Construction Tech Level 2 Flashcards
Why is cladding required?
Create a controlled internal environment.
Protect the building from external conditions.
Provide privacy and security.
Prevent the transmission of sound.
Provide thermal insulation.
Create an external facade.
Prevent the spread of fire.
Generate an ‘airtight’ building envelope.
Providing openings for access, daylight, and ventilation.
Different types of cladding
SHF
Curtain Walling Systems - support their own weight and the loads imposed on them (such as wind loads, seismic loads, and so on) which they transfer back to the primary structure of the building. This is in contrast to many forms of traditional construction in which the external walls are a fundamental part of the primary structure of the building.
Typically curtain wall systems comprise a lightweight aluminium frame onto which glazed or opaque infill panels can be fixed. These infill panels are often described as ‘glazing’ whether or not they are made of glass.
Glass-reinforced concrete - glass fibers embedded in a concrete matrix.
High performing composite - glass fibres embedded in a concrete matrix.
Often used as a lightweight cladding system, and can be made to look almost identical to natural stone. Installation is easier and more cost-effective due to the lower weight of the panels, which is approximately 80% lighter than pre-cast steel reinforced concrete cladding. This enhances the energy efficiency of GRC , and it is capable of achieving a BREEAM A+ material rating
Timber cladding - softwoods such as western red cedar. This type of wood is relatively knot-free and has a natural resistance to decay and moisture. It can be readily stained or painted and altered to create a range of profiles.
What are the two fundamental types of piles
Friction - pile transmits load to surrounding soil
End bearing - load-bearing capacity at the toe of the pile on hard layer of rock/dense soil/gravel
