Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a wall in a building?
What is the primary function of a wall in a building?
What is the most important functional requirement of a retaining wall?
What is the most important functional requirement of a retaining wall?
What defines a Loadbearing wall?
What defines a Loadbearing wall?
How is the strength of a wall measured?
How is the strength of a wall measured?
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Which type of wall divides the space within a building into rooms?
Which type of wall divides the space within a building into rooms?
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What can be done to resist rain penetration into walls?
What can be done to resist rain penetration into walls?
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Why are walls often required to act as a highly resistant fire barrier?
Why are walls often required to act as a highly resistant fire barrier?
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What is the function of a Retaining Wall?
What is the function of a Retaining Wall?
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How do walls contribute to the aesthetic appearance of a building?
How do walls contribute to the aesthetic appearance of a building?
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Why is sound insulation usually not very significant in wall design according to the text?
Why is sound insulation usually not very significant in wall design according to the text?
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Study Notes
Wall Construction and Types
- Walls are a "reconciliation" of internal demands of buildings and external demands of the street.
- Walls can be load-bearing or non-load-bearing, and may be divided into external or enclosing walls, or internal dividing or partition walls.
Functional Requirements of Walls
- Walls must satisfy certain requirements:
- Strength and stability
- Weather resistance
- Fire resistance
- Thermal insulation
- Sound insulation
Strength and Stability
- Measured in terms of resistance to stresses set up by its own weight, superimposed loads, and lateral pressure (e.g. wind)
- Stability is resistance to overturning by lateral forces and buckling caused by excessive slenderness
Weather Resistance
- External walls must provide adequate resistance to rain and wind penetration
- Rain penetration can be resisted in three ways:
- Limited penetration into the wall thickness
- Preventing any penetration through the outer surface
- Interrupting the capillary paths through the wall
Fire Resistance
- Walls are often required to act as a highly resistant fire barrier
- Used to compartmentalize a building to separate specific fire risks and prevent the spread of fire
Thermal Insulation
- External walls must provide a barrier to the passage of heat to maintain satisfactory internal conditions
- This can be achieved through:
- Thickness
- Incorporation of cavities
- Insulation
Sound Insulation
- Sound insulation is usually not very significant in wall design
- Windows provide weak points for noise
- In some situations, sound insulation may be required
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Description
Explore the different types of walls used in building construction such as Rammed Laterite, Wattle and Daub, Brick, Sandcrete block, Stone, Concrete, and Timber. Learn about the significance of walls in defining internal and external spaces within a structure.
