Pathologies of prefabricated systems. The case study: high school building realized in fully prefabricated

The logic of cost and speed of realization of a building intervention, that marks the use of prefabrication techniques, in Italy is almost always linked to specific conditions of emergency housing and has often taken a leading role, surpassing any quality logic of both the process and the product. The building of this case study does not escape this logic. It was built in the early 90s to meet the school emergency that was created in the Basilicata region (Italy) because of the earthquake of 5th of May 1990. The building consists of two blocks close together and communicating with each other, realized at different times according to the contractual requirements (including one not yet finished), which whole form a single block of rectangular shape and three floors. With the exception of foundations and staircase, it was realized with the system of fully prefabrication, with a frame structure with prevalent one-dimensional elements, with single multi-level pillars, associated with grade T-beams and L-beams; for floor slabs in tile bi-ribbed TT were used, or flat slabs lightened; the vertical perimeter cladding consist of non-load bearing prefabricated panels in reinforced concrete. In this study, the causes of performance decays have been identified and the anomalies founded, which were catalogued and filed; the mechanisms giving rise to the disorder have been established; specific solutions have been proposed, designed to solve the pathologies identified by the analysis and that led to an accelerated deterioration of the building. In some cases it was necessary to make a real redesign of the technical elements and its functional role, through the adoption of new operating models. In others, it was necessary to compensate planning deficiencies with specific devices, such as the spotlight of the sky, required by the lack of windows area.