The durability of buildings

The durability of buildings is a subject of timely importance in view of current changes in building types. The meaning of the term is explored. This leads to the suggestion that it is the question, "How much durability do you want in a building?" that must be faced by the designer. Correspondingly, it is demonstrated that the durability of a building is really the durability of its components. The interrelation of building components can only usefully be considered in relation to the climatic environment, interior and exterior, in which the building is to serve, and this suggests some of the 1imitations of testing for durability.La durabilit\ue9 des b\ue2timents est un sujet opportun au regard des changements qui ont cours actuellement au niveau des types de b\ue2timents. Nous nous penchons ici sur la signification du terme. Cette notion aura pour corollaire que le concepteur devra d\ue9sormais conna\ueetre le degr\ue9 de durabilit\ue9 que l?on recherche pour un b\ue2timent donn\ue9. De ce fait, il est d\ue9montr\ue9 que la durabilit\ue9 d?un b\ue2timent correspond en r\ue9alit\ue9 \ue0 celle de ses composants. L?interrelation des \ue9l\ue9ments du b\ue2timent peut \ueatre utilement prise en compte seulement en regard des conditions li\ue9es au milieu climatique, int\ue9rieur et ext\ue9rieur, sous lesquelles le b\ue2timent doit \ueatre exploit\ue9, interrelation qui sugg\ue8re certaines des limitations quant aux essais de durabilit\ue9.Peer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye