Assessment of Existing Structures for Elongation of the Buildings Lifecycle Based on Ukrainian Experience and Codes

One of the effective ways to increase the efficiency of the circular economy is the reuse of existing structures and parts of buildings or extending the life cycle of existing buildings. Assessing the technical condition of existing systems is the basis for reliable and safe operation, both of structures and buildings as a whole. The paper analyses the history and development of Ukrainian standards (codes). It compares methods for evaluating the technical condition of existing structures presented in Ukrainian standards with those shown in the international standard for assessing existing members. Over the past 30 years, Ukraine has actively developed methods for assessing the technical condition of existing steel, reinforced concrete and composite structures. The basis of the results of the analyzed works is theoretical, experimental, and full-scale studies of existing structures. Much work is devoted to assessing the reliability of existing and damaged building structures. Methods of reliability theory have been applied to evaluate enclosure structures, for which a new term - thermal reliability of enclosure structures - has been introduced. Based on the analysis of codes and research, recommendations have been prepared for implementing sustainable practices into European standards.