“Performance and return on investment (ROI) have always been critical measures for building systems such as HVAC and lighting. Increasingly, performance and ROI are becoming critical quality issues for every product that goes into a building,” said Dru Meadows, an architect with The Green Team, Inc., Tulsa, Okla. “This is true domestically—and internationally,” affirmed Meadows, who chairs the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 59/SC14, that is managed by ASTM.

“Building materials manufacturers who reference ISO standards should become aware of the activities of a subcommittee of the TC59 on Building Construction known as SC14 on Design Life,” said Meadows. SC14 is addressing the “service life” or the maintenance and durability of construction products as they apply to the intended function of a building. “Standards developed under TC59/SC14 can have a large impact on the competitiveness of various building materials in the global market,” she added.

Participation from U.S. manufacturers is sorely needed, as only five members of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings represent the total U.S. building-product interests in the international arena as a U.S. TAG to ISO. “Since the first meeting of SC14 in Gavle, Sweden, June 1998, there has been a great deal of progress made towards development of Buildings and Constructed Assets: Service Life Planning standards” continued Meadows. “Unfortunately, much of this development has occurred with very little input from the USA.” Additional U.S. TAG members are needed to ensure that U.S. interests are properly represented in this effort.

“The implementation of ‘service life planning’ into the thinking of building designers and lending agencies has the potential to dramatically alter the way buildings are constructed and the way land is developed,” said John Mulder, technical services manager, James Hardie Building Products, Fontana, Calif., a member of the U.S. TAG to ISO TC59/SC 14, and first vice chair of ASTM E06.

Specializing in building materials and active at ISO meetings, Mulder described the potential impact of ISO SC14 standards on international building construction: “As regulatory agencies and public opinion impact more in the realm of personal and natural environmental protection, the types of buildings, the materials that are permitted in the construction of the buildings, the energy resources expended to construct and support the buildings, and the long-term use and disposition of the land, building materials, environmental impact, and subsequent reuse and/or landfill consequences will need to be addressed.”

Mulder reported the status of the following ISO SC14 draft standards:
• Part 1, General Principles, FDIS 15686-1: After major revisions, this document has been balloted as a draft international standard. ISO is awaiting member country ballot results.
• Part 2, Service Life Prediction Procedures, CD 15686-2, is being drafted.
• Part 3, Performance Audit and Review, CD 15686-3: Substantive revisions have been made to the committee draft that is currently being reviewed.
• Part 4, Service Life Prediction Data Requirements, CD 15686-4: This document needs extensive work by working group members. There is not agreement on the format and audience, and the method(s) of calculating the predicted service life. Two methods currently on the table for discussion are: (1) predicted service life calculated by the factorial method with values provided by researchers, and (2) “in-service” durability values provided by industry. Input on the U.S. experience, with examples of successful implementation, would help the U.S. TAG to resolve this issue.
• Part 5, Maintenance and Life Cycle Costing, CD 15686-5: This working group is struggling with “key performance indicators” related to “service life planning” and “whole life costing.” There is a difference in the strategy of assessment and analysis from country to country. Input on the U.S. experience, with examples of successful implementation, is invited.

To comment on these activities, contact Geoffrey Frohnsdorff, NIST, Building Materials Division, Building and Fire Research Lab, Bldg. 226, Rm. B-368, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (301/975-6706); or Dru Meadows, The GreenTeam, Inc., 1504 S. Norfolk Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120 (918/599-0011). For ASTM meeting or membership details, contact E06 Staff Manager Steve Mawn (610/832-9726). //

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