Methodology & Limitations
How Building Passport calculates surface health, risk, and preservation priority, and what the results mean.
Surface Health Scoring
Building Passport calculates surface health scores using a deterministic penalty-based model. Each surface type (roof, concrete, foundation) starts at a maximum score and receives deductions based on:
- Visible issues — Granule loss, curling, cracking, spalling, scaling, efflorescence, and other observable conditions. Each issue carries a weight proportional to its typical severity impact.
- Climate exposure — Freeze-thaw cycles, salt exposure, coastal environment, snow load, and UV exposure. Atlantic Canada climate factors are drawn from regional climate data and adjusted by property location.
- Property age and construction — Older properties and properties built before modern building code improvements receive higher baseline risk.
- Surface area — Larger surface areas increase potential replacement exposure and therefore priority.
Scores are calculated independently for roof, concrete, and foundation systems, then combined into an overall surface health score. The methodology is documented and versioned; scores produced by different methodology versions are not directly comparable.
Risk Levels
| Level | Score Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | 0–29 | Immediate professional review recommended. Significant deterioration or deferred maintenance risk. |
| High | 30–49 | Notable deterioration. Schedule professional review within current planning cycle. |
| Moderate | 50–69 | Some deterioration detected. Include in annual monitoring program. |
| Low | 70–100 | Surface condition within expected range. Routine maintenance advised. |
Capital Planning
Capital Planner uses a budget-constrained ranking model. Assets are ranked by priority score (combining risk level, preservation potential, replacement exposure, and climate exposure), then selected within the available budget from highest priority down. Assets that cannot be accommodated are deferred to the next planning cycle.
Multiple strategy modes are available to reflect different portfolio management approaches, including highest risk first, highest replacement exposure first, best preservation ROI, and climate exposure priority.
Climate Risk Estimation
Climate risk indicators are planning-level estimates derived from property location, surface type, and reported concerns. Freeze-thaw, salt exposure, coastal exposure, snow load, and wind-driven rain risks are determined using deterministic rules based on Atlantic Canada climate patterns. These indicators are not engineering-grade climate analysis and should not be used for insurance, compliance, or structural design purposes.
Data Sources
Scores and risk estimates are calculated using:
- Property information provided by the user through the Building Passport wizard.
- Surface condition details self-reported during the assessment process.
- Climate indicators derived from city-level Atlantic Canada climate data.
- Estimated replacement costs based on surface type, age, and regional construction cost indices.
All calculations are performed server-side using deterministic rules. No machine learning, artificial intelligence, or external data services are used in the current scoring engine.
Import and Export
Portfolio data can be imported via CSV file. The system normalizes imported records by inferring missing values where possible and flagging validation issues for review. Exported data is available in CSV and JSON formats. All imported and exported data belongs to the customer and can be extracted at any time.
For detailed format specifications, see the portfolio import guide.
Limitations
Building Passport provides planning-level surface health estimates. Scores and risk levels are not engineering assessments, professional inspections, insurance evaluations, or capital reserve studies.
The accuracy of results depends on the accuracy of information entered. Building Passport cannot verify property conditions remotely without a site inspection.
Surface conditions change over time. Reports reflect conditions at the time of data entry and should be updated periodically.
Climate risk estimates are planning-level indicators based on location and reported concerns. They do not replace site-specific engineering analysis or climate resilience assessments.
Data Ownership and Portability
Customers retain ownership of their uploaded property data. Building Passport provides data export at any time via CSV or JSON format. NanoSeal NB owns the platform, scoring methodology, taxonomy, and calculation rules. De-identified and aggregated data may be used for benchmarking and product improvement where permitted by contract and applicable law. No customer's identifiable asset data is exposed to another customer.
Product Recommendations
Product and treatment recommendations follow a controlled four-stage process: system candidate identification, evidence verification, technical review, and customer presentation. Recommendations include the rationale, supporting evidence, applicable documentation, and disclosure of NanoSeal's commercial interest where applicable. Recommendations remain within approved technical documentation and verified site conditions.