Análise e Mapeamento das Patologias nos Sistemas Hidrossanitários em Blocos do Centro de Tecnologia da UFPB: Um Estudo de Caso

Abstract

Just like living organisms, buildings can also exhibit pathologies, which manifest as anomalies or failures in various parts of the structure. These pathologies can occur in the foundations, affecting the building’s stability; in the structure, compromising its integrity; in the finishes, causing aesthetic and functional damage; and in the systems, such as plumbing, creating safety, comfort, and sanitation issues. The occurrence of these failures results from a combination of factors, such as the natural wear and tear of materials, lack of preventive maintenance, design or construction flaws, and even external factors like usage overloads. Early identification and correction of these pathologies prolong the building’s lifespan and ensure user safety. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to identify and analyze pathologies in the plumbing systems of five blocks of the Technology Center at the Federal University of Paraíba (CT-UFPB). The study addressed failures in the cold water and sewage systems, mapped the defects, classified their severity, and compared the most affected environments, in addition to analyzing the most recurrent pathologies. The research used visual inspections, records in floor plans, and statistical analyses to describe the condition of the plumbing systems in each block. Thus, the main pathologies identified in the Technology Center blocks were: leaks, malfunctioning flush systems, and inadequate ventilation. Block CT-J presented the highest number of defects related to the cold water system, while Block CT-E stood out for problems in the sewage system, such as foul odors and frequent blockages. The analyses indicated that in the cold water systems, the most recurrent issue was the presence of air in the pipes, followed by failures in flush mechanisms and faucets. In the sewage system, inadequate ventilation and foul odors were the main problems, observed in several restrooms. The men's restrooms showed a higher incidence of defects compared to the women's, although this trend was not uniform across all evaluated sectors. The study also suggested that blocks with higher traffic and a supposed lack of preventive maintenance were more susceptible to more severe pathologies