building pathology dissertation

Guest editorial: “Building pathology: the past, new approaches and opportunities”

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation

ISSN : 2398-4708

Article publication date: 3 July 2023

Issue publication date: 3 July 2023

Flores-Colen, I. and de Brito, J. (2023), "Guest editorial: “Building pathology: the past, new approaches and opportunities”", International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 513-516. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-06-2023-185

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

Overview of the special issue

Today's building pathology studies should be oriented to systemize the knowledge from the past, good previous experiences but also focused on the new challenges of construction and rehabilitation industry. There is a growing need for more ready access to available knowledge, based on new technologies and more feedback in a structured and continuous way. The complexity of buildings is increasing and new materials and constructive systems are being applied in new or existent buildings. The monitoring of buildings performance under real exposure conditions should be the basis of new trends in this field.

Nowadays, a new concept of sustainable development, primarily based on the quality of life and lower impacts on the natural environment, increases the importance of having specific intervention criteria and methodologies based on a building pathology knowledge. The early detection of building failures can help in reducing conflicts and costs. Building pathology should have new insights about the Information and Communications Technology (ICT), internet of things, uncertainty and risk analysis, advanced diagnosis techniques and forensic engineering approaches, with a consensual approach in the scientific and technical community.

Building pathology is a very ancient occurrence but it needs new approaches to be dealt with. The building stock has increased exponentially in the last century and there is a need for faster and more efficient ways to inspect, diagnose and maintain/rehabilitate current buildings with pathology problems. The challenge is therefore that of benchmarking and systemizing all procedures linked with building pathology and use advanced tools, knowledge and technologies to improve today's practice, by reaching out to professionals in the field.

The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) is organized in Working Commissions. W086 – Building Pathology ( https://cibworld.org/commissions/w086-building-pathology/ ) is one of the longest-running commissions within CIB “is essentially concerned with learning from past and current building pathology and encouraging the systematic application of that knowledge to the design, construction and management of buildings”.

In order to boost the dissemination of all concepts concerning building pathology, W086 decided to champion a special issue in the International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , a CIB-encouraged journal, entitled “Building Pathology: The past, new approaches and opportunities” ( https://cibworld.org/building-pathology-the-past-new-approaches-and-opportunities/ ).

Description of the contributions

Nine manuscripts have been submitted, reviewed and accepted for publications in this special issue. Their scope ranges various subjects concerning building pathology, as described next. Both W086 members and non-members contributed to the special issue.

Zul-Atfi Ismail's contribution is entitled “Improving failure risk by better planning and safety for precast beam-to-column connection elements using physical internet-enabled building information modeling technology: a Malaysian case study” ( Ismail, 2023 ). The purpose of this paper is to show that the growing global trend of quality assurance indicates the potential of precast concrete (PC) to improve construction quality and productivity, reduce wasteful construction, achieve design standardization and decrease construction time. However, the current approach of the industry concerning dynamic characteristics, namely in terms of stiffness and displacement on beam-column connection system design, is not effective in achieving the required quality and operational requirements. A novel and sophisticated technique based on physical internet-enabled building information modeling (PI-BIM) is proposed, in order to improve the planning process and safety for PC buildings in Malaysia.

Ayoub Abou Houraira, Abdellah Ouali, Ouafa Elhammoumi and Ahmed Fekri contributed with a paper entitled “Effect of accelerated aging by temperature and moisture variation cycles on the durability of concrete” ( Abou Houraira et al. , 2023 ). According to the authors, Morocco is facing climate change, as shown by national studies conducted to date. The purposes of this research work are, on the one hand, to develop an experimental protocol, simulating the Moroccan climate by exposing concrete mixes to accelerated aging in different cycles of temperature variation and relative humidity. On the other hand, the authors intended to determine the effect of exposure to temperature and humidity variation cycles on the durability indicators (of concrete with and without thermal curing). The originality of the work lies in developing an experimental protocol simulating the Moroccan climate.

The next contribution is entitled “The impact of demographical, geographical and climatological factors on building defects in Belgium” ( Van Den Bossche et al. , 2023 ), and authored by Nathan Van Den Bossche, Anke Blommaert and Bruno Daniotti. The authors argue that quality failures in the design and construction process can entail significant delays and costs. Databases of building defects have proven to be useful for drawing conclusions on underlying causes of building defects and for identifying potential improvement actions to reduce the occurrence of building defects. A better understanding of the frequency of building defects and factors that contribute to the likelihood are important variables to consider in quality control and prevention.

Younes Ech Charqy, Rachid Radouani and Mohamed Essahli wrote a paper entitled “FE modeling of the effect of conductivity in galvanic corrosion between different types of stainless steel and carbon steel in a structure bolted joint” ( Ech Charqy et al. , 2023 ). This study presents a numerical modeling using the finite element method to model galvanic corrosion between the bolt (cathode) and the end plate (anode). The bolt is made of three types of stainless steel: austenitic (SS304L, SS316L), martensitic (SS410, SS420) and duplex (32, 101), and the end plate is made of carbon steel (S235JR). The galvanic corrosion of beam to column bolted joints with end plate, used in steel structures, was studied in order to determine the corrosion rate of the end plate and subsequently to predict the total lifetime of the bolted joint.

A contribution entitled “Pathology and proactive maintenance of floor finishes” ( Ventura et al. , 2023 ) was authored by Madalena Ventura, Ilídio S. Dias, Inês Flores-Colen and Ana Silva. This research proposes the study of the pathology in floor finishes, focusing on proactive maintenance strategies to promote the durability of these elements. A model to assess the floorings' performance levels was designed to support decision-making regarding maintenance activities to be carried out, in order to prevent the defects and extend the floors' service life. This work contributes to a development of methodologies to assess floorings' performance levels, to study the behavior of different floor finishes, to propose maintenance strategies to improve their performance in service and adopt better solutions in the buildings' design phase.

Dilruba Yağmur Ertemir and Ecem Edis authored a contribution entitled “Sustaining modern heritage buildings: visual defect categorisation guides for the general condition survey of rendered-painted facades” ( Ertemir and Edis, 2023 ). The authors argue that regular inspection and maintenance is recommended to preserve and sustain built cultural heritage. Systematizing inspection processes and knowledge on defects, and providing pictorial guides for evaluating defects is an approach that may facilitate their condition survey. This study aims at generating pictorial guides for preliminary visual inspection of Modern Heritage buildings with rendered-painted facade concerning two defects (i.e. crack and efflorescence). These guides are thought as aids to determine the defect levels and decide the necessity of advanced examination and/or maintenance. It is also intended to analyze briefly the evolution of crack over time in the inspected buildings under environmental conditions of Istanbul (Turkey). Modern heritage buildings usually have some characteristic features, which may sometimes lead to accumulation of defects at certain locations or may lead to formation of certain defects. Generating visual guides as a start for an initiative for a comprehensive defects catalogue particular for Modern Movement buildings in line with associated cultural heritage standards may contribute to their preservation by easing the condition surveys.

A contribution entitled “Fire safety assessment for older adults in high-rise residential buildings in India: a comprehensive study” ( Kumar et al. , 2023 ) was written by Ankit Kumar, Rachna Khare, Sandeep Sankat and Pratyoosh Madhavi. According to the authors, statistics show that older adults have been major fire victims in high-rise buildings. However, the fire safety building codes in most countries are not inclusive and do not reflect provisions for older adults. The research intends to develop a fire risk assessment index system for older adults living in high-rise residential buildings in India. The study further develops a fire rating system to improve fire safety provisions in high-rise buildings in India. It can also assist policymakers in developing fire safety standards that are targeted to the needs of older persons living in high-rise residential buildings during a fire evacuation. While several approaches for measuring fire risk in high-rise residential buildings exist, no such system has been developed specifically for older adults in India.

Manuel Jesus, Ana Sofia Guimarães, Bárbara Rangel and Jorge Lino gave a contribution named “The potential of 3D printing in building pathology: rehabilitation of cultural heritage” ( Jesus et al. , 2023 ). This paper seeks to bridge the already familiar benefits of 3D printing (3DP) to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage, still based on the use of complex and expensive handcrafted techniques and scarce materials. It also sets the path for a new application of 3DP in construction, namely in the field of cultural heritage rehabilitation, by identifying some key opportunities, challenges and for designing the process flow associated with the different technologies involved.

A paper entitled “Inspection and structural assessment of traditional timber floors: a practical systematization” ( Henriques et al. , 2023 ) was authored by Dulce Franco Henriques, Miguel Pereira Clara and Inês Flores-Colen. This paper addresses the evaluation of traditional wooden floors, based on (1) visual strength grading (VSG) techniques adopted for ancient wooden structures; (2) a new approach to biological damage and (3) structural safety analysis. This assessment includes complex concepts. Therefore, the study presents a highly needed practical tool to help technicians make a preliminary assessment whereby many of the timber elements in our heritage can be saved from removal. The current reality shows that the technicians' lack of capacity for a pragmatic assessment of the timber members’ structural capacity promotes their disinterest in them. To avoid that, this paper presents a process for evaluating wooden floors using a simple and clear approach. This will prevent the demolition of wooden elements and instead encourage their preservation.

Abou Houraira , A. , Ouali , A. , Elhammoumi , O. and Fekri , A. ( 2023 ), “ Effect of accelerated aging by temperature and moisture variation cycles on the durability of concrete ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 533 - 548 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-07-2021-0100 .

Ech Charqy , Y. , Radouani , R. and Essahli , M. ( 2023 ), “ FE modeling of the effect of conductivity in galvanic corrosion between different types of stainless steel and carbon steel in a structure bolted joint ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 574 - 587 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-10-2021-0138 .

Ertemir , D.Y. and Edis , E. ( 2023 ), “ Sustaining modern heritage buildings: visual defect categorisation guides for the general condition survey of rendered-painted facades ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 606 - 624 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-03-2022-0041 .

Henriques , D.F. , Clara , M.P. and Flores-Colen , I. ( 2023 ), “ Inspection and structural assessment of traditional timber floors: a practical systematization ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 675 - 691 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-08-2021-0106 .

Ismail , Z.-A. ( 2023 ), “ Improving failure risk by better planning and safety for precast beam-to-column connection elements using physical internet-enabled building information modeling technology: a Malaysian case study ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 517 - 532 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-08-2021-0104 .

Jesus , M. , Guimarães , A.S. , Rangel , B. and Lino Alves , J. ( 2023 ), “ The potential of 3D printing in building pathology: rehabilitation of cultural heritage ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 647 - 674 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-03-2022-0053 .

Kumar , A. , Khare , R. , Sankat , S. and Madhavi , P. ( 2023 ), “ Fire safety assessment for older adults in high-rise residential buildings in India: a comprehensive study ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 625 - 646 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-02-2022-0030 .

Van Den Bossche , N. , Blommaert , A. and Daniotti , B. ( 2023 ), “ The impact of demographical, geographical and climatological factors on building defects in Belgium ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 549 - 573 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-11-2021-0157 .

Ventura , M. , Dias , S.I. , Flores-Colen , I. and Silva , A. ( 2023 ), “ Pathology and proactive maintenance of floor finishes ”, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , Vol. 41 No. 3 , pp. 588 - 605 , doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-11-2021-0158 .

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Building Pathology: Diagnosis and Intervention

This collection was curated by the Editor in Chief from articles that also appear in the journal's issues. The journal's standard peer review policy applies here. If an article was also included in a special issue of the journal, please see the instruction for authors   for the special issue peer review policy.

João Quesado Delgado

University of Porto, Portugal João Quesado Delgado graduated in Chemical Engineering (FEUP, 1995) and completed a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering (FEUP, 2002). He is Auxiliary Researcher since 2021, at CONSTRUCT research unit, FEUP. Since 2009 he is co-chairman of the International Conference of Diffusion in Solids and Liquids (DSL), executive committee member of 1st International Symposium on Building Pathology (ISBP-2015), and he organized other International and National conferences and more than 20 special sessions in International Conferences.

Esequiel Mesquita

Federal University of Ceará, Brazil Esequiel Mesquita is Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Ceara, Campus Russas, and Head of the Laboratory of Rehabilitation and Buildings Durability (LAREB). Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation. He is the Regional Director of the Brazilian Concrete Institute (IBRACON), Expert member of ALCONPAT, ICOMOS, and RILEM. He has more than 150 scientific contributions. His research interests include advanced materials, nanotechnology, SHM, building durability, and heritage construction.

Articles (20 in this collection)

Protection of interrupted concrete structure to prevent degradation: a case study, authors (first, second and last of 5).

• C. Berwanger
• C. A. C. Brant
• Content type: Research Article
• Published: 27 May 2020
• Article: 18

Evaluation of service-life prediction model for reinforced concrete structures in chloride-laden environments

• L. Silvestro
• J. J. O. Andrade
• D. C. C. Dal Molin
• Published: 10 July 2019
• Article: 20

Effects of the addition of red ceramic, limestone filler and rice husk ash in alkali silica reaction

Authors (first, second and last of 4).

• Cleberson Dos Santos Adorno
• Marcelo H. F. de Medeiros
• Giovana Costa Réus
• Published: 18 December 2017

The importance of the European standard EN 1504, on the protection and repair of concrete structures

• F. C. B. Monteiro
• L. M. Trautwein
• L. C. Almeida
• Published: 18 January 2017

Case study of permeability-reducing admixture use in anti-flotation slabs: building in Brasilia, Brazil

• E. F. Silva
• Published: 17 December 2016

Chloride attack evaluation on concrete compositions according to Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 6118 specification

• C. Z. Rissardi
• C. F. N. de Souza
• L. F. Silveira
• Published: 01 December 2016
• Article: 19

Analysis of development of carbonation and surface wear of the concrete: a case study in Ship Lock 1 of the transposition system of Tucuruí dam

• Thais Valadares Oliveira
• André Alessandro Nogueira
• Published: 28 November 2016
• Article: 17

Determination of time zero in high strength concrete containing superabsorbent polymer and nano-silica

Authors (first, second and last of 6).

• T. A. Cunha
• P. Francinete

Evaluation of pathological manifestations in concrete structural floor destined to the operation of vehicles in garage: case study of residential building located in the federal district

• Jorge Oliveira
• Manuele Anjos
• Melinna Santos
• Published: 19 November 2016
• Article: 16

Analysis of structural integrity of a non-completed 28 year-old building in the city of Patos de Minas (MG)

• Published: 18 November 2016
• Article: 15

Information and communication technology (ICT) applied to quality control to secure performance and compliance in project lifespan

• Jeferson Spiering Böes
• Jeferson Ost Patzlaff
• Published: 17 November 2016
• Article: 14

Analysis of concrete structures deteriorated by alkali-aggregate reaction: case study

• F. L. Costa
• A. S. Torres
• R. A. Neves
• Published: 11 November 2016
• Article: 13

Building information modeling (BIM) application in civil constructions intending the increase of service life

• A. Marchini
• J. O. Patzlaff
• Published: 02 November 2016
• Article: 12

Evaluation of the influence of the pH of concrete pore solution on the corrosion resistance of steel reinforcement

• V. K. Ortolan
• B. F. Tutikian
• Open Access
• Published: 26 October 2016
• Article: 10

Use of crystalline waterproofing to reduce capillary porosity in concrete

• Vanessa Giaretton Cappellesso
• Natália dos Santos Petry
• Angela Borges Masuero
• Published: 25 October 2016

Physicochemical evaluation of oxidation of diabase aggregates with sulfide minerals: influence of particle size, pH of the medium and pyrite concentration

Authors (first, second and last of 7).

• Hudson Goto
• Vinícius da Silva Braga
• Isabela Cristina de Oliveira
• Content type: Review Article
• Published: 22 October 2016

CO 2 uptake by carbonation of concrete during life cycle of building structures

• E. F. Felix
• W. A. Thomaz
• Published: 21 October 2016

Investigation and diagnosis of a reinforced concrete reservoir with intense crack formation from several sources

• H. Bolorino
• Published: 20 October 2016

Study of damage distribution and intensity in regions of the facade

• Jessica S. de Souza
• Elton Bauer
• Vanda A. G. Zanoni
• Published: 15 September 2016

Facades inspection with infrared thermography: cracks evaluation

• Elier Pavón
• Claudio H. F. Pereira
• Published: 12 September 2016

Participating journals

An A–Z of building pathology for APC

Achieving the Building pathology competency means you must prove you understand a range of building defects, their causes and remedies, as Built Environment Journal's second APC A–Z article shows

• Jen Lemen FRICS

12 January 2023

Building pathology

Building surveying

RICS standards and guidance

The APC pathway guide for building surveying requires that candidates for the Building pathology technical competency must demonstrate 'an understanding of defects analysis, and the likely resultant defects from failures in building fabric'.

While all the following topics will be essential knowledge for the competency, this is not an exhaustive list, and you will need to ensure you read around the subject.

Advice: to demonstrate the competency to level 3, you are required to give reasoned advice and recommendations to clients on a range of defects, including those found in typical buildings in your locality as well as others encountered less frequently.

Bricks:  a variety of defects can arise in brickwork, primarily resulting from poor design, materials, specification or detailing. Examples include frost damage, soluble salts on the building surface known as efflorescence, staining – for example, vanadium salts, iron or manganese – sulphate attack, and weathering of mortar joints. Being able to identify the defect and diagnose the cause is essential for surveyors, as is an ability to recommend practical and cost-effective remedial actions.

Cladding: significant defects can be found in the external wall systems of residential buildings, which include cladding. Recent concern has related to fire safety defects in particular, which were a primary factor in the Grenfell Tower fire. Surveyors need to be able to identify and advise on different types of cladding, including highly flammable products such as aluminium composite materials with polyethylene cores and certain high-pressure laminates.

Drainage:  in a level 3 survey, surveyors will need to lift accessible inspection chambers for drains and septic tanks to observe normal operation. A drainage defect that surveyors may encounter is the deterioration of pitch-fibre pipes, which were commonly used from the 1940s to 1970s in certain areas of the UK.

Pitch fibre is made from wood cellulose impregnated with coal tar, which was originally specified to strengthen it. Drains made of the material were cheaper, more lightweight and easier to install than traditional clay pipes. However, pitch fibre reacts adversely to hot water, fat and oil, and this can lead to collapsed pipes and blocked drains, limiting their life expectancy.

Pitch fibre drains do not always need to be replaced if in good working order; however, they should be monitored if left in situ . If they are in very poor condition, drains will need to be repaired through re-rounding (using a tool to re-shape the pipe and remove any bubbling of the pitch fibre), or replaced entirely with modern plastic piping.

Related article

Case gives clarity on defective cladding claims

Easi-Form: built from the 1920s to 1960s, the Laing Easi-Form is a house type categorised as non-traditional construction. The houses were designed to be quick and cheap to build, using concrete cast in situ or prefabricated concrete panels.

Such construction is not designated as defective under the Housing Act 1985 . House construction types were designated as defective if there was a defect in their design and/or their value was significantly reduced as a result.

However, there are a number of typical defects that surveyors may encounter, which include poor thermal efficiency and levels of insulation, the presence of asbestos-containing materials, and condensation.

Foundations: to diagnose wider building defects successfully, it is essential to understand how foundations are constructed. These come in a variety of forms, including pad, raft and piled, depending on the load-bearing capacity of the underlying ground. Defects can result from sulphate attack, insufficient-load bearing capacity, drainage issues, insufficient width, and the effect of roots from nearby trees.

Hunting for leaks: a typical cause of damp in buildings is leaking pipework or water penetration through roofs, walls, floors and windows. Leaks can be a result of incorrect specification, detailing, designing or installation – for example, eroded mortar between external brickwork, slipped roof tiles or incorrectly installed plumbing pipework. Surveyors need to follow the trail to identify the potential causes of such defects, which may not be obvious on first inspection.

Insulation: cavity wall insulation can be retrofitted to buildings to improve their thermal performance. However, it is often installed incorrectly – for example, it may slump or block vents, while areas may be missed or cavities could be under- or overfilled. These can in turn lead to cold bridging, condensation, mould growth and damp.

With the insulation in the external wall cavities, it can be difficult to diagnose such issues without invasive investigation. A surveyor may recommend invasive investigation as an additional instruction, therefore, if this is the likely cause of an internal defect.

RICS building pathology standards

Home survey standard  

Surveying assets in the built environment  

Surveying safely  

The mundic problem  

Joint position statement: RICS recently collaborated with Historic England and the Property Care Association to publish the joint position statement Investigation of moisture and its effect on traditional buildings: Principles and competencies . The document provides a detailed guide for all property professionals on how to detect and diagnose moisture defects in traditional buildings, the actions they should take, and how to take responsibility for the advice they provide.

K-value: this refers to the ability of a material to conduct heat. Materials that are good insulators typically have a low K-value. Related metrics include C-values, which relate to thermal conductance (how a material conducts heat), and R-values, which relate to thermal resistance (how a material resists heat transfer).

Large v Hart & Anor: Large v Hart & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 24 related to a level 2 survey where the surveyor had only reported minor issues with drainage, gutters and pipework. On the strength of this the client subsequently purchased the property,  but experienced water ingress and damp after they moved in. This led to a successful negligence claim against the surveyor .

The court found the surveyor liable as his report failed to identify significant issues relating to damp and also had not advised obtaining a professional consultant's certificate before purchase. The case is a reminder of the importance of diligently diagnosing defects within the scope of the survey instructed, or at least highlighting where inspection and analysis have been limited.

Mortar: used to bind masonry together, mortar needs to be specified correctly to work effectively for a long period of time. The specification must include the strength of the mortar mix and the type of mortar used; for example, in traditional buildings constructed of stone, lime mortar should be used because it permits the building to breathe as well as some level of movement. The mortar is the sacrificial material in a wall construction and must always be weaker than the wall material.

Non-traditional construction: many types of non-traditional construction have been used in the UK, primarily between the late 1940s and the 1960s as a way of quickly building new houses after the Second World War. More modern methods of construction have also been used recently to address increasing awareness of the need for sustainability. Being able to recognise forms of non-traditional construction is essential, as well as typical defects associated with them, such as poor thermal performance and cracking.

Occupancy: the way a building is occupied and used may cause a variety of building defects. For instance, drying laundry without opening windows or intensive use of a bathroom without extraction can lead to condensation and mould growth. Another example is the storage of heavy items in loft space, which can crack the ceiling surfaces below.

Surveyors need to be able to factor the use of a building into their diagnosis of defects and recommended remedial actions. The latter may not always involve repair, but might entail advising how to use a building better.

'Being able to recognise forms of non-traditional construction is essential, as well as typical defects associated with them, such as poor thermal performance and cracking'

Period property : being able to identify the age of a building is key to diagnosing defects and their causes effectively. For example, Victorian houses are often constructed with solid masonry walls that are prone to rainwater penetration and internal dampness.

The presence of a damp-proof course (DPC) also needs to be considered as they are found in different forms in properties of different eras. For example, some old stone buildings may have no DPC, whereas slate or bitumen DPCs were used from around 1900s onwards, while since the mid to late 20th century modern polythene DPCs have been installed.

Quoin: this is simply the external angle or corner of a building;  knowing construction terminology of this kind is an essential part of the competency. Though remember, reports are to be in plain English for the layperson or client to understand.

Recording observations: surveyors need to be able to record an appropriate level of detail on building pathology in their reports, and this includes the use of sketches, drawings and photographs.

Standards: surveyors must be aware of relevant standards. In regulatory or disciplinary proceedings, RICS or any court or tribunal will take account of whether a surveyor followed the relevant standard, which would demonstrate the extent to which they had acted professionally and competently.

Structural movement: all buildings will experience movement; however, where this is substantial it will lead to a range of building defects, usually in the form of cracking. Causes of movement include subsidence, settlement and heave, among others. Surveyors need to be able to use BRE Digest 251 to diagnose cracking, including the category of crack and proposed remedial action.

Timber defects: a number of defects can occur in timber, such as wet rot, dry rot and insect infestation. A common example of the latter is infestation by wood-boring insects, which can be identified by the exit holes they leave in the timber as well as by larval excrement – frass – and wood dust. Such insects include the common furniture beetle, deathwatch beetle and house longhorn beetle, while termites are also a risk.

Underground rooms: a basement, cellar or other underground room is prone to a variety of building defects. These often arise where the water table is high but waterproofing – or tanking – is insufficient, leading to water ingress and damp-related issues.

Ventilation: ventilating buildings is essential to provide a healthy living environment, enabling fresh air to circulate and moderating internal temperature. Ventilation can be provided mechanically, using extractor fans for example, or naturally through building design and opening windows and doors.

Without sufficient ventilation, building defects such as condensation and mould can occur. One serious impact of poor ventilation among other contributory factors can be sick building syndrome, where occupants may suffer from symptoms such as a blocked nose, sore throat, cough or headaches.

Wall tie failure: in cavity wall construction, such ties are used to hold the internal and external leaves of the walls together. The cavity itself primarily helps to prevent water from entering the building and leaves space for insulation to be installed.

Wall ties are subject to corrosion, usually in older construction where milder steel ties were used; or they can fail as a result of poor construction detailing where they are not installed properly – or because there is a lack of galvanic corrosion protection, for example, as prior to 1982 galvanising standards for steel were lower than modern standards. Being able to identify cavity wall tie failure or replacement is an essential skill for surveyors.

X-ray imaging: where surveyors recommend further investigations into the condition of concrete in buildings, including floors and wall panels, digital X-ray imaging can offer a non-invasive alternative to cutting, coring or breaking concrete to take samples. This method can help diagnose concrete defects, such as corrosion in steel reinforcements.

Yield strength of steel: this refers to the maximum stress that can be applied to steel before it changes shape permanently. A related term is tensile strength, which concerns the resistance of steel to breaking under tension.

Zinc: more commonly found in European buildings, this metal is sometimes used as a roof covering or in gutters and downpipes. When specified and installed correctly, it can last for more than 100 years. Defects can occur due to thermal movement of expansion joints and the corrosion of other less resilient metals in contact with zinc.

Jen Lemen FRICS is a co-founder and partner at Property Elite Contact Jen: Email

Related competencies include: Building pathology, Construction technology and environmental services, Inspection

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Home > FACULTIES > Pathology > PATHOL-ETD

Pathology Theses and Dissertations

This collection contains theses and dissertations from the Department of Pathology, collected from the Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Investigation of Novel Pan-RAF Inhibitors in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer , Sarah EB Ryan

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Evaluating the utility of S100A7 in identifying oral dysplastic lesions that will progress to oral squamous cell carcinoma , Jeff Soparlo

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Investigating The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Maternal Perceived Stress, Postpartum Depressive Symptoms, And Pregnancy Outcomes In London, Ontario: A One Health Approach , Mei Yuan

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Evidence of an Antigen Presenting Cell Phenotype in Granular Cell Tumours , Benjamin J W A Rogala

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Junctophilin-2 Protects Cardiomyocytes against Palmitate-induced Injury , Xiaoyun Ji

Evaluating the Utility of Protein Biomarker, S100A7, and Diagnostic Test, Straticyte, in Predicting the Progression of Oral Dysplasia , Lachlan McLean

Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity is Caused by Mitochondrial Dysfunction , Michael G. Tauro

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Non-Cancerous Abnormalities That Could Mimic Prostate Cancer Like Signal in Multi-Parametric MRI Images , Mena Gaed

Mitochondrial permeability regulates cardiac endothelial cell necroptosis and cardiac allograft rejection , Ingrid Gan

Kallikrein-Related Peptidases are Dysregulated in Pleomorphic Adenoma , Matthew D. Morrison

Increased Mitochondrial Calpain-1 Is an Important Mechanism Contributing to Mitochondrial ROS Generation in Cardiac Diseases , Rui Ni

Elucidating mechanisms of innate and acquired resistance to PI3Ka inhibition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , Kara M. Ruicci

The Effects of Child Restraint System Use and Motor Vehicle Collision Severity on Injury Patterns and Severity in Children 8 Years Old and Younger. , Peyton A. Schroeder

Role of Long Noncoding RNAs in Diabetic Complications , Anu Alice Thomas

Effect of Estrogen and Glucocorticoid Signaling on Th2 cells – Implications for Severe Asthma , Meerah Vijeyakumaran

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

CRISPR Screen for Identification of Kinases that Mediate Prostate Cancer Cell Invasion , Hamad Aldhafeeri

Immunological Impact of CLI-095 on Dendritic Cell Maturation and Hypoxia-re-oxygenation induced inflammatory injury , Hajed Obaid Alharbi

ERK5 Expression in Brain Tumours , Reem Ansari

Expression of Human Tissue Kallikreins (KLKs) in Polymorphous Low Grade Adenocarcinoma (PLGA) , Jacqueline M. Cox

A Clinico-Pathological Study of the Structural and Functional Changes in the Retina and Optic Nerve Following Diabetic Retinopathy Treatments , Richard Filek

Mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced vascular proliferation in ovarian cancer , Zeynep Gülsüm Kahramanoğlu

The Effect of Glucocorticosteroids on Th2 cells , Tharsan Kanagalingam

Hsp90 and its Co-chaperones Modify TDP-43 Localization, Aggregation, and Toxicity , Lilian T. Lin

Characterization of Hemangioma-initiating Stem Cells , Natalie Montwill

Postnatal β1 Integrin Deficiency in Pancreatic Beta-Cells Impairs Function and Survival , Jason E. Peart

Up-regulation of junctophilin-2 prevents ER stress and apoptosis in hypoxia/reoxygenation-stimulated H9c2 cells , Zijun Su

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Body and Organ Measurements in Infants and Neonates: An Autopsy Study , Audrey-Ann M. Evetts

The Long Non-coding RNA Malat1 Regulates Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Chronic Diabetic Complications , Andrew D. Gordon

Expression of Kallikrein-Related Peptidases (KLKs) in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma , Zachary R. Kerr

Mechanisms regulating stem cell phenotype in infantile hemangioma , Niamh Richmond

Etiology of Motor Vehicle Collision Fatalities in Urban and Rural Canada , James R. Roos

Identification of a Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS) within the Pleckstrin Homology (PH) domain of Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (RGNEF) , Michael V. Tavolieri

Development and Performance Evaluation of an Antibody-Based Technology for Detection of E. coli O157 in Meat Samples and Its Potential Evolution Using Antibody Engineering , Yadira Tejeda Saldaña

Regulation of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Expression and Activity by Transforming Growth-Factor Beta in the Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Implications for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma , Nikoleta Tellios

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Phase II Clinical Trial of Concurrent Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer , Muriel Brackstone

Expression Of Human Kallikrein Protein And mRNA In Maxillofacial Cysts And Tumours , Karl Kevin Cuddy

Chromatin Structure and Differential Accessibility of Homologous Human Mitotic Metaphase Chromosomes , Wahab A. Khan

β-adrenergic receptor-dependent and -independent effects of propranolol in infantile hemangioma , Jina J.Y. Kum

CD4+ T-cell Mediated Microvascular Endothelial Cell Death and Chronic Cardiac Allograft Rejection Involves Necroptosis , Cecilia YT Kwok

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition in the metastatic progression of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours , Stephanie Mok

Protective Effect of Modified Human Fibroblast Growth Factor on Diabetic Nephropathy , Ana M. Pena Diaz

Diabetic Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Dysfunction , Meghan A. Piccinin

Investigation of Pancreatic β-Cell Insulin Receptor Regulation of β-Cell Growth, Function, and Survival Via a Temporal Conditional Knockout , Liangyi Zhou

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

The Role Of The RNA-Binding Protein Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor In The Cellular Stress Response , Kevin WH Cheung

Exposure to Environmental Contaminants and Stress as Determinants of Health in Three Communities: Walpole Island and Attawapiskat First Nations and Naivasha, Kenya , Deirdre Phaedra Henley

miRNA Regulation of Programmed Cell Death-1 in T Cells: Potential Prognostic and Therapeutic Markers in Melanoma , Nathan J. Johnston

Cell Death Regulates Injury and Inflammation During Renal Allograft Transplantation , Arthur Lau

Role of SIRT1 in Vascular Complications of Diabetes , Rokhsana Mortuza

RIPK3 Regulates Microvascular Endothelial Cell Necroptosis and Cardiac Allograft Rejection , Alexander William Pavlosky

The Role of Integrins in Support of Pancreatic Function, Survival and Maturation , Matthew Riopel

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Regulates miR-200b in Retinal Endothelial Cells: Possible Implications in Diabetic Retinopathy , Michael A. Ruiz

Association of Head and Cervical Injuries in Pediatric Occupants Involved in Motor Vehicle Collisions , Shayan Shekari

Development of Non-Covalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for siRNA Delivery , King Sun Siu

The Expression and Potential Significance of Human Kallikreins 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, and 14 in the Epithelium of Selected Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors of Variably Aggressive Biological Behaviour , Rebecca Woodford

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Targeted siRNA Delivery Methods for RNAi-Based Therapies , Di Chen

Elucidating the Role of Menin During Islet Cell Development in the Human Fetal Pancreas , Jessica L. Dubrick

Vascular Stem Cells in Diabetic Complications , Emily C. Keats

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Immunohistochemical Studies of Expression and Correlation of Osteopontin, CD44, and Integrin αVβ3 in Selected Benign and Malignant Salivary Gland Tumours , Tommy Fok

The role of non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity signalling in breast cancer progression , Connor D. MacMillan

Elucidating the Function of Transplanted Islets of Langerhans and Predicting Their Ability to Reverse Diabetes , Andrew R. Pepper

Role of ERK5 in Diabetic Vascular Complications , Yuexiu Wu

Regulation of NK cell-mediated tubular epithelial cell death and kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury by the NKR-P1B receptor and Clr-b , James Yip

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

A Model System for Rapid Identification and Functional Testing of Genes Involved in Early Breast Cancer Progression , Lesley H. Souter

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Hematopathology/Immunohematology/Flow Cytometry

Effect of Ultraviolet B Light on Antibody Production to the Hapten Dinitrophenyl in a Murine Model

Flow Cytometric Evaluation of P-Glycoprotein Associated Multi-drug Resistance in Acute Leukemia Patients at Diagnosis Using Monoclonal Antibody 4E3

Flow Cytometric DNA Analysis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Clinicopathologic and Immunophenotypic Correlates

Flow Cytometric Determination of P-Glycoprotein Expression on Blast Cells from Pediatric Leukemia Patients

Factor VIIa as a Predictor of Thromboembolic Events

Microbiology/Immunology

Interactions of Streptococcus mutans Fimbriae Binding with Salivary Components Characterization of the Colonization Factor Antigen 1 (CFA/1) Operon Encoding CFA/1 Fimbriae of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Candida and Cryptococcus Semi-automated Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Utilizing the Bactec 9240J

The Effect of IL-2 in HIV-infected Individuals Vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid, using CD69 and BvdU Uptake to measure Lymphocyte Responsiveness

Enhanced Detection of Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus in Pediatric Blood Cultures

Characterization of Polyclonal Anti-peptidoglycan Antibodies that Differentiate Between Cell Wall Fragments of Gram-Negative Bacteria and Gram-Positive Bacteria by Enzyme Inhibition Assay

Immunology of Murine Pneumocystis carinii Infection

RAPD PCR DNA Fingerprinting on Sequential Isolates of Histoplasma capsulatum from AIDS Patients Failing Fluconazole Therapy

Typing of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis Isolates and Effects of Pneumocystis carinii Infection on Host Gene Expression

Effects of Pneumocystis carinii on Alveolar Macrophage Function during Infection

Serum and Secretory IgA Immunity in HIV-1 Infection

The Pneumocystis carinii Cyst: Infectivity and Role in Damage in a Rat Mode of Infection

Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis: a Comparison of Existing and Experimental Diagnostic Tests for Routine Clinical Use

Cytopathology/Anatomic Pathology

Biochemical Pattern-Targeted Anticancer Drug Treatment

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: A Genotype – Phenotype Correlation

Flow Cytometric Analysis of DNA Ploidy Correlated with 14q Allelic Imbalance in Renal Cell Carcinoma

A Study of Reproductive Tissue of pcd Mutant Mice

Evaluation of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis after Intramural Heparin Delivery with Hydrogel-coated Balloons

Molecular Evidence for the Independent Origin of Extra-Ovarian Tumors in Advanced Stage Ovarian *Papillary Serous Tumors of Low Malignant Potential

Characterization of Antibodies Produced to the Novel Carboxyl-terminus of the Inv Protein

FHIT Expression in Prostatic Tumors

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Stanford Pathology Research Retreat

To be held on Friday, October 11, 2024

Stanford Pathology Research Retreat 2024

This year's retreat will be held at the  david and joan traitel building of hoover institution.

Due to unanticipated record attendance registration, the  Pathology Department Research Retreat  will be  relocating to the David and Joan Traitel Building of Hoover Institution ! Our date will be,  Friday, October 11, 2024 . We chose this location as it can accommodate the number of attendees and in addition is a quick walk from the Lane Building. This decision was to ensure we can accommodate all our Pathology Faculty, Staff, Students, and Trainees in one location.  We did not anticipate this much excitement, the number of submitted abstracts, registered attendees, and overall growth in our Pathology community. We look forward to seeing you at the retreat!

The purpose of our retreat is to allow Stanford Pathology members to become more familiar with the research conducted in the Department, including basic, translational and clinical projects. We hope this will facilitate new opportunities for collaborative studies, research training and enhance prospects for additional funding of such activities.

Join us on Friday, October 11, 2024:

• Keynote Speaker: To be determined
• Flash Talks: 3-5 minute research presentations
• Pathology Art: Vote for your favorite research artwork which will be displayed throughout the event.
• All poster presenters will have a preview page of their abstract and poster on the website viewable to the Stanford Community for the week leading up to the day of the retreat. Presenters will also present their abstract poster in person at one of the poster sessions at the retreat in order to be eligible for a prize.

*Cash prizes are to be awarded in seven categories:

• Postdoctoral Fellows
• Research Associates
• CP Residents
• AP Residents
• Clinical Fellows
• Health Disparity Research

The committee starts its evaluation process by reviewing the abstracts submitted 2-3 weeks before the day of the retreat. Those that are ranked high in the pool of abstracts submitted per category are then reviewed further in person on retreat day to identify final winners.

*Cash prize amounts are determined at the time of the event; please read the eligibility criteria below

Submit your pathology artwork:

If you wish to contribute, please upload a de-identified digital image from your research or clinical work that you think is aesthetic by Monday, September 9, 2024 . Any manipulation should be applied across the entire image.

A panel of judges will select the most artistically compelling images, and these will be displayed at the department retreat. Retreat attendees will be asked to vote for their top three images and each will receive a prize.

Please upload your images; it will be fun to see the beauty in each other’s work.

2024 Schedule

Location details.

David and Joan Traitel Building of Hoover Institution 2024 Pathology Research Retreat

David and joan traitel building of hoover institution, register for the retreat, whether you are presenting or just attending, please take the time to register for this event. registration closes on september 9, 2024..

This year's SWAG selection to be determined.

Submit your Abstract, Poster Materials for Presentation

• All abstracts, presentation, and digital posters will be viewable to the Stanford Community in the week leading up to and on the day of the event, from October 7 thru October 11, 2024.
• The abstract(s) must have been created for a research project conducted at Stanford University or in collaboration with a Stanford Pathology affiliate.
• The deadline to submit your abstract, and poster is Monday, September 9, 2024 • 5 pm PST

Send us your Pathology Artwork

• Artwork must be de-identified
• The image/artwork must have been created as part of your research here at Stanford
• The deadline to submit your artwork for consideration is Monday, September 9, 2024 • 5 pm PST

For general questions about the retreat please contact:

Annie Vo Project Administrative Manager Tel: (650) 725-3940 Email: [email protected]

For technical questions or assistance please contact:

Norm Cyr Digital Specialist Tel: (650) 724-1866 Email: [email protected]

Funding provided by the Department of Pathology and The Charles B. Carrington Memorial Prize, through the generous contributions of the Wolfe & Gita Churg Foundation

2023 Retreat Photos

All photos are the property of Stanford Pathology, School of Medicine. All rights are reserved.