Fernandez, Andy

Building Construction Illustrated –Ching / FBC Materials & Methods

Summary #8

In this reading, we learn about the importance of building exterior wall systems and their role of protection and prevention of outside elements to the interior spaces. Some of the numerous functions of the exterior walls involve keeping water out and preventing air leakage. The exterior wall serves to control heat conduction, sound transmission, water vapor, and temperature, resist fire and heat radiation among other factors. In many respects the modern exterior walls are similar to the human skin. They offer protection from water, heat and wind effects. Exterior walls must serve the effects of expansion and shrinkage of joint movements, building freeze/thaw, movement, wind / earthquake effects, corrosion and oxidation resistance and ultraviolet light effects. Some of the properties of the walls consist of air barriers, rainscreens, sealants and PEC (Pressure Equalized Chambers) and curtain walls. These smaller components offer protection from water penetration into the interior bays. Air barriers offer air from escaping or penetrating the interior while sealants block the passage of water from the outside environment. Some sealants offer resistance to expansion and shrinkage and therefore are great solutions to joint connections of structures. The rainscreen is a popular option in modern building wall cladding and serves as a shield to wind and rain. The application of the PEC in wall construction offers the control of air pressurization components to eliminate rain penetration thru small areas. Curtain walls are used as a layer of protection on the building frame. Overall, the exterior wall system is an array group of components that serves to protect the building interior just as the human skin does with thermal and water control.

In this section, Ching covers the important aspects of “Moisture & Thermal Protection” and even more.

The slope of a roof effects the building during the bad weather conditions, such as rain and snow or etc. The more flat roof top you have the more work needs to be done. For example Ching points out the importance of keeping cautious of waterproof membrane to contain the water while it drains or evaporates. But the higher the pitch of the roof is the more it supports its self by over lapping or interlocking tiles or whatever material you want to use. Its more on an angle, its easier for it to shed the water. Ching also covers the concept of “Flashing”. Flashing is a thin continuous sheet or other impervious material installed to prevent the passage of water into a structure from an angle or joint. It protects the joints from the water that penetrate it. Its up to you if you want to expose it or conceal it. It has to be a water proof material.

In this section of the book Ching speak about roofing materials, wall flashing, masonry veneer, thermal insulation, ventilation, roof attic ventilation, crawl space ventilation, and whole house ventilation. Roofing materials provide the water- resistant covering for a roof system. They range in form virtually continuous, impervious membranes to overlapping or interlocking pieces of shingles and tiles. Wall flashing is installed to collect any moisture that may penetrate a wall and divert it to the outside through weep holes. Masonry veneer construction consists of a single wythe of masonry serving as a wether barrier and anchored but not bonded to a supporting structural frame. The primary purpose of thermal insulation is to control the flow or transfer of heat through the exterior assemblies of a building and thereby prevent excessive heat loss in cold seasons and heat gain in hot weather. Whole house ventilators are motor- driven fans for pulling stake air from the living areas of a house and exhausting it through attic and roof vents. 

In this reading Ching covers a range of Building Assembly’s. He mainly Goes Over Moisture and thermal protection. To start off Ching tells us about how roofs are protected from moisture, Sloped roofs allow water to drip off the side of a roof while flat roofs must wither be drained or just allow the water to evaporate. Flat roofs must have a waterproof membrane to help contain the water that is being trapped on them and the flat roofs must be able to hold a substantial amount of weight like snow, Ching calls these live loads. Some factors that we must take in to account are Roof maintenance (how difficult or easy it will be), Fire/Wind resistance and lastly pattern color and texture (cosmetic). Roof edges must be flashed to keep water from coming inside, this is true for anywhere where water would come in. Exterior walls also handle water differently, for example masonry construction helps manage water by using its mass (this doesn’t stop water from still coming in) and curtain walls will have drainage systems under the cladding or façade. When moisture is present in interior spaces it can condense because of temp changes and will build up in walls and floors. Correctly constructing a building will allow it to be insulated and help keep hot air in and cold air out (vice versa). While building materials can contract and expand we use things called Expansion joints which change with the building on its current temperature condition. On the topic of flashing while it might be difficult to understand, Ching paints us a plethora of examples, the simple’s way to understand it would be a place where water will be able to slide out off through weep holes at the bottom of a masonry wall this water is leaving the cavity inside of the wall. Ching also goes into methods of insulating a building by showing us materials like foam insulation etc. Insulation can be different by where you live and your areas weather conditions. Roof require more insulation due to the drastic temp changes they face. Buildings can also meet LEED code which is its energy efficiency rating.

In the book of ching, he talk about arch and lintelsI ，wood beam joist subfloor decking plank and beam. stell beam， open web joist  metal decking concrete beam. learned about the different forms and center points of the arches, as well as the different forms of lintels.Discussed the wooden beams, an essential part, simple and fast, is needed during construction, and there are many types.And steel cones have different shapes – IWC, mechanical steel.There are many ways to weld together, reinforce with these irons, and concrete beams.

In this section, it focuses on brick/ CMU bonding, wood components, steel shapes, reinforced concrete, and precast  concrete floor systems.  Bricks can have different course heights, bondings and mortar joints. In wood, there is hardwood and softwood. Hardwood is graded according to how much usable lumber it has that can be cut into smaller pieces of a certain grade and size. Softwood is classified by yard lumber, softwood for general building purposes, or factory and shop lumber, selected for further manufacture. He also explains the different types of steel shapes; s shape, w shape, c shape, and structural tubing. When talking about reinforced concrete, Ching explains what different reinforced things are used for, for example, reinforced concrete beams are made to resist applied forces. Precast concrete slabs and beams are span units that could be supported by site cast concrete, steel, precast concrete frames.

In the reading, Ching talks about concrete, masonry, steel, stone, and wood. Different materials have different units and precast forms for easier and safer usage. Concrete, for example, consists of cement, water, and aggregate. It can be done on site, but for it to be sturdy and functioning, it needs steel reinforcement. steel reinforcement must be tied with both, vertical and horizontal elements to minimize shrinkage, cracks and control thermal expansion and contraction. Steel comes from the manufacturer in precast shapes. W, S, C, L, WT, structural tubings (circular, square or rectangular) and bars. Brick is a masonry unit of clay formed into a rectangular prism, same as stone there are different types of bricks and they are soft mud, sand bricks, water struck brick, stiff mud, and dry press.

In this reading, Ching talks about structural units, spans, patterns lateral stability, and how they are put together. Ching states that by combining several structural units like slabs, girders, beams, and joists, we can make a basic place for habitat that can resist not only the loads placed on it but also the different weather and climatic conditions. However, depending on the material you use, and the spaning systems (one way or two-way), Timber, steel, or Reinforced concrete, different systems will be used. in order to have the structural stability, the structural system must be designed to not only carry vertical loads, but to also withstand strong winds, and forces from any direction.

When constructing structures, the most important thing we have to think about is gravity.  Gravity Newtons third law of force states that for every force acting on a body, the body exerts force having an equal magnitude in the opposite direction. Columns are rigid structural components designed to support axial compressive loads. Long slender columns are subject to failure by bulking rather than crushing. when the proportion near the middle of a column buckles, the whole column fails. To avoid collapse, the weight must be equally distributed with at least four columns. That way, even if the weight and force is too high, the columns will reach equilibrium, and hold the weight.

In this reading Ching covers a plethora of Material spans and their characteristics, He lists things like Masonry arches, Wood beams and joists, subflooring, planks, beams, decking and reinforced concrete. Masonry arches fall into different categories like Segmental arches, gothic arches, Lancet arches, drop arches and roman arches, these arches have different radii points and are pointed or semi-circle, also there are basket and jack arches. Wood beams are essential subsystems and are quick at assembly and very efficient, they can form a level working platform for construction they must be taken care of, so they do not rot. Spans range from 10’ to 18’ depending on 2x(x) ex. 2×4 or 2×6, Wood beams come un different types like Built up, boxed, flitch and spaced beams. Wood subfloor goes under joists and can be used as a platform during construction. The subflooring typically consists of plywood, the under layment provides impact load resistance and a smooth surface for nonstructural flooring, Wood decking comes un different thickness 2×6 and 2×8 and 3×6, 4×6 and can come in a laminated version and comes in simple double and continuous span. Steel cones in different shapes from I, W, C AND Structural steel. Connections can be made by tons of way sake riveting or welding, Open web steel joist are light and can have cabling going through them, decking serves as tensile reinforcement for concrete slabs. Reinforced concrete beams  are designed to act together within longitudinal and web reinforcement.