BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION
AYUB A. MIRZA
MSC IN CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Course Evaluation and scoring system
• Overall score 100%

1. 60% Final Exam

2. 40% During studying the course

• 20% Midterm Exam
• 15% Quizzes (Three)
• 5% Attendance, Class work, & homework
References
1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ILLUSTRATED, THIRD EDITION, 2001, BY
FRANCIS D.K. CHING and CASSANDRA ADAMS.

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, Sixth Edition, 1988, By N.L. Arora and

B.R. Gupta
Course Overview-Subjects
1. The Building Site
2. The Building
3. Foundation systems
4. Floor systems
5. Wall systems
6. Roof systems
7. Moisture & Thermal Protection
8. Doors & Windows
9. Special Construction
10. Finish Work
11. Mechanical & Electrical Systems
12. Notes on Materials
Objectives of building construction course
1. To make students conversant with the building techniques so that
they can execute the construction work of buildings systematically,
safely, economically and in strict accordance with the specification
and detailed drawings.
2. To provide good working knowledge of various equipment used in
the construction of buildings.
3. To develop students ability to distinguish between good and bad
work so as to reduce the constructional faults and defects to a
minimum
Cont.
• To develop student’s ability to organize and execute construction
works of buildings through contractors, through departmental or daily
labour according to the specifications and on time.

• To develop student’s ability to maintain the existing buildings

properly, furthermore, the empower the ability of inspection and
cross checking buildings.
 General/introduction
• The art of building houses is not new to mankind. It has engaged
human mind from pre-historic ages to protect himself from the sun
and rains.

• With the development of civilization and engineering technology

during twentieth century, man has built most modern buildings not
only for residential purposes but also for business.

• A modern building should provide; protection, sufficient

accommodation and physical comfort, etc.
 Definitions
• A building is any structure constructed of whatsoever materials and
used for residential, business, or other purposes.

• Building construction is the art of construction buildings for

residential, business and other purposes, systematically according to
their planning, design and specifications.
Building/construction project phases
• Any construction activity may be divided to the following phases:
1. Conceptual phase
2. Design phase
3. Construction phase

• And any building project may divided into three parts

1. Architectural work
2. Design work
3. Execution work
 Purpose of a building
• To provide sheltering and protection from sunlight and rains, lighting,
snowfall etc.
• To provide sufficient accommodation.

To achieve above the above mentioned, the following provisions are

suggested:
• Thick outer walls to protect from dampness and provide insulation.
• The roof and floors should be properly designed and constructed insulated.
• All outer windows and walls should be made from good quality materials
and fixed properly to provide security and insulation.
Requirements of a good residential building
• It should be situated at a good building site.
• It should be properly planned and designed.
• All rooms should be properly placed, according to their relative utility.
• Properly oriented to provide physical comfort, ventilation, and light.
• Provide free movement .
• Good sanitary and electrical supply.
• Good architectural appearance.
 Parts of a building
A building usually consists of the following two parts:
1. Substructure (Foundation & basement)
• Foundation is the part of the building which transmits the load of the building
safely to the soil lying underneath. It does not provide any accommodation.
• Basement is the portion of the building below ground level and it provides
accommodation.
2. Superstructure
• Is the part of the building above ground level. It usually consists of; walls,
floor, walls, slabs, verandah/porch
Materials used in the construction of buildings
• Stones
• Bricks
• Cement
• Concrete
• Metals (steel, Aluminum, etc)
• Timber
• Paints
• Glass & plastic
• Insulating materials
• Water
• etc
Classification of buildings
Classification based on occupancy or use:
• Residential buildings: houses, lodging or rooming houses, private
dwellings, dormitories, apartment houses/flats, hotels, motels, etc.
• Educational buildings: Schools, universities, kindergarten, etc.
• Institutional buildings: The buildings used for purposes such as
medical or other treatment purposes or used for care of persons
suffering from physical or mental illness, diseases etc, are of infants
and aged persons, correctional detention, etc.
Cont.
• Assembly buildings: these are buildings where groups of people
gather for amusement, recreation, social, religious, patriotic civil,
theaters, museums, restaurants, etc.
• Business buildings: These buildings are used for transaction of
business, for the keeping of accounts and records and other similar
purposes.
• Mercantile buildings: these buildings are used for display and sale of
merchandise, either wholesale or retail like; shops, stores, markets,
malls, etc
Cont.
• Industrial buildings: These buildings are used for manufacturing or
fabricating products/materials of all kinds and properties, such as;
assembly plants, laboratories, power plants, pumping station, factories,
etc.
• Storage buildings: are used primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods,
wares or merchandise, vehicles or animals, such as; warehouses, cold
storages, freight depots, store houses, truck and marine terminals, silos,
tec.
• Hazardous buildings: the buildings used for the storage, handling,
manufacture or processing of highly combustible or explosive materials,
toxic, irritant or corrosive gases, such as; storage of acetylene, hydrogen,
ammonia, natural gases, storage of hazardous and highly inflammable
liquids or materials, explosives and fireworks
Classification based on type of construction
1. Type 1: in these buildings, the design and materials used in their
construction are such that all structural components have about 4-
hour fire resistance. ( the fire resistance of a building or its structural elements is
expressed in hours against test load which is expressed in Kcal/m2, and against a certain
intensity of fire).
2. Type 2: in these buildings the materials and all structural
components have 3-hour fire resistance.
3. Type 3: 2-hour fire resistance.
4. Type 4: 1-hour fire resistance.
 Site Selection
• The site of a building greatly affects its planning, design, and
construction. It may be selected as required or accepted as available.

• The selection of site depends upon the purpose for which the
proposed building is to be constructed.
Factors to be considered while selecting a site
for a building.
1. Level of the site: the level of the site must be higher than that of its
surroundings so as to provide good drainage.
2. Climatic conditions: rainfall intensity and water level should be low
so as to avoid dampness in building.
3. Subsoil conditions: A hard stratum should be available at a
reasonable depth ( 1 m to 1.5 m below GL.) so as to construct the
foundation of the building safely and economically.
4. Availability of modern services/amenities: the building must be
within municipal boundary so that services like water supply,
electricity, drainage roads, etc are available.
Cont.
5. Availability of other facilities: the site should provide an easy access
from the nearest road and offer sufficient light and air.
6. Surroundings: the situation and surroundings of the site must be
such as to suit the purpose of which the building is to be
constructed.
• In addition to the above factors, each type of building requires
different surroundings such as;
• A hotel should be near to the public transportations.
• A commercial building should be close to the city center.
• A hospital should be located in a quite locality.
General precautions in site selection
1. The site, where there is deposited refuse, excreta or other such
offensive matters, should be avoided as far as possible.
2. Old quarry sites should be avoided.
3. The site must not be located in water logged area or near to the
bank of the river.
4. The site should provide sufficient horizontal and vertical distances
between adjacent buildings and any overhead electric power lines.
5. The site should be away from foul odours or smoke nuisance due to
industrial buildings or away from noisy sites.
 Orientation of buildings.
• Orientation of the building is placing/positioning a building so that its
front faces a particular direction.

• The orientation is also includes the arrangement of rooms of a

building so as to provide natural comforts to the dwellers.

• Orientation needs first consideration after selection of site for proper

planning and design.
Objectives of the building’s orientation
• To place the buildings as to suit its surroundings.
• To provide natural comforts.
• To provide privacy.
• To protect the residents from dust, & noise nuisances.
• To place the building in such away to minimize the building portions
that have contact to showers, rains to prevent dampness.
• To have good planning and design of the building.
Factors affecting orientation of a building
• Surroundings of the site.
• Proximity of a road or street.
• The Sun’s path and its relative position with respect to locality. It is
essential to orientate the building such that the sun rays may fall
sufficiently on the building and enter its rooms through doors and
windows. Why?
• Direction and intensity of wind during summer and winter.
• The character and intensity of rain.
 Ventilation of buildings
• The supply of outside of air into, or the removal of inside air from the
rooms of different buildings is called ventilation of buildings.

• The ventilation is essential to adjust the flow of air currents through

its rooms, corridors, etc, remove foul air and to provide constant
freshness of air in them.

• A well ventilated building is a sign of health and comfort to the

residents.
 Objectives of ventilation
• To provide constant freshness of air.

• To remove unpleasant odours du to humidity and warmth.

• To eliminate bacteria by continuous change in air

 Methods of ventilation
1. Natural method: the ventilation is done normally by providing
windows and doors in the opposite wall of a room and it is called
cross ventilation.

2. Artificial method: in this method ventilation is done artificially by

providing either exhaust fans or pushing fans.