@article{067f8997-7cad-4a5d-9190-642bb4ffbebb,
  abstract     = {{Water-related damage represents a major challenge in the built environment, with consequences for building performance and occupant health. While external factors can contribute, this study focuses on damage originating from internal sources. Deficiencies and failures in building service systems, water supply, sewage, and technical installations, constitute a substantial problem, leading to repair costs, operational disruptions, material degradation, and health risks linked to mold and poor indoor air quality. Publicly owned buildings in Sweden lack centralized data on such incidents, limiting understanding of their frequency, causes, and economic impact. This study analyzes more than 3 000 reported cases of water-related damage across three Swedish municipalities. Causes were categorized at the system level, occurrence was normalized by building category, and repair cost distributions were examined where cost data were available. Results show recurrent water damage across all public building categories. Schools and nursing and care facilities display the widest spread of repair costs, including outliers exceeding 400 000 €. Appliance and membranerelated incidents are less common but sometimes highly cost intensive. Inconsistent reporting and many uncategorized cases limit crossmunicipal comparisons. On average, 13% of buildings had a reported case each year. A standardized, systemspecific reporting scheme would support prevention, risk prioritization, and management.}},
  author       = {{Mattsson, Christian and Nordquist, Birgitta and Johansson, Dennis and Wallentén, Petter and Janson, Ulla and Bagge, Hans}},
  issn         = {{2365-3159}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Springer International Publishing}},
  series       = {{Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{Water damage occurrence in Swedish public buildings}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41024-026-00828-4}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s41024-026-00828-4}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}