Yield Calculation
Questions often arise between concrete suppliers and buyers regarding yield, or volume of concrete supplied. A major reason for this is […]
Building Design and Construction
Sociological changes, new technology in industry and commerce, new building codes, other new laws and regulations, inflationary economies of nations, and advances in building technology place an ever-increasing burden on building designers
and constructors. They need more and more knowledge and skill to cope with the demands placed on them.
The public continually demands more complex buildings than in the past. They must serve more purposes, last longer, and require less maintenance and repair. As in the past, they must look attractive. Yet, both building construction and operating
costs must be kept within acceptable limits or new construction will cease.
To meet this challenge successfully, continual improvements in building design and construction must be made. Building designers and constructors should be alert to these advances and learn how to apply them skillfully.
One advance of note to building design is the adaptation of operations research, or systems design, developed around the middle of the twentieth century and originally
applied with noteworthy results to design of machines and electronic equipment.
In the past, design of a new building was mainly an imitation of the design of an existing building. Innovations were often developed fortuitously and by intuition and were rare occurrences. In contrast, systems design encourages innovation.
It is a precise procedure that guides creativity toward the best decisions. As a result, it can play a significant role in meeting the challenges posed by increasing building complexity and costs. The basic principles of systems design are presented
in this section.
Year-Round Air Conditioning
Electronic-computer rooms and certain manufacturing processes require temperature and humidity to be closely controlled throughout the year. Air-conditioning systems for this purpose
Zoning
In large and complex buildings, there will be many spaces that have different inside design conditions. The reason for this is
Zoning Codes
Like building codes, zoning codes are established under the police powers of the state, to protect the health, welfare, and safety
Wood Trusses
Used in all forms of building construction for centuries, wood trusses have appeared in a wide variety of forms. They utilized
Wood-Frame Construction
This is the predominant method for building single- and multifamily dwellings. Wood-frame buildings can be erected speedily and are economical
Wood Floors
Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for floors. Hardwoods most commonly used are maple, beech, birch, oak, and pecan. Softwoods are
Wood Compression Members
The design of wood columns or other types of compression members requires consideration of compressive strength parallel to the grain, end
Wood Facades
Wood is often applied on low buildings as an exterior finish in the form of siding, shingles, half timbers, or plywood