The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc.

ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for question 01a House 10 is a terraced house which is part of large terrace of six units in one raw, including some Victorian type architectural features such as; high pitched roof made of slates, high gable walls in front and rear elevations, Big Sash Windows (open by sliding the window up), Outer brick walls, gable wall end with corbelled brick work etc. High pitched roof The high pitched roof made of interlocking fibre cement slates is plays a major role for the better view of the house and provide to allow water runoff and a deterrent to frozen perception such as snow and ice. The snow and ice will slide down the slates as it melts instead of penetrating the roof underneath the slates. The roof fully constructed with timber frames including purlins, ridge plate supporting timber rafters. The plain ridge tile has been fixed to cover the ridge and top edge of the slates in top raw to avoid the water leaking through the slates. There is eves exposed to the elevations and the joining of the gable walls with roof has fixed with flexible metal flashing to cover the water leak through the joint. The wooden facia board is fixed to the bottom end of the roof for facilitate the fixing of gutters. Gutters and down pipes. It assumes to be half round UPVC gutters are installed with UPVC down pipes and appropriate fittings. In front elevation, the main roof water has collected to the high level gutter line and goes through the running outlet and down pipe directed to the low level gutter line. Both the high and low level, collected water again goes away from valley gutter running outlet through the down pipes fixed to the both corners near to roof valley to the drain manholes situated in the ground. Architecturally the positioning of down pipe is symmetrical to the house 10 and 11 elevations and positive effect to the appearance. External walls. The external wall of house 10 consists of the load bearing cavity walls with block work inner leaf and brick outer leaf. For the external features, the outer skin of the brick work is considered. The type of the bond identifies as common stretcher bond. The width and profile of the mortar joint has impact on the appearance of brick work. The weathered mortar joint is more appropriate. Wall ties in cavity wall achieve the strength and the prevention of water penetration to the inner leaf of the wall. The galvanized steel lintels on the top of window and door openings are used. The door and window openings are symmetrical in the front and rear elevations of house 10 and 11. The wall ends are seems to be moulded. The height of the external wall is match with the appearance of the house and gable walls.

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01a.

Gable walls. The high gable wall with outer skin brick work in front and rear elevations are added a gigantic view of the house and reflects the typical characteristic of Victorian house. The top end of the gables are decorated with coping brick work and separated the ordinary stretcher bond outer skin brick work with a grove for damp proof course and the end of grove decorated with moulding. The door and window openings are decorated with a thin groove or moulding for better appearance. The high supporting cross walls (gable walls) are appeared to be finished with outer skin brick work and top pre-cast concrete coping. External windows. Big Sash windows are appeared in front and rear elevations made by aluminium powder-coated frames with double-glazed units (open by sliding the window up). The double glazed will reduce the thermal effect and aluminium frame is more durable and easy for the fabrication. The standard sill heights are maintained in ground floor and the large window achieves the lighting and ventilation requirement as well. The top moulding disturbs to the flow of rain water along the window sash and the sill is active to prevent the water flows on the wall surface under the window. External doors and porch area. The main entrance door, store room door and kitchen out door are the main external doors used as access to the house and store room made by wooden framed with doubled glazed units. The size of the main entrance is larger than the other internal doors. The providing of top light and double glazed unit is also maintaining a weather barrier. The threshold and weather mouldings are protect the door from the external environmental effects especially from the water. The small porch is available on main entrance and helpful to cover the entrance to serve as a shelter for weather effects such as rain, direct sunlight and wind. The floor assumes to be finished with mat finish tiles in the porch area. Ground elevation. The step down of ground elevation from house 09 to 10 has added an attractive architectural view to the front and rear elevations and highlighted the different roof elevations with high supporting cross wall helps to identify the separate units of 09 and 12 and be assumed that the original ground elevations with gradual slope down the site towards south east has well utilized. Landscaping. It seems to be a wooden fence has separated the units and easy access is available from the roads. Provision for parking area is located in front of the house and the small gardening area is available.

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for question 01b.

RIDGE DETAIL

DETAILS OF PITCHED ROOF Source: CEM Building Technology 1

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

DETAIL OF RAIN GUTTER

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01b

DETAILS OF EXTERNAL CAVITY WALL

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01b.

DETAILS OF GABLE WALL

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The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01b.

DETAILS OF ALUMINIUM WINDOW Source: Esmond Reid Understanding of Buildings.

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The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 01b.

DETAILS OF DOOR FIXING

Source: Esmond Reid Understanding of Buildings.

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for question 02 The roof, External walls, floor, doors and windows are the main exteriors of the house. This envelope is the environmental separator, generally between the inside and outside of a building including the ground. The proper designing, construction techniques, proper materials and proper maintenance can increase the durability and longevity of the building and as well as the durability of exteriors. The durability of the material which is used for construction is very important for the life span of the building. A building's lifespan has mostly depended on the structure of the building and the exteriors should have to be tightly covered the structure from the effects of external environment. The effective control of the following external climatic or environmental factors by the exteriors achieves the durability and longevity of the house. Water/moisture Water /moisture enters buildings exteriors due to condensation, from rain or melting of snow and is responsible for the swelling and rotting of some organic materials such as wood and the corrosion of metals. It is involved in the freeze-thaw deterioration of porous materials. Air pressure/ wind The wind will decay the surface of the materials and the physical damages by removal of part of building and wind will cause air leakages. Air leakage is a major cause of problem in exterior walls, cause dampness by driving moisture into building fabric and excessive heat loss from the interior. Solar radiation Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight affects the durability of organic materials such as polymers, wood and bituminous materials. Temperature Due to the variation of temperature, building materials change volume and if change in volume is not allowed for in the form of movement control joints and it will form cracks and thereby affecting the durability of the component. Roofing system The proper pitched roof determines the durability and longevity of the house with appropriate water proofing system. The selection of pitched roof (Pitch around 350 - 400 minimum) and the materials such as; the roof covering materials, wooden rafters, battens, damp proof membrane, gutters, down pipes and fascia board has to be appropriate for the design function, detailing for the application and the proper installation is essential. Especially for the rain, roof is the hardest tested surface in wet weather. Water proofing is necessary for the pitched roofs with continuous DPM and the edges of the high supporting cross walls must be covered with flexible metal stepped flashing.

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 02.

The overlapped fibre cement slates must be nailed to battens for the unmovable position and the curvature determines the broken capillary path. The ridge tiles must be detailed and installed properly overlapped with the top raw of fibre cement slates. The treated timber has to be used for the roof structure and it does not attacked by uncontrolled damp and fungal attacks. If there is no any water leakage to the inside of the house from roof means the proper material selection, design and workmanship achieved. The proper and regular maintenance is essential for roofs and concentrate for the collection of the rain water and got away immediately through the down pipes. If it were just left to be shed from the edges, it would soak and damage the external wall. Eve of the roof helps to cover the external wall from direct storm water. (Refer Figure 2.1 in Appendix A for details of pitched roof water proofing). External walls The external walls involve to providing the environmental control between the external and internal climate of the house and is required to support the imposed and wind loads of the roof and floor and transfer its own combined loads safely to the foundation. The external walls play a major role for the durability and longevity of the house. The selection of appropriate materials according to the climatic effects, construction methods to resist water penetration through the envelop, controlling of expansion of walls (maintaining expansion joints and contraction joints), controlling of capillary action on the external surface of the wall and detailed solution for the erosion are sought to be address. The walls can be segregated as the permeable, semi permeable and impermeable. For this construction, the semi permeable is used as the cavity wall with block work inner leaf and brick outer leaf. Water penetrates through the bricks, the cavity allows flowing down the water and coming out through the bottom weep holes. The non corrosive ties must be embedded within the horizontal mortar of the joint in order to provide adequate restrain to each leaf of the wall. The type of bond is stretcher and the type of mortar joint is affected by the variation of temperature. So the allowable expansion is necessary. The providing of insulation is for the thermal comfort inside the building and the block work must be properly constructed as per the performance requirements. The opening of the walls must be properly sealed after the fixing of door or window to avoid water penetration through these gaps. Mastic fillers should be used. The maintenance of the external brick face gains the durability of the external wall. Especially the mortar joints should be maintained and inspected. The top of walls should be properly covered in Gable walls and with cobbled end.

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 02.

Solid ground floor slab The type of the ground floor is very important part of a house for the durability and its longevity. The ground bearing insitu concrete slabs and suspended timber floors are common in small house construction. For both, the damp proofing system, firm base and the finished level should be properly detailed with appropriate construction method. To address the heat loss, insulation material can be placed on the damp proof material. Removing of top soil and filling with appropriate filling material to the required thickness with full compaction using mechanical hammers up to the dry even top surface for the laying of concrete slab. The thickness of hardcore and the concrete slab is minimum 100-150 mm. The greater mass of concrete will offer a greater resistant to rising moisture. The ground water table must be considered when the slab designing and the proper detailing is sought for the damp proofing system. The more thickness slabs, (more than 100 mm thick) the reinforcement mesh is required to avoid the shrinkage due to weak subsoil condition. For the insulation can be placed to reduce the heat loss either before casting the ground slab on the 50 mm thick concrete screed or on the ground slab covered with 50 mm thick screed. Both methods can be used and after the casting of ground slab. We have to select the appropriate and economical system for the above application. (Refer figure 2.2 and 2.3 in Appendix B & C for the details of ground bearing concrete slab with damp proofing system) Doors and windows The openings must be fulfil the following functions such as; access, weather protection, appearance, ventilation, lighting, view, privacy and security. Construction methods used to resist water and wind penetration through door and window opening is essential for the durability of the building. The wooden door frame or aluminium coated window frame fixing to brick work, threshold and sill details, the seal between door, window frame and glass and draught excluding devices can be fitted in the gap to eliminate the flow of air is essential for proper detailing of door and window. Double glazed units will reduce the heat and sound from the external environment as well. Weather protection must be provided for timber doors by non absorbent finish and a weather board fitted across the bottom. For windows also the same applicable for weather exclusion. It is important to reduce the water streaming down the window face. Head moulding and window setback within the wall depth help to fulfil the above requirement.

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Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Answer for Question 03 For the determination of form and layout of the building, consideration of geographical, climatic, geological and environmental factors is necessary. These are the external environmental influences. The selection of appropriate location, type of the building, shape of the building and other requirements such as; selection of appropriate materials, type of foundation etc. are mostly depending on the environmental influences. The following environmental influences should be considered for the determination of the buildings form and layout. Air and pressure Wind pressure (natural ventilation) Daylight Sunlight and passive solar gain Sound Air and pressure The selection of appropriate location for the better living, the air purity and the altitude sought to be considered. Avoiding of air polluted areas and higher altitude (higher elevations) should be considered. The distance between such as industrial areas and thermal power plants hectare to be care when the designing of residential complex. For the breathing process, the contain of oxygen in fresh air should be as per required percentage (21%). Especially the carbon dioxide percentage (0.03%) has to be monitored because it causes the global changes and threat to the whole living creatures. The blood can function normally at atmospheric pressure at sea level. So the healthy altitude should be considered (250 750 m from sea level). Wind pressure (natural Ventilation) Wind direction and the wind speed (strength) are acquiring the natural ventilation for the building. For the satisfactory standards of air purity and comfortable atmospheric condition within a building the above two properties of the wind is highly required. For the determination of form and layout of a building, the following characteristics of wind should be considered. Wind pressure. Aspiration Perflation Stack effect.

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The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 03.

Wind Pressure The front face of the building can be gain pressure due to wind (windward side) and other sides gain the suction (leeward side) effect. The centre of the face has high pressure and the edges of walls comparatively low. Suction is higher in edges and corners. Also roofs are more effected due to above high speed wind currents. The pitch of the roof is an important factor in windy conditions. The low pitch roofs below 150, there is maximum suction and negative pressure and the pitch above 350, positive pressure on windward direction and suction on leeward side. So the determination of pitch of a roof in windy condition is highly important for the stability of a roof. Aspiration Wind current passes a building through the right angle across the top of a ventilation shaft, air is move up from the shaft and fresh air fills the rooms below. This is additional to the upward movement of warmed air when fire is burning. Perflation Perflation can be maximized with identification of correct wind direction of the location. The cross ventilation is gaining more benefits of natural ventilation. Wind will enter to the building by windward direction through openings or inlets and flow through the outlets in leeward direction due to suction effect. The flow of air is diverted up and over the building and side windows can be either inlets or outlets. The windows are used to control the volume, velocity and direction of air flow and must be capable to adjust according to the requirement of the ventilation. Stack effect Stack effect also replace the fresh cool air into a building as natural ventilation. Low dense warm air displaced by cool heavier air as a vertical current and enters through the openings at low level and warmer air will escape through the openings at higher level. This process is highly depend on the speed of air movement, temperature difference between inside and outside of the building, level difference of higher and lowers openings and the area of the openings. Daylight Day light is the natural lighting, the sky provides in day time (not direct sunlight) without glare into a building through the holes in external fabric such as; windows, roof lights, etc from the right direction. For the design criteria Daylight factor is very important and it is a measure of daylight at a point in a room relative to the light coming from whole sky. Day light is important to the health of occupants and there are typical recommended minimum daylight factors for all types of buildings. Fenestration sought to be designed according to the maximum benefit of daylight with the shape, position, size and glazing-

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The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

Continue Answer 03.

-materials for window and roof openings in the building. The interior colour and finishing, flooring material (gloss tiles) and positioning of mirrors can helpful to increase the daylight factor by reflection as well. Sunlight and passive solar gain Sunlight is the direct rays appeared from the sun through the atmosphere to inside the building through the windows and openings. The openings and the layout of rooms should be designed in residential building, to be allowed sunlight to enter to the living room, kitchen and bedrooms for at least one hour per day for 10 months of the year. Direct sunlight in a building can cause intensive glare, overheating and fading of surface colours. Shading and reflective devices include trees, overhangs, louvers, blinds, shades and curtains are helpful to reduce the glare. Using of double glazing units with reflecting outer face can be minimizing the heat transmission through the window opening. Careful orientation of buildings is vital for passive solar gain. The permanent shadows should be avoided by using their major axis of the buildings from north-east to south-west, or south-east to north-west. The roads also try to align with east-west direction and minimizing over shading by locating taller buildings to the north side or to the south of road junctions. For layout of buildings can reduce the over shade of open areas, always locate shorter buildings to the south and taller buildings to the north as well. The internal form of house shall be oriented the most frequently used rooms facing south and least used rooms facing north. Especially living room has to be located in south and bathroom and utility rooms shall be in north. Sound Sound is a form of energy can be created by series of pressure waves in air or other medium. Air, water, wood or metal is common sound transmitting mediums. The outside unwanted sound (noise) can be transmitted through the external fabric of the building by Airborne, Impact and flanking sound transmission. The controlling of noise inside and outside of the building is necessary for better living condition of the people. From the external noise, nuisance is most often caused by motor traffic. The type of external walls, floor and types of glazing of door and windows has to be considered to reduce and control the outside noise transmission to the building. Sound absorption reduction of echo is necessary for better listening conditions in small houses. The block and brick cavity walls double glazing units and separating of floors are helpful to reduce noise. The location of the building and the layout should be very important to reduce the external noise as well.

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

APPENDICES. APPENDIX A

FIGURE 2.1 Some waterproofing principles of pitched roof.

Source: Esmond Reid Understanding of Buildings.

K.P.Prabath Chammika Yasapala 1003754

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

APPENDIX B

FIGURE 2.2- Damp proof membrane below ground floor slab.

Source: Mitchell's Introduction to Buildings (4th Edition)

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

APPENDIX C

FIGURE 2.3 Thermal insulation to ground floor slab

Source: Mitchell's Introduction to Buildings (4th Edition)

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F103TEC 001 2010/11

The College Of Estate Management University of Reading Bsc. ASSIGNMENT 01

Building Technology 01 Module Code: F103TEC

REFERENCE: CEM (2008) Building Technology 01, Finishes, paper 1387 page 13, Reading: College of Estate Management. Derric Osbourn and Roger Greeno (2007) Mitchell's' Building Series, Introduction to Buildings (Fourth Edition) Esmond Reid (2005) Understanding Buildings

Total number of pages: 14

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