SAFE-FACE · Seismic SAFety and Energy efficiency: Integrated technologies and multi-criteria performance-based design for building FACadEs

Building facades are currently designed targeting high levels of energy efficiency, due to the urgent need for more resilient and sustainable communities, often driving the socio-political and economic priorities. However, environmentally sustainable facades are insufficient to create resilient societies. In seismic hazard zones, façade performance and serviceability can be severely impacted by earthquakes. Façade damage can occur even at low seismic intensities, leading to potential life-safety threat and substantial socio-economic losses. Safer façade systems are thus urgently needed, and SAFE-FACE addresses this need. Damage-control details and sustainable techniques are integrated to develop earthquake-proof sustainable facades for mid-rise new/built residential/office buildings. Moreover, the common façade design is advanced by integrating the seismic study. Multi-criteria performance-based tools/frameworks, including seismic safety as a decisive criterion, are developed (or enhanced) to support the design of façade systems: a novel practice-oriented tool; an advanced optimization-based tool; an innovative probabilistic-based approach. The project is built on the integration of the strength of the Participating Organizations in façade design and the Fellow’s expertise in seismic design. Involving parallel disciplines (Façade Engineering, Earthquake Engineering) and industrial/academic collaboration, the research is topical and represents both a scientific problem and a socio-political priority; it aims at the resilient and sustainable development of the European Community, and timely responds to the safety and socio-economic needs of our modern society. The action will be beneficial for the Fellow’s career, by expanding the applicant’s skills and opening up exciting collaboration opportunities. Being of interest to building industry/practitioners/decision-makers, the research will initiate a virtuous cycle through research-development-education-dissemination.