Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Outline the field of materials science, including explaining how the manufacture, processing, structure, properties, performance, end use and maintenance of each material class are interrelated, and how economic, environmental sustainability, health & safety, political, societal and appearance factors influence material end use.
• Appraise the primary property classes of building materials (i.e., chemical, durability, hygric, mechanical, optical and thermal), the importance of building material properties and their testing which is typically carried out in the laboratory and field.
• Assess the wide range of building materials and their structures, key properties, specifications, installation, end uses and maintenance/repair.
• Apply the codes and standards relevant to industry practice and liabilities that govern the use of building materials.
• Develop and review specifications and testing programs for building materials.
• Evaluate building materials through review of specifications and test results.
• Determine both visually and using appropriate testing equipment, the generic materials commonly used in walls, roofs, balconies, decks, canopies, windows, doors, skylights, flashings, and joint assemblies. Includes the relevant properties, performance requirements and advantages/disadvantages of each generic material.
• Examine to determine the main deterioration mechanisms (e.g., cracking, corrosion, embrittlement, fading, freeze/thaw, loss of adhesion, mechanical damage, rot, staining, yellowing) in building materials.
• Assess the condition of building materials in the field both visually and using portable testing equipment, and propose possible causes for why building materials may not be as expected (e.g., poor manufacture / fabrication, inappropriate specification, inappropriate design, poor installation, deterioration).
• Recommend if maintenance of building materials is required and plan remediation requirements.
• Communicate verbally and in writing on investigations, field and laboratory tests, site visits and presentations.
• Assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of recent developments in building materials.

Effective as of Fall 2011