IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE LIFE PLANNING IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

In most of the architecture and construction firms service life planning is not considered in the process of architectural design, and neither is life cycle assessment; and even on occasions, sustainable design is neither taken into account in the processes of building creation because it is complex and specialists are needed to implement it. The objective of the present document is to approach this topic from the sustainable design viewpoint and to regard it accordingly, analyzing several concepts related to service life and durability of the building and the strategies the architect or constructor must follow in order to create totally of partially sustainable buildings, which prolong its service life in optimal conditions of performance, functionality and comfort, thus decreasing costs and environmental impacts during its service life. It is concluded that it is of the utmost importance to apply these models, methods and strategies of environmental design to attain the efficacy of the building, mainly on the stage of life service related to use, operation and maintenance of the building, which is the stage that impacts and pollutes the environment the most.