In the distant past, construction solutions were validated empirically through several years of experience, whereas with the onset of further industrialization of the construction process, it was recognized within the construction community that a performance-based selection of materials, components, and systems was required if innovation was to be fostered and progress in the construction domain achieved. However, it was equally apparent to those promoting such novel approaches that the selection on the basis of understanding of performance requirements could only be met if the results of research and development were made available and indeed exploitable by practitioners.