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Review

Critical Review of Polymeric Building Envelope Materials: Degradation, Durability and Service Life Prediction

Construction Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2021, 11(7), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11070299
Submission received: 5 June 2021 / Revised: 23 June 2021 / Accepted: 24 June 2021 / Published: 7 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials)

Abstract

This paper provides a critical review of the degradation, durability and service life prediction (SLP) of polymeric building envelope materials (BEMs), namely, claddings, air/vapour barriers, insulations, sealants, gaskets and fenestration. The rate of material deterioration and properties determine the usefulness of a product; therefore, knowledge of the significant degradation mechanisms in play for BEMs is key to the design of proper SLP methods. SLP seeks to estimate the life expectancy of a material/component exposed to in-service conditions. This topic is especially important with respect to the potential impacts of climate change. The surrounding environment of a building dictates the degradation mechanisms in play, and as climate change progresses, material aging conditions become more unpredictable. This can result in unexpected changes and/or damages to BEMs, and shorter than expected SL. The development of more comprehensive SLP methods is economically and environmentally sound, and it will provide more confidence, comfort and safety to all building users. The goal of this paper is to review the existing literature in order to identify the knowledge gaps and provide suggestions to address these gaps in light of the rapidly evolving climate.
Keywords: durability; degradation; service life prediction; polymers; building envelope durability; degradation; service life prediction; polymers; building envelope

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MDPI and ACS Style

Riahinezhad, M.; Hallman, M.; Masson, J.-F. Critical Review of Polymeric Building Envelope Materials: Degradation, Durability and Service Life Prediction. Buildings 2021, 11, 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11070299

AMA Style

Riahinezhad M, Hallman M, Masson J-F. Critical Review of Polymeric Building Envelope Materials: Degradation, Durability and Service Life Prediction. Buildings. 2021; 11(7):299. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11070299

Chicago/Turabian Style

Riahinezhad, Marzieh, Madeleine Hallman, and J-F. Masson. 2021. "Critical Review of Polymeric Building Envelope Materials: Degradation, Durability and Service Life Prediction" Buildings 11, no. 7: 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11070299

APA Style

Riahinezhad, M., Hallman, M., & Masson, J.-F. (2021). Critical Review of Polymeric Building Envelope Materials: Degradation, Durability and Service Life Prediction. Buildings, 11(7), 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11070299

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