Occurrence of faults in water installations of residential buildings: An analysis based on user complaints. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carretero-Ayuso, Manuel J.; Moreno-Cansado, Alberto; García-Sanz-Calcedo, Justo
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 27(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Construction deficiencies -- Judicial complaints -- Water leakage -- Sewage pipes; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100958
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: Fault analysis in building installations enables design optimisation and reduction of errors in future projects. This paper's objective is to catalogue, quantify and analyse faults in residential buildings' water installations, based on user complaints and the 'learning from failures' philosophy. To this end, 436 complaints related to plumbing and sewage installations of 318 Spanish residential buildings were analysed. The results show that 'buried-sewage-pipes' lead to most of problems (43.8%), followed by 'exposed-sewage-pipes' (38.3%) and 'plumbing' (17.9%). The most recurring faults were 'leakages and humidities' (52.98%) and 'anomalies and mismatches' (33.25%). As for the causes leading to said faults, the most significant one was 'damage in the installation' (29.31%). The type of construction in which most cases occurred was 'apartment blocks' (52%), followed by 'attached houses' (29%). These results contribute to the reduction of errors in the design and construction stages of residential buildings and are useful for drafters, designers and builders, as well as for building users and maintenance technicians. Highlights: More than 300 final judicial complaints rulings have been read and analysed. More than 70 types of faults have been identified and been categorised into 5 groups. The causes of the faults have been categorised. The types of construction where faults were located have been determined and correlated with causes of faults.