Lifespan
Lifespan (or life span) generally refers to the length of time that a biotic factor, being or organism that is alive or likely to be alive. The same term is also used to describe the period for which an abiotic factor or object functions, this might be a building, element or product (for products it may sometimes be called shelf-life).
The term is relevant to the construction industry because it relates to how long materials, components, elements or whole buildings last or function as intended. This can be important in terms of how long products individually or in combination (to form buildings) are designed to function and in turn relates to performance requirements, construction quality, guarantees, warranties, collateral warranties, defects, latent defects, liabilities and insurances.
Construction quality is one of the highest causes of litigation in the industry and sometimes may lie in a discrepancy between how long an item was intended to function, how long it actually functioned as intended and the impacts of its failure. Contracts, insurance and many other mechanisms relate to the term lifespan or intended lifespan.
More recently the term may also be found in relation to whole life costing, life cycle, embodied carbon and end-of-life which relate the cost of items not only in terms of initial price or capital cost but the costs relative to how long the item functions, as well as other associated costs such as environmental and carbon impacts.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.