BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY

BAHR DAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FCWRE
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
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CONTENTS
❑ Introduction
❖ General
❑ Definition of terms
❑ Building Classifications

❖ Classification based on occupancies

❖ Classification based on types of construction

❑ Components of a Building
❑ Building requirements

❑ Project life cycle of a building

❑ Main Parties in Building Construction

❑ Resources for Building Construction

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What is building? And what is construction?
❑ A construction is a process of constructing/assembling something
for one purpose or another.
❖ It may be a road, bridge, a dam, a dwelling place, an airport, a
commercial building, etc.
❑ A building can be generally considered as a structure consisting of
floors, walls and roofs erected to provide covered space for
different uses such as residence, business, entertainment, workshop,
etc.
❑ Building construction: is the process of assembling construction
materials & systems to form a building based on the building
design.

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1. GENERAL
❑ Building design: is the process of providing all information
necessary for construction of a building that will meet its owner’s
requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety
requirements.
❑ Buildings come in a wide amount of shapes and functions, and
have been adapted throughout history for a wide number of factors:
building materials available weather conditions
land prices ground conditions
specific uses aesthetic reasons

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1. GENERAL
Why we need buildings?
❑ The initial causes which forced man to look for shelter were:
✓Fear of wild animals
✓Seeking protection against the cold and the heat
✓Seeking shelter against the rain and wind
✓The desire for a place where everything belonging to the family
could be gathered.
❑ Buildings serve several needs of society –
✓primarily as shelter from weather and as general living space,
✓to provide privacy
✓to store belongings and show supremacy
✓to comfortably live and work.

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1. GENERAL
❑ The main considerations in architectural design of buildings for all
purpose are:
❖Climate and its effect
❖People and their requirements
❖Materials for construction and method of construction
❖Regulations and building codes

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❑ Buildings can be generally classified in different groups depending
upon their occupancy of use or types of construction.

Classification Based On Classification Based On

Occupancy Types Of Construction

• Residential buildings • Type1: Fire-resisting

• Educational buildings construction
• Type 2: Non-combustible
• Assembly buildings construction
• Business buildings • Type 3: Heavy timber
• Mercantile buildings construction
• Industrial buildings • Type 4: Ordinary
• Institutional buildings construction
• Storage buildings • Type 5: Wood frame
construction
• Hazardous buildings

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1. Residential buildings: include houses

occupied by persons where living
accommodations are provided.
Ex. private residences, apartments,
dormitories, hotels, etc.
[Link]

2. Educational buildings: include any

building used for educational instructions.
Ex. Schools through the 12th grade, child
care facilities
Parlama
3. Assembly buildings: include any building
where group of people gather for
amusement, recreation, social, political,
religious and similar purposes.
Ex. theatres, auditoriums, halls, stadiums,
places of worship, etc.
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 4. Business buildings: any building which is
used for the transaction of business, for
professional services and for keeping
accounts & records for similar purpose.
Ex. Garages, barbershops, city halls,
offices, laboratories, higher education
[Link]

facilities, courthouses, libraries, etc.

5. Mercantile buildings: any building which

is used as shops, stores, market, and for
display and sale of merchandise.
[Link]
Ex. Shopping malls
6. Industrial buildings: any building or
structure in which products or materials of
all kinds are fabricated, assembled,
finished or processed.
Ex. Assembly plants
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[Link]

7. Institutional buildings: any building

which is used for purposes such as
medical or other treatment or care or for
penal or correctional detention.. These
are facilities for supervised occupants.
[Link]
Ex. hospitals, prisons, nursing homes etc
8. Storage buildings: any building which is
used for storage or sheltering of goods,
merchandise, agricultural products, raw
materials etc.
Ex. ware houses, barns, etc
9. Hazardous buildings: any building used
for storage, handling, manufacturing or
processing of highly inflammable,
combustible or explosive materials.
Ex. explosive storage 10
❑ Buildings are classified on the basis of resistance to fire of the elements of
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the buildings.

Type-1 Fire-resisting construction:

❖ Type of construction in which the elements of the building, which include
the floors, walls, columns and the roof itself, are non-combustible. E.g.
concrete, masonry, steel
Fire resistance of elements.
✓ Structural frames- 2-3hrs

✓ Bearing walls (exterior- 2-3hrs, interior-2-3hrs)

✓ Non-bearing walls- varies due to some factors

✓ Floor construction-2hrs

✓ Roof construction-1-1.5hrs

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Type-2 Non-combustible construction:
❖ Construction in which the walls, partitions, structural elements etc. are
non-combustible with less fire resistance than Type 1.
Fire resistance of elements.
✓ Structural frames- 0-1hr
✓ Bearing walls (exterior- 0-1hr, interior-0-1hr)
✓ Non-bearing walls- varies due to some factors
✓ Floor construction-0-1hr
✓ Roof construction-0-1hr
Type-3 Heavy timber construction:
❖ Exterior walls are out of masonry or other non combustible material.

❖ Interior structural members, floors and roofs are constructed out of timber
either in solid or laminated forms.
❖ Fire resistance of elements.
✓ Structural frames- 2hrs
✓ Bearing walls (exterior- 0-2hrs, interior-0-1hr/HT)
✓ Non-bearing walls- varies due to some factors
✓ Floor construction-HT(heavy timber)
✓ Roof construction-HT
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Type-4 Ordinary construction:
❖ Exterior walls are out of masonry or other non combustible material.

❖ Interior structural members could be partially or wholly out of wood of

relatively smaller sections unlike Type 3.
Fire resistance of elements.
✓ Structural frames- 0-1hr
✓ Bearing walls (exterior- 0-2hrs, interior-0-1hr)
✓ Non-bearing walls- varies due to some factors
✓ Floor construction-0-1hr
✓ Roof construction-0-1hr
Type-5 Wood frame construction:
❖ Type of construction in which practically the whole of the building is out of
wood or other combustible materials.

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❑ A building has two basic parts:
❖Sub-structure
❖Super structure

Sub-structure: is the lower portion of the building, usually located

below the ground level, which transmits the loads of the super-
structure to the supporting soil.

Super-structure: is that part of the structure which is above the

ground level, and which serves the purpose of its intended use.

❑ The basic component of a building include:

Foundations Walls floor
structures Roof structures Building finishes
Doors, windows and other openings Vertical transportation

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Sub-structure

Super-structure and sub-structure 15

3D-model

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A. Functional requirements
❑ Abuilding should primarily concerned with protection from the external
environment, human comfort, and organization of activity and space.
❑ It might include the creation of a particular sense of identity or place.

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B. DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
❑ A building structure should satisfy the following basic design and
performance requirements
A. The structure should have adequate margin of safety (factor of
safety) in addition to that necessary to support its normal
loading.
B. It must have sufficient stiffness so that its distortion does not
offend the eye or reduce the efficiency of the structure for its
normal purpose.
C. The building should be planned to provide sufficient comfort
and convenience to the occupants of the building.

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❑ To accommodate the basic functional requirements, a building
should satisfy the following requirements in its design and
construction works:
1. Strength and stability
❑ Any structural component of a building should be strong
enough to carry or support all possible types of loads to which
it is likely to be subjected.
❑ The Loads in a building are commonly classified as
✓ Dead loads
✓ Live loads
✓ Wind loads
✓ Seismic loads

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Gravity Load

Lateral Loading
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2. Dimensional stability
➢ elastic and plastic deformations as a result of applied loads
➢ expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and
moisture content.
3. Comfort and convenience
➢ Lighting Optimum utilization of space
➢ considerations
➢ Orientation
4. Resistance to moisture penetration
5. Fire protection
➢ A building structure should not ignite easily
➢ A building should provide means of fire escape
➢ A building should be designed to reduce the spread of fire

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6. Heat insulation
❑ The building should be designed in such a way to maintain
fairly constant temperature of the internal environment
independently of the varying climatic conditions externally.
7. Day light and ventilation
❑ Ventilation is essential to prevent undue concentration of
odours, fumes, dust, etc.
8. Sound insulation: air born and impact sounds
9. Economy/Cost: cost at stages of planning, design, construction,
maintenance and operation.
9. Security: design of external walls and openings
10. Durability: the time over which a building remains serviceable.

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C. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
There are various statutory and non-statutory that make demands
on those who design, build, manage, repair, maintain, occupy or
demolish buildings. In practice many of these demands are made
in relation to the health, safety and well-being of such persons.
Some sources for statutory and non-statutory requirements are:
✓ Fire precautions

✓ Town and country planning acts

✓ Building regulations

✓ Workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations

✓ Control of substances Hazardous to Health Regulations

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D. USER REQUIREMENTS
The user of a building can expect to live or work in a space that
satisfies basic human requirements and, in addition, certain needs
that are specific to the activities being performed.
User requirement studies attempt to identify purpose in terms of
activities (the things people do) and human needs (physical,
psychological, physiological and social), and for a building to be fit
for its purpose it must allow its occupants to carry out their activities
economically and conveniently, and have a satisfactory environment to
suit the user. Such a study will typically consider the following:
✓ Classification of the user (e.g. task orientation)

✓ Analysis of activities (e.g. social interaction)

✓ Requirements of space (e.g. circulation in and around buildings)

✓ Environmental conditions (e.g. sensory stimulation)

✓ Cost (e.g. improvements)

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❑ The project life cycle of a building may be viewed as a process through
which a building project is implemented from cradle to grave.
❑ Requirements which must be satisfied for the construction of a
modern house are:
▪ A plot of land
▪ Permission from local authorities
▪ Materials for building
▪ Skilled labourers for the erection
▪ Finance
▪ Professionals, such as architects and engineers
❑ planning, designing, constructing, and operating buildings.

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 . Market Definition of project
demand or
perceived objectives and scope
needs

Disposal of Conceptual
Facility planning and
feasibility study
Fulfillment
Conceptual plan or
of useful life
preliminary design
Operation and Design and
maintenance engineering

Acceptance of facility Plans and specifications

Start up for Procurement
occupancy and
construction

Completion of
construction
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❑ The practice of planning, designing, constructing, and operating
buildings is most usually a collective effort of different groups of
professionals and trades.
❑ Depending on the size, complexity, and purpose of a particular
building project, the project team may include:
❖ A client or an owner: Individuals, government, real estate developers
etc.
❖ financial institutions or other investors that provide the funding
❖ Local planning and code authorities
❖ Consultants or Licensed architects and engineers who provide building
design and prepare construction documents
❖ Contractors who provide construction services and install building
systems
❖ Marketing or leasing agents
❖ Facility managers who are responsible for operating the building.

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7. Main Parties in Building Construction Project

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I. Client
❑ The client is the most important party who is active from inception
to completion and event to post-occupancy maintenance.
❑ Clients may be classified as Public sector clients and private sector
clients.
A. Public sector clients
▪ Central Government Offices (Ministries)
▪ Local Authorities (Regional or Town)
▪ Public Corporations

B. Private sector clients

▪ These are private individuals & private companies.

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Duty of the Client
❑ Demand for the product. For example for the building project:
▪ Availability and cost of land,
▪ Location & accessibility
▪ Price
▪ Required Infrastructure
▪ Legal constraints
▪ Current & future development
▪ Soil characteristics of land
▪ Site preparation (right of way)
▪ Permits

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II. Consultant
❑ The main role of the consultant is to interpret the client’s project
requirement into a specific design.
❑ The consultants’ team shall:
▪ Ascertain, interpret and formulate the client’s requirement into an
understandable project.
▪ Design the project to much requirements and constraints
(imposed by statutory obligations, technical feasibility,
environmental factors, site conditions, cost, etc)
▪ Assess client’s cost limit to decide on materials & the like.
▪ Prepare contract documents.
▪ Supervise the project and constantly inform the client on the
progress
▪ Approve payments
▪ Resolve contractual disputes
▪ Issue provisional and final acceptance certification
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III. Contractor
❑ These are groups established mainly as commercial companies, that
contract to construct development projects.
❑ Responsibility of contractors:
▪ Carry out a full site investigation prior to submission of tender,
▪ Submit tender,
▪ Plan, Program, Control the construction process.
▪ Notify the consultant about delays, discrepancies/
incompatibility issues,
▪ Effect all payments to his employees, suppliers, subcontractors,
▪ Rectify all defects on completion of works, etc
▪ Provide post occupancy repair & maintenance if required.

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IV. Public Sector Agencies
A. Statutory Authorities
▪ These bodies offer technical advice during design and
construction in their respective areas.
▪ E.g. EEPCO, AAWSA, Fire Authority - requires meeting their
specific requirements. Thus early information to these
authorities is required.

B. Municipalities and Government Authorities

▪ These bodies offer the basic Land permit and building permit.

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❑ The following resources are vital for construction industry:
❖Human Resources (Labor or Workmen)
❖Financial Resources ( Fund)
❖Information Resources
❖Physical Resources ( Materials, Equipment and Other Assets)
❖Services and Management
A. Human resource (Labour or Workmen)
❑ These include professional, skilled, semi skilled and unskilled
laborers.
❑ Human resources can be understood in two values: Capacity and
Capability.
▪ Capacity - refers to the quantity of labor for the scope
defined.
▪ Capability - refers to knowledge, technology know-how and
skill as per the demands of the scopes ability.
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A. Human resource (Labour or Workmen)
❑ Construction Managers need to be capable of:
▪ Communication- Inter-personal, group interaction-skills
▪ Problem solving / Conflict resolution / Negotiation Skills
▪ Facilitating / Decision- making Skills
▪ Writing skills for Proposals / Reports / ToRs / MoUs; and
▪ Hard Skills- Planning, Implementing, Leading and Monitoring
tools.
B. Financial Resources (Fund)
❑ Usually funds are available from among Governmental institution,
Private institutions and Donors in the form of loan or assistance.
C. Information Resources
❑ Information can be understood in two terms: data whether processed
or not; and its technology.

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D. Physical Resources
i. Materials
❑ Material covers 55-70% of the total construction cost.
ii. Equipments
❑ Though their initial cost is high using equipments are far more better
than using labor.
iii. Other assets
❑ Physical Infrastructures and Owned Land are assets which can be
collaterals for capital base enhancement and credit facilities and are
useful to develop the scarce financial resources and getting into
business access.

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E. Service and Management
i. Service
❑ Services such as acquisition of land, provisions of water supply,
electric power, communication systems, etc., are very much
necessary in the construction industry.
ii. Management
❑ Management has come to employ a disciplined approach to the use
of available resources.

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THANK YOU!

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