The assessment of the social performance of residential buildings

Abstract

The article presents method of assessment of one of the three basic aspects of sustainable construction concerning social utility properties of residential buildings. The study was based on the recommendations of standards [1] and [2], on the basis of which the area of features characterizing the social aspect of buildings was determined. Additionally, the presented method includes criteria which are necessary for the assessment of this aspect, and which are not included in the normative guidelines. The presented method fits in with the current trend of sustainable construction. This method enables and facilitates the comparison of social utility properties in different residential buildings. It is also allows for the classification of buildings according to the degree to which they meet their social utility properties; that can be a practical tool to support the decision on the future of the building (i.e., the sequence of necessary refurbishments) or the decision to buy or sell the property by indicating its strengths and weaknesses. By developing a way to assess a comprehensive set of criteria, the proposed method allows you to quickly and easily assess the social quality of residential buildings. In addition, the proposed measures for individual criteria can easily be adapted to requirements in other countries. The proposed “star” classification can also be used as a universal scale for assessing the social quality index of buildings.

Keywords

• residential buildings
• building’s sustainability
• method of assessment
• mathematical model
• the social quality index