Quality and life cycle assessment

Difficulties arise in attempting to measure quality and making life cycle assessments. An owner must consider a trade-off between design and construction costs and operating and ownership costs. A case study of buildings regarding the cost-effectiveness of rehabilitating older structures in lieu of new construction is described. This particular study showed that, depending upon the design of the building and its structural soundness, it is equally cost effective to consider the option of rehabilitation over new construction. Another study of roofing assets at two public sector organizations showed that planned routine and preventative maintenance can have a significant impact on prolonging the life cycle of facilities. Without a quality maintenance programme, the best-designed building will fail to reach its service life.