Comparative Study of Roofing Systems for High-Altitude Social Housing: A Holistic Assessment in the Peruvian Andes

Caceres-Vilca G.; Apaza Cañapataña G.H.; Cárdenas-Gómez J.C. · Buildings (2026) · DOI: 10.3390/buildings16051032

Resumen

In the high Andean regions of Peru, above 3500 m a.s.l., selecting a roofing system requires balancing budgetary constraints, technical performance, and environmental impacts under severe frost and demanding climatic conditions. This study compared several roofing alternatives from a comprehensive perspective to determine the most suitable solution by simultaneously considering economic, environmental, and social criteria. For this purpose, the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES)—a multi-criteria decision-making methodology—was employed to evaluate five systems: traditional ichu thatched roof (ITR), ceramic tile (CT-II), corrugated galvanized steel with insulation (CGS-II), fiber cement with insulation (FC-II), and sandwich panel with an insulating core (PIR-SP). The model was implemented using a requirements tree with 11 indicators and its stability was assessed through a sensitivity analysis involving five weighting configurations. The overall sustainability indices ranked ITR first (0.697), primarily due to its low carbon footprint and favorable thermal performance. It was followed by CT-II (0.632), due to its superior landscape integration; CGS-II (0.602), owing to its cost-effectiveness; FC-II (0.586), for its balanced environmental profile; and finally, PIR-SP (0.504), which excelled in industrial efficiency and construction speed despite a higher environmental impact. In summary, the results indicated that vernacular solutions minimized environmental impacts and optimized local resources, whereas industrialized options were preferable when durability and assembly times were prioritized. The sensitivity analysis, with variations below 5%, supported the model’s consistency as a decision-support tool and its potential to guide policies for sustainable social housing in high-mountain contexts.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa