Legal disputes and building defects: data from Tuscany (Italy)

This paper reports on a wide-ranging research study conducted on the Interim Technical Assessments (I.T.As) drawn up for law suits over defective constructions in Tuscany from 2000 to 2011. It provides a set of statistically significant data to highlight the impact of construction defects in buildings and evaluate their origins and the responsibilities of the technical personnel involved. The data have been classified according to various categories based on the type of damage encountered. Analysis of the most common types (in particular, water damage) and comparisons with the data from a similar survey carried out in the decade 1990-2000 provide indications as to the critical aspects deserving of special attention, including building design and inspections during construction. Such analyses can provide useful information for assessing whether the quality of construction has kept pace with new knowledge and advances in technology.