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Unit 6 Building Technology in Construction Assignment 1
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- PEARSON (PEARSON)
Unit 6 Building Technology in Construction Assignment 1
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P1Low Rise Construction Methods
Low rise constructions are generally considered buildings 4 stories and below. There are many
different methods for constructing these buildings. Below is a description of the building methods
and the various types of low rise construction.
Timber Frames
Timber framed construction is one of the most
popular types of building methods for homes in
the UK and has been used for thousands of
years. Nowadays timber is still applied widely in
construction. Modern timber frames have many
advantages over other methods. Timber is a
sustainable material and has a very high level of
thermal efficiency. Timber is light meaning
components can be transported around the site
easily, this allows for quick construction requiring no heavy tools or machinery. Prefabricated timber
frames are a modern construction method. These prefabricated timber frames are precisely
manufactured in factories and combine sleek modern design with high levels of efficiency. These
prefabricated methods are assembled onsite very quickly. they’re not held up by weather conditions
because they’re built in a factory. The assembly of prefabricated buildings are much safer for
workers too as they spend less time working at height. They do however have some drawbacks. They
are difficult to modify or extend once completed and also require enough space for a crane to lift the
prefabricated panels into position.
Steel Frames
Steel frames use a series of beams and
columns to form the frame of the building.
Steel frames can combine concrete floors and
brick walls to complete the design. Steel
frames erected on site quickly because a lot
of the work can be prefabricated offsite at a
factory. Steel offers high strength and
flexibility which makes it very good at
resisting dynamic forces such as wind,
weather and seismic activity. Steel frames can
be made to any shape and clad with any
material of choice. Steel frames can be joined together in many different ways such as bolting,
riveting and welding. Steel frames are however used less often than other methods in the
construction of low rise residential buildings. This is due to the need for high levels of accuracy and
they can be costly to build.
, Portal Frames
Portal frames use a shape that resembles a portal, hence the name. It has a low pitched roof
member that is attached to a column at either end. They can be constructed from many different
materials including steel, timber and concrete. Modern portal frames are made generally from steel
as it offers the high strength to weight ratio. Timber portal frames offer a more sustainable
construction method. Timber portals are constructed using glulam construction and stainless steel
fixings. Glulam is a process that involves gluing strips of timber together in a mould to form a solid
beam. The benefits of a portal frame are that they are cheap and provide a large floor span making
them ideal for industrial units, factories and warehouses but not for residential buildings. Steel
portal frames are erected quickly and the steel is prefabricated offsite. They also require a lighter
foundation than traditional brick and blockwork constructions. A disadvantage for a portal frame is
they need to be treated against rust and protected against fire and the external coatings have to be
maintained.
Concrete Frames
Concrete is a great material for the construction of large buildings as it offers high compressive
strength. Concrete can be reinforced with the addition of steel making it even stronger. Concrete
can be made into any shape and can be precast offsite and joined together onsite making
construction much faster. Concrete can also be
cast In-situ (onsite) to form the frame consisting
of beams and columns but concrete takes about
5 days to cure. The precast concrete can then be
bolted together to form the rigid structure.
Concrete also offers built in fore protection and a
variety of surface finishes. The disadvantages of
concrete are its not strong in tension and
assembly requires the use of a crane and a highly
skilled workforce.
Low Rise Buildings
Residential
Residential low rise constructions come in 4 different forms these are terraced, semi-detached,
detached and flats or apartments. These buildings are built predominantly using traditional methods
such as brick and blockwork with pitched slate or tiled roofs. The problem with traditional brick and
blockwork is that construction can be hindered by adverse weather conditions causing delays and
additional costs. Pitched roofs supported by timber trusses offer better protection from weather
conditions such as rain and snow because the shape prevents settlement. Pitched roofs also offer a
loft space which can be a desirable property of a buildings. The disadvantage to pitched roofs is that
they make the building taller which can cause problems when it comes to planning permissions.
Terrace housing is a line of 3 or more house joined
together. These are normally cheaper to build than
detached and semi-detached houses as they share both
side walls with the adjacent property. You cannot
access the rear of the house without going through the
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