Alternative Building Construction System Flashcards
What building materials use non-recycled products that cause harm to the environment
Conventional building materials
What building materials uses recycled products, hence they are environmentally preferable
Alternative building materials
is the combination of materials used to build the roof, walls and floor of your home
Construction system
Generally suit cold and temperate climates
High-mass systems and good passive design
Generally suit hot humid climates
Low-mass systems
Types of construction systems
• On-site construction
• modular construction systems
traditional method of constructing new homes
On-site built home
Most of the work is compl off site in a factory environment
Modular construction systems
Two different approaches to modular construction
•Flat pack or component modular construction
• Big Box or volumetric modular construction
large component of the house are prefabricated to varying stages of completeness in a factory, and stacked for transport on a truck.
Flat pack or component modular construction
whole and complete components are taken to site by a truck, and joined up to make the whole building.
Big box or volumetric modular construction
This is the most common system and demands the least amount of time on site.
Big box or volumetric modular construction
Prefabricated homes can be constructed using a
-folding panel system
-precast concrete
-structural insulated panels
-steel or timber framed modular
One of the key differences between various construction systems is their
Mass content
contribute differently to thermal performance depending on the climate zone they are used in and how they are designed to interact with or moderate the climate
High and low mass materials
In temperate and cold climates, high mass construction can contribute to thermal comfort by
Absorbing solar heat during the day and releasing it at night
must be used to ensure mass is exposed internally and insulated externally
Passive design principles
In hot and humid climates, low mass construction works better to encourage
Passive cooling
can reduce heating and cooling energy use
High mass systems
are most appropriate in climates with high diurnal (day-night) temperature ranges
High-mass systems
can be liability in tropical climates where energy is used only for cooling
High mass systems
Generally have higher embodied energy
High-mass systems
Requires more substantial footing systems and cause greater site impact and disturbance
High mass systems
Are often quarried and processed with high environmental impact
High mass systems
require careful cost-benefit analysis on remote sites where transport needs are significant
High-mass systems
respond rapidly to external temperature changes or heating and cooling input
Lightweight systems
Can provide significant benefits in temperature and hot climates by cooling rapidly at night
Lightweight systems
May require more heating and cooling energy in high diurnal range climates
Lightweight systems
Generally have lower embodied energy
Lightweight systems
Are often preferable on remote sites with high materials transport cost
Lightweight systems
Can have thermal mass added through inclusion of water-filled containers or phase-change materials
Lightweight systems
Can have lower production impact if sustainably sourced
Lightweight systems
in temperate climates, the best overall outcome is most simply achieved with
Concrete slab-on-ground and lightweight walls
are base of your home
Footings
They are the structures that transfer the weight of the home to the foundation material, most commonly soil.
Footings
Must be designed to suit the site’s soil conditions and provide adequate tie-down for the building structure under the site’s wind classification.
Footing systems
Footing systems options include:
• lightweight framed systems
• concrete slab integrated footings
• waffle pod slabs
• detached strip footings
• engineered steel pile systems
These have the lowest site impact and embodied energy
Lightweight framed systems
These require substantial excavation on all but level sites, increasing impact.
Concrete slab integrated footings
They can reduce construction cost where the slope is low.
Concrete slab integrated footings
They can be an effective part of passive design where the climate allows for earth coupling.
Concrete slab integrated footings
These can be cost-effective solution on flat sites and they don’t require major excavation
Waffle pod slabs
They can reduce wastage and have lower embodied energy than a typical concrete slab
Waffle pod slabs
These, combined with load bearing brickwork to floor level, can reduce excavation.
Detached strip footings
These can support masonry walls, reduce excavation and site impact, and make for faster construction.
Engineered steel pile systems
Cost varies with application but these systems are generally more expensive than strip footings.
Engineered steel pile systems
