# Service Life Prediction and Life Cycle Costs of Light Weight Partitions
## 3 Methodology
### Review of the Physical and Visual Condition of Components at Different Ages  
Determining the deterioration pattern of a building component traditionally involves monitoring the component throughout the building's lifespan, which is often impractical because of the extended time this required. An alternative method is to observe similar components at different ages, and therefore at varying stages of failure and deterioration. This approach makes it possible to establish typical wear patterns for a specific type of component in defined service conditions. The research involved conducting systematic field surveys to assess the physical and visual conditions of a large sample of similar partitions in various residential apartments. These surveys employed specialized forms to document both characteristics and any observed defects in each partition (Table 1). Data collected included general information, such as construction type, apartment location, building age, detailed descriptions of the partition, and other building components, such as exterior walls, ceiling, flooring, and skirting. Moreover, the forms captured data on maintenance activities (painting, repairs, modifications) and additional occupancy details, including ownership status, apartment size, resident demographics, the presence of pets, and the density of objects within the living space. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Phenomenon** & **5 (100\%)** & **4 (80\%)** & **3 (60\%)** & **2 (40\%)** & **1 (20\%)** \\ \hline
**Deviations from** & No deviation from & Deviation from & Deviation from & Deviation from & Deviation from \\
**flatness on the** & No deviation from & planarity in all & planarity up to 2 mm & planarity up to 8 mm & planarity over 8 mm \\
**multitions on the** & **planarity in all** & along 2 m at each & along 2 m at each & along 2 m at least one & along 2 m at multiple \\
**partition surface** & directions. & measuring point on & measuring point on & measuring points on \\  & & the surface. & the surface. & the surface. & the surface. \\ \hline
**Deviations from** & No deviation from & Deviation from & Deviation from & Deviation from \\
**vertical or horizontal** & & vertical up to 1 cm & vertical up to 1 cm & for each wall height & for each wall height \\
**alignment** & **vertical or horizontal** & for each wall height & and/or horizontal & and/or horizontal \\  & & and/or horizontal & and/or horizontal & deviation over 2 cm & deviation over 2 cm \\  & & deviation up to 1 cm. & deviation up to 2 cm. & at one measuring point. & measuring points. \\ \hline
**Surface spalling or** & The entire structure is & Initial local & Deterioration exists & Deterioration covers & Deterioration covers \\
**flaking** & **deterioration on the** & visible in isolated & in isolated areas on & up to 5\% of the wall & one-third or more of \\  & & areas. & areas. & surface. & the wall surface. \\ \hline
**Peeling of plaster or** & No peeling of plaster & Initial peeling of & Peeling of & Peeling of \\
**paint** & **or paint. ** & plaster/paint is & plaster/paint in & plaster/paint covers & plaster/paint covers \\  & & visible in isolated & isolated areas on the surface. & up to 5\% of the wall & one-third or more of \\  & & areas on the surface. & surface. & surface. & the wall surface. \\ \hline
**Localized cracks. ** & The entire structure is & The entire structure is & The structure is & The structure is & broken in an area of \\  & & breakage on the & intact, except for & less than 5\% of the & up to one-third of the \\  & & surface. & surface. & surface. & surface. \\ \hline
**presence of** & The entire structure is & The entire structure is & There are scratches, & & There are scratches, \\
**Scratches, Holes, or** & intact, and there are & intact, except for & holes, or crevices & & holes, or crevices, \\
**Crevices** & **no scratches, holes, or & scratches, holes, or & covering less than 5\% & covering up to \\
**Crevices** & **cervices on the & **cervices in isolated** & of the wall surface.