region Skåne, responsible for the development of SYNAPSE, believes methods and tools to help illustrate and illuminate the interrelationships between the three dimensions of sustainable development are fundamentally important to both try and explain what sustainable development is but in particular in trying to facilitate the how. It is the firm belief of the people behind SYNAPSE that sustainable development is about taking responsibility for our actions and decisions and to do so by acknowledging that environmental, social and economic issues are mutually reinforcing, sometimes counteracting each other, but often dependent upon each other. One feasible way to take such responsibility is to apply methods that may allow for consequence analysis of various decisions upon society and its development. As a regional public body responsible for all developmental issues in Skåne, Sweden, Region Skåne has a responsibility towards its citizens, its 33 municipalities and the various different actors of this region to make sure that great efforts are made into reinforce means and resources that can ensure that the region develops in a sustainable way. This in turn implies the need for new ways of working with society and progress by, for instance, trying to develop methods and model as well as to measure sustainable development and to engage different interested parties in this process at a very early stage. SYNAPSE is the result of a two year process involving a range of different actors - from different sectors but also from different political levels i.e. local, regional, national and international. SYNAPSE aims to offer a concrete form of how to practically work with sustainable development at several different levels of society, weighing both objective as well subjective components together and to turn rethorics into action

Implementing a framework for qualitative assessment of new technical solutions: A case study on CLT

New technical solutions are introduced at a fast pace in the Swedish construction industry, mainly driven by issues concerning costs and productivity. These new technical solutions can comprise new materials, new goods, new designs but also new processes. The record of accomplishment when introducing new technical solutions in the industry is not unproblematic and serial failures of different new technical solution have occurred. In an earlier interview study exploring introduction of new technical solutions in the Swedish construction industry, a common lack of thorough methods for evaluation of new solutions was identified. To address this issue, a case study was performed, exploring a method of evaluation with respect to building physics while implementing a cross laminated timber frame in a multifamily building. The case study uses a framework of assessment with focus on building physics. This paper presents the findings from the case study focusing on how evaluation of a new technical solution with respect to building physics is performed, together with an evaluation of the method, using the experiences of the participants in the case study

Risk assessment framework to avoid serial failure for new technical solutions applied to the construction of a clt structure resilient to climate

Design-build contractors are challenged with the task of minimizing failure risks when introducing new technical solutions or adapting technical solutions to new conditions, e.g., climate change. They seem to have a disproportional trust in suppliers and their reference cases and might not have adequate resources or methodologies for sufficient evaluation. This creates the potential for serial failures to spread in the construction industry. To mitigate this, it was suggested that a predefined risk assessment framework should be introduced with the aim of providing a prequalification and requirements for the use of the technical solution. The objectives of this paper are to develop a comprehensive risk assessment framework and to explore the framework’s potential to adequately support the design-build contractor’s decisions. The framework uses qualitative assessment, relying on expert workshops and quantitative assessments, with a focus on simulation and probabilities. Tollgates are used to communicate risk assessments to the contractor. The framework is applied to a real-life case study of construction with a CLT-structure for a Swedish design-build contractor, where exposure to precipitation during construction is a key issue. In conclusion, the chosen framework was successful in a design-build contractor context, structuring the process and identifying difficulties in achieving the functional requirements concerning moisture. Three success factors were: documentation and communication, expert involvement, and the use of tollgates. Recommendations to the design-build contractor on construction of CLT structure are to keep construction period short and to use full weather protection on site

Relying on reference cases when evaluating new technical solutions? Evaluation of technical documentation in a case study

Serial failures have occurred when introducing new technical solutions in the Swedish construction industry. In an earlier interview study exploring introduction of new technical solutions, documentation and reference cases provided by the supplier are given as the main sources for evaluation. This paper aims at addressing the questions: 1. What kind of documentation concerning building physics are provided by suppliers? 2. How well does the suppliers\u27 documentation meet the need for verification? In order to address these questions, the case of hygrothermal performance of cross laminated timber structures in multifamily dwellings was chosen. An inquiry of data was sent out to four suppliers at the Swedish market, asking for documentation and reference cases provided. Based on the documentation given, an assessment was made of to which extend the documentation can support verification of appliance to the relevant requirements of the Swedish building regulations. The case study shows reference cases are scarce and existing documentation is not comprehensive, thus indicating the building industry might have a disproportional high confidence in reference cases. The results will be used to suggest requirements for reference cases to be used for verification

Konstruktion och arkitektur i samarbete: träets arkitektoniska möjligheter.

Målet med examensarbetet var att prova en samarbetsform mellan civilingenjörsutbildningen och arkitektutbildningen som innebär att engagera examensarbetare från V -sektionen i de arkitektstuderandes arbete i ritsalarna. Kontinuerligt under hösten har jag närvarat i ritsalarna och då arbetat med att försöka ge dem en bättre förståelse för byggnadens uppbyggnad och konstruktion. En förhoppning är att detta examensarbete ska bli ett litet steg på vägen till ett vidare samarbete mellan utbildningarna

Risk assessment of joint sealing tape in joints between precast concrete sandwich panels resilient to climate change

Lately, a new technical solution, pre-compressed joint sealing tapes in precast concrete sandwich panel facades, has been introduced in Sweden. Although the consequences of performance failure can go far beyond the component, affecting the building, the introduction has gained little attention in terms of risk assessment in the literature and in industry. Instead, reference cases are used as verification without formal evaluation, potentially leading to serial failure. The aim of this paper was to provide guidance on how a design–build contractor should handle this new technical solution. A risk assessment framework using a design–build contractor’s perspective was applied to the case. The framework addresses new technical solutions or adaption to new conditions (e.g., climate change) with the aim of preventing serial failures. Moisture conditions within the joints were simulated using present and future climates, and probabilities of failure were assessed using the Monte Carlo method. The results of the study included identified risks of failure associated with the solution and factors influencing the probability of failure. A main issue was the exposure of the facade to driving rain but also run-off areas and imperfections in the application of the joint sealing tape. Future climate changes affect performance negatively. In conclusion, the new technical solution might be possible to use if draining potential is ensured in all detailed designs and a set of recommendations, including full-scale testing, is provided for the design–build contractor

Kund eller patient? – Till kritik mot en marknadsanpassning av patientbemötandet

Syftet med denna uppsats är att, utifrån en analys om läkarprofessionens eventuellt förändrade syn på patientbemötandet - gällande både sin egen och patientens roll - kritisera och kontrastera New Public Management och Service Management angående marknadsanpassning av läkar- och patientrollen. Vi utgår från ett tolkande paradigm och använder oss av en kvalitativ metod. Vi kritiserar New Public Management och Service Management inom svensk sjukvård huvudsakligen utifrån Etienne Wengers teori om sociala grupper i samhället, men även utifrån Michel Foucaults och Jean Baudrillards teorier. Empirisk data presenteras tillsammans med teorin och tolkas utifrån teorin. Empirin härstammar från åtta intervjuer och en observation, men består även av sekundärdata i form av artiklar från läkarfackpress. Vi har gjort ett försök till att dekonstruera den idealbild som New Public Management och Service Management målar upp angående hur relationen mellan läkare och patient bör vara. Vi menar att en idealbild inte har möjlighet att få fotfäste utan att ha såväl historisk som samtida förankring