Building Systems Architecture Clinic

MCR - Roofing System

Technical Data
Building system Roofing
Size of tile 500 x 250 x 10 mm
Tiles per m² 12.5
Weight per tile 3.0 kg
Weight per m² of installed tiles 37.5 kg

Production capacity 200 tiles / machine / day

(depends on number of moulds used)
Resistance to earthquakes Good
Resistance to typhoons Satisfactory
Resistance to rain Good
Resistance to insects Good
Climatic suitability All climates
Stage of experience Mature technology
Production costs of tiles per m² Rp. 26,000
Production costs of system per m² Rp. 90,000 (timber)
Durability 15-20 years

Short Description Advantages

n The roofing system consists of the roofing cover, which are MCR with Single Leaf Roofing:
MCR (Micro Concrete Roofing) tiles, and the roofing sub- n Inexpensive
structure. The substructure can be made of timber or metal
n Simple construction
n There are 2 types of substructure: Single Leaf Roofing and
n Maintenance is easy from the inside
Double Leaf Roofing
n Control of leakage is easy
n The roofing system can be used for lean-to roofs or gable
roofs
MCR with Double Leaf Roofing:
n Improved thermal performance
n Dust, insect proof
n Moderate wind proof
n Proper surface from the inside

Disadvantages
MCR with Single Leaf Roofing:
n Relatively poor thermal insulation
n Not air and insect proof
Optional Types
MCR with Double Leaf Roofing:
MCR with Single Leaf Roofing:
n Higher costs
n This is the simplest and cheap-
n Leakage cannot be easily detected from the inside
est method of MCR roofing
n Changing tiles from the inside is difficult
n Uncontrollable space between tiles and ceiling (rats,
etc.)

MCR with Double Leaf Roofing:

n This is a more sophisticated Limits of Application
method of MCR roofing, using an
inner leaf along the roof slope n Regular and good maintenance required (suitable rather
n This can be fixed from the in- for private than public buildings)
side onto the rafters and forms n Solid substructure required (metal structure); Most dam-
a sloped ceiling ages to MCR tiles on roofs can be tracked down to faults
n The space between the tiles in the roof structure, and in the way the tiles were placed
and the ceiling is ventilated by and fixed
special openings or simply by n If chosen wooden substructure, good quality timber
the gaps between the tiles should be used
 MCR with Double Leaf Roofing:
Construction Requirements
n Calculate the amount of tiles and length of rafters and
n Simple design of the roof laths according to Roof Cover Guide
n The minimum pitch is 22° n Put together and place a roof truss (timber or metal) ac-
cording to Roof Truss Guide
n The minimum pitch should be 30° in areas with heavy
rains n Nail plywood or another material onto the rafters from the
inside
n The span of the rafters should not exceed 3.5m for lean-
to roofs, and 6m for gable roofs n Place a strong plastic foil
over the rafters
n Triangular trusses are used for wider spans up to 10m
n Fix laths or steel angles
n Roof structure should be designed to wind suction forces
onto the rafters/truss
spaced at 40cm
n Lay first tiles in vertical
lines as reference

Installation Equipment
n Ordinary carpenter’s and masonry equipment

Installation Process n Place the rest of the tiles in horizontal rows starting from
below using the vertical reference lines
MCR with Single Leaf Roofing: n Let overlap the tiles each other in direction of roof slope
n Calculate the amount of tiles and length of rafters and by 100mm; (tiles rest on the lath by means of a nib)
laths according to Roof Cover Guide n Fix the tiles with wire
n Length of rafter = (no. of tiles x 400mm) – 50mm loops, nails or tie them
n Length of lath = (no. of tiles x 190mm) – 40mm onto the timber laths or
steel angles using the
n Put together and place a roof truss (timber or metal) ac-
integrated wire loop in the
cording to Roof Truss Guide
nib
n Fix laths or steel angles onto the rafters/truss spaced at
400mm
n Lay first tiles in vertical lines as
reference
n Place the rest of the tiles in Hip ridge:
horizontal rows starting from
below using the vertical refer- n At the hip ridge, the tiles are carefully chopped to exactly
ence lines the required shape, with an electronic hand-operated
cutter
n The open gap is covered with ridge caps, laid in an over-
lapping pattern

Valley of the roof:

n Chop the tiles at the valley carefully with an electronic
n Let overlap the tiles each other in direction of roof slope
hand-operated cutter
by 100mm; (tiles rest on the lath by means of a nib)
n A metal gutter should be used

n Fix the tiles with wire loops, rlap

ove
nails or tie them onto the timber 10
mm

laths or steel angles using the Skills Required

integrated wire loop in the nib
n Specialised carpenters and tile-makers skills
Fixing to upper batten

Further Reading
n Roof Cover Guide by Paul Gut, Skat/Basin
n The Basics of Concrete Roofing Elements, Skat/Basin
n Roofing Primer by Roland Stulz, Skat/Basin
Nailed through a hook n Roof Truss Guide, Skat/Basin

Text & Layout by: Skat, Vadianstrasse 42, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, phone: +41 71 228 54 54, mail: [email protected], web: www.skat.ch
Building Systems

Slab System
Technical Data
Building system Floor
Beam: 10 x 6 x max. 400 cm
Size
Tile: 30 x 60 x 2 cm
Weight per m² of installed
78 kg
beams and tiles
Resistance to earthquakes Very good
Resistance to typhoons Very good
600 600
Resistance to rain Very good
Resistance to insects Very good
Climatic suitability All climates
Stage of experience Experimental
Production costs of system per m² Rp. 100,000- 125,000
Durability Approx. 30 years

Chicken wire mesh Cement screed

Short Description
(optional) in situ concrete
n The Slab System consists of 2 elements:

50
1) Prefabricated reinforced concrete beams with inte-
grated iron brackets

20

170
100
150

60
Curved tile

100 Styrups Ø 6 - 250

3 Ø 16 Reinforced beam, prefabricated

Advantages
Technical advantages
n High structural strength
n Fast construction
2) Prefabricated curved concrete tiles, which are laid at
n No shuttering required
the nibs of the beams
n Can be used as intermediate floor
n Attractive design
n No plastering needed

Economic advantages
n Savings in material, such as concrete filling
30

n Savings in time because of faster construction

60

n A lean concrete layer is applied from the top to cover Limits of Application
beam and curved tiles in order to hold the elements to-
gether and to produce a neat floor n Max. span length is 4m
n Common span lengths are 3m n Skilled labourers and engineers required
n The Slab System is used for flat roofs and slabs n Engineer has to calculate reinforcement dimensions and
n Appropriate dimensions for the reinforcement have to be details
calculated according to span length and load n Requires exact planning: Size of rooms has to be ad-
n Steel reinforcement: U 24, U 39 justed to grid mass of beam and channel system
Installation Equipment
n Masonry equipment

Installation Process
n Install beams with supporting wooden pillars at construc-
tion site
n Place the channels at the nibs of the beams
n Apply a concrete layer from the top to cover beam and
channels in order to hold the elements together and to
produce a neat floor. Use a chicken wire mesh for rein-
forcement of the floor
n Take off supporting wooden pillars after 2 weeks

Skills Required
n Special training is needed
n Engineer has to calculate reinforcement of beams

Text & Layout by: Skat, Vadianstrasse 42, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, phone: +41 71 228 54 54, mail: [email protected], web: www.skat.ch
Building Systems

Frame Block Walling System

Beam Block Ring beam Technical Data
Building system Walling
Beam Block (U Type):
290 x 145 x 140 mm
Sizes
Concrete Hollow Block:
290 (145) x 145 x 140 mm
Beam Block Lintel beam Resistance to earthquakes Good
Resistance to typhoons Satisfactory
Steel bar
Resistance to rain Good

Hollow block
Resistance to insects Good
Climatic suitability All climates
Beam Block Ground beam
Stage of experience Widely used method
3
Production costs of system per m Rp. Please fill in!
Foundation
Vertical Section Durability Approx. 30 years

Short Description Advantages

n Frame Block Walling System Technical Advantages
uses Beam Blocks for rein- n Very good stability
forced ground beams, lintels,
n For strong and light walls
and ring beams
n Rapid construction
n Voids can be filled with steel bars and concrete, achiev-
ing high earthquake resistance
n The cavity provides good thermal insulation
n Half Hollow Blocks are used for
reinforced columns Economic Advantages
n Less working time required for brick laying work with
concrete blocks
n Less mortar consumption

n Hollow Blocks are used for

walling in between the Beam
Blocks Limits of Application
n Special masonry knowledge and experience is needed

n Reinforcement is placed in the empty spaces, which are

then filled with concrete Construction Requirements
n Solid foundation underneath is needed
n Simple design of walls

Installation Equipment
n Masonry tools
Installation Process
n Build foundation and prepare it for walling
n Lay Beam Blocks as ground beams
n Install reinforcement with iron bars (8-12mm diameter)
n Fill Beam Blocks with concrete (recommended cement/
aggregate ratio is 1:5; recommended water-cement ratio
of concrete is 0.6)
n Build up reinforced columns with Hollow Blocks
n Put up supporting scaffold
n Lay Beam Blocks as lintel or horizontal ring beam
n Install reinforcement with iron bars (8-12mm diameter)
n Fill Beam Blocks with concrete (recommended cement/
aggregate ratio is 1:5; recommended water-cement ratio
of concrete is 0.6)
n Fill the empty spaces between beams and columns with
Hollow Blocks

Skills Required
n Specialised masonry skills

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Building Systems

Frame and Shutter System

Technical Data
Door and window frames with
Building system
shutters
Size Various sizes

Resistance to earthquakes Very good

Resistance to typhoons Very good

Resistance to rain Very good

Resistance to insects Very good

Climatic suitability All climates

Stage of experience Commonly used

Production costs of system

Rp. Please fill in!
per m²
Durability Approx. 30 years

Short Description Installation Equipment

n The Frame and Shutter System consists of 2 elements: n Masonry and carpentry equipment

1) Prefabricated door and

window frames (con-
crete) with integrated
iron hinges and locks
Installation Process
2) Door (wood or PVC) or
window (wood) elements n Prepare clean and neat wall openings
n Set the prefabricated concrete frames into the openings
n Fix them with light layer of mortar
n Install door or window using the prepared hinges and
locks

Advantages
Rectangular steel pipe 40 x 20 x 3 x 150mm
Technical Advantages (width x height x thickness x length) built in RCC
frame
n Good weather resistance
n Long lasting
n Fast construction
n Easy installation
Hinges are fixed
n Frames can be adjusted to the building design
on pipe
n Easy maintenance
Filling: Squared
Economic Advantages
timber
n Savings in working time through fast construction
n Woodless construction RCC frame

Limits of Application
n Doors and window shutters must match with concrete
frames
n Special knowledge and experience of the installation
process is needed
Skills Required
n Hinges and lock must match with frames and shutters n Special training is needed
Text & Layout by: Skat, Vadianstrasse 42, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, phone: +41 71 228 54 54, mail: [email protected], web: www.skat.ch
Building Systems

Latrine System
Technical Data
Building system Latrine
90 x 140cm (diameter x max.
Size
height); using 4 well rings
Weight per unit (90 x 35cm) 125 kg
Resistance to earthquakes Very good
Resistance to typhoons Very good
Resistance to rain Very good
Resistance to insects Very good
Climatic suitability All climates
Stage of experience Widely used method
Production costs per system Rp. Please fill in!
Durability Approx. 30 years

Short Description Advantages

Latrine System consists of well rings, which form the latrine, Technical Advantages
and a covering foundation slab with a squatting slab. n
• Resistance to weathering, impact and abrasion
A maximum of 4 well rings can be piled to form a latrine. n Very good stability
The two lowest well rings are provided with holes (10 cm n
• Easy to build
diameter per hole). n
• Very hygenic
The highest well ring is covered with a precast foundation Economic Advantages
and/or a squatting slab
n Cheap sanitation system
A toilet room can be installed on top of the latrine well rings; n
• Production can be started with little capital
or the well rings are linked with pipe to a pour flush latrine. n
• Can be mass produced
The system should be placed at least 6m away from any n Is an attractive business for small-scale enterprises
house, and at least 30m away from any water source (well,
bore hole or stream).
Toilet room
It should never be (light-weight structure)

located uphill from a Limits of Application

water source.
•n Limited capacity of usage (can become full quickly when
The volume of the la- there are too many users)
trine is calculated by n Has to be made properly; risk to contaminate nearby
using a rough figure wells or surface water
of at least 0.06 cubic n Has to be installed according to the height of the ground
metres per person water table
per year.
Note: Human wastes
which have not
been composted for Installation Equipment
at least 6 months
should never be n Ordinary masonry tools
used as fertilizer. Squatting slab
n Carpentry tools

Foundation slab
Installation Process Skills Required
n Dig a big hole at least 3 x 3 x 1.40m (width x length x n Masonry and carpentry skills
depth)
n Prepare clean, neat and plane surface
n Apply a layer of lean concrete (min. 7cm) underneath
rings only, as footings
n Lay carefully the prefabricated well rings, max. 4 units
above each other; Use well rings with openings as the
lowest rings
n Fix the well rings against each other with thin layer of ce-
ment mortar, forming the latrine
n Fill the gap between well rings and soil with stones or
concrete pieces (7-20 cm diameter)
n Place a prefabricated foundation slab on top of the latrine
and fix it
n Place a prefabricated squatting slab on top of the founda-
tion slab
n Build a toilet room (light weighted made of metal or
wood) on top of the foundation slab

Light-weight structure for toilet room

Squatting slab
Foundation slab

Well ring without

holes

Pipe from pour

flush Latrine
Well ring with
holes

Stones / concrete pieces

Lean concrete footings

Verical Section

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Building Systems

Water Tank System

Technical Data
Building system Water tank
90 x max. 140cm
Size
(diameter x height)
Weight per unit (90 x 35cm) 125 kg
Resistance to earthquakes Very good
Resistance to typhoons Very good
Resistance to rain Very good
Resistance to insects Very good
Climatic suitability All climates
Stage of experience Widely used method
Production costs per system Rp. Please fill in!
Durability Approx. 30 years

Short Description Limits of Application

Water Tank System consists of well rings, which form the n Raw materials must be locally available of good quality
water tank and the necessary piping linked to a water har- and economically viable
vesting system (rain water or gravity fed). n Relative large amount of cement is needed which can be
Water tanks can be applied as surface or underground expensive and difficult to obtain
systems. n If not properly covered, risk of contamination
They can be used for storage of drinking and non-drinking
water.
For surface systems, maximum of 4 well rings can be piled
to form a water tank.
Installation Equipment
The Water Tank System includes an iron lid which is painted
with an anti-corrosion coat. The lid protects small children n Ordinary masonry tools
falling into the water tank, and is also preventing Anopheles
mosquitos (Malaria risk).

Advantages Installation Process

Technical Advantages n Prepare clean, neat and plane surface
n Resistance to weathering, impact and abrasion n Apply a layer of lean concrete (min. 5cm)
n Very good stability n Lay carefully the prefabricated well rings: max. 4 units
n Easy to produce locally above each other; fix the well rings against each other
with thin layer of cement mortar
n Rapid construction
n Connect tank with pipes to the harvesting water system
n Long lasting
of the house
Economic Advantages n Install water tap, min. 25 cm above tank ground
n Production can be started with little capital
n If used for drinking water, a good cover lid has to be in-
n Can be mass produced stalled
n Is an attractive business for small-scale enterprises
n Cheaper than PVC system
Skills Required
n Concrete making and masonry skills

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Building Systems

Septic Tank System

Technical Data
Building system Septic tank

Size 85 x 250cm (diameter x length)

Weight ca. 1000kg incl. reinforcement

Resistance to earthquakes Good

Resistance to typhoons Very good

Resistance to rain Very good

Resistance to insects Very good

Climatic suitability All climates

Stage of experience Commonly used

Production costs per unit Rp. Please fill in!

Durability Approx. 30 years

Short Description Advantages

n The system is used where the ground water table is Technical Advantages
high n High structural strength
n The system is horizontally placed. It consists of: n Fast construction
1) Prefabricated concrete cylinder shaped unit with two n Easy installation
maintenance holes
n Easy maintenance
2) Pipe connections from the domestic waste water to n Can be used in situations where the ground water table
the septic tank is very high
n It is designed in such a way that the waste water takes at
least 24 hrs to pass through the tank system; the heavier Economic Advantages
solids settle to the bottom, forming sludge n Savings in working time through fast construction
n During the process, the solids are gradually broken down n Long lasting
and become much more reduced in volume
n The system has two compartments: the first compart-
ment is twice the size of the second compartment
Limits of Application
n The sludge has to be removed from the tank every few
years, whenever it becomes 1/3 full n Prefabricated concrete tanks must be of good quality

n Good knowledge and experience of the installation proc-

ess is recommended
n Capacity for one house only

In Water Level

Out
Installation Equipment
n Masonry equipment

1st compartment 2nd compartment n Lifting equipment is required

Installation Process
n Prepare clean and neat trench in the soil (min. depth
100cm)
n Apply a layer of lean concrete (min. 4cm) or tramped
sand
n Lay carefully the prefabricated tank
n Connect tank with pipes to the waste water system of the
house

Skills Required
n Special training is needed; provided by ArCli

Text & Layout by: Skat, Vadianstrasse 42, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland, phone: +41 71 228 54 54, mail: [email protected], web: www.skat.ch