Engineering risk management in performance-based building environments

Abstract

Nowadays, a wide range of stakeholders seek explicit performance and risk information on construction projects. These stakeholders include end-users, authorities, insurance companies and financial institutions, among others. They look for proof that engineering risks are being properly managed and that specified performance-based requirements are fulfilled throughout all stages of the project (e.g. technical requirements related to the building such as structural safety, structural serviceability, structural durability, fire safety, energy efficiency, or others). Such demonstration can be conveyed through statements of technical conformity, such as technical risk reports or engineering performance certificates. Statements of conformity are particularly valuable to make informed decisions associated with contractual or other legal warranties against building nonconformities. This paper describes the conceptual background and the methodologies undertaken to design and develop a management framework that enables recognition of the conformity assessment results of building projects. It also presents the outreach of this management framework throughout the planning, programming, design, construction and use phases of building projects. This paper also summarizes the wide range of practical implications and benefits of this management framework for authorities and official bodies, owners and their representatives, banks and insurance companies, conformity assessment bodies, designers, builders, suppliers and end-users.

Keywords:

• risk management
• construction management
• civil engineering
• performance-based buildings
• quality management
• conformity assessment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nuno Marques Almeida

Nuno Marques ALMEIDA. He is an Assistant Professor at Technical University of Lisbon (IST) in the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, where he teaches Construction Management. He has practical experience in the planning, execution and control of public and private construction projects. His areas of interests include construction management, infrastructure asset management, quality and occupational safety and health management, technical control, performance-based buildings and risk management.

Vitor Sousa

Vitor SOUSA. He is an Assistant Professor at Technical University of Lisbon (IST) in the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, where he teaches Construction Management. He has practical experience in the designing and modelling wastewater systems. His areas of interests include project management, in particular risk management, and hydraulic structures modelling, namely using computer fluid dynamic (CFD) codes.

Luís Alves Dias

Luís Alves DIAS. He is an Associate Professor at Technical University of Lisbon (IST) in the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, where he teaches Construction Management. He is the Vice-President of the ISSA-Construction Section and collaborator of the International Labour Organization (ILO – Program SafeWork) and the International Training Centre of Turin. His areas of interests include construction management, quality management, and occupational safety and health in construction.

Fernando Branco

Fernando BRANCO. He is a Full Professor at Technical University of Lisbon (IST), head of the Construction Sector in the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, where he teaches Construction Technology. He is President of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) and Vice-president of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). He has co-authored five books and over 200 scientific papers and has been a Consultant for major Public Works in Portugal.