EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO EVALUATE BUILDING ELEMENTS SERVICE LIFE : FIRST RESULTS ON BRICKWORK. Evaluating service life on building elements P.N. MAGGI, M.G. REJNA, B. DANIOTTI, F. RE CECCONI, T. POLI and G. RIGAMONTI DISET, Polytechnic of Milan, Milan, Italy A. JORNET, T. TERUZZI Experimental Technical Laboratory (LTS), Department of Construction and Territory, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, CH-6952 Canobbio, Switzerland Abstract In this paper we report on preparatory work and results of an investigation performed in order to study experimentally the decay of the functional performances of some building elements by means of laboratory and outdoor aging. This experimental investigation is part of a larger on going research program agreed between DISET and LTS, whose goal is the development of a methodology for the prediction of building elements service life and for the modeling of degradation mechanisms. The aging tests have been performed on building elements belonging to the class of the external walls. The specimens are composed of perforated brickwork coated with render and of a protective layer consisting of an acrilical water painting. For comparison, the aging tests were also performed on a series of unprotected brickworks. The accelerated aging program, conducted within an environmental test chamber, develops on the iteration of a cycle consisting of four distinct phases in which are simulated the most significant climatic conditions and actions (rain, irradiance, freeze and thaw), to which the chosen building elements are generally exposed. The cycle has been calibrated so as to yield the right stressing load of the climatic agents on the basis of the time evolution of temperature and humidity measured during preliminary tests at different points inside the samples. Parallely to the laboratory aging program, outdoor aging will also be carried out. The decay of the functional performances of the specimens during the aging process has been recorded through the periodical measurement of some relevant material parameters by means of non-destructive and destructive testing methods. In a next and final phase, the experimentally collected data will be elaborated and interpreted in order to support and validate the proposed methodology for evaluating the service life of building elements Keywords : service life prediction, durability, performance, brickwork. Durability of Building Materials and Components 8. (1999) Edited by M.A. Lacasse and D.J. Vanier. Institute for Research in Construction, Ottawa ON, K1A 0R6, Canada, pp. 571-580.  National Research Council Canada 1999