FARM STRUCTURES

Definition
• The term Farm structures include the following:

§ Farm houses (dwellings)

§ Animal housing (pig housing, poultry housing, rabbit housing,

dairy, cattle handling facilities, etc)

§ Plant housing (Greenhouses, Glasshouses, shed nets, etc)

§ Windmills

§ Irrigation structures (pump houses, canals, solar panels, etc)

§ Conservation works (Dams, contour ridges, terraces, etc)

 Farm Structures
§ Farm storage buildings: barns, silos, grain elevators, etc.

§ Harvest preparation and conditioning buildings.

§ Ancillary buildings, garages, tools heds, etc.

§ Enclosures and protection installations, etc. Walls and fences

§ Farm water supply systems (non-irrigation); farm sewage and waste

disposal systems

§ Architectural aspects of farm and rural buildings

§ Farm roads and bridges: design, construction and maintenance

 Objectives
• At the end of this unit students should be able
to explain;

1. Phases of structural engineering (Planning,

design and construction)
2. Maintenance of farm structures
 Farmstead
• The nucleus of the farm operations where a
wide range of farming activities take place.
• It usually includes;
1. Family residence
2. Animal shelter
3. Storage structures,
4. Equipment shed
5. Workshop and
6. Other structures
 Planning and Designing
• Three phases of structural engineering
include;
– Planning
– Designing
– Construction
 Planning
• Consideration should be given to various
requests and factors that affect the general
layout and dimensions of the structure.
• Selected the best alternative structure
 Primary consideration
• Function of the structure
– To convey
– To enclose
– To support
 Secondary consideration
• These include;
– Aesthetic
– Sociological
– Legal
– Financial
– Economic
– environmental
 Designing
• This where detailed consideration of the
alternative solutions involved in planning
phase are tackled.
• Most suitable material proportions,
dimensions, details of structural elements and
connections are calculated and converted into
drawings.
 Construction
• In this phase materials are procured,
structural members and subassemblies are
fabricated, then transported to the site.
• Building personnel is hired and finally the
structure is erected.
 Planning Factors
• Topography- affects drainage, building
location and access routes

• Drainage- Good drainage is required for dry

farmstead and stable building foundations.
Subsurface drainage may be required around
grain elevator pits and underground storage
 Planning Factors
• Slope- gentle slope facilitates drainage and
allows for less land filling. Locate buildings on
gentle slopes of 2-6 %.
• Space- Adequate space should be provided for
manoeuvring and future expansion. Avoid
sites with springs and high water table. Avoid
sites near river or other features that may
limit future expansion.
 Planning Factors
• Climate- Wind; air movement is essential for
cross ventilation but excessive wind can
damage buildings. Wind also carry odours and
noise, therefore certain structures have to be
down stream. Windbreaks (trees or fences)
help to reduces the winds
 Planning factors
• Sun- Layout buildings in the East-West
orientation.
• Water- Provide for adequate and clean water
at all activity centres
• Services- Plan for parking space, manoeuvring
and temporary storage of machinery and
trucks. Main drive way and loops essential
 Planning Factors
• Utilities- Provide for electric, gas and
telephone, water and sewage lines, septic
tanks and field drainage
• Fire prevention, Safety and security- Prevent
fire through adequate wiring, good house
keeping, properly maintained heating
equipment, lighting protection, proper storage
of fuels and avoiding spontaneous ignition
 ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Footings and Foundations
– Necessary to support the building and the loads
within or on the building.
– They should be made of materials that will not fail
under water logged conditions
– Foundation materials include concrete, stones,
concrete blocks and bricks
 ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Walls
– There are two types of walls;
• Load bearing walls (support loads from roof + their
weight)
• Non load bearing walls (Carry no roof or floor)
– Walls must provide strength, stability, thermal and
sound insulation and must be weather and fire
resistant
– Wall materials; bricks, concrete blocks, stones,
mud, poles and earth
 ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Floors
– Good floors should offer protection from pests,
rodents and be easy to clean, dry and durable
– Materials for floor; compacted soil, concrete,
hardwood timber
 ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Roofs
– Provide protection from rain, sun, wind, heat and
cold
– They must be designed to withstand the dead
load, wind forces and dust.
– They must be leak proof, durable and sometimes
fire resistant
– Materials; Thatch grass, galvanized corrugated
steel sheets, asbestos-cement sheets, fibre glass
reinforced plastic sheets, roof tiles and slates
 ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION
• Doors
– Provide security and protection while allowing
easy and convinient entry and exit
– Must be strong
• Windows
– Provide light and ventilation and allow a view of
the outside
• Others (Stairs, plumbing, electrical
installations and other fittings)
 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
• Inspect the structure once or twice a year to
assess its condition
• Replace broken parts such as windows, doors,
thatch, tiles, poles, plastic
• During construction use rodent proof building
materials where possible
• Cleaning, repainting and re-roofing help to
maintain the original value of the building
 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
• Maintenance costs can be kept down by using
materials suitable for climatic conditions
• Building should be simple and have easily
replaceable parts