Survey of Austrian Construction Managers as a Basis to Develop New Approaches to Prevent Moisture Damage in New Concrete Residential Buildings

Abstract

A survey of 63 Austrian construction managers was conducted as a Master’s thesis and also as part of the CIB W040 Research Roadmap exploring moisture safety in buildings. The aim of this study is to determine where and when construction managers experience moisture problems during the construction and post-occupancy stages. The outcomes of this study can be used as a basis to develop new “smart tools” for construction managers to prevent moisture damage during construction and occupancy. This study focuses upon the moisture problems experienced during and due to concrete and screed drying periods in new concrete residential buildings. The survey of construction managers has been conducted to gather their experiences and needs as part of an international needs analysis. The needs analysis focused upon the types of moisture damages occurring on the construction site, existing and missing tools to prevent moisture damage, and the awareness level on the construction site. In conclusion, construction managers have reported that external factors determine a large portion of the moisture damage frequency such as time and cost pressures during the design and construction phases, the subcontractors’ professional knowledge level, and occupant behaviour. Furthermore, there seems to be very little interest by the construction managers for additional literature, tools, or other specifications. Instead, they have requested more general training and in depth training for themselves and their subcontractors. The most valued means of knowledge transfer was reported to be training programs and knowledge sharing between co-workers. The knowledge transfer could occur as workshops led by a moisture safety expert with a direct exchange of experiences in combination with an enhancement of motivation on the topic of moisture damage prevention. This expert in moisture safety should also function as an in-house point of contact for moisture safety on the construction site.