BRE IP3/06/1 PDF

Introduction

The service life of any structure is, in simple terms, the period over which it is expected to function without unplanned major repair. Service life is usually expressed in years, eg at best 50 years for many buildings or at best 100 years for many transport structures like bridges. However, factors such as obsolescence, potential changes in use and the appropriate level of maintenance and repair also need to be taken into account. See Box 1 for definitions of durability and service life The client's view of the acceptable amount of deterioration, eg, the appearance of corrosioninduced cracks in reinforced concrete or spalling, is also important. In practice, it may be preferable to link the required service life to a defined management and maintenance regime related to the upgrading or replacement of shorter-life items such as services and fittings. However expressed, some form of target life is essential to enable alternative design options for meeting the required service life to be evaluated at the conceptual design stage.Service life design should be treated as an integral part of the design process rather than as a stand alone ‘bolt-on' to be carried out as part of a quality assurance scheme.