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Article

Sustainability Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Roof Waterproofing Methods Considering LCCO2

1
School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 219, Reading RG6 6AW, UK
2
Department of Plant/Architectural Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 443-760, Korea
3
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Kyungdong University, Gosung-Goon, Gwangwon-do 219-705, Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2014, 6(1), 158-174; https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010158
Submission received: 27 September 2013 / Revised: 19 November 2013 / Accepted: 18 December 2013 / Published: 27 December 2013

Abstract

:
In a construction project, selection of an appropriate method in the planning/design stage is very important for ensuring effective project implementation and success. Many companies have adopted the life cycle cost (LCC) method, one of the methods for analyzing economic efficiency, for appropriate decision-making in the basic/detailed design stage by estimating overall costs and expenses generated over the entire project. This paper presents an LCC method for calculating the LCC of CO2 (LCCO2), based on materials committed during the lifecycle of a structure for each roof waterproofing method and adding this cost to the LCC for comparative analysis. Thus, this technique presents the LCC that includes the cost of CO2 emission. The results show that in terms of initial construction cost, asphalt waterproofing had the highest CO2 emission cost, followed by sheet waterproofing. LCCO2 did not greatly influence the initial construction cost and maintenance cost, as it is relatively smaller than the LCC. However, when the number of durable years was changed, the LCC showed some changes.

1. Introduction

Construction projects have several standard stages, which the Project Management Institute categorizes as follows: initiation, planning, execution, and close [1]. In a construction project, these processes inevitably generate extra costs at every stage; therefore, a rigorous estimation procedure is necessary. In particular, it is crucial to adopt a suitable method for successful project delivery at process outset. In the construction industry, reasonable decisions are made by analyzing the economics of a project, using objectives and quantitative methods. This is done to ensure compliance with design regulations for safety, functionality, durability, and potential functions of the building by developing and adopting life cycle cost (LCC) and value engineering (VE) in their procedure. Simultaneously, project managers attempt to minimize extra expenses while meeting the structural and functional requirements of a project.
However, current economic analysis tools tend to have a limitation in terms of their applicable range as they merely focus on reducing direct costs for a project, such as labor, material, and site overhead cost. This implies that there is no consideration for the environment within these tools, which is a serious drawback. Among the harmful environmental effects of rapid industrial development, global warming is the most profound, and the solution to this problem demands extensive changes from the government, industry, and public [2]. This demand has resulted in the emergence of a paradigm globally, called ‘sustainable development’. Sustainable development has become a common aspect in every activity owing to the environmental deterioration caused by aggressive human activity. This requires an active measure for considering the environmental impact caused by the construction industry in order to keep pace with global trends and respond to changes in domestic and foreign environmental policies. However, the LCC method, which is currently used in the initial stage of a project, considers only direct costs but not the environmental cost of CO2 management. Therefore, it is important to develop an integrated instrument that can assess the socio-environmental aspects of a project. For LCC estimation, common procedures from design to demolition and disposal are considered and the cost of each step is calculated. However, the proportion of waterproofing work in the overall construction is so small that it is difficult to estimate the associated amount of disposal work. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to propose an LCC calculation method that includes the cost of CO2 emission, LCC, and LCCO2 during the demolition and disposal stages of a building. Sensitivity analysis related to alternatives and uncertain factors is omitted in this research.
Thus, this research proposes a new LCC method that includes CO2 emission cost by analyzing the entire LCC of different roof waterproofing methods by calculating the LCC of CO2 (LCCO2). Through conventional LCC analysis, it is possible to examine the economic feasibility of the new instrument, including the costs at the initial, operation and maintenance (O&M), disposal, and demolition stages. Moreover, the new method can provide a reasonable logic for choosing a suitable construction method by considering the environmental impact of a project by including LCCO2 costs. Furthermore, this method can assist designers and engineers in systematic decision-making for selecting the most suitable alternative from economic and environmental viewpoints, which otherwise used to be based on their personal experience and knowledge.

2. Methodology

In this research, LCC, which reflects the initial cost and the cost O&M stages, such as labor, material, and disposal costs for replacement and maintenance, is calculated. The life cycle inventory (LCI) method, which is the data collection aspect of the LCA method, is used for tracking all flows in and out of the basic unit data of CO2 emissions of each material [3]. The calculated data is used for estimating total project cost, including the cost of CO2 emissions over the entire project life. It is ambiguous to stipulate standards for CO2 emission costs related to disposal, transport distance, loads, and the type of delivery vehicle [4]. Therefore, the research proceeds under the assumption that the LCC and LCCO2 are calculated at the demolition and disposal stage of a building, in compliance with the research purpose, which is to estimate the LCC including the CO2 emission cost.
The research procedure is as follows (see Figure 1): analyze the current research mainstream and determine limitations of past studies by reviewing literature on waterproofing methods that perform LCC and LCCO2 estimation; calculate the LCCO2 and LCC according to stages, such as material manufacturing and maintenance (including disposal costs), and; compare and analyze the LCC, which includes the LCCO2 of each roof waterproofing method.
Figure 1. Research procedure.
Figure 1. Research procedure.
Sustainability 06 00158 g001

3. Literature Review

3.1. Selection of Waterproofing Methods by LCC

Conventionally, studies on waterproofing methods were focused on the assessment and improvement of the material functions by finding causes of defect and suggesting solutions to avoiding these causes. One study, conducted by Oh [5], suggested two solutions: to examine the liquid-applied membrane waterproofing method using recycled materials and the applicability of recycled materials to the liquid-applied membrane waterproofing. Kang [6] and An [7] analyzed the causes of waterproofing defects for developing desirable waterproofing design and methods. However, these studies tended to face several difficulties in terms of choosing a suitable waterproofing method at the planning and design stage.
Recently, there has been focus on applying various academic standards for finding and proposing objective and economic waterproofing methods at the initial planning and design stage. A representative study, conducted by Oh [8], suggested the capability assessment method for deciding the suitability of waterproofing methods by analyzing causes of defects in roof waterproofing. Kim [9], who built the cost categorizing system for individual waterproofing methods proposed an LCC analysis model for each waterproofing method for underground apartment structures by using previous study and examined the proposed model. A study conducted by Choi [10] is related to desirable economic models for estimating roof waterproofing costs, including initial, O&M, and disposal costs. VE and LCC were adopted to devise a system for the analysis and application of VE procedures. A risk-based weighted LCC (RWLCC) cost estimate model [11] was also presented in that research.

3.2. Cost Estimation of CO2 Emission

Several studies have attempted to devise a method for quantifying CO2 emission and energy consumption of a certain building material, and subsequent conversion of the result into actual cost. Moreover, a number of studies have been conducted on constructing a database for calculating the CO2 emission unit price using LCA. Estimation using an accumulate method and an industrial relation table was introduced by Lee [12], and the actual quantity was estimated using input-output tables 1990. The database of energy consumption and the basic unit price of CO2 emission was built using 1995, input-output tables of 2000 for developing unit price data and a program for assessing the overall LCA process by the department of construction. Kim [13,14] and Lee [15] proposed a model for estimating energy consumption and the CO2 emission basic unit price. The amount of energy consumed by the main construction materials was calculated in terms of CO2 consumption units. Based on previous studies, CO2 emissions for internal wall and floor components were estimated and compared in a quantitative manner. In addition, the emission quantity for each component of a masonry wall was calculated, and a method for converting the cost of trading CO2 emission price was proposed by Lee et al. [16].
Previous studies have focused on evaluating the performance of waterproofing methods and improving the same by applying scientific methods at the initial planning stage to achieve objective decision-making. In particular, selection of a method for determining cost over the entire lifecycle using the LCC analysis method, which is an economic method, is being researched. Some studies have aimed to estimate the CO2 emission of each construction method for determining the environmental impact, but no distinctive integrated study on economic and environmental factors has been conducted thus far.

4. LCC Estimation

4.1. Selection of Roof Waterproofing Method

As the function and capability of a building vary, the importance of proper waterproofing for each building is emphasized. The waterproofing methods preferred for new buildings and for refurbishment are shown in Figure 2. Subsequently, the top three preferred waterproofing methods were chosen for comparison in our research: asphalt, sheet, and membrane waterproofing.
Figure 2. Waterproofing method preference [7].
Figure 2. Waterproofing method preference [7].
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In order to calculate LCCO2 and LCC by each waterproofing method, the components of three waterproofing methods are identified in Table 1 according to the itemized unit cost and a standard of estimate.
Table 1. Components of roof waterproofing system.
Table 1. Components of roof waterproofing system.
Method Components
Asphalt Sustainability 06 00158 i002
  • Asphalt
  • Asphalt primer
  • Asphalt felt
  • Asphalt roofing
  • Heavy oil
  • Cement, Gravel, Sand, Wire mesh
Membrane Sustainability 06 00158 i003
  • Urethane
  • Urethane primer
  • Top coat
Sheet Sustainability 06 00158 i004
  • Synthetic Polymeric Sheet
  • Cement, Gravel Sand, Wire mesh

4.2. LCC Assessment Method

In LCC analysis, cost factors identified using cost breakdown structure (CBS) are generated continuously over the lifecycle of a building. To maintain the equivalent value of the cost, which is created on a different timeline, it is necessary to convert all cost factors in CBS into the same value for accurate LCC calculations. In addition, the time reference point for converting different values should be decided in advance. This is because the LCC method can be divided into three sub-methods, based on the reference point: the present, annual value method, and future value method. Generally, the present and future value methods are useful for comparing alternatives with equal calculation periods, whereas the annual value method is useful when the periods are not identical. These three methods are correlated but the present and annual value methods are generally adopted for LCC calculations.

4.3. Repair Period and Repair Rate

In this study, the waterproofing time and repair rate suggested in the ‘Housing Act Enforcement Regulations in Korea’ are the basis for calculating the LCC, and the detailed numbers are listed in Table 2.
Table 2. Repair period and ration.
Table 2. Repair period and ration.
AreaPeriodRatio (%)
Asphalt waterproofingPartial810
Full25100
Membrane waterproofingPartial510
Full15100
Sheet waterproofingPartial820
Full20100

4.4. Analysis Period

Analysis period is a crucial variable that can influence the LCC calculation; therefore, sufficient rigor must be exercised for determining this period [17,18]. The analysis period is not merely a comparison process for input costs over the entire life but the critical point that decides the break-even point of a project. Therefore, the period should be calculated by considering building attributes and purpose. There is a broad consensus that the concept of durable years is associated with a lifecycle accounting approach to building design, construction, and management. Each subsystem is assigned an optimum expected useful life and installed accordingly. For waterproofing, its lifetime is equal to the lifetime of a building as the waterproofing function is expected to be performed over the lifecycle of the building, as shown in Table 3 [19].
Table 3. A durable period of a build.
Table 3. A durable period of a build.
PeriodTypes of asset
5 years (4–6 years)Vehicle and transport. Equipment, instrument and tool
12 years (9–15 years)Ship and aircraft
20 years (15–25 years)All structure building including a brick building, block building, concrete-ramen building, wooden building, wooden-mortar building
40 years (30–50 years)Steel frame, Steel-concrete structure, masonry stone structure, all beam structure building
There is no certain durable period in LCC estimations, but it ranges between 30 and 50 years. In this research, 45 years is considered as the durable period for the analysis of a build-transfer-lease project.

4.5. Discount Rate

As mentioned previously, future cost has a different value than the current value, even for identical face values. To resolve this difference, a discount rate, which is the interest rate used in discounted cash flow analysis for determining the present value of a future cash flows, is applied. The rate can be classified as a nominal discount rate, which does not consider the inflation rate, and the real discount rate, which includes inflation. In the LCC analysis, the real discount rate is usually adopted as the discount rate [20]. Therefore, the real discount rate is applied according to Equation (1).
Sustainability 06 00158 i001
where, ir: real discount rate, in: nominal discount rate, f: rate of inflation.
The interest rate of Korean banks and the CPI (Consumer Price Index) from national statistics are used for calculating the nominal discount rate and inflation rate, and the calculated real discount rate is shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Real discount rate.
Table 4. Real discount rate.
YearInterest rate (%)Consumer Price Index (CPI, Y2010 = 100)Inflation rate (%)Real rate of interest (%)
19969.0063.159.003.83
199710.5965.964.445.89
199813.3970.917.515.47
19997.0571.490.816.19
20007.0873.102.264.71
20015.4676.084.071.34
20024.7178.182.761.89
20034.1580.923.510.61
20043.7583.833.590.15
20053.5786.142.750.79
20064.3688.072.242.07
20075.0190.302.532.41
20085.6794.524.670.95
20093.2397.132.760.46
20103.18100.002.960.22
20113.69104.004.00−0.30

4.6. LCC Calculation

The fundamental cost information for calculating the LCC of roof waterproofing construction can be divided into three categories: initial construction cost, O&M cost, and disposal cost. To obtain relevant cost information, identified components of each construction method and a standard of estimation and itemized unit cost from 2009 are used for calculation. In general situations, the bill of quantity includes site overhead costs and general overhead costs. For objective comparison, these costs were excluded from this study.
The initial construction cost for each method was calculated using a standard of estimation and the itemized unit cost by process analysis. As a result, the initial costs of three methods are in the order of asphalt, membrane, and sheet waterproofing. O&M cost or repair cost, in this case, is calculated based on the “Housing Act Enforcement Regulations”. In the case of asphalt and membrane waterproofing, repair work is needed at the rate of 10%, eight years after the initial work. Based on the repair rate, the rate of 10% for the total area is calculated considering the disposal of previous work and repair work for eight-layered asphalt waterproofing. The repair rate for sheet waterproofing work is assumed as 20% and is calculated in a manner that is identical for the former work. The “2008 Unit Price for Construction Waste by a Location in Korea” is applied for demolition and disposal work for a waterproofing layer and the repair cost for each method are presented in table. The outcomes of the cost calculations are given in Table 5. The result shows that sheet waterproofing accounts for the highest cost for single partial waterproofing repair, followed by asphalt and membrane waterproofing. Disposal cost is generated owing to the removal of the existing waterproofing layer. In order to calculate the disposal cost, the “2008 Unit Price for Construction Waste by a Location in Korea” standard is applied to all three study methods.
Table 5. Repair cost for a roof waterproofing system.
Table 5. Repair cost for a roof waterproofing system.
SystemSpecificationUnit (m2)Material costLabor costTotal
Asphalt (Repair period: 8 years, 10%)Major repair0.1133830944432
Waterproof layer demolition and disposal0.1 2439
Sum 6871
Membrane (Repair period: 5 years, 10%)Major repair0.1262415304154
Waterproof layer demolition and disposal0.1 2439
Sum 6592
Sheet (Repair period: 8 years, 20%)Major repair0.2232240016323
Waterproof layer demolition and disposal0.2 4877
Sum 11,200.4

5. LCCO2 Estimation

Prior to the calculation of CO2 emission cost by roof waterproofing in the initial stage, the construction materials corresponding to the input-output tables, which categorize 404 items of industrial materials, should be classified. The waterproofing methods selected for this study are classified in Table 6 and the components of each method are listed. Based on this classification, material quantity per unit is calculated by referring to the itemized unit price and a standard of estimation. The estimated quantity of a material is multiplied with the CO2 emission basic unit (kg-CO2/won) for arriving at the CO2 emission and emission cost.
Table 6. Component classification of roof waterproofing system.
Table 6. Component classification of roof waterproofing system.
SystemMaterialUnitQuantity
AsphaltAsphalt kg7.1
Asphalt primerL0.4
Asphalt feltm2 1.1
Asphalt roofing m2 2.2
Heavy oilL0.8
Cementkg6.8
Gravel kg0.1913
Sandm3 0.0098
Wire meshkg3.486
MembraneUrethanekg3.9
Urethane primerkg0.3
Coating materialkg0.3
Cementkg6.8
Gravelkg0.1913
Sandm3 0.0098
Wire meshkg3.486
SheetSynthetic polymeric sheetm21.2
Cementkg6.8
Gravelkg0.1913
Sandm30.0098
Wire meshkg3.486

5.1. Selection of Environmental Load Database

Construction materials in basic units are a prerequisite for constructing the database of the amount of energy consumed and CO2 emission, which is required for estimating the energy consumption and CO2 emission of the components and activities of roof waterproofing. To this end, the environment load basic unit database suggested by a previous Korea Institute of Construction Technology (2004) is adopted. In the previous study, detailed data on the energy consumption of construction materials and resources with basic units of CO2 emission using input-output tables was calculated. Based on the previous study, the materials and resources pertinent to each method are analyzed for calculating CO2 emissions involved in individual roof waterproofing according to the industrial categories in response to the input-output tables as suggested in Table 7.
Table 7. CO2 emission basic unit and energy consumption of materials and products.
Table 7. CO2 emission basic unit and energy consumption of materials and products.
CodePart nameMaterialCO2 emission amount (t-CO2/Mwon)
00390100SandSand0.3538
00390200GravelGravel0.3538
01440100Heavy oilHeavy oil3.7367
01920200Asphalt productAsphalt1.7535
01710100Wax and coating productCoating material1.815
01650301ThinnerThinner1.602
01850101Normal cementCement6.616
01550100Synthetic rubberSynthetic polymer sheet1.7407
01670100Adhesive(industrial)Primer1.382
01650201Urethane productUrethane1.602
01920200Asphalt productAsphalt primer1.7535
01920200Asphalt productAsphalt felt1.7535
01920200Asphalt productAsphalt roofing1.7535
02210103Steel netWire mesh3.738

5.2. Application of CO2 Market Price

The cost of LCCO2 emission can be estimated by multiplying the required material cost of a component with the CO2 emission basic units of identified major construction materials. The multiplied cost should be converted into the current market-traded CO2 emission price. As mentioned earlier, there are various markets for trading emission rights with the intention of controlling air pollution in developed countries. Among various markets, the price of the EU Allowance (EUA), which is traded in the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), is adopted to calculate the LCCO2 and the average price of CO2 emission (from 2005 to 2009), as suggested by ECX, is applied. The average price is 19.73 EUR/ton. In addition, the average Euro:Won exchange rate in 2009 is applied, which is the standard currency in the European Climate Exchange (ECX) as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. EU Allowance (EUA) price (2006–2009).
Figure 3. EU Allowance (EUA) price (2006–2009).
Sustainability 06 00158 g003

5.3. LCCO2 Cost Calculation

The CO2 emission volume can be calculated from the product of three variables: required material quantity, material unit cost, and CO2 emission basic unit. The calculated results are presented in Table 8.
Table 8. CO2 emission volume (m2).
Table 8. CO2 emission volume (m2).
SystemsMaterialUnit costQuantityCO2 basic unitCO2 emission volumeSum
AsphaltAsphalt primer12770.00051081.75350.00089570.0297637
Blown asphalt7300.00518300.8610.0090884
Asphalt felt16660.00183261.75350.0032135
Asphalt roofing5000.00110001.75350.0019289
Heavy oil6540.00053263.73670.0019902
Cement790.00053726.6160.0035541
Gravel12,5000.00023910.35380.0000846
Sand12,5000.00012250.35380.0000433
Wire mesh6880.00239843.7380.0089651
MembraneUrethane49000.00051341.3820.03061420.0487873
Urethane primer49000.01911001.6020.0026681
Coating material12770.00147001.8150.0007095
Thinner32710.00134111.6020.0021485
Cement790.00053726.6160.0035541
Gravel12,5000.00023910.35380.0000846
Sand12,5000.00012250.35380.0000433
Wire mesh6880.00239843.7380.0089651
SheetSynthetic polymer sheet60000.00720001.74070.01253300.0258896
Cement790.00053726.6160.0035541
Gravel12,5000.00023910.35380.0000846
Sand12,5000.00012250.35380.0000433
Primer6880.00051341.3820.0089651
Wire mesh12770.00239843.7380.0007095
Based on the calculated CO2 emission volume, CO2 emission cost is obtained by multiplying it with the average EUA price and the average currency price, as listed in Table 9. The CO2 emission cost of roof waterproofing in terms of required materials is in the following order: membrane waterproofing, asphalt waterproofing, and sheet waterproofing.
Table 9. Cost for CO2 emission at construction stage.
Table 9. Cost for CO2 emission at construction stage.
CO2 emission volumeAverage price of EUAs (EUR/ton)Average exchange currencyCO2 emission cost
Asphalt waterproofing0.029763719.731809.651062.70
Membrane waterproofing0.04878731741.92
Sheet waterproofing0.0258896924.37
Roof waterproofing maintenance work involves partial or complete demolition. Therefore, the equipment used for demolition and rework is input for roof waterproofing maintenance work. This input can be a factor in calculating the cost of roof waterproofing maintenance work. In the case of equipment, a breaker CO2 emission basic unit proposed by the Table 10 can be used for calculating the cost of demolition work as part of maintenance work.
Table 10. CO2 emission cost for a waterproofing layer demolition.
Table 10. CO2 emission cost for a waterproofing layer demolition.
EquipmentUnit (m2)CO2 basic unit (kg-CCO2/m2)Average price of EUAs (EUR/ton)Average exchange currency (year)Costs (Won/m2)
Breaker0.120.68719.731809.652452.89
The initial CO2 emission cost calculation method is used for materials, and the cost of a sample repair and replacement work is presented in Table 11 and Table 12. The calculated results show that the membrane-waterproofing method requires the highest expense in maintenance stage, followed by asphalt and sheet waterproofing, as can be seen in Table 12.
Table 11. CO2 emission cost for repair.
Table 11. CO2 emission cost for repair.
SystemSpecificationUnit (m2)Material costLabor costTotal
Asphalt (Replacement period: 25 years, 10%)Partial repair0.1106.270106.27
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.1 245.29
Sum 351.56
Membrane (Replacement period: 15 years, 10%)Partial repair0.1174.190174.19
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.1 245.29
Sum 419.48
Sheet (Replacement period: 20 years, 20%)Partial repair0.2184.870184.87
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.2 409.58
Sum 675.45
Table 12. CO2 emission cost for replacement.
Table 12. CO2 emission cost for replacement.
SystemSpecificationUnit (m2)Material costLabor costTotal
Asphalt (Replacement period: 25 years, 10%)Partial replacement0.11062.7001062.70
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.1 2452.89
Sum 3515.59
Membrane (Replacement period: 15 years, 10%)Partial replacement0.11741.9201741.92
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.1 2452.89
Sum 4194.81
Sheet (Replacement period: 20 years, 20%)Partial replacement0.2924.370924.37
Waterproof layer demolition(breaker)0.2 2452.89
Sum 3377.27
In addition, the cost of transporting debris to a landfill or temporary disposal site should be considered while calculating the CO2 emission cost of the demolition and disposal stage. However, owing to the very limited amount of construction waste from roof waterproofing, this cost can be expected to be a very small percentage of the total cost. In addition, because there is uncertainty in setting a standard for distance and vehicles for handling the waste, the cost of CO2 emission from transport in the demolition and disposal stage is not considered.

6. LCC Comparison Including LCCO2

6.1. Initial Cost

As suggested in Table 13, the initial construction cost excluding CO2 emission cost is in order of asphalt, membrane, and sheet waterproofing, whereas the cost for CO2 emission of each method is in a different order: membrane, asphalt, and sheet waterproofing. Despite the different CO2 emission costs, the order of total cost for each method does not change, as the CO2 emission cost required in the initial stage accounts for a relatively small portion of the total cost. Therefore, the total cost considering the CO2 emission cost is almost the same as that without considering it.
Table 13. Cost for construction and CO2 emission at initial stage.
Table 13. Cost for construction and CO2 emission at initial stage.
SystemInitial construction costInitial CO2 emission costSum
Asphalt waterproofing44,3191062.745,382
Membrane waterproofing41,5381741.943,280
Sheet waterproofing31,616924.432,541

6.2. Maintenance and Repair Cost

In LCC analysis, cost factors identified by CBS are continuously generated over the lifecycle of a building. All cost factors in CBS are discounted to their equivalent present values based on the relevant discount factors as part of LCC procedure. In addition, the time-based milestones should be obvious. Table 14 and Table 15 represent the cost of maintenance and repair in current prices and the net present value by the number of years.
Table 14. Accumulated operation and maintenance cost (LCCO2 cost excluded).
Table 14. Accumulated operation and maintenance cost (LCCO2 cost excluded).
YearAsphalt waterproofingMembrane waterproofingSheet waterproofing
Current pricePresent valueCurrent pricePresent valueCurrent pricePresent value
565925714
86871546611,2008911
1013,18510,668
1579,10953,603
1613,741981522,40116,000
2085,70157,325
2482,44744,41078,40347,615
2592,29460,550
2889,60352,645
30158,21888,513
3289,31747,163
35164,81090,937
36100,80456,647
4096,18849,352171,40393,038156,80675,495
44168,00677,679
45103,05851,250237,327111,250
Repair34,59316,65539,55422,14056,00228,216
Replacement68,70534,596197,77289,110112,00449,463
Table 15. Accumulated operation and maintenance cost (LCCO2 cost included).
Table 15. Accumulated operation and maintenance cost (LCCO2 cost included).
YearAsphalt waterproofingSheet waterproofingMembrane waterproofing
Current pricePresent valueCurrent pricePresent valueCurrent pricePresent value
568385927
87222574611,8769448
1013,67511,065
1583,79456,732
16144410,31723,75216,965
2090,63260,592
24866646,68383,13146,864
2597,47063,938
2896,00752,198
30167,58993,689
3293,88749,576
35174,42696,194
36106,88356,441
40101,10951,878166,26275,366181,26498,272
44178,13878,742
45108,33253,873251,383117,744
Repair36,11117,50759,37929,91841,02622,964
Replacement72,22136,366118,75948,824210,35794,780
In Table 16, four factors of maintenance and repair are compared with; the initial investment cost and; repair cost; replacement cost. The results show that the initial cost for asphalt is demanded, whereas the repair and replacement cost of membrane waterproofing are higher than those in other methods.
Table 16. Analysis of maintenance cost.
Table 16. Analysis of maintenance cost.
SystemInitial construction costsRepair costReplacement costCost for O&MTotal
Asphalt waterproofing45,38217,50736,36653,87399,255
Membrane waterproofing43,28022,96494,780117,744161,024
Sheet waterproofing32,54129,82448,82478,648111,189

6.3. LCC Comparison Including LCCO2

Regardless of its high initial capital cost, the asphalt waterproofing method is the most economic method for a lifetime of 45 years. In contrast, the total cost of sheet waterproofing is highest despite having the lowest initial investment. This implies that LCCO2 can influence the total construction cost and should be considered for economic construction. In addition, LCCO2 can greatly influence the total cost, depending on structure lifetime, despite the fact that LCCO2 accounts for only a small part of LCC. This can be evidenced by the changed ratio of LCCO2 as shown in Table 17. The asphalt waterproofing LCC ratio compared with the LCC of membrane system is increased by 1% when the CO2 emission cost is considered while the LCC cost ratio of sheet system shows the three times increase.
Table 17. LCC ratio comparison.
Table 17. LCC ratio comparison.
AsphaltMembraneSheet
LCC31,901.9552,306.0246,851.83
Ratio (%)6110090
LCC + LCCO233,222.6853,514.4149,511.74
Ratio (%)6210093

7. Conclusions

This study proposes LCC analysis for integrating the economic aspect with the environmental aspect by integrating the LCCO2 of each waterproofing method into the LCC. The waterproofing methods selected for this research are sheet, asphalt, and membrane waterproofing. The costs for these three methods over their lifetimes are analyzed and LCC and LCCO2 are calculated. The following conclusions are drawn about the major drivers of this research:
(1)
In terms of initial capital cost, asphalt waterproofing has the highest CO2 emission cost, followed by membrane and sheet waterproofing. However, LCC including LCCO2 suggests that membrane waterproofing requires the highest cost, followed by sheet and asphalt waterproofing. In terms of initial capital cost, sheet waterproofing can be competitive, but it is expensive in the maintenance and repair stage. Asphalt waterproofing, however, has a high initial cost and low maintenance cost. Therefore, asphalt waterproofing can be the most economic method given that the LCCO2 is considered in LCC.
(2)
The LCC for each method including LCCO2 has resulted in a valid economic perspective, i.e., although the initial cost for sheet waterproofing is the lowest, asphalt waterproofing is more economical based on LCC analysis.
(3)
LCCO2 is a relatively small portion of LCC, and at a glance, may have little influence on the construction and maintenance costs. However, the length of LCC or durability of a building increases the LCCO2, and can accumulate into an amount that could have an economic impact on decision-making. Therefore, it can be concluded that LCCO2 can be a vital factors in the process.
In this research, LCC analysis of roof waterproofing methods is proposed for a new building or refurbishment of existing buildings. The analysis framework can be adopted for different construction methods and structures. In addition, it can be considered for various industries and other construction projects for decision-making in the initial planning and design stage. The research process implies that cost calculation in the initial and maintenance stages is reasonably reliable owing to the detailed CO2 emission basic unit data in input-output tables. However, the data in the tables has limited use in the demolition stage. As a basic unit database for that stage is not available, historical data is used in this study. Therefore, further studies may have higher reliability and objectivity provided that the data relevant to the disposal and demolition stage can be used as basic unit data.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kim, S.; Kim, G.-H.; Lee, Y.-D. Sustainability Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Roof Waterproofing Methods Considering LCCO2. Sustainability 2014, 6, 158-174. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010158

AMA Style

Kim S, Kim G-H, Lee Y-D. Sustainability Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Roof Waterproofing Methods Considering LCCO2. Sustainability. 2014; 6(1):158-174. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010158

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kim, Sangyong, Gwang-Hee Kim, and Young-Do Lee. 2014. "Sustainability Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Roof Waterproofing Methods Considering LCCO2" Sustainability 6, no. 1: 158-174. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010158

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