Book excerpt: Building pathology provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of defects and performance in order to develop appropriate remedial and management solutions. It considers how the structure and materials of a building relate to its environment, its occupants and the way the building is used, so as to develop a better understanding of building failures. This book provides a well illustrated introduction to the discipline of building pathology, bridging the gap between current approaches to the surveying of buildings and the detailed study of defect diagnosis, prognosis and remediation. It features a number of case studies and a detailed set of references and further reading. This second edition has been updated to reflect changes in legislation, guidance and construction, and provides new case studies that demonstrate the breadth and depth of the subject.