The sustainability of the materials under the approach of ISMAS.
The materials used in construction, such as those used in windows, currently require different procedures
when making a choice that go beyond the aspect of functionality and take into account the need for effi-
cient use guided the prerogatives of sustainability. Among other requirements, design specification
guidelines, in this regard, indicate material selection based on criteria related to the consumption of
raw materials, waste generation and its management. The purpose of this research was to define the sus-
tainability index of the materials used or with a potential for use in windows in multifamily residential
buildings located in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, using ISMAS – Instrument for the Selection of More
Sustainable Materials – as a tool. The study consisted of two steps, one in the field and the other in ana-
lyzing the sustainability index of the materials. Among the 23 types of identified windows, it was found
that the most commonly used materials are aluminum, wood, PVC, and glass. The results demonstrate
that materials with different compositions and properties can achieve the same sustainability index
when assessed using the ISMAS approach, giving the designer different options when making a selection.
The research also showed that the functional, aesthetic, and economic criteria traditionally adopted by
architects and designers are not sufficient to improve a building’s performance when the issue of sustain-
ability is introduced into the process
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