Several studies on different techniques can be found on retrofitting existing unreinforced masonry (URM) walls using varieties of materials ranging from reinforced plaster, grout and epoxy injection to fibre-reinforced polymers. Still, there is a significant lack of experimental data that consider using a material such as oriented strand board (OSB) timber panels, which can be easily sourced around the globe, and are considered to be economical and sustainable. Hence, this paper presents the first stage of a multi-phase experimental investigation into the possibility of retrofitting URM walls using OSB panels. An experimental programme with full-scale testing is expensive, therefore small-scale testing such as the approach presented here is ideal to provide insight when proposing a new retrofit technique. In this paper, flexural strength in the form of four-point bending tests has been obtained on three plain masonry prisms and six OSB retrofitted specimens (615 × 215 × 102.5 mm). The effectiveness of the proposed OSB panel retrofit techniques has been assessed in terms of flexural strength, out-of-plane load capacity and displacement. It was observed that the application of the OSB panel at the back of a masonry prism greatly influenced the out-of-plane behaviour of the retrofitted specimen by increasing its flexural capacity and also by preventing its quasi-brittle collapse.

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Purpose Buildings and their construction activities consume a significant proportion of mineral resources excavated from nature and contribute a large percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere. As a way of improving the sustainability of building construction and operation, various sustainable design appraisal standards have been developed across nations. Albeit criticism of the appraisal standards, evidence shows that increasing sustainability of the built environment has been engendered by such appraisal tools as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficacy, among others. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the appraisal standards in engendering whole lifecycle environmental sustainability of the built environment. Design/methodology/approach In order to evaluate the adequacy of sustainability scores assigned to various lifecycle stages of buildings in the appraisal standards, four case studies of a block of classroom were modelled. Using Revit as a modelling platform, stage by stage lifecycle environmental impacts of the building were simulated through Green Building Studio and ATHENA Impact estimator. The resulting environmental impacts were then compared against the assessment score associated with each stage of building lifecycle in BREAAM and CfSH. Findings Results show that albeit the consensus that the appraisal standards engender sustainability practices in the AEC industry, total scores assigned to impacts at each stage of building lifecycle is disproportionate to the simulated whole-life environmental impacts associated with the stages in some instances. Originality/value As the study reveals both strengths and weaknesses in the existing sustainability appraisal standards, measures through which they can be tailored to resource efficiency and lifecycle environmental sustainability of the built environment are suggested.