Corrections and Retractions Policy

Journal: Journal of Materials for the Built Environment (JMBE)
Policy Version: 1.0
Effective Date: September 2026

1. Purpose

Journal of Materials for the Built Environment (JMBE) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the published scholarly record.

The journal recognizes that errors may occasionally be identified after publication. Depending on the nature and significance of an issue, JMBE may publish a Correction, Retraction, Expression of Concern, or other editorial notice.

Post-publication actions are intended to correct the scholarly record rather than to assign blame.

The journal may consider relevant principles and guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized scholarly publishing standards when determining the appropriate action.

2. Scope

This policy applies to published:

• Research Articles;

• Review Articles;

• Short Communications;

• Case Studies;

• Perspectives;

• Special Issue articles; and

• other scholarly content published by JMBE.

It applies to issues identified by:

• authors;

• readers;

• reviewers;

• editors;

• Editorial Board members;

• institutions;

• funders;

• research organizations; or

• other credible sources.

3. General Principles

Post-publication corrections and retractions should be:

• Transparent

• Proportionate

• Traceable

• Independent

• Timely, where reasonably possible

JMBE distinguishes between:

• minor editorial errors;

• substantive but correctable errors;

• issues affecting the interpretation or reliability of specific parts of an article; and

• issues that fundamentally undermine the reliability or integrity of the published work.

Not every error constitutes research misconduct.

4. Types of Post-Publication Action

Depending on the circumstances, JMBE may issue:

4.1 Correction

A Correction is used to amend an error that affects part of the published article but does not invalidate the overall reliability or principal conclusions of the work.

4.2 Retraction

A Retraction is used when an article is found to contain sufficiently serious problems that its findings or publication should no longer be regarded as part of the reliable scholarly record.

4.3 Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when credible concerns have been raised but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to determine whether correction or retraction is appropriate, or when an external investigation remains ongoing.

4.4 Editorial or Clarification Notice

The journal may publish another notice when clarification is necessary but a formal Correction, Retraction, or Expression of Concern is not appropriate.

5. Corrections

A Correction may be appropriate for issues such as:

• inaccurate but non-fundamental information;

• errors in figures or tables that do not alter the main conclusions;

• typographical or production errors with scholarly significance;

• incorrect author affiliations;

• limited errors in metadata;

• incorrect references;

• errors in equations or descriptions that can be corrected without invalidating the work; or

• other substantive but limited inaccuracies.

The journal will assess the significance of the error before determining whether a formal Correction notice is necessary.

6. Minor Errors

Minor typographical, formatting, or production errors that do not affect interpretation may sometimes be corrected directly in the online version without a separate formal notice.

Where practical, significant corrections to the Version of Record will be documented transparently.

The journal may retain records of material changes to the published content.

7. Correction Procedure

Where a Correction is required, JMBE may:

1. assess the reported issue;

2. consult the authors and relevant editors;

3. request supporting information where necessary;

4. determine the appropriate correction;

5. publish a Correction notice linked to the original article; and

6. update the article record where appropriate.

The Correction notice should identify the article and clearly describe the nature of the correction.

Where practical, the corrected article should indicate that a correction has been made.

8. Retraction

A published article may be retracted when there is reliable evidence that:

• the findings are substantially unreliable;

• major errors invalidate important conclusions;

• data or results were fabricated or falsified;

• serious plagiarism or duplicate publication has occurred;

• the article was published as a result of manipulated peer review;

• serious ethical requirements were not met;

• the article contains material that cannot ethically or legally remain part of the scholarly record;

• authorship or other publication misconduct fundamentally affects the publication; or

• other circumstances substantially undermine the integrity of the article.

Retraction may be appropriate whether the underlying issue arose from misconduct, honest error, or another serious circumstance.

9. Retraction Does Not Automatically Mean Misconduct

A Retraction does not necessarily imply that the authors acted deliberately or dishonestly.

An article may be retracted because of:

• honest analytical mistakes;

• substantial methodological errors;

• unreliable results;

• previously unknown ethical problems; or

• other issues that make the article unsuitable to remain in the reliable scholarly record.

Where relevant, the Retraction notice should distinguish between misconduct and honest error.

10. Retraction Procedure

Before deciding whether to retract an article, JMBE may:

• assess the evidence;

• seek clarification from the authors;

• request original data or supporting documentation;

• consult the handling editor;

• consult the Deputy Editor;

• seek advice from the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board;

• contact the relevant institution or research-integrity office; or

• take other appropriate steps.

The authors will normally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.

However, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern or take other interim action before an investigation is completed where necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

11. Content of Retraction Notices

A Retraction notice should, where appropriate:

• identify the retracted article;

• state that the article has been retracted;

• explain the principal reason for the retraction;

• identify whether the issue relates to the whole article or specific findings;

• distinguish misconduct from honest error where possible; and

• identify relevant institutional findings or investigations where appropriate.

Retraction notices should be clear, factual, and non-inflammatory.

12. Retraction and the Version of Record

A retracted article will generally remain part of the scholarly record.

The article should normally remain accessible with a clear and prominent indication that it has been retracted.

The original article should not ordinarily be deleted solely because it has been retracted.

This approach preserves the historical publication record and allows readers to understand what was previously published.

The article metadata should indicate the retracted status wherever practicable.

13. Expression of Concern

JMBE may publish an Expression of Concern where:

• credible allegations have been raised;

• a formal investigation is ongoing;

• the available evidence is incomplete;

• an institution has not yet completed an investigation; or

• immediate transparency is needed while the matter is being resolved.

An Expression of Concern does not itself establish that misconduct or invalidity has occurred.

Once sufficient evidence becomes available, the journal may replace or supplement the Expression of Concern with:

• a Correction;

• a Retraction; or

• another appropriate notice.

14. Authors Requesting Correction or Retraction

Authors are encouraged to notify the Editorial Office promptly when they identify a material error in their published work.

Authors may request:

• a Correction;

• a clarification; or

• in appropriate circumstances, a Retraction.

Such requests should explain:

• the nature of the issue;

• the affected part of the article;

• whether the conclusions are affected; and

• any supporting information.

An author's request does not automatically determine the editorial outcome.

The journal will independently assess the circumstances.

15. Editorial Responsibility

The decision to publish a Correction, Retraction, or Expression of Concern is an editorial decision.

The relevant editor should assess the available evidence and the applicable journal policies.

Where a decision involves a manuscript or article handled by an editor with a conflict of interest, the matter must be reassigned to an independent editor.

Where the Deputy Editor has a conflict of interest, the DE must not make the final decision.

The final editorial decision should instead be made by an appropriate Editorial Board member or the Editor-in-Chief who has no relevant conflict of interest.

Where the Editor-in-Chief also has a conflict, the matter should be assigned to an appropriately qualified and independent Editorial Board member or designated editor.

16. Research Misconduct and Post-Publication Actions

Where a Correction, Retraction, or Expression of Concern arises from a potential research-integrity issue, the matter should also be handled in accordance with the journal's Research Misconduct Policy.

Potential issues may include:

• fabrication;

• falsification;

• plagiarism;

• duplicate publication;

• inappropriate image manipulation;

• authorship misconduct;

• peer-review manipulation;

• citation manipulation;

• undisclosed conflicts of interest; and

• inappropriate use of AI.

A post-publication action may be taken independently of the outcome of an institutional investigation where sufficient evidence is available to protect the integrity of the published record.

17. Corrections to Authorship

Where an authorship error is identified after publication, the journal may publish an appropriate correction to the author list or contribution information.

Changes to authorship normally require:

• a clear explanation of the change;

• agreement from the affected authors where reasonably possible; and

• appropriate documentation.

If the authors cannot resolve the dispute, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institution.

The journal may delay a change to the published record while a substantive authorship dispute is being investigated.

18. Corrections to Affiliations and Metadata

JMBE may correct errors in:

• author affiliations;

• corresponding author information;

• funding information;

• ORCID identifiers;

• article metadata;

• publication dates;

• references; or

• other bibliographic information.

Where the error materially affects the scholarly record, a formal Correction notice may be published.

19. Corrections to Figures, Tables, Data, and Methods

Where an error in a figure, table, dataset, equation, method, or other substantive element can be corrected without invalidating the article as a whole, JMBE may publish a Correction.

The correction should clearly identify:

• the affected content;

• the nature of the error;

• the corrected information; and

• whether the interpretation or conclusions are affected.

Where the underlying problem is sufficiently serious to undermine the article, retraction may instead be considered.

20. Duplicate Publication

Where substantial duplication or redundant publication is identified after publication, JMBE may assess:

• the degree of overlap;

• the publication history;

• the extent of duplicated findings;

• whether the overlap was disclosed;

• copyright considerations; and

• the effect on the reliability of the published record.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may issue a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction.

21. Plagiarism Identified After Publication

Where credible evidence indicates that a published article contains substantial plagiarism or unattributed reuse, JMBE may investigate the matter.

Depending on the findings and significance of the overlap, the journal may:

• publish a Correction;

• issue an Expression of Concern;

• retract the article; or

• take another proportionate action.

Minor or properly attributed overlap will not automatically result in retraction.

22. Peer-Review Manipulation

Where evidence indicates that peer review was materially compromised, JMBE may investigate the integrity of the editorial process.

Potential actions include:

• reassessment of the article;

• reassignment to an independent editor;

• additional peer review;

• Expression of Concern;

• Retraction; or

• other appropriate editorial action.

23. Post-Publication Data Concerns

If serious concerns arise regarding the data underlying a published article, JMBE may request:

• raw data;

• original files;

• laboratory records;

• computational materials;

• supporting datasets; or

• other relevant documentation.

The journal may seek institutional assistance where appropriate.

If the concerns materially affect the reliability of the article, the journal may publish a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction.

24. Legal and Safety Considerations

JMBE may take immediate action where continued publication creates significant legal, ethical, privacy, or safety risks.

Such action may include:

• temporary restriction of access;

• publication of an Expression of Concern;

• removal of specific content;

• correction;

• retraction; or

• other measures necessary to protect individuals or the integrity of the scholarly record.

Any removal or restriction will be considered carefully and, where possible, documented transparently.

25. Communication With Institutions and Other Parties

JMBE may communicate with relevant:

• universities;

• research institutes;

• research-integrity offices;

• funders;

• ethics committees;

• professional bodies; or

• other competent organizations

where this is necessary to assess or resolve a post-publication concern.

The journal will seek to protect confidential information while sharing information necessary for legitimate investigation.

26. Appeals and Requests for Reconsideration

Authors or other relevant parties may request reconsideration of a post-publication decision where they can provide substantive new information or identify a significant factual or procedural error.

Requests should be submitted in writing to:

Editorial Office
Journal of Materials for the Built Environment (JMBE)
Email: contact@sunlitpub.com

Where appropriate, reconsideration will be handled by an editor independent of the original decision.

The final outcome will be communicated to the relevant parties.

27. Transparency of the Published Record

JMBE aims to ensure that post-publication actions are clearly visible to readers.

Where appropriate:

• Correction notices will be linked to the corrected article;

• Retraction notices will be prominently linked to the retracted article;

• Expressions of Concern will be clearly displayed;

• DOI and metadata records will be updated where technically possible; and

• the relationship between the original article and subsequent notices will be maintained.

28. Permanent Scholarly Record

JMBE regards published articles and associated editorial notices as part of the permanent scholarly record.

Post-publication action is intended to correct, qualify, or clarify the record rather than erase publication history.

The journal will seek to preserve:

• the original publication metadata;

• the article's DOI;

• publication history;

• correction or retraction notices; and

• other relevant editorial records.

29. Policy Review

JMBE will periodically review this policy to reflect developments in:

• publication ethics;

• research integrity;

• post-publication correction practices;

• digital publishing;

• scholarly record preservation; and

• relevant international standards.

The most current version of this policy will be maintained on the journal website.

30. Contact

Questions or requests concerning corrections, retractions, or post-publication matters may be directed to:

Editorial Office
Journal of Materials for the Built Environment (JMBE)
Sunlit Grove Publishing
Email: contact@sunlitpub.com