Elements of a Building

Substructure:
 Lower portion of the building located below ground level
 Transmits the load of the superstructure to the sub soil
 Foundations/footings
 Plain cement concrete/reinforced cement concrete

Shallow foundations:
 Transfer the load at the base of the column or wall of the substructure
 Less expensive/generally used in low scale developments
 Depth less than width of the footing (generally <3m)
 Used when surface soils are strong enough to support the load imposed
 Unsuitable in weak or highly compressible soils
 Spread footing: each column/lb-wall has its own spread footing
 Strip footing: used to support a line of loads (such as a lb-wall)
 Raft/Mat foundation: poor soil strength/uncertainty  floating foundation (raft/mat)

Deep foundations:
 Pile foundations
 Very large design loads; poor soil at shallow constraints; etc…
 Driven/drilled (caisson)
 Pile (driven) foundation: more expensive; transfer to deeper/stronger stratum
 Drilled foundation: created by auguring a deep hole then filling with a watertight
retaining structure (cylinder)

Design factors:
 Function of the structure
 Loads from the structure
 Bearing capacity of foundation material
 Total and differential settlement of foundation
 Uplift forces acting on the foundation
 Costs
 The quality of the soil
Pile foundations:
  End bearing pile/shaft friction pile
 Steel: H-piles; steel pipe
 Concrete: site cast/precast
 Wood: timber
 Composite

Drilled shaft:
 Excavate shaft to required depth
 Fill lower end with concrete
 Prefabricated reinforcing steel gage in shaft
 Shaft filled with concrete

Superstructure:
 Above ground
 Serves purpose of intended use
 Plinth: part between surrounding ground surface and floor space; resists entry of
water/animals/insects
 Walls/columns: divides building into spaces; supports slabs/beams

Columns:
 Vertical members which support beams/roof/slabs
 Load bearing/aesthetics

Floor:
 Supports live loads (people/furnishings/movables) & dead loads (weight of floor
construction itself)
 Transfer loads horizontally to walls/columns/beams
 Concrete/steel/wood

Walls:
 Enclose/separate/protect interior space
 Loadbearing: support imposed loads from floors/roof; homogeneous/composite
construction
 Can consist of columns/beams w/ non-structural panels attached to (filling in between)
 Pattern coordinated with interior space

Roof:
 Slab/roof encloses the space
 Protects from rain, heat, snow, wind, sound, fire, etc…
 Carries own weight & weight attached including snow/water/equipment
 Flat roofs used as decks also need to support live loads
 External envelope

 Covering/containing structure/external layer of the building (vertical elements

enclosing)
 Façade: exterior wall/face involving design elements (placement of
windows/doors/etc…); imposing/decorative/simple
 Materials: masonry/timber/steel/glass

Purpose:
 Adornment: added deco/ornamentation
 Protection: physical safeguard from ext. forces
 Identification: function/identity
 Respond to natural forces & human values (safety/security/health)

Functional requirements:
 Personality/character
 Pivotal role in energy efficiency: link ext. w/ int.; reduce energy bills
 Shield against natural elements
 Ensures natural ventilation
 Acoustic insulation
 Offers comfort & adds productivity
 Extra security
 Adds life to structure: physical obsolescence

Internal envelope

Internal divisions:
 Vertical components which divide space
 Nature recognised through materials

Functional requirements:
 Privacy/Strength and stability/Security/Aesthetics/Fire resistance/Thermal & Sound
insulation/Durability

Determining factors:
 Intended use of the enclosed space
 Aesthetics & user preference
 Maintenance (easy to clean, lower running costs)
 Initial cost
 Available Construction technology & Time
Masonry works:
 Laying of structure from individual units; bound by mortar (wet works)
 Load bearing/non load bearing
 Brick/block/concrete/stone walls
 Concrete/block walls: different textures/design finishes; residential/other

Shopfronts:
 Allow for different design finishes
 Retail/commercial

Partitions:
Drywalling:
 Carpentry/joinery
 Non-load bearing
 Nature depends on preferred material/construction methods/loading

Types:
 Demountable/Operable/Retractable/Movable partitions
 Fixed/fire rated and glazed partitions
 Frames/doors/fanlights/borrowed lights/ironmongery
 Finishes/attached skirtings and cornices
 Glass

Components:
 Frame: steel/timber/aluminum/PVC/etc..
 Panel: Gypsum plasterboard/Chipboard/Plywood/Glass/Hardwood/Alternative
materials (recycled materials)
 Finishes: varnish/paint/wallpaper/tile/inherent finishes

Roof:
 Roof Ridge: horizontal line running the length of the roof where the two roof planes
meet
 Ridge vent: exhaust vent that runs horizontally along the peak of the roof allowing
warm, humid air to escape from the attic
 Flashing: metal material installed at joint openings, around chimneys, and any dormer
windows/skylights to help prevent water intrusion
 Hip: intersection of two roof planes that meet to form a sloping ridge running from the
peak to the eave
 Roof Deck: structural foundation base for the roof system and is usually made of wood
or plywood
 Roofing Underlayment: layer of material, usually synthetic or felt, adds extra protection
on top of the roof deck and under the shingles
 Roof Valley: V-shaped intersection between two sloping roofs joining at an angle to
provide water runoff
 Laminated Architectural Shingles: add dimension, performance & durability to a roof.
 Roof Gable: triangular section of outer wall at the peak of the roof between a sloping
roof and eave
 Eave: lower border of roof that overhangs the wall usually located in the first three feet
of a roof