1. Identification of applicable requirements and performance

1.1 Performance concept

The performance of a product under construction is a measure of its ability to fulfill a specific function, whether that ability is imposed, specified, or observed. The performance of a structure is defined by a set of measurable and objectively identifiable characteristics that determine its ability to fulfill various functions. The main considerations are the physical quantities describing the behavior of a building or its components when exposed to various agents.

Performance is generally defined as the response of a building to stresses such as gravity, loads, noise, wind, heat transfer, air humidity, chemical agents, and fire. However, performance is not limited to measurable or calculable physical quantities. It can also refer...