Building Pathology Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Building Pathology

Introduces the scope, history, and purpose of building pathology as distinct from general construction. Grounds learners in the discipline's diagnostic philosophy before technical content begins.

Lesson 2 • Building as a System

Frames the building as an integrated system of interacting elements and environments. Establishes systems thinking as the analytical lens for diagnosing pathological conditions.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory and Ethical Context

Outlines the professional duties, liability considerations, and performance standards governing building pathology practice. Connects ethical obligations to investigation quality.

Lesson 1 • Concrete Pathology

Examines reinforced and plain concrete deterioration from chemical, physical, and electrochemical causes. Provides the material science basis for diagnosing concrete defects in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Masonry Materials and Decay

Covers brick, stone, mortar, and concrete masonry behaviour under physical and chemical stress. Connects material microstructure to visible surface and structural decay patterns.

Lesson 3 • Timber Decay and Degradation

Analyses biological, chemical, and mechanical degradation of structural and non-structural timber. Links moisture content thresholds to fungal and insect attack risk.

Lesson 4 • Material Interaction and Compatibility

Addresses defects arising from incompatible material combinations at interfaces and junctions. Reinforces systems thinking by showing how adjacent materials accelerate each other's decay.

Lesson 1 • Basement and Below-Grade Moisture

Covers groundwater, hydrostatic pressure, and drainage failures affecting substructure elements. Prepares students to assess waterproofing system performance and failure.

Lesson 2 • Penetrating Damp and Rainwater Ingress

Identifies pathways for wind-driven rain and gravity-fed water through walls, roofs, and openings. Links defect location to specific envelope failures for targeted repair.

Lesson 3 • Moisture Physics in Buildings

Establishes the physical principles governing moisture movement through building fabric. Provides the theoretical basis for diagnosing condensation, rising damp, and penetrating damp.

Lesson 4 • Condensation and Mold Growth

Analyses surface and interstitial condensation formation and the conditions that promote mould colonisation. Connects occupant behaviour, ventilation, and thermal bridging to moisture outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Crack Monitoring and Stability Assessment

Introduces quantitative and qualitative methods for monitoring crack progression over time. Enables students to determine whether intervention is urgent or can be deferred.

Lesson 2 • Crack Morphology and Classification

Introduces systematic crack description using width, pattern, orientation, and location. Establishes a consistent vocabulary for crack documentation used in all subsequent structural analysis.

Lesson 3 • Foundation Movement and Settlement

Explains how differential settlement, heave, and subsidence generate characteristic crack patterns. Links soil behaviour and foundation type to observed superstructure distortion.

Lesson 4 • Structural Overload and Stress Cracking

Identifies cracking caused by loads exceeding design capacity in beams, slabs, walls, and columns. Connects crack geometry to the type and direction of applied stress.

Lesson 1 • Roof System Defects

Covers pitched and flat roof defect types including covering failure, drainage blockage, and structural deterioration. Connects roof defects to interior moisture and structural consequences.

Lesson 2 • Thermal Performance Deficiencies

Assesses insulation voids, thermal bridges, and air leakage paths that degrade energy performance. Connects thermal deficiencies to condensation risk and occupant comfort.

Lesson 3 • Window and Door Defects

Identifies defects in frames, glazing, seals, and hardware that cause air and water infiltration. Links frame material behaviour to specific failure patterns.

Lesson 1 • Visual Survey Techniques

Develops systematic visual inspection skills for identifying and recording defects across all building elements. Introduces condition rating frameworks used in professional practice.

Lesson 2 • Laboratory Testing and Analysis

Introduces laboratory tests used to characterise material properties and confirm defect diagnoses. Connects field sampling decisions to appropriate analytical methods.

Lesson 3 • Investigation Planning and Scoping

Establishes how to define investigation objectives, access requirements, and resource allocation before site work begins. Prevents scope creep and ensures evidence is legally defensible.

Lesson 4 • Destructive Investigation and Sampling

Addresses when and how to open up building fabric for direct inspection and material sampling. Balances investigative need against disruption and reinstatement obligations.

Lesson 1 • Quantifying Uncertainty and Risk

Introduces methods for expressing diagnostic confidence and residual uncertainty in professional reports. Enables clients and decision-makers to act on probabilistic findings.

Lesson 2 • Expert Witness and Dispute Contexts

Prepares students for the specific demands of providing expert opinion in disputes, arbitration, and litigation. Distinguishes the expert's duty to the tribunal from advocacy for a client.

Lesson 3 • Diagnostic Reasoning in Building Pathology

Applies hypothesis-driven reasoning to integrate physical evidence into a coherent defect diagnosis. Addresses confirmation bias and the handling of conflicting evidence.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Effective Remediation

Establishes that remediation must address root causes, not symptoms, to prevent recurrence. Introduces the hierarchy of repair options from minimal intervention to full replacement.

Lesson 2 • Envelope and Cladding Remediation

Addresses repair and replacement strategies for roofs, walls, windows, and cladding systems. Balances weathertightness restoration with thermal performance improvement.

Lesson 3 • Structural Repair and Stabilisation

Covers repair methods for cracked masonry, concrete, timber, and steel structural elements. Addresses temporary propping, sequencing, and coordination with structural engineers.

Lesson 4 • Quality Assurance and Post-Remediation Verification

Establishes inspection, testing, and monitoring protocols to confirm that remediation has been executed correctly and the defect resolved. Closes the diagnostic cycle with evidence-based sign-off.