WALL SYSTEM

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
WA L L

 Definitions
 Functions
 Types
Why build walls……….???

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To divide countries

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To define boundaries

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As defence mechanisms

J. Byrne 2013 6
To protect cities

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To create cities

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To create building forms

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To form building structures

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To define buildings

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To create spaces

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To divide spaces

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 DEFİNİTİONS

 Wa l l s a r e t h e v e r t i c a l
building elements which
divide the spaces from
each other
 a structure that defines
an area, carries a load;
provides security and
s a f e t y.
 WA L L

Position Functions Category

 External
 External  Load Bearing Wall
i. Curtain Wall
 Internal walls  Non-load Bearing Wall
ii. Parapet Wall
iii.Retaining Wall

 Internal walls
i. Partition
ii. Spur / Free Standing
Wall
iii.Moveable Wall
T Y P E O F WA L L

External
Internal walls
WA L L : D E F I N I T I O N
2 main types:

1. External Wall

2. External envelope of a building, having one face exposed to the

weather or the earth. Also called exterior wall. Exterior walls protect

the building interior from external environmental effects such as heat,

sunlight, ultraviolet radiation, rain, wind, [cold, snow], sound, dust

and pest, while containing desirable interior environmental conditions

and privacy of the occupants.

3. Internal wall

4. Any wall within a building, entirely surrounded by external wall. It

divides the internal space, separates and gives aural and visual privacy

to the spaces enabling activities to be carried out.

External wall must fulfill the following important function:

1. Barrier against water penetration and dampness.

2. Thermal insulator.

3. Sound insulator.

4. Fire and smoke resistance.

5. Support the installation of doors and windows.

6. Provide privacy for its occupants.

7. Secure and safe against pest.

8. As an aesthetic appeal.

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FA C T O R S I N D E S I G N I N G A N D
C O N S T R U C T I O N O F WA L L S :
1. Strength + Stability

Strong enough to safely resist the horizontal and vertical forces imposed
upon it.

– Horizontal forces: wind + earth movement [dynamic load)

– Vertical forces: dead load [walls above, floor, roof] + life load
[humans, furniture + equipment's. Walls above, floors, roof

Wind
2. Types of joints between building structure, floor and roof.

NON LOAD BEARING: INFILL WALL BEARING WALL

Parapet
overhang wall Floor/roof
floor

wall wall

CANTILEVER floor floor

3. External and Internal Finish
Congruency/connection between the construction material and the surface finish required.
Visual characteristic in terms of color, texture and pattern to provide appropriate image and for the different typology of
building.

Concrete finish, Stucco and plaster

and paint
Timber / plywood panel and strips
Brick wall: bare Metal panel, strip finish or glazing
 rain
4. Climate and Weather
sound
Weather proofing and avoidance against:
– Dampness
– Heat and solar penetration
– Light and glare heat

– Sound penetration
– Wind – resistance uplift, shear and lateral
wind
forces while allowing ventilation into
buildings.
T Y P E O F WA L L

L o a d B e a r i n g Wa l l s
 support floors above and the
roof.
 serving as important
structural elements, bearing
walls transfer the weight of
the roof and upper floors to the
foundation.
T Y P E O F WA L L
T Y P E O F WA L L

Partition
 are non-load bearing and do not support
anything. They act as space dividers
 T Y P E O F WA L L
1. Curtain walls
 A  c u r t a i n w a l l   s y s t e m i s a n
outer covering of a
building in which the
outer walls are non-
structural, but merely
keep the weather out and
the occupants in.
 As the curtain wall is non-
structural it can be made
of a lightweight material,
reducing construction costs.
T Y P E O F WA L L

Moveable walls:
 If space needs change often, you should consider
using moveable walls. Conference centers, office
spaces, etc.
 offer an affordable and flexible solution for
commercial office interiors. For companies that
are renting space or often need to change
layouts, movable walls can be a good alternative to
traditional solid walls finished with drywall to
define offices, meeting spaces, and lounge areas.
T Y P E O F WA L L

Parapet Wall
- that part of the wall which is entirely above the
roof.
T Y P E O F WA L L
Freestanding:
walls that do not join adjacent wall at
both ends.
E.g.: Fireplaces in the center of rooms,
walls behind reception desks.
T Y P E O F WA L L
Retaining wall
a free-standing wall whose chief function is to resist the lateral
pressure of earth or other granular material
 Party Wall

Terrace House/Building & Semi-Detached

Fire Resistance
• Walls are also designed to provide resistance to passage of fire for some defined
period of time, such as a one-hour or two-hour wall.
• Designed according to Jabatan Bomba requirement and the Uniform Building By-
Law 1984 [UBBL] :
– Party wall:
• 9”[250mm] thick for brick wall construction
• 6”[150mm] thick for pre-cast concrete wall construction
– Timber, metal, glass, plywood and gypsum board are not allowed for party wall.
Installation of Building Service.

Method of integrating the installation of piping

works for water supply, electrical conduit,
sanitation, air-condition duct and fire fighting
pipes.

Door and Window Opening

Walls often contain doors and windows, which Piping works

provide for controlled passage of environmental
factors and people through the wall line.
Materials
 Stone
 Brick
 Concrete blocks
 Wood
 Metal
 Plastic
 Gypsum blocks
FA C T O R S T O C O N S I D E R W H E N P L A N N I N G WA L L S :

Aesthetics:
• formal walls have s m o o t h s u r f a c e s and are s y m m e t r i c a l i n
the window and door placements.
• They are also more closed with more of a vertical emphasis. I n f o r m a l
w a l l s a r e r o u g h , asymmetrical, and are more open with a horizontal
feel.
Function and Flexibility:
• They offer flexibility for tenants that experience change. Moveable walls
provide electrical and data lines (some even offer plumbing) built into the
wall system. The flooring is installed continuous so that the walls can be
moved and not require the flooring to be changed.
FA C T O R S T O C O N S I D E R W H E N P L A N N I N G WA L L S :

Degree of enclosure and privacy:

opaque walls mean that you can’t see thru them. Tr a n s l u c e n t m e a n s

that you can see thru the windows.

Light qualities:

Psychology of light. White reflects up to 89% of light and black reflect about
2%. Texture also plays a role. S m o o t h s u r f a c e s r e f l e c t m o r e
light that rough textures.

Durability:

the amount of t i m e a n d m o n e y n e e d e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e
w a l l s must be considered. This is your responsibility when specifying a
wall treatment to understand your clients needs.
Reinforced Masonry Walls:
Reinforced masonry walls can be load bearing walls or non-load bearing walls. The
use of reinforcement in walls helps it to withstand tension forces and heavy
compressive loads
The un-reinforced masonry walls are prone to cracks and failure under heavy compressive
loads and during earthquakes. They have little ability to withstand lateral forces during heavy
rain and wind. Cracks also develop in un-reinforced masonry walls due to earth pressure or
differential settlement of foundations.
To overcome such problems, reinforced masonry walls are used. Reinforcement in walls are
at required intervals both horizontally and vertically is used. The size of reinforcement, their
quantity and spacing are determined based on the loads on the walls and structural conditions.
Hollow Masonry Walls:
Hollow or Cavity masonry walls are used to prevent moisture reaching the interior of the
building by providing hollow space between outside and inside face of the wall. These walls
also helps in temperature control inside the building from outside wall as the hollow space
restricts heat to pass through the wall.