Assessing Climate-Induced Degradation of Building Systems - Under review

Title

Assessing Climate-Induced Degradation of Building Systems - Under review

Abstract

Canada’s accelerated warming, nearly double the global average, has heightened the frequency and severity of extreme climate events, challenging the reliability and long-term performance of building systems. Events like the 2021 British Columbia heat dome exposed existing infrastructure to extreme thermal stress. This paper examines the impact of climate change on the durability and performance of building components, particularly Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, solar photovoltaics (PV), electrical, and control systems in buildings. A review of the literature identifies stressors such as extreme temperatures, thermal cycling, and excessive humidity. Key risks include reduced heating and cooling capacity during temperature extremes, accelerated HVAC wear, and solar PV performance losses/degradations. The analysis highlights heat and moisture as significant threats to electrical and control systems and highlights the need for updated inspection protocols. Finally, the paper advocates for climate-resilient design in Canadian building strategies to ensure long-term performance, affordability, adaptability, and occupant safety.

Contributor

R. Kumar, E. Girgis, A. Dekin, M. Prince, T. Froese, P. Mukhopadhyaya

Date Submitted

2026/03/18

Format

PDF

Type

Text

Extent

8 pages

Language

en-CA

Is Part Of

Energy and Thermal Systems

Technical system threads

Identifier

35

Date

DBMC 2026