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Life-cycle cost estimation of a building structure: An example of partition walls

Open Access
|Feb 2024

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1:

Chart showing the dependence of LCC and possibilities to influence it at various stages of the building’s life cycle and types of documentation (own work based on the researches of Tillmann [1997] and Prostějovská [2008]). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.
Chart showing the dependence of LCC and possibilities to influence it at various stages of the building’s life cycle and types of documentation (own work based on the researches of Tillmann [1997] and Prostějovská [2008]). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.

Fig. 2:

Schematic of LCC modelling (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.
Schematic of LCC modelling (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.

Fig. 3:

Input of individual parameters into the computational model for all stages of project documentation (own work). COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; PPD, planning permit documents.
Input of individual parameters into the computational model for all stages of project documentation (own work). COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; PPD, planning permit documents.

Fig. 4:

LCC ranges for the individual stages of documentation (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.
LCC ranges for the individual stages of documentation (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; COS, construction study stage; CPD, construction permit documents; LCC, life-cycle costs; PPD, planning permit documents.

Fig. 5:

Distribution of average undiscounted LCC components according to the individual stages of preparation of design documents (own work). LCC, life-cycle costs.
Distribution of average undiscounted LCC components according to the individual stages of preparation of design documents (own work). LCC, life-cycle costs.

Fig. 6:

Distribution of LCC (on the CID level) for various discount rates (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; LCC, life-cycle costs.
Distribution of LCC (on the CID level) for various discount rates (own work). CID, construction implementation stage; LCC, life-cycle costs.

Database of the service life and scopes and frequencies of repairs for masonry and prefabricated partitions (own work, and based on Marková’s study [2011])

Masonry partitionsLifetime (years)Repairs
Scope in percentage (%)Frequency (years)
Masonry partitions100
Lime plaster100Under 5030
Lime-cement plaster100Under 5030
Cement plaster100Under 5030
Gypsum plaster100Under 5030
Clay plaster100Under 5030
Thermal insulation plaster100Under 5030
Barite plaster100Under 5030
Prefabricated partitionsLifetime (years)Repairs
Scope in percentage (%)Frequency (years)
Plasterboard partitions100Under 5030
Fibreboard partitions100Under 5030

Specification of requirements for the partition at various levels of project documentation (own work)

Project documentation levelPartition typePlaster typePartition thickness
COS000
PPD011
CPD111

Distribution of undiscounted LCC components according to the individual stages of preparation of design documents (own work)

Descriptive statistics measureAcquisition price (EUR/m2)IRL (EUR/m2)Demolition costs (EUR/m2)
COSPPDCPDCOSPPDCPDCOSPPDCPD
Average67.156.350.573.259.653.815.112.916.9
Maximum149.7105.360.8225.681.563.527.120.820.8
Minimum36.636.639.142.842.842.85.55.511.4
Standard deviation21.212.95.136.68.75.35.74.83.0
Coefficient of variation32231050%1410383717

Sample of masonry partition from the database (own work, based on ÚRS, a_s_, and Cemix [wall systém])

DescriptionSimple partitions made of classic perforated bricks, tongue and groove joints with M5 mortar, brick strength up to P15, partition thickness 115 mm + 20 mm plaster thickness
Partition typeMasonry
Material typeBrick partition
Type of plasterLime-cement plaster
Base layer typeAcrylic-silicone primer
UoMm2
Acquisition costs43.4 EUR/m2
Costs per one repair (according to Tab. 8)14.3 EUR/m2 (undiscounted)
Demolition costs11.7 EUR/m2 (undiscounted)
Total weight0.14331 tonne
MH total1.3 MH/m2
Laboratory weighted soundproofing (Rw)46 dB
Fire resistanceEI 180
Suitability for damp conditionsYes
Partition thickness135 mm

A schematic of possible combinations of masonry–base layer–standard plaster (own work, based on Cemix [wall systém])

Base layer / masonryLime plasterLime-cement plasterCement plasterGypsum plaster
Polymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement sprayPolymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement sprayPolymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement sprayPolymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement spray
Burnt brick partitionsXXXXXXX
Unburnt brick partitionsXXXXXXX
Concrete block partitionsXXXXXXXXXXX
Ceramic block partitionsXXXXXXX
Calcium-silicate partitionsXXXXXXX
Cellular concrete partitionsXXXXXXX

The scope of requirements for the individual properties of non-load-bearing partitions (own work)

Soundproofing Rw (dB)35–74 - correction
Fire resistanceEI 15-EI 180 or N/A
Suitability for damp conditionsYes/no
Partition thickness (mm)70-290

List of examined types of masonry partitions, plasters and base coat preparation (own work, based on ÚRS, a_s_)

Types of masonry partitionsTypes of plasterTypes of base coat preparation
Partitions made of burnt bricksLime plasterPolymer-cement adhesive primer
Partitions made of unburnt bricksLime-cement plasterClay primer
Partitions made of concrete blocksCement plasterAcrylic-silicone primer
Partitions made of ceramic blocksGypsum plasterClay spraying
Calcium-silicate partitionsClay plaster (special)Lime spray
Cellular concrete partitionsThermal insulation plaster (special)Cement spray
Concrete partitions for plasterless masonryBarite plaster (special)
Gypsum partitions for plasterless masonry

Partition selected for CID (own work)

DescriptionPartitions or simple partitions of concrete slip bricks on cement mortar, 120 mm thick + 20 mm plaster thickness
Partition typeMasonry
Material typeBrick partition
Type of plasterLime-cement plaster
Base layer typeAcrylic-silicone primer
UoMm2
LCC104.3 EUR/m2 undiscounted; 43.7 EUR/m2 discounted
Acquisition costs39.1 EUR/m2
Costs per one repair (according to Tab. 8)45.4 EUR/m2 undiscounted; 4.51 EUR/m2 discounted
Demolition costs19.9 EUR/m2 undiscounted; 0.2 EUR/m2 discounted
Total weight0.147 tonne
MH total1.7 MH/m2
Laboratory weighted soundproofing (Rw)44 dB
Fire resistanceEI 90
Suitability for damp conditionsYes
Partition thickness140 mm

Sample of prefabricated partition from the database (own work, based on ÚRS, a_s_, and Heluz katalog)

DescriptionGypsum plasterboard partition with supporting structure made of simple steel profiles UW, CW simply sheathed with standard A board 12.5 mm thick, partition thickness 75 mm, profile 50, with insulation, EI 30, Rw up to 45 dB
Partition typePrefabricated
Material typePlasterboard partition
Board typeA 1 × 12.5 mm
UoMm2
Acquisition costs33.0 EUR/m2
Costs per one repair (according to Tab. 8)19.4 EUR/m2 (undiscounted)
Demolition costs5.1 EUR/m2 (undiscounted)
Total weight0.02493 tonne
MH total0.02476 MH/m2
Laboratory weighted soundproofing (Rw)45 dB
Fire resistanceEI 30
Suitability for damp conditionsNo
Partition thickness100 mm

LCC results for the individual stages of documentation – COS, PPD, CPD (own work)

Descriptive statistics measureLCC discounted (EUR/m2)LCC undiscounted (EUR/m2)
COSPPDCPDCOSPPDCPD
Average74.562.356.0155.2128.6121.1
Maximum172.6111.867.3402.3178.0144.7
Minimum42.542.543.797.897.897.8
Standard deviation24.313.35.557.116.811.1
Coefficient of variation33211037139

A schematic of possible combinations of masonry–base layer–special plaster (own work, based on Cemix [wall systém])

Base layer / masonryClay plasterThermal insulation plasterBarite plaster
Polymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement sprayPolymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement sprayPolymer-cement adhesive primerClay primerAcrylic-silicone primerClay sprayingLime sprayCement spray
Burnt brick partitionsXXXX
Unburnt brick partitionsOOOOOOXX
Concrete block partitionsXXXXXX
Ceramic block partitionsXXXX
Calcium-silicate partitionsXXXX
Cellular concrete partitionsXXXX

Correction of the weighted laboratory soundproofing according to ČSN 73 0532 (ČSN 73 0532 [730532])

Dividing elementSide structureCorrection (dB)
Masonry wall4× heavy2
3× heavy, 1× light3
2× heavy, 2× light4
1× heavy, 3× light5
Masonry skeleton≥4
Prefabricated partition4× heavy5
Rw ≤55 dB3× heavy, 1× light6
2× heavy, 2× light8
Prefabricated partition4× heavy6
Rw ≥55 dB3× heavy, 1× light7
2× heavy, 2× light≥8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2023-0017 | Journal eISSN: 1847-6228 | Journal ISSN: 1847-5450
Language: English
Page range: 13 - 26
Submitted on: Aug 7, 2023
Accepted on: Nov 12, 2023
Published on: Feb 13, 2024
Published by: University of Zagreb
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 times per year

© 2024 Vojtech Biolek, Tomaš Hanak, published by University of Zagreb
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.