UNIT 1

TYPES OF BUILDINGS
Classification:
According National Building code of India, 1970 the buildings on the basis of occupancy are
classified into following groups

GROUP A:
Residential buildings:
All those buildings in which sleeping accommodation is provided for residing permanently
or temporary with or without looking or dinning or both facilities are termed as residential
building
Ex: Apartments, Flats, Bungalows, Dormitories, private houses, Hotels, Hostels, Cottages,
Hole day camps, clubs, hotels, Inns etc
These buildings are further subdivided into 5 groups
 A1 - Lodging Houses
 A2 - Family Private Dwellings
  A3 - Dormitories
 A4 - Flats
 A5 – Hotels
GROUP B:
Educational buildings: All those buildings which are meant for education from nursery to
university are included in this group
Ex: schools, colleges, universities, training institutes etc

GROUP C:
Institutional Buildings:
This group includes any building or part thereof, which is used for the purposes such as
medical, health, recovering health after illness, physical or mental diseases, care of infants
or aged persons, panel detention etc. These buildings normally provide sleeping
accommodation for the occupants.
GROUP D:
Assembly Buildings:
This group includes any building or part or a building where groups of people assemble or
gather for amusement; recreation, social, religious, patriotic or similar purpose
for example theatres, cinema halls, museums, gymnasiums, restaurants, places of worship,
dance halls, club rooms, passenger stations, public transportation services, open air theatres,
swimming pools etc.

GROUP E-
Business Buildings:
This group includes any building or part or a building which is used for purposes such as
transaction of business, keeping of accounts and records etc; dispensaries and clinics, banks,
city halls, court halls, libraries etc.
GROUP F –
Mercantile Buildings:
This group includes any building or part of a building which is used for shops, stores,
market, for safe and display of products or waves either whole sale or retail.
GROUP G –
Industrial Buildings:
This group includes any building or part of a building or structure in which product of
different kinds and properties are fabricated, assembled or processed.
For example, laboratories, assembly plants, laundries, gas plants, power plants, refineries,
diaries etc.
GROUP H –
Storage Building:
This group includes those building structures which are primarily used for the storage
structures which are primarily used for the Building Materials & Construction storage or
sheltering of goods, waves or merchandise vehicles or animals,
for example warehouses, cold storages, freight depots, store houses, transit sheds, truck
terminals, garages etc.

GROUP J –
Hazardous Building:
This group includes those building structures which are used for the storage, handling,
manufacture or processing of materials which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity and
prove hazards to health; building or building contents.
Hazards may be due to fire; poisonous fumes or gases, explosions, ignitions etc from
materials subjected to various operations.
Buildings used for storage of gases under high pressure or for storage and handling of highly
flammable liquids or explosives, fireworks etc are included in this group.
FUNCTIONS OF BUILDING

Component parts of building

The building basically consists of three parts namely,
1) Foundation 2) Plinth and 3) Super structure

Component parts of building

i) Foundation: It is the lowest artificially prepared part below the surface of the
surrounding ground which is indirect contact with sub-strata and transmits all the
loads to the ground (or sub-soil)

ii) Plinth: It is the middle part of the structure, above the surface of the surrounding
ground up to the surface of the floor immediately above the ground. Its function in
the building is same as of sub-structure in the case of the bridge.

iii) Super structure: It is that part of the structure which is constructed above the
plinth level (i.e., ) ground level
A building in general made of the following structural components
1. Foundation
2. Plinth
3. Walls
4. Ground, basement and upper floors
5. Doors and windows
6. Sills, Lintels and weather shades
7. Roofs
8. Steps and stairs
9. Finishes for walls
10.Utility fixtures

Each of these components is an essential part of a building and requires due

consideration in design and construction for their functional performance.

1. Foundations: The foundation is the most critical part of any structure and most of
the failure is probably due to faulty foundations rather than any other cause.
The purpose of foundation is to transmit the anticipated loads safety to the soil Basic
requirements:
 1. To distribute the total load coming on the structure over a large bearing area so as to
prevent it from any movement.
2. To load the bearing surface or area at a uniform rate so as to prevent any unequal or
relative settlement.
3. To prevent the lateral movement of the structure Types of Buildings
4. To secure a level or firm natural bed, upon which to lay the courses of masonary and
also support the structure.
5. To increase the suitability of the structure as a whole, so as to prevent it from
overturning or sliding against such as wind, rain, frost etc.

2. Plinth: This is the portion of structure between the surface of the surrounding ground
and surface of the floor, immediately above the ground. As per Byelaws, the plinth
should not be less than 45cm.
The basic requirements of plinth area
1) To transmit the load of the super-structure to the foundation
2) To act as a retaining wall so as to keep the filling portion below the raised floor or the
building
3) To protect the building from damp or moisture penetration into it
4) It enhances the architectural appearance of the building

3. Walls and piers in super structure:

The primary function of walls is to enclose or liquid space. A load-bearing wall in the
super structure should satisfy the following requirements. Strengths, stability, weather
resistance, fire resistance, heat insulation, sound insulation, privacy and security.
4. Ground basement and upper floors: The main function of a floor is to provide
support of occupants, furniture and equipment of a building and the function of
providing different floors is to devoid the building into different levels for the purpose of
creating more accommodation within the limited space. The floor should satisfy the
following functional requirements.
1. Strength and stability 2. Durability and dampness 3. Heal insulation 4. Sound
insulation and fire resistance 5.Doors and windows:
The main function of doors in a building is to serve us a connecting link between
internal parts and also to allow the free movement outside the building. Windows are
generally provided for the proper ventilation and lighting of a building.
 The following are the functional requirements 1. Weather resistance 2. Sound and
thermal insulation 3. Damp prevention and terminate-proofing 4. Fire resistance and
durability 5. Privacy and security
6. Sills. Lintels and weather shades: Windowsills are provided between the bottom of
window frame and wall below, to protect the top of wall from wear and tear. The actual
frame of door or window is not strong enough to support the weight of the wall above
the strong enough to support the weight of the wall above the openings and a separate
structural element has, therefore to be introduced. This is known as lintel and is similar
to a beam. Weather shades on ehhajjas are generally combined with lintels of windows
to protect from the weather elements such as sun, rain, frost etc.
7. Roofs: A roof is the uppermost part of the building whose main function is to enclose
the space and to protect the same from the effects of Types of Buildings weather
elements such as rain, sun, wind, heat, snow etc.
A good roof is just as essential as a safe foundation.
The functional requirements of the roof are as follows.
i) Strength and stability- strong and stable enough to take up anticipated loads
ii) Weather resistance – resistance to wind, rain, sun, snow etc
iii) Heat insulation - should provide adequate insulation against heat
iv) Sound insulation – should provide adequate deque of insulation against sound
from external sources.
v) Fire resistance – Should offer the adequate deque of fire resistance. vi) Day
lighting – The provides day light in buildings with large floor area i.e., industrial
buildings through window in the roof.
8.Steps and Stairs: A stair is a structural consists of number of steps leading from one
floor to another.
The main functions of stairs are i. To provide means of communication between the
various floors for everyday use ii. To escape from upper floors in the case of fire.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS

 Green thermal insulation

Polyester, sheep’s wool, cellulose and earthwool. What do these materials have in common?
They help to lift the energy rating of buildings, by trapping excess heat in winter and keeping it
away in summer. This reduces the need for energy-intense forms of temperature control, such as air-
conditioning, which in turn keeps electricity bills down. You could probably say that most forms of
insulation are eco-friendly, for this reason. However, some are greener than others, so to speak.
Many people use fibreglass insulation because it’s cost-effective, however the manufacturing
process uses up to 10 times more energy than sustainable alternatives. There are better options

 Sheep’s wool:
This is probably as natural as it gets, off the back of a sheep. Harmful particles in the air are
absorbed by this material, which doesn’t burn easily or itch the skin. It also doesn’t degrade as
fast as materials like straw and can be harvested quicker than some other natural insulators, like
cotton. It’s not the cheapest sustainable insulation option though

 Cellulose: This insulation consists of recycled newspaper and other types of paper that
would otherwise end up in the rubbish tip. On the downside, this isn’t the easiest material for
firefighters to manage in emergencies

 Polyester: Recycled plastic bottles can be found in this product, which can also be
recycled. It’s non-flammable and doesn’t cause itchy skin or release dust particles.
 Earthwool: There are no artificial colours in this product, which contains natural bio-
based materials and inorganic glass fibres.
 Plant-based polyurethane rigid foam: This foam is made out of natural
materials such as bamboo, hemp and kelp. The product resists heat extremely well and
insulates better than fibreglass, due to its higher R-value.
 Straw bales: You probably wouldn’t expect straw to be resistant to fire (or vermin and
decay for that matter), but it is. Many Australian buildings feature strawbale walls that are
rendered with cement or earth. Straw comes from grass, so it’s a renewable building material
that’s easily harvested.

Recycled metal
Builders rely heavily on metals such as aluminium and steel, which are durable, lightweight and
versatile. But there’s a challenge: A lot of energy goes into mining and manufacturing the metal,
which takes its toll on the environment. Keep in mind, ore is a finite resource that already shows
signs of being in short supply. Recycling provides a feasible alternative, by lowering the energy
used in the overall manufacturing process

Reclaimed wood
Recycled wood that’s been properly treated is useful for building walls, cabinetry, decks,
floors, beams, panels and other structures. It’s usually sourced from old-growth trees, which
makes it sturdier than virgin wood that comes from first-generation forests. As with recycled
metal, reclaiming wood significantly reduces the amount of energy that’s used to make it. It
also stores carbon and lowers the demand for fresh timber from forests. And of course,
there’s a certain aesthetic charm that appeals to architects who desire a rustic and ecological
design that only occurs when wood ages over time. However, wood is vulnerable to being
degraded by pests and insects, so it’s important to carefully inspect every restored piece.

 . Structural insulated panels

A structural insulated panel that’splaced between layers of plywood, strand board and cement.
Floors, walls and ceilings can be constructed using these durable engineered panels, instead of
conventional framing lumber and insulation.

The benefits for architects, designers, builders, residents and property owners?

 SIPs are stronger than traditional wood framing types

 Less waste from the prefabricated approach
 The general consensus is they conserve around 50 per cent more energy,
resulting in lower bills for property owners or residents
 They can be combined with other building materials, lending more creative
freedom and versatility to design
 Higher upfront cost but shorter construction times and lower labour costs
than traditional framing
 Builders don’t require specialised tools to install SIPs
 A high level of airtightness in buildings, which means reduced drafts and
less heat transfer

Several materials are required for construction.

The materials used in the construction of Engineering Structures such as buildings,
bridges and roads are called Engineering Materials or Building Materials.

They include Bricks, Timber, Cement, Steel and Plastics.

The materials used in Civil Engineering constructions can be studied under the
following headings.

1. Traditional materials
2. Alternate building materials
3. Composite materials
4. Smart materials

It is necessary for an engineer to be conversant with the properties of engineering

materials. Right selection of materials can be made for a construction activity only
when material properties are fully understood. Some of the most important
properties of building materials are grouped as follows.

Group Properties

Physical Shape, Size, Density, Specific Gravity etc.,

Mechanical Strength, Elasticity, Plasticity, Hardness, Toughness,

Ductility, Brittleness, Creep, Stiffness, Fatigue, Impact
 Strength etc.,

Thermal conductivity, Thermal resistivity, Thermal capacity

Thermal
etc.,

Corrosion resistance, Chemical composition, Acidity,

Chemical
Alkalinity etc.,

Optical Colour, Light reflection, Light transmission etc.,

Acoustical Sound absorption, Transmission and Reflection.

Physiochemic Hygroscopicity, Shrinkage and Swell due to moisture

al changes

Definitions

 Density: It is defined as mass per unit volume. It is expressed as

kg/m3.
 Specific gravity: It is the ratio of density of a material to density of
water.
 Porosity: The term porosity is used to indicate the degree by which
the volume of a material is occupied by pores. It is expressed as a ratio
of volume of pores to that of the specimen.
 Strength: Strength of a material has been defined as its ability to
resist the action of an external force without breaking.
 Elasticity: It is the property of a material which enables it to regain its
original shape and size after the removal of external load.
 Plasticity: It is the property of the material which enables the
formation of permanent deformation.
 Hardness: It is the property of the material which enables it to resist
abrasion, indentation, machining and scratching.
 Ductility: It is the property of a material which enables it to be drawn
out or elongated to an appreciable extent before rupture occurs.
 Brittleness: It is the property of a material, which is opposite to
ductility. Material, having very little property of deformation, either
elastic or plastic is called Brittle.
 Creep: It is the property of the material which enables it under
constant load to deform slowly but progressively over a certain period.
 Stiffness: It is the property of a material which enables it to resist
deformation.
 Fatigue: The term fatigue is generally referred to the effect of
cyclically repeated stress. A material has a tendency to fail at lesser
stress level when subjected to repeated loading.
 Impact strength: The impact strength of a material is the quantity of
work required to cause its failure per its unit volume. It thus indicates
the toughness of a material.
 Toughness: It is the property of a material which enables it to be
twisted, bent or stretched under a high stress before rupture.
 Thermal Conductivity: It is the property of a material which allows
conduction of heat through its body. It is defined as the amount of heat
in kilocalories that will flow through unit area of the material with unit
thickness in unit time when difference of temperature on its faces is
also unity.
 Corrosion Resistance: It is the property of a material to withstand
the action of acids, alkalis gases etc., which tend to corrode (or
oxidize).

Responsibilities of Materials Engineer

A material engineer must be familiar with a wide range of materials

used in a wide range of structures and is responsible for the following
jobs with certain limits of compromises to be made on site.

 Selection of Materials
 Specification of Materials
 Quality Control of materials
 Factors Influencing Selection of a Building Materials A wide range of
construction materials is available. The proper selection of materials to
be used in a particular construction project depends on the following
factors

 Strength
 Availability
 Durability
 Workability
 Ease of Transportation
 Cost
 Aesthetics
 Resistance to Fire
 Ease of Cleaning