Performance of Bio-based Building Materials provides guidance on the use of bio-based building materials (BBBM) with respect to their performance. The book focuses on BBBM currently present on the European market. The state-of-the-art is presented regarding material properties, recommended uses, performance expectancies, testing methodology, and related standards. Chapters cover both 'old and traditional' BBBM since quite a few of them are experiencing a comeback on the market. Promising developments that could become commercial in the near future are presented as well. The book will be a valuable reference resource for those working in the bio-based materials research community, architects and agencies dealing with sustainable construction, and graduate students in civil engineering. - Takes a unique approach to bio-based materials and presents a broad overview of the topics on relevant areas necessary for application and promotion in construction - Contains a general description, notable properties related to performance, and applications - Presents standards that are structured according to performance types

A detailed study of the relationship between the materials used in building constructions and the conditions in which they are expected to perform with regard to strength and water and its effects.

Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use. The manufacture of building materials is an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is typically segmented into specific speciality trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing and insulation work. This book presents a wide variety of research on issues facing the building industry today. A study on the use of syntactic foams as a building material is presented. The acoustic performance of building materials with respect to their insulative properties is also analysed. Other topics include the performance of building stones in relation to salt weathering, the behaviour of building materials submitted to fire, the problem of microbe invasion into building materials and a study to develop a series of experimental methods to determine the moisture transport and storage properties of building materials.

These books contain articles on R&D into the major aspects of durability and service life prediction of building materials and components, as well as theoretical aspects of methods and modelling of prediction, description of degradation environment by use GIS, as practical implementation of knowledge on durability in maintenance procedures and in standardisation and regulations.