Safety and Health in the Building Lifecycle

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on measures and techniques to ensure safety and promote health throughout the entire lifecycle of buildings in order to achieve regenerative and responsible urban development. Prioritizing safety and health measures from the initial design phase to construction, occupancy, and eventual dismantling of the building not only protects the well-being of occupants but also enhances the resilience and longevity of structures.

Integrating safety features and health-conscious design elements during the planning and design stages lays the groundwork for a safe and conducive built environment. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to contribute by analyzing new regenerative materials and good practices or strategies used in the design stage, such as new building products, access to natural light, ventilation systems, emergency exits, and ergonomic designs to promote occupant well-being.

In addition, throughout the construction of buildings, it is imperative to adhere to rigorous safety protocols and regulations to prevent accidents and ensure the welfare of workers. Therefore, onsite strategies to ensure building safety and health are also welcome, such as employing appropriate safety equipment, implementing risk management strategies, and conducting regular inspections, which are essential practices to mitigate potential hazards. Moreover, it is increasingly important to consider aspects such as psychosocial risks that may arise for workers involved in the building execution process or the use of digital tools, stemming from Artificial Intelligence, to improve processes while guaranteeing worker safety.

Also, strategies for health and safety once buildings are occupied are also considered in this Special Issue, providing new knowledge on preserving safety standards and promoting a healthy indoor environment through regular inspections, maintenance of building systems, and addressing any possible safety concerns and contributing to the overall well-being of occupants.

Finally, as buildings reach the end of their lifecycle, proper demolition and dismantling practices must ensure the safe removal of hazardous materials and the responsible disposal or reuse of building components. By incorporating safety and health considerations at every stage, we can create buildings that not only endure but also prioritize the safety and well-being of the individuals and communities they serve.

Finally, scientific research works dealing with health and safety measures during any stage of the building lifecycle are welcome. The proposed research works must be supported by empirical data or scientific methodologies. Authors should clearly identify the gap of knowledge and novelty of their work as well as highlight the main relevance of the research outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Mercedes del Río Merino
Dr. Paola Villoria-Sáez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• safety
• health
• lifecycle
• regenerative sustainability