Week 1
Week 1
Week 1
Foundation
The function of the foundation is to transmit the load from the building finally to the soil. This, it
must do without excessive settlement and compression of the supporting soil layer.
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Functional Requirements of Foundation
Ability to carry loads with a minimum movement
Adequate width to safely transmit the loads on it to the supporting soil layer
Functions of Foundations
Foundation provides suitable support and stability for building
Transmits to the ground all the loads that come on the building over a sufficient area of
subsoil
Prevents the failure of the building or uneven settlement.
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Floor
Floor can be defined as the horizontal structure which carries imposed and live loads in a
building and divides a building into storeys. It plays an important role in a building.
The most common material used for the construction of floors that will meet the requirement of
building regulations and local bye-laws are concrete and wood.
Wall
This is usually the vertical continuous part of a building which encloses or protects the building
or divides the building into rooms and compartments. It is made up of blocks, concrete, mortar,
stones, metals etc. types of walls include: Internal, External, Buttress, Sleeper, party, parapet
partition and cavity walls.
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Fig 1.2 Internal and external walls
Door
A door is a movable barrier placed across an opening in a building that provides access into the
building or between spaces within the building.
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Fig 1.3 Example of a Paneled door
Windows
Windows provide natural light and ventilation to the interior of a building while excluding rain
and insects.
Windows are usually made of timber, steel. But other materials such as plastics (uPVC) and
aluminium are also popular. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Provide privacy.
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Fig. 1.4 Parts of a window
Roof
This is the topmost covering in a building. It is done during the finishing of a building. It
prevents a lot of sound (minimizing incoming sound), dust, wind and rain and also it helps the
occupants cover their privacy.
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Functional Requirements of Roof
Strength: of roof depends on the characteristics of the materials from which it is constructed and
the way in which they are put together in the form of a flat or some form of triangular frame.
Stability: a roof is constructed to support the dead load of the roof structure and its covering,
insulation and internal finishes, snow loads and pressure of suction due to wind without undue
deflection or distortion. The dead load can be calculated from the unit weight of materials with
which it is covered, varying from the continuous impermeable layer of asphalt covering that can
be laid horizontal to exclude rain, to the small units of clay tiles that are laid overlapping down
slopes so that rain runs rapidly to the covers.
Weather Resistance: A roof excludes rain through the materials with which it is covered;
varying from the continuous impermeable layer of asphalt converging that can be horizontal to
exclude rain to the small units of clay titles that are laid overlapping down slop so that rain runs
rapidly to the covers.
Durability: The durability of a roof is dependant largely on the ability of the roof covering to
exclude rain and snow. Persistent penetration of water into the roof structure may cause or
encourage decay of timber, corrosion of steel or disintegration of concrete.
Fire Safety: The requirements for control of spread of fire in schedule of the building
regulations for dwelling houses limit roof construction relative to the proximity of boundaries of
the site of the building by reference to the materials of roof covering.
Thermal Resistance: The materials of roof structures and roof covering are generally poor
insulators against the transfer of heat. It is usually necessary to use some materials which are
good insulator. Examples of such materials include light weight boards, mats or loose materials.
This is to provide insulation requirements to meet the building regulation for the insulation of
roofs of dwellings is a standard value of 0.25 where the SAP ceiling is over 60.
Sound Insulation: The resistance of a roof to the penetration of airborne sound is not generally
considered unless the building is close to a busy airport. The mass of the materials of a roof is the
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main constructions in the reduction of airborne sound.
Test Questions
i. List the basic building components.
ii. State the functional requirements of four building components.