SPECS 03
Materials and Methods
of Construction
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MAKING BUILDINGS
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1.2 Making Buildings - Outline
Why do we need a building ? “Birds &
animals”, “Beast master”, “Lost World”,
“Survivors” - Common link - We are not them
Designing and making buildings :
Stakeholders - “Sky is the limit”, constraints
to the choice of building systems - Codes,
regulations, ordinances, unions, etc.
How to choose a building system ?
“Experience”, “Pleasing to the eyes”,
“Economical”, etc.
Performance during and after construction
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1.2.1 Why do we Need
Buildings?
We build because little that we do can take place
outdoors.
We need shelter from sun, wind, rain, and snow.
We need dry, level platforms for our activities. Often
we need to stack these platforms to multiply
available ground space. On these platforms, and
within our shelter, we need air that is warmer or
cooler, more or less humid, than outdoors.
We need less light by day, and more light by night,
than is offered by the natural world.
We need services that provide energy,
communications and water and disposal of wastes.
So we gather materials and assemble them into the
constructions we call buildings to satisfy4these needs.
1.3 Stakeholders in the Building
Systems
Owner - Role ? Prime mover
Architect - Selects the team of professionals -
Develops the building concept in consultation with the
owner - also carries out feasibility study
Team of designers : Chemical, civil, electrical &
mechanical engineers and naval architects ;
draftsmen - Develop contract documents
General contractor : Selects subcontractors -
Begin construction
Approving authorities and Compliance
review
Building inspectors, architect, and consultants -
Compliance to design and code requirement
“…for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for5 want of a
shoe the horse was lost ….”
1.4 Constraints to Choosing Building
Systems
General physical limitations: Land area available for
building, weight of building and soil strength, structural
dimensions, material performance under exposure
conditions, contractual arrangements regarding building
construction.
Material selection dependent on: Designer/Architect with
inputs from owner (for appearance and performance)
and contractor (for cost, availability & constructability)
Budget - Permitted and overruns
Zoning ordinances: Imposed by local authorities
(Planning Department - Residential or industrial, area
covered by and offsets required for building, parking
spaces, floor area, height of building, center-city fire
zones, etc.
Building Construction Regulations. Building Codes, ECC,
etc.. 6
1.4 Constraints to Choosing Building Systems
(Cont’d)
Who is Primarily Responsible for
Construction Methods?
The contractor shall be solely responsible for and
have control over means, methods, techniques, sequences and
procedures and for coordinating all portions of the Work under
the contract (unless instructed otherwise)
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1.4 Constraints to Choosing Building
Systems (Cont’d)
•Occupational health and safety (DOLE)
DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS
•Building Code
•Fire Code, Elec.Code. Struct’l Code, Mech
Code……
•National Agencies’ Requirements (DOH, DENR,
DepEd, etc.
•Local Zoning Ordinances
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Who is Responsible to Ensure the Contract
Documents Conform to Code
Requirements?
Why would the Architect have Primary
Responsibility?
Do contractors have any responsibility for
code conformance?
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1.5 How to Choose a Building
System?
Satisfy the requirements for functional
performance: In stable equilibrium, Strength,
Serviceability, Safety of operation
Give the desired aesthetic qualities: Visual
appearance, personal choice
Not constrained by legal constraints: Codes &
ordinances
The most economical : Funds available, life-cycle
costs, etc.
Materials used are the most appropriate for the
environment: least damaging and disruptive,
very little environment damaging effluents and
emissions, etc.
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Sustainability
“…meeting the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their needs.”
Sustainable Design & Construction Actions
– Energy efficient buildings
– Re-use existing structures
– Efficient land use
– Use of renewable products / materials
– Protect soil and water resources
– Reduce / eliminate pollution
Sustainability - addressed on a Life Cycle
basis 11
SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN
SELECTING MATERIALS
Origin & Manufacture of Building Materials
– Plentiful? Renewable? Recycled content? Energy
expended to acquire? Manufacturing pollutants &
waste?
Construction of the Building
– Energy expended to acquire & install? Pollutants
generated? Waste generated & can it be recycled?
Building Maintenance
– Energy use over its lifetime? Material impact on
indoor air quality? Maintenance required?
Maintenance materials toxic? Recyclable? Fire &
smoke properties?
Demolition
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5 Techniques for Sustainable Building Construction
1. Prefabricating Materials in
Controlled Environments
2. Construction Waste
Management
3. Managing the Site for
Improved Environment
4. Lean Manufacturing to
Reduce Energy
5. Material Selection 13
1.6 Performance Before and After
Construction
Performance Concerns : Building
movements, structural deflections,
thermal- and moisture- related
expansion and contraction, heat flow,
water vapor migration and condensation,
deterioration, building maintenance, etc.
Construction Concerns : Safety,
built on time, within budget, quality of
construction, sequencing of construction
operations, inclement weather, quality
assurance of materials, etc.
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