Changes in weather conditions caused by climate change and increasing energy efficiency requirements are further increasing the importance of moisture management in buildings. To meet the challenge, real estate and construction industry players are developing online training that takes moisture management into account from the beginning of project planning all the way to the operation and maintenance phases. The starting point is the construction phase eKosteus training previously published by the construction industry.
The eKosteus online training aims to improve moisture management skills and prevent moisture damage. The training, which focuses on the construction phase, was produced in collaboration with the Construction Industry Training Center RATEKO, the Construction Industry Federation RT and fourteen of the largest building construction companies in the early 2020s.
This year, the training will be updated and will take into account the role of the entire construction chain, because moisture management in buildings is not in the hands of builders alone. Builders, designers, owners responsible for maintenance, and service companies all have their own important roles in ensuring moisture safety and good indoor air in a healthy building.
"We have involved representatives of developers, designers, property owners, property managers and property maintenance companies to actively develop the training from their own perspective," says the Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Building Construction Industry Association. Mika Katajisto, which has been proactive in developing education.
Those who complete the online training understand the importance of humidity management, recognize situations in their own work that pose a humidity risk, and know how to act correctly.
Changing weather conditions due to climate change are testing buildings
Climate change is increasing the weather stress and moisture load on buildings. Structures must withstand, for example, heavy slanting rain, mild and wet winters, variable temperatures and cooling during hot seasons.
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings, in turn, can weaken the moisture-technical performance and fault tolerance of structures. The requirements will become even stricter when the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive becomes part of national regulations this year. The directive also calls for greater attention to be paid to the quality of the indoor environment, such as indoor temperature, humidity and air exchange.
"Risks must be identified and avoided during the design, construction phase, and operation and maintenance. This requires, above all, expertise and the right attitude throughout the chain. Sustainable construction and extending the life cycle of buildings are a key part of responsibility in the real estate and construction industry," says Mika Katajisto.
The technical advancement of buildings increases the difficulty factor
The design phase is critical in moisture management, as the design defines solutions that affect the moisture-technical performance, fault tolerance, and repairability and maintainability of structures.
“In terms of moisture management expertise, design tasks emphasize building physics expertise – the moisture-technical function and fault tolerance of structures. Durability design is also essential, the significance of which is emphasized in ensuring the life cycle costs and usability of the building. Durability design must take into account the stress factors that change with climate change,” says Acting Director and Head of Design Services Mikko Koskivuori AFRY from Finland.
During the operational phase, humidity management starts with daily maintenance of the property, observation and intervention in deviations, and correction of deficiencies.
"One key change is the increasing technicality of buildings and the ever-increasing role of information technology in building use. The technical functionality of the property must be ensured through preventive maintenance of various systems and, if necessary, remote management. It is also important to ensure that repair planning and implementation meet the needs," says the product director. Jukka Backlund ISS Services.
“eKosteus training takes into account the entire life cycle of a building. It helps building owners and owner representatives manage the entirety of moisture management and its role in the building’s life cycle, from design to operation.”
Language versions of the training also available
The new eKosteus training is scheduled to be available in the fall of this year. It will cover the entire life cycle of a building, from the initiation and design of a construction project to the maintenance, care, and upkeep of the building during its use.
"There are many types of training available for professionals in the field in humidity management. Time- and location-independent online training with different language versions brings the training within the reach of even more people. A total of over 5,500 professionals in the field have completed the current eKosteus training to date," RATEKO's principal Heidi Husari says.
The following real estate and construction companies have participated in the work of updating and expanding the content of the eKosteus training: AFRY, Coor, Ilmarinen, ISS, LähiTapiola, Peab, Sustera, and in addition to the Finnish Construction Industry Federation (RT), the industry organizations Real Estate Owners and Developers Rakli and Rakentamisen Laatu RALA have also participated.
eMoisture in a nutshell
The eKosteus online training consists of several modules that you can complete at your own pace. After each module, you must pass an exam.
The training covers regulations related to moisture management and the laws of building physics. The training also provides practical information on the right working methods: how to dry structures, protect building materials from rain, or prevent unfinished structures from getting wet. In the future, the training will include separate modules for the construction and design phases, as well as maintenance and repair.
Employees who successfully complete eKosteus training receive a certificate. The personnel's humidity management skills are one of the assessment criteria for the humidity management certificate.
eKosteus training can be purchased from RATEKO's online store. The construction industry offers training free of charge to degree students at educational institutions in the field.
More information
Mika Katajisto, Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Building Construction Industry Association, tel. +358 40 570 1025, msm.katajisto@gmail.com
Mikko Koskivuori, Acting Director and Head of Design Services, AFRY Finland Oy, 044 768 8285, mikko.koskivuori@afry.com
Jukka Backlund, Product Director, Property Maintenance, ISS Palvelut Oy, tel. +358 400 973 696, jukka.backlund@fi.issworld.com
Heidi Husari, Rector of RATEKO and CEO of Rakennusmedia, tel. +358 40 831 2829, heidi.husari@rt.fi
Merja Vuoripuro, RT's Director of Communications, tel. +358 40 587 2642, merja.vuoripuro@rt.fi