This document discusses building technologies and concepts of sustainability and building regulation. It covers why humans need buildings to create artificial environments suited for human life and activities. It then discusses various building technologies related to enclosure, structure, environmental control and utilities that allow buildings to provide a controlled interior environment. Finally, it discusses building control through building regulations and approved documents that provide guidance on meeting regulation standards.

1. The technology of building
Building technologies, concepts of
sustainability and building
regulation
Julian Swindell

2. Why do we need buildings?
It’s all to do with the Book of Genesis

3. The Human animal
• What is a human being?
• A hairless, bipedal sub-tropical
ground dwelling ape

4. What environment suits us?
• Warm, 25-30 degrees C, not too wet,
not too dry
• Plenty of food to hand
• No physical threats (lions and tigers,
enemy tribes etc.)
• In other words…

5. The garden of Eden: where we really want to
be

6. What environments do we actually live in?

7. How do we create the environment we need?
Buildings

8. The basic reason why we create buildings?
• To create artificial environments
which are suited to human life and
activities
– All other functions (aesthetics,
power/control, cultural identity) are
subservient to this
– Even a prison must satisfy this basic
function or the prisoners will die

9. Architecture
The Vitruvian qualities of architecture:
Firmness, commodity and delight
• Firmness: structural stability and
durability
• Commodity: functional satisfaction
• Delight: aesthetics and humanity

10. Building technologies: aspects of
firmness
• Enclosure
• Structure
• Environmental control
• Utility servicing
• Building materials

11. Enclosure
The separation of the
interior from the exterior
Enclosure allows the
creation of a controlled
environment

12. Basic domestic enclosure
Enclosed environments permit otherwise impossible activities

13. Internal “enclosure”
Internal enclosures permit different activities, controlled
privacy, isolation of dangers and varying internal environment

14. Walls, you can build them of anything, nearly

15. British walls
Cavity walls: Two leaves,
separated by a drained cavity
for weather resistance
Brick and block common
Cavity often insulated
Timber framed walls: Vertical
studs and horizontal plates
braced by a layer of plywood
one side to form structural
panels.
External weather proof layer
added, often brickwork in UK
Insulation inside the timber
panel

16. British floors
Solid concrete on the ground
Suspended timber joists and boards
Precast concrete beams and infill

17. British roofs
Gang-nailed trussed rafters
Prefabricated structures
Secured and tied down to
walls and gables

18. Roof covering: under the finish
Sarking layer, Ideally
breathable but
water proof
Battens: softwood,
treated against
decay. Nailed to
rafters through
sarking and nailed
to top of gable wall
Sarking should sag
between rafters and
project into gutter at
eaves

19. Roof coverings
Double lap plain tiles and slates
Single lap interlocking tiles
Ventilation if roof space crucial
Clear ventilation
gap at eaves

20. Internal partitions, openings,
finishes, etc. etc.

21. The Englishman’s
(contemporary) Castle
• Firmness?
– Yes
• Commodity?
– OK
• Delight?
– ?

22. Building Control
• Building control (as opposed to
development control) is a technical issue
• Building control is achieved through the
application of the Building Regulations
• Regulations were most recently published
in 2000 and are covered by the Building
Act of 1984
• Building regulations may be administered
by a local authority or by a private
approved inspector

23. Building control process
• The building owners submits either Full
Plans or a Building Notice application
– Full Plans allows prior approval to be given by
the inspector
– Building Notice means prior approval is not
given. This can be quicker but carry higher risk
if works are found not to comply.
• Building works are then inspected on site
during construction by either the local
authority or an approved private inspector

24. 14 Areas covered
A. Structure
B. Fire safety
C. Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
D. Toxic substances
E. Resistance to the passage of sound
F. Ventilation
G. Hygiene
H. Drainage and waste disposal
J. Combustion appliance and fuel storage systems
K. Protection from falling, collision and impact
L. Conservation of fuel and power
M. Access to and use of buildings
N. Glazing-safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning
P. Electrical safety

25. Approved documents
• Each area has an associated “Approved
Document” (AD)
– An AD sets out good practice which if complied
with will be deemed to have satisfied the
Building Regulations
– If you build differently from the AD, you must
prove that your alternative design is as good as
that in the AD.

26. Concepts of sustainability
• Government policy was to build
“sustainable communities”
• Low or even zero carbon building
technologies and lifestyles. May be
legislated for, but economic
slowdown has changed all policies
• Conversion of existing buildings into
sustainable buildings is the real
challenge.