Building Technology 3 Portfolio - Coursework Example

Building Technology 3 Portfolio Contents Executive Summary 3 6 1.The Sage Gateshead Background 8 2.Quirky facts 11 2.Evaluating interior wall and Floor combinations 11 2.1.How the caulk for Sage Gateshead floor/ exterior wall joint was designed in order to avoid failure 15 3.References 16 International Code Council (ICC). 2010. International Residential Code (IRC) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. ICC, Falls Church, VA. 17 Reed, T.D., Rosowsky, D.V., and Schiff, S.D. 2006. Uplift Capacity of Rafter-to-Top Plate Connections in Light-Frame Construction. Clemson University, Clemson, SC. 17 Mizzell, D.P. and Schiff, S.D. 2009. Wind Resistance of Sheathing for Residential Roofs, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. 17 1. Executive Summary The art of engineering refers to the application of scientific concepts to design. The basic principles, which are applied to the processes and products are essential and it is only through the study of engineering course that I have been able to learn the way engineers apply these principles and theories and then incorporating them into designs. During the course, I have been inspired by several works of various engineers, and have been able to learn to solutions to the problems of engineering can at times be iconic and imaginative. Engineering has enabled me to see and understand the way theories or principles can be applied to design. This was perhaps highlighted in one class I attended about the safety in the workplace. It was interesting to learn about some of the limitations to design that are applied in the balance of construction and safety. Attending a Headstart at the university has enabled me to learn the way principles learnt in the lecture halls can be used in a practical application within the laboratories with a lot of ease. One major highlight is the civil engineering work whereby we were able to design and put up an inflatable building with a team. It is a very important engineering part that I was really interested in studying because there were several various solution that were put forward to deal with the matter. It has been an important experience through the course since I managed to see the various styles of teaching at the campus by attending lessons and carrying out lab tasks. This was particularly interesting because of its hands on nature. I have also read several engineering books and learnt for one to be a good and qualified engineering, I should be alive to the fact that each and every design can be modified and it is this knowledge of possibilities in improvement and development of designs through engineering that has attracted my interest. WBJ Center: analysis of Ground floor/External Walls Joint Thermal performance The reason for choosing this technology is because it is one of the most sophisticated since joining or combining the external wall with the intermediate floor requires professional or advanced skills. It requires that the constructor follows all the set of laid down building principles so that everything can go on smoothly; such as provision of sound working environments and ensuring that the building is finished in high standards or quality. For the thermal performance for this WBJ Center built-in application, the constructor ensured that there were no gaps or spaces in the Earthwool DriTherm Cavity Slab and that there was complete filling of the cavity with installation starting at the cavity’s foot. In addition, it was ensured that all spaces in the Polyfoam ECO Floorboards were filled up, and that they are in close contact with one another with all the joints closed. The contractor also put the Polyfoam ECO Floorboards in close connection with the inner block leaf as well as for the whole length of the perimeter of the floor, and then the meeting point at the floor deck together with wall lining junction sealed. This standard requirement can obviously or clearly have an increased impact on the loss of heat. This is because it adheres to the Building Regulations when it is used in the whole length of all the normal junctions or corners that are connected with the building under construction through the SAP 2009 and/or even the SBEM. Moreover, we find that it has a 0.904 f-factor implying that it is generally accepted in all kinds of buildings with surety or confidence that the surface condensation together with the growth of mold would not be experienced. Since this standard adheres to all the building regulations, it offers sound working environments or conditions for all those involved in the project. For preference, we find that on masonry, an air barrier must be either plasterboard or wet plaster finish with a parge coat or even a sealing render on the building. It is not easy to accomplish a long lasting and acceptable air barrier by the use of dabs or plasterboard only. This advice or suggestion is different from the present recommendations provided in the ACD (Accredited Construction Details) whereby plasterboard are put on dabs as a similarly effectual air barrier to the wet plaster giving finishes. However, the recommendation is provides as a result of the experience of the immense air leakage testing on buildings that advices that if the plasterboards on dabs were in a position of forming an effectual air barrier, then it is not easily attained practically. The specifiers of the construction details of this structure were confident that the proposed or announced psi values together with the f-factors were correct, reliable, strong and the detail confirmed to be buildable or workable on the site after comprehensive and independent examination was carried out. Nevertheless, since the Accredited Construction Details enable the application of plasterboard on the dabs and it is the popular form of construction that is presently uses as shown in the diagrams below: Figure 1: Cross section Figure 2: Isothermal image Airtightness is primarily a feature of the building but not the structure. The fundamental requirement is that the air barrier must be continuous in the structural joints such as between the external wall and the intermediate floor. The junctions or joint sealing to the supplementary elements of construction should be well designed and done. Archetypal regions of air leakages in buildings are around the doors and windows in the junction of the intermediate floor with the external walls and penetrations via the system of air barrier. Figure 3: Air barrier in the external wall/intermediate floor constructions Figure 2: Paper-based or plastic foil air barrier’s in the construction of external wall/ intermediate floor 1.1. The Sage Gateshead Background The Sage Gateshead structure is one of the most significant performing arts places in the region of northern England, which combines sophisticated materials with s different exterior that looks like a shell to end up with a modern icon. The building was design by Foster and Associates, which is a construction company or Norman Foster in association with the Arup Acoustics and also with the aid of various artists. The building has been open to the public from the year 2004 and has turned out to be among the most renowned buildings in the entire Tyneside area. The work on the construction of the building commenced in the year 2001 and finished in the year 2004, with the Gateshead Council’s assistance, who offered the site for the construction. This was rather a proper use of the site from what was initially there as it was am industrial wasteland. Nonetheless, this was the first ever performing arts construction that was designed and put up by the company that also did the design for the Wembley Stadium together with the Millennium Bridge, which are all located in the city of London. The Sage Gateshead has three spaces for performance. These are a 450-seater, a 1,700-seater together smaller hall that is used for the purposes of performance and rehearsal, which is the Northern Rock Foundation Hall. The construction of this entire building was centered or designed around the described three spaces so that it could enable the putting of maximum focus to detain in their sound features. Architecturally, there are three distinct buildings, which are insulated from one another for the purposes of preventing any kind of vibration or noise that might move between them. The distance between the structures might be evident when someone is walking around inside. In the construction of the structure, distinctive spongy concrete mix was applied, which has remarkable air capacity for the purpose of improving the acoustic. It is exceptional such that the three structures are enclosed, though not touched by the presently-renowned steel and glass shell. Nevertheless, the reason for the construction of Hall One was to offer acoustically ideal space, created or designed on the popular Vienna’s Musikverein. The ceiling panels of the building allows for raising or lowering as well as drawing of the curtains along the wooden side walls that are ribbed, which alters the sound contour of the room in order to fit any kind of music being played. On the other hand, Hall Two has a small space, which is possibly the only performance space that is ten-sided in the whole world. There lies the Music Education Center just below the concourse level, where there are activities that take place such as daily teaching of instrumentals, community music courses and workshops in more than twenty individual, extensively sound proofed spaces, whereby one of them is a studio for recording. The public is allowed to access the building any time of the day, every day. Those who come to the place for the first time or those that come for different reasons can be able to experience soundchecks, practices and workshops taking place. The building also has five bars as well as a room that serves as a multi-purpose that can hold about two hundred individuals (International Code Council (ICC), 2010). Figure 1: The main concert hall It had been described as unacceptable the fact that the main entrance door of the building that leads to the western side are not still operational eight years since the opening of the building. However, at the beginning of the month of February in the year 2012, considerable work started on the improvement of the whole entrance to the western end of the building, which included a novel fire access doors together with reinforced revolving doors. This project was completed within two months and everything within the building is functioning well. 1.2. Quirky facts The structure was put up using a special kind of concrete consisting of extra air bubbles that assist with acoustics and sound-proofing. The building’s roof has 3,500m2 of glass The structure stands on over forty meters height. The glass balustrade, which runs the concourse level’s length, is a remarkable accomplishment of creative imagination. 2. Evaluating interior wall and Floor combinations One of the major reasons for the separation of the flanking paths is to allow the outcome to be recombined for the purposes of making projections of the combinations that have not been measured, specifically for the vertical transmission (National Evaluation Service, 1997). For example, even though the vertical performance was just measured with a single flanking wall, there were projections made on the transmission of sound with two of four bordering or adjacent walls. In addition, the measurements that were carried out were for the joist ends that were fixed on the wall that acted as the specimen. Figure 2: How gaskets and caulks were used below the exterior wall’s bottom plate As illustrated in the diagram above the constructor used gaskets and caulks below the exterior wall’s bottom plate. For the purposes of contraction and expansion, caulk needed a joint that is in the minimum of 1/8 in. by 1/8 in. The constructor then set a wall on the top of the caulk’s bead, which mashed it, thus leaving nothing that could fill any gap that might come up any time in the future or maybe after a very long time of the existence of the building. The builder sealed the joint that was between the interior wall covering and the subfloor. The sealing of this site of leakage after the interior wall covering saved the crew that was doing framing an additional step whereas they are attempting to create or build the walls. More so, it helped in making it possible for the carrying out of sealing processes when the area or building is weather-tight. The contractor could as well postpone this stage until just the going down of the finish floors (Reed, Rosowsky, and Schiff, 2006). In using this method, the constructor had to do some surface preparation, whereby they brushed away dust together with the loose debris before the process started. This technology was preferred over the others that are produced in seal building joints and shapes under pressure. This is because the caulks are made as pastes or liquids, which flow into place and stick to the surfaces that surround it. However, these are the features that made the constructor to choose the technology as the most appropriate for the filling of cavities and joints that appeared irregular, which would not be easy to fill by using the other technologies or methods, as long as there are appropriate moisture and temperature conditions for the curing and bonding. Just by using a caulk, which has more than a lifetime of fifty years is no guarantee that the caulk joint will be in a position of lasting for that entire period or even surpassing it; however, if it is not applied in a proper way, we find that the bond between the two, that is the substrate and the caulk might possibly collapse in just a matter of few years and the caulk would be rendered useless (Council of American Building Officials, 2012). The contractor of the building is an experienced person and that is probably why he was given the contract. He understood all these and that is why he went for the best, following the most basic rules or concepts for the proper application of the caulk. The most fundamental procedures that were followed in the process are listed below: Designing of joints that are wide: A caulk that is in a position of accommodating fifty percent movement of joint, which is ideal or typical of the most appropriate caulks, can flop with just a movement of about 1/16” when filling a joint of 1/8”. However, the same caulk will be in a position of bearing ¼” movement during the filling of joint of 1/2” (Flowerdew, 2009). The application of caulks is done when the temperature ranges between 35°F and 100°F. Before applying the caulk, the surface should be very dry so that it can stick well and last as long as it is expected. The surface must be cleaned: All the dirt and dust should be wiped and any surface deposits or oils are removed by the use of an appropriate solvent. A backer rod may also be used in the limiting or reduction of the depth of the joint to about half the width of the joint (Mizzell and Schiff, 2009). A spoon or any other instrument that is round in shape is then used to tool the caulk so that the gap or joint can be filled entirely and then the caulk is forced against the sides. The diagram below (Figure 3) is an example of caulk joint that is designed in a poor manner. Caulk thickness that appears to be excessive makes it tough and difficult to stretch, which results in the bond between the substrate and the caulk to fail. Figure 3: A poorly designed caulk The diagram below (Figure 2) is an example of a caulk joint that is well designed. The depth or thickness of the caulk is limited by the backer rod such that it remains at half the width of the joint to enable the caulk to stretch in an easy manner. In addition, there is very little of minimal stress on the bond between the substrate and the caulk. Figure 4: A well designed caulk 2.1. How the caulk for Sage Gateshead floor/ exterior wall joint was designed in order to avoid failure Figure 5: The best design of caulk joint to avoid failure Just the way it is essential to choose the most appropriate or applicable sealant or caulk for the project, the contractor of the building or project deemed it important that attention is paid on the way the application of the caulk is to be done. For instance, a caulk that is of good quality can possibly fail if it is used one inch think and then combined on the joint’s 3 sides. The best of perfect caulk joint whereby there is anticipation of movement is an hourglass shape nearly twice as much or as wide as its depth. Nevertheless, this shape gives room for the caulk bead to move without either experiencing failure in adherence or its ability to stick to the substrate materials or even in structure by tearing itself. The most appropriate process or procedure that was preferred was that the joint be about four times as wide as the movement that was projected, which in turn limits the stretching of the sealant to about twenty five percent. However, if the construction or project was for residential buildings, then it would require a minimum of a quarter inch-wide joint. Generally, In general, the sealant should be no more than 1/2-inch deep. For deep joints, it is best to pack the joint with a backer rod, a flexible foam material that controls the depth of sealant and shapes it into the hourglass profile. The backer rod constitutes of either closed-cell and open-cell foam, which is available in diameters a quarter-inch to as much as two inches. However, in sites or places that are wet, like the concrete control joints, it is good to utilize closed-cell foam, because it cannot absorb any water. The backer rod that is used should be quite bigger than the joint that is being sealed. 3. References National Evaluation Service, Inc. 1997. Power-Driven Staples and Nails for Use in All Types of Building Construction, NER-272, Falls Church, VA. International Code Council (ICC). 2010. International Residential Code (IRC) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. ICC, Falls Church, VA. Council of American Building Officials. 2012. One and Two Family Dwelling Code. The Council of American Building Officials, Falls Church, VA. Reed, T.D., Rosowsky, D.V., and Schiff, S.D. 2006. Uplift Capacity of Rafter-to-Top Plate Connections in Light-Frame Construction. Clemson University, Clemson, SC. Cunningham, T.P. 1993. Roof Sheathing Fastening Schedules For Wind Uplift. APA Report T92-28, American Plywood Association, Tacoma, WA. Mizzell, D.P. and Schiff, S.D. 2009. Wind Resistance of Sheathing for Residential Roofs, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. Flowerdew, J. 2009. Problems in writing for scholarly publication in English: The case of Hong Kong. Journal of Second Language Writing, 8(3), 243-264. Kaplan, R. B., & Baldauf, R. B. 2005. Editing contributed scholarly articles from a language management perspective. Journal of Second Language Writing, 14(1), 47-62. Luong, M. T., Nguyen, T. D., & Kan, M. Y. 2012. Logical structure recovery in scholarly articles with rich document features. Multimedia Storage and Retrieval Innovations for Digital Library Systems, 270. Luong, M. T., Nguyen, T. D., & Kan, M. Y. (2012). Logical structure recovery in scholarly articles with rich document features. Multimedia Storage and Retrieval Innovations for Digital Library Systems, 270. Read More