Austigard, M S and Mattsson, J (2020) Monitoring climate change related biodeterioration of protected historic buildings. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 38(4), pp. 529-538. ISSN 23984708
Abstract
Purpose: Expected rates of biodeterioration in heritage buildings under historic conditions are well known. Deteriorating organisms will benefit from a warmer and wetter climate, giving faster and less predictable rates of deterioration. The Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Norway has requested development of a programme for long-term monitoring of climate change impacts to historic buildings. The development process and resulting monitoring system are previously described. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach: An initial conditions survey is performed, and reference points are chosen in each building. Two microclimatic biodeterioration monitoring panels (MBM panels) are mounted in every building. The MBM panels monitor temperature, relative humidity and wood moisture content, and have standard wooden blocks for investigation of mould growth. The panels will show both the influence of outdoor climate on microclimate inside the building, and the connection between microclimate and activity of degrading organisms. Findings: High competence and multi-disciplinary approach from the personnel involved are essential to balance flexibility and rigidity and decide the damages that are probably influenced by climate change. Extensive knowledge and experience in surveys of biodeterioration damages in heritage buildings is necessary to distinguish “normal” biodeterioration from biodeterioration caused by climate changes. The MBM panels are essential for possible establishment of causality between damages and climate change. Originality/value: The authors believe that the methods described give the best possible grounds for future evaluation of damages and microclimatic conditions in buildings compared to changes in regional climatic conditions. Establishment of causality between climate change and development in biological deterioration is still a challenging task.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | biodeterioration; biological degradation; climatic factors; heritage buildings; microclimate; monitoring |
| Index terms: | mould, climate change, relative humidity, competence, methodology, heritage building, historic building, programme, damages, survey, Norway, personnel, deterioration, monitoring, microclimate, long-term monitoring, investigation, degradation, wood, moisture content, climatic condition |
| Subjects: | environmental hazards, project controls, material properties and characteristics, Geography, personnel development, management, research methods, traditional and composite building materials, material degradation and durability, strategic project management, dispute resolution, control systems, climate science, construction type, data collection methods, air quality |
| Topics: | Time Control, Site Management, Human Resources, Legal Issues, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here