An integral part of a building survey is determining the location of steel reinforcements in building construction elements made of reinforced concrete. In the last decade, GPR came as one of the standard diagnostic methods. However, the equipment used until recently was characterized by its complexity and lengthy measurements, evaluation of which required a considerably professionally knowledgeable staff. The turning point was Hilti PS 1000, a GPR intended for use by common technicians during building surveys. This contribution evaluates the first experience with its use.

Cement-chip boards are construction elements which merge suitable wood and cement properties with the synergic effect designed for all-round use. The disadvantage of these boards remains the relatively high price. The price can be decreased by partially replacing initial raw materials. The paper addresses the option to modify the composition of cement-chip boards using alternative raw materials. Representatives of organic and inorganic materials were used (e.g., hemp, straw, waste products from production of mineral insulations and textile fibres). Alternative materials were used in the production of cement-chip boards under laboratory conditions in two various percentage ratios for the substitution of the wood component. In particular, 100 % and 50 % of wooden chips were replaced in the basic receipt of the boards. Testing bodies were produced using a mechanical press and basic properties were tested after 28 days of maturing. The results of individual board parameters – density, coefficient of elasticity and bending strength were compared with the normative requirements for cement-chip boards which are specified by standard EN 634-2.

Only properly designed windows or doors with matching parameters and their proper building in the construction are a prerequisite for long-term trouble-free operation of them. Building-in of the windows is topic of the sixth part of the series about windows and doors.

The article handles about development of ultra-light concrete with mass density less than 1000 kg/m³. In the article there are described laboratory preparation of specimens and primary mechanical properties of the ULC.

The comparison of different calculation methods for airborne and impact sound insulation between rooms is given in this paper. Theoretical influence of flanking transmission on total sound transmission between rooms is done, based on calculation results for reference set of residential buildings. New simplified methods are also introduced for estimation of corrections for flanking transmission in common cases.

The article is focused on description of behaviour of the sandwich load-bearing panels with polystyrene core and OSB boards from the both faces. The interaction of the each component is provided by glued area connection. The panels are suitable for small and medium spans, walls and roofs. The benefits of the sandwich panels are high bending stiffness, good insulations properties and lightweight. The behaviour of the panel is mainly influenced by reinforcing, which is performed mostly by means of the I-beam ribs or rectangular profile ribs. The most important is the joint between sandwich panels and anchoring of the shear walls. The results of the racking shear wall experiments of the sandwich panels and capacity shear wall, which is significant for design of the timber structures, are presented in this article.

The concrete built in the structure is difficult to determine the static modulus of elasticity. One possibility is to measure the dynamic modulus of elasticity and subsequent conversion to static modulus of elasticity. This paper deals with mutual relationships between static and dynamic modulus of elasticity including practical examples of the determination of reduction factor.

Only properly designed windows or doors with matching parameters and their proper building in the construction are a prerequisite for long-term trouble-free operation of them. Design of the windows and their parameters are topic of the fifth part of the series about windows and doors.

The article describes the characteristics of claims for defects from contract for work according to the new Civil Code. The new Civil Code unifies the provisions on contract for work currently contained in both Civil and Commercial Code. The article describes the defects founding the liability of a contractor, reporting the defects and warranty, the rights resulting from the defects and the specifics of claims for defects when the subject of a contract is a building.
It is important for the work to be clearly specified in the contract. Differences from the contract are considered defects. It is vital to inspect the work after the handover for any differences from the contract. The ordering party has to report the defects to the contractor without undue delay. The statute of limitations for claiming the rights from defects is 2 years. The rights resulting from sales contract defects apply analogously to the contract for work. In case of substantial breach of contract the ordering party can ask for the delivery of a new work, repairs or resolution of a contract. Unsubstantial breach of contract allows for repairs or discount.
The last part of the article concerns specifics of claims for defects when the subject of a contract is a building. The ordering party cannot refuse to accept the building for minor defects. The statute of limitations for reporting hidden defects is 5 years in case of a building. The responsibility for defects in shared between the contractor, the maker of the documentation and the construction supervisor.

Steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) with higher concentrations of fibers are still unattractive for investors. The paper presents the possibility of using metal waste to produce of wires, still suitable for the production of SFRC, but with a lower price than the known types of wires offered by current producers.

In the article are described the most important physical parameters. All of them were measured on the materials SX6-B (with basalt fibers) and SX6 (without fibers). By comparison of results was made evaluation.

Integral parts of present-day constructions are various types of wooden roof structures. This contribution documents a diagnostic survey, whose objective was to find the cause of significant acoustic phenomena in a recently completed wooden roof of a family house.

Moisture in most of buildings can be limited by different methods. Problems are divided into two papers. The author analyses the conditions of moisture-spread in building in the first part of paper and he solves the selection of sanitation method with less frequent technology of realization. The specific cause with utilization of air insulation system is presented in this part.

The article deals with a new product in the Czech market that is quickly getting to awareness of potential clients and gaining a significant place in the local real-estate market. Until recently, the inspection of immovable properties was an unknown concept. Nevertheless, in recent two years such assistance service is being more and more popular. Pertinent specialised inspection companies assist the real property buyer in eliminating potential risks that are related to selection and purchase of a given building. A competent certified inspector checks up to about 200 items of the building and compiles an expert report to help the client to correctly decide whether he should buy the given building or not. The inspector will acquaint the client with a real purchase price, precisely describe all the defects and how to correct them, and finally, he will hand over to the client a complete budget to cover the cost of necessary repairs.
In 2013 the inspection of real properties comes to one of the fastest growing segments of Czech economy. The people intending to buy any real property are more cautious and, now at the time of an economic uncertainty, they begin using the above relatively new assistance service in a large extent.

Moisture in moist buildings can be limited by the most different methods. Problems are divided into two papers. The author of paper analyses the conditions of moisture-spread in building in the first part of paper and he solves the selection of sanitation method with less frequent technology of realization. The concrete cause with utilization of air – insulation system then will present in the second part.

The fourth part of the series about windows and door is focused on Window hardware. Window hardware performs two functions: It allows opening of windows and doors and also, if closed, ensures meeting most of the required properties.

The submitted paper primarily informs about specific fire requirements for wooden houses in the Czech Republic and, due to its total size, it is divided into two parts. The first part is focused on combustibility of building products, i.e. classes of reaction to fire, types of load-bearing and fire separating structural elements (DP1, DP2 and DP3), assessment of construction systems for buildings (incombustible, combustible, mixed) and fire resistance of wooden houses in total. The second part is consequently focused on the issue of space separation of external timber walls with various material arrangements that can noticeably limit location of wooden houses on building sites.

The paper contains basic information on the relationship between the contractor and the client as introduced by the new Civil Code. Firstly, it points to a fundamental difference in the concept of ownership of land and buildings which will not be, unlike the current state, separate. Yet the law allows exceptions to this rule, which are briefly explained in the article.
The main part of the text deals with the issue that is most pressing in construction of buildings. It is the responsibility for the quality of the work or project documentation. The paper deals with the obligation of a client to accept work in stages, addressing liability for latent defects, acceptance of the finished with reservation of latent defects and etc. In this context it should not be overlooked, that the general liable for defective work are together the contractor, subcontractors, maker of the documentation and construction supervisor. These entities may waive liability only if they demonstrate that they did not cause the defect themselves.

The article describes the reasons for verification of moisture content of substrate layers and draws attention to illogicality of current approach, where moisture content in only very thin surface layer of 10 to 20 mm thickness is verified, but the influence of moisture held in entire thickness of the substrate layers is fully neglected. The article recommends use of in situ methods of measurement of dynamic moisture content of substrate layers, as it is for example described in American norms ASTM F1869-11 and ASTM D4263-83. Only moisture content measured by such methods, allows the contractors and investors to avoid many times fatal consequent failure of surface treatments.

The purpose of this paper is to inform about research and development results of special composite materials with enhanced capacity to accumulate infrared radiation. The aim of this project was to create an adjustment for wall and ceiling surfaces enabling good conduction, absorption and storage of thermal radiation with subsequent slow release of heat energy stored during periods of intermittently heating. This proposed solution in conjunction with infrared heaters and air conditioning equipment provides sufficient thermal comfort in heated spaces during winter season and thermal stability of rooms in summer. The main emphasis was on cost saving and increased efficiency of heating systems and cooling units.
The article presents one possible solution and principle for increasing absorption of infrared radiation and accumulative ability. The emissivity and surface temperatures of the developed sample were measured within the frame of the experimental works on real laboratory models in cooperation with specialists from Brno University of Techology (BUT) in Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME) and Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCI). The analysis of thermal comfort and energy balances including the assessment of the suitability in summer and winter was performed as well.