Basic Building structure requirements

Basic Building Structure requirements – A building structure should satisfy the basic requirements in design and performance, and the factors are listed below.

Basic building structure requirements

Strength
Stability
Dimension stability
Comfort and Convenience
Resistance to moisture and damp prevention
Fire protection
Heat insulation
Sound insulation
Daylighting and ventilation
Durability
Protection against vermin
Building economics

Strength

Strength in terms of the ability of a material to take the load without compromising its safety. It must have sufficient strength to withstand the loading. Must have sufficient stiffness so that deflection does not disturb from an aesthetic point of view.

Strength depends upon soil capacity because any building structure is strong, but if the soil settles down, the strength depends on the quality of work and the quality of the material.

Stability

It refers to the resistance to large deformation. If any structure fails because of improper design and not improper curing. Proper design of reinforced cement concrete is most important because the water-cement ratio is very important for stability.

Dimension Stability

Stability refers to dimensional changes caused to

Creep due to applied load.
Expansion or contraction due to temperature and moisture.

Comfort and Convenience

Opening of windows and doors.
Prospect proper sense, must give a pleasing appearance.
Privacy
Groping of rooms.
Sufficient space and roominess
Sanitation
Proper orientation or ventilation
Economically feasible
Elegance

Resistance to moisture and damp prevention

The structure has to be kept dry. The presence of moisture in a building determines the strength of materials. Moisture gets into the building due to rain penetration through roofs, walls, floors, etc.

Prevention is the use of DPC material and cavity walls.

Fire Protection

Adequate planning of the building, safe insulation, made of noncombustible materials. Availability of fire brigades, alarm equipment, and fire extinguishing equipment is set up.

Heat insulation

It can be achieved by:-

Use of thick exterior walls.
Use of cavity wall construction.
Use of shading devices like chajjas.
Use of heat insulation materials slag wool, rock wool, etc., for filling air spaces in construction materials.

Sound Insulation

Sound insulation can be achieved through the following means

Adopting constitutional measures.
Planning against indoor and outdoor noises.
Reducing sound transmission through wall partitions (i.e., indoor noise)
Reducing sound transmission through floors (i.e., indoor noise in the vertical direction)
Sound insulating materials such as compressed straw slabs, cork slabs, and slag wool use of an insulating layer of 1.5 cm to 3 cm to be usually sufficient.

Daylighting and Ventilation

Good daylighting must be sufficient to create a pleasing environment. The aggregate area for natural light is 30 – 33 % of the floor area. Proper ventilation is necessary to create air movement, removing bacteria.

Durability

Durability is defined as the length of time over which it will be habitable. However, the probable life of the building depends upon building material, degree of maintenance, and proper design.

Protection Against Vermin

Vermin are white ants and can cause major damage to the building. It is being injected under pressure into wooden materials. Use of chlordane, at 0.5 to 1% is being used.

Building Economics

The consideration of economic aspects at every stage of planning, design, construction, and maintenance is very important.

Other related tutorials