Advanced Construction Technology

This advanced textbook on construction assumes an understanding of the theoretic basis of the technology and widens the student's awareness to alternatives: It covers low-rise domestic construction but also addresses: - a range of alternative techniques and materials old and new - particularly eco-friendly ones - the most recent editions of the Building Regulations across England & Wales and Scotland with the more important differences highlighted and how they are to be met - precis a selection of the major British and European Standards which are referred to in the current Regulations - sustainability (including recycling and reclaiming) is discussed in an Appendix but highlighted as techniques and materials are discussed in the body of the text. The book addresses the problem of visualisation of construction scenarios and helps students relate detail drawings to the actual construction by supporting most of the drawings with clear photographs - both in a part-finished state and as the completed work.

Table of Contents:
Masonry Construction - Stone, Reconstructed stone (cast and split faced) and artificial stone. Rubble, random rubble, coursed work and ashler work. Dressings to openings, string courses and bandings, cornices, pediments etc. Substructures - Sub-soils requiring special foundations; short bored piles and simple rafts; cushions under rafts; dealing with sub-soil water and high water tables; concrete ground floors, hung and solid. Walls and partitions - some lesser known types of wall construction; light steel frame; SIPs; straw bale construction; earthships (motor tyre walls, earth sheltered housing); cob; wattle and daub; the modern equivalent; Upper floors - some manufactured timber joist systems; concrete upper floors; compound floors. Openings in walls - openings in the new wall constructions discussed earlier Roof structure - SIPs; more on trussed rafters, advanced solutions; flat roofs in concrete. Roof coverings - metal sheet - lead, copper and zinc traditional finishes; profiled metal sheet steel coated steel, zinc, aluminium (coated and plain mill finish), bituminous felt, mastic asphalt, one ply membranes Doors - more timber domestic doors; garage doors; uPVC and metal doors, French doors; patio doors; more ironmongery incl. security Windows - High performance timber (triple glazed and coupled sashes); uPVC and aluminium windows; thermal breaks in metal sashes; more ironmongery incl. security Stairs - Open tread stairs of various types; cantilevered tread stairs and variations on balustrades etc. Mutual Walls - more variations on mutual wall construction. Plumbing and Heating - More on sanitary appliances, more sanitary appliances (urinals, bidets etc)! Under floor heating by LPHW - various sub floors, various systems. Traditional cast iron soil and waste piping, fixing, jointing and fittings. Other metal waste disposal systems - SS, enamelled steel and copper. Electrical Work - Conduit installations and wiring; MICC installations - how they go together; fire alarms; smoke alarms including linking (see new Scottish Regs); CCTV; Alarms; television aerials. Under floor heating - solid embedded and withdrawable, over floor heating? Ceiling heating. Fire precautions in three and four storey single domestic structures. (Structures in multiple occupancy in the third volume!) External Works - Site* Surveys; Site* clearance; Connections for services - drains, water, gas, electricity, telephone, cable; footpaths, retaining walls, screen walls and fencing and gates; decks and paved areas; soft landscaping; garages; driveways; drains, manholes, rodding access and air admission; water supply pipes, tobies and valves; ducting for services into a dwelling; exclusion of vermin and their prevention and control. Appendix A Glazing - the works. Appendix B Painting, Decorating and Paper hanging - the works. Appendix C Plastering and external rendering, stucco work, and roughcasting.. Appendix D Security in addition to what has been written in Doors, Windows and Electrical work chapters; defensible space; defensive planting. Appendix E More Builders' and Architectural Ironmongery. Appendix F Conservation of Energy - The effect of the new Scottish Building Regulations, May 2005 and the new Regulations for England and Wales; Sample calculations. Appendix G Short Precis of Selected British Standards incl. Any which were in Vol. 1 and are now updated or superseded in the new Regulations. Appendix H Sustainability. Appendix I Recycling and Reclaiming. Appendix J More Surveying - Theodolites, Tacheometry and EDPM surveying and laying out.

About the Author :
Eric Fleming, former Senior Lecturer, Department of Building Engineering & Surveying, Heriot-Watt University