L11: Interior Construction Flashcards
What are the types of interior walls?
Fire walls
Shaft walls
Fire/smoke barriers
Other non-bearing partitions
What are fire walls?
Walls which extend from foundation to above roof level and subdivide building into smaller units to restrict the spread of fire
What are shaft walls?
Encloses multi-storey openings through buildings eg. lift shafts, chases, risers
What are the typical fire ratings for shafts that are less/more than 4 storeys?
Less that 4 storeys - 1h rating
More than 4 storeys - 2h rating
What must lift shafts also do?
Withstand air pressure loads from moving lift
Control noise
What are fire/smoke barriers?
Similar to fire walls but do not extend through entire building - go from floor slab to underside of ceiling
What do fire/smoke barriers do?
Subdivide larger areas into fire cells
What are the common types of commercial partition framing?
Light gauge steel studs (most common)
Metal furring over solid walls
Why is metal common partition framing and not wood?
Wood is combustible, heavier (more dead load), and is capable of bearing loads which is not required
What are light gauge steel studs finished with?
Gypsum sheathing but can also have plaster finish
How are runners fastened in light gauge steel studs?
With power-driven fasteners
What is metal furring over solid walls?
Metal furring attached with power driven fasteners to solid walls to increase fire rating and acoustic contol
What finishes do metal furring over solid walls have?
Gypsum board - provides space between wall and finish for insulation/wiring
Plaster - grid of adjustable furring channels; good for producing flat wall
What channels do gyp board finished metal furring over solid walls have?
Z channels - no weak point
Hat channels - weak points
What are the types of rough wall finishes?
Plaster
Gypsum board
How common are plaster finishes in NZ and why?
Not common - labour intensive, applied wet (heavy)
How common are gypsum board finishes and why?
Most common - highly standardised (mass produced and interiors made to fit), labour efficient, applied dry (lightweight)
What are the types of plaster applications?
Interior - gypsum plaster (expands)
Exterior - portland cement-lime plaster (stucco) (shirnks)
What are plaster bases for?
Surface placed on studs for plaster to adhere to
What are the types of plaster bases?
Metal/wire lath, gypsum lath, wood strips, none
When can plaster bases not be used
When the wall material itself is porous eg. CMU, brick
What are the two systems for applying plaster and when are each used?
Three-coat system - used with metal lath
Two-coat system - used with gypsum lath
What are the three coats in the three-coat plaster system?
Scratch - forms rigid base (scratched)
Brown - builds thickness and levels surface (scratched)
Finish - final, level surface
How is the two-coat system different from the three-coat system and why?
No scratch coat because gypsum lath is rigid
What is plasterboard (gypsum board)?
Plaster placed between two sheets of paper (prefabricated)
What are common types of gypsum board?
Regular
Water-resistant (green board)
Type-X (fire resistant)
Type-C (extra fire-resistant)
What are common thicknesses for plasterboard?
10mm and 13mm
6mm can be curved
What do the edges of plasterboards have?
Tapered to allow tapering and floating
What is required with plasterboard to strengthen/protect corners?
Corner beads fastened to metal studs with self-tapping screws and screw gun
What is taping and floating and how is it done?
Joint compound and reinforcing tape applied over joints and fastener holes, then sanded down and wiped clean for final finish
What are common wall finishes?
Paint
Wall covering
Wall tile
How is interior wall paint final finish applied?
1 coat of primer
2 coats of finish finishing
What are the final finishes used?
Light duty areas - latex plat wall paint
Moderate duty areas - washable flat or semi-gloss
Heavy duty areas - gloss or semi-gloss enamel
What are wall coverings and what are the advantages/disadvantages compared to paint?
Fabric-backed polyvinyl chloride sheets
Advantage - easily cleaned and damage resistant, hides imperfections
Disadvantage - more expensive
What wall coverings are used in hygienic areas?
Plastic coverings
How and where are wall coverings installed?
Installed with adhesive
Can be applied on new walls and existing finishes
What are ceramic wall tiles and how are they installed?
Tiles with good resistance to abrasion and moisture
Typically installed thin set and bonded to wall surface; joints grouted after mortar cures
What are the types of wall tiles?
Glazed wall tile - 10x10cm, 3-8mm
Ceramic mosaic tile - 2.5x2.5cm, 2.5x5cm, 5x5cm
What are ceramic mosaic tiles?
Commonly backing sheets linking individual tiles that hold the joint width
What are the types of ceiling?
Exposed structural and MEP components
Tightly attached ceilings
Suspended ceilings
When are exposed structural and MEP components ceilings used?
When attractive floor slab eg. waffle slab, open web steel joists and metal decking, heavy timber beams and wood decking
When buildings have few MEP services across ceiling eg. two way flat plate, hotels
What are some advantages of exposed ceilings?
Save vertical space
Save money on finishes (labour and materials)
What are tightly attached ceilings?
Ceilings that attach directly to structure; uncommon in non-residential because special arrangements must be made for structural elements and services
What are furrdowns?
Tightly fixed ceilings with additional framing around spaces with services
What are the types of suspended ceilings?
Acoustical ceiling
Suspended plaster ceiling
Suspended gypsum board ceiling
What are suspended ceilings?
Ceilings suspended on hanger wires below the above structure; creates void - plenum
What type of fire protection can suspended ceilings serve as?
Membrane fire protection for steel structural elements
What are suspended acoustical ceilings and what are the three types?
Suspended metal grid comprised of fibrous lightweight tiles (60x60cm or 60x120cm); ceiling elements designed for this
Exposed (most economical), recessed, concealed
What is the make up of suspended plaster ceilings?
Hanger wires hold up grid of steel runner channels and furring channels –> metal lath –> three plaster coats
What are suspended plasterboard ceilings?
Light gauge metal frame suspended by wires from above deck; thicker gauge framing can expand rooms rather than suspended from deck
When is plasterboard in suspended plasterboard ceilings thicker than wall applications?
When it serves as fireproofing; otherwise thinner
How are tightly attached and suspended ceilings finished?
Acoustical - lay-in panels are own final finish
Tightly attached and suspended plaster/plasterboard - textured paint (acoustical treatment, masks imperfections)
What are the functions of finished flooring?
Enhance comfort (colour, texture)
Control acoustics
Indoor lighting (light/dark)
Primary wearing surface
What are the common qualities of hard flooring materials?
Top resistance to wear and moisture
Rigid, uncomfortable
Live, noisy acoustics
What are hard flooring materials?
Concrete
Tile
Stone
Terrazzo
When is concrete floor finished used?
Broom finished - parking, industrial
Smooth finished and coloured - any use
What are advantages/disadvantages of concrete floor finish?
Low initial cost, high durability
High workmanship required
What must be applied when staining concrete?
Hydrochloric acid
What are the types of tile flooring and how are they installed?
Quarry tile and ceramic and porcelain tile
Thin set with joints grouted after mortar cures; sealed with clear coatings (regularly)
What are quarry tiles?
Fired clay mainly earth-tone colours set in reinforced mortar bed
10-30cm2
What are ceramic and porcelain tiles?
Fired clay but smaller than quarry and usually glazed, adhered to large backing sheets and then set in reinforced mortar bed with portland cement paste
1.5-30cm but can be over 100cm
What are the types of stone flooring?
Granite (igneous - formed from flow of lava)
Limestone (sedimentary - shells of animals formed over time)
Marble, slate (metamorphic - igneous/sedimentary buried for time)
What are the textures for stone flooring?
Mirror-polished - igneous/metamorphic
Split face - sedimentary
What is terrazzo?
Concrete/granite chips combined with coloured portland cement; separated by divider strips ground with the terrazzo
Placed and cures –> grounded –> polished
(Additional chips put on top to show at surface)
What are the advantages of terrazzo?
Durable and attractive
What are the types of wood flooring?
Tongue-and-groove strip flooring
Laminate flooring
What is tongue-and-groove strip flooring?
Sleepers (wood studs) fastened to floor slab
Hardwood tongue-and-groove strips blind nailed to subfloor or directly to sleepers
Sanded, stained, finished/coated
What is laminate flooring and how is it installed?
Relatively cheap planks of fibreboard with plastic laminate - imitates wood
Lighted planks attached to subfloor and heavier planks interlocked without adhesive
What are the types of resilient flooring?
Vinyl composition tiles
Carpet
What are vinyl composition tiles?
Mineral fibres and PVC resin mixed glued to subfloor with no joints; also available in rolled sheets
30cm2, 3mm thick
What are the main advantages/disadvantages of VCT?
Highly durable, lowest initial cost, range of colours
Thin - exposes subfloor irregularities
What are the two face styles of carpet?
Cut pile - primarily residential
Loop pile - commercial
What are carpet tiles?
Attached to subfloor by adhesive; allows underfloor access as more adaptable/flexible
More expensive than rolled
90cm2 or 45cm2
What are carpet rolls (broadloom)?
Wall-to-wall carpeting with additional cushioning to add resilience and durability
How are carpet rolls installed?
Adhering to subfloor OR
Conventional method - attached to tackless strip at perimeter and stretched (no adhesive)
What are common wall bases?
Wood baseboards (skirting)
Vinyl cove base
Carpet cove base
What are wood baseboards?
One-piece baseboard - attached to base of wall and conceals connection to floor
Three-piece baseboard - same as one piece with additional top/bottom pieces that flex to hide irregularities
What is vinyl cove base?
Standard for commercial and applied with adhesive
What is carpet cove base?
Extension of carpet material onto wall
What are the lamp types?
Incandescent
Fluorescent
LED
What are incandescent and halogen lamps?
Filament and nitrogen/argon gas inside; electricity through filaments illuminates gas
Pros - cheaper, warmer colour
Cons - low efficacy, 98% wasted heat, short life
What are fluorescent lamps?
Cylindrical tube with argon and low pressure mercury vapour; requires ballast to control
Pros - long life, high efficacy, less heat (can downsize AC)
Cons - higher initial cost, colder colour but improving, requires large power to start and needs time to turn on
What are light emitting diodes?
Semi conductor consisting of diodes that illuminate when electricity flows through
Pros - very long life, high efficacy, little heat
Cons - highest initial cost, colder light colour
What are the types of light fixtures for incandescent OR fluorescent lights?
Recessed can (home)
Pendant (hangs from ceiling)
Track lights
Wall sconce (commercial)
What are the types of light fixtures for fluorescent lights only?
Recessed (fits into acoustical grid) or flush mounted troffers
- Lens or louvered
What does lumens measure?
The light output from a fixture
What does lux measure?
The light level at a given surface
How is 1 lux produced?
1 lumen falling on 1m2
What is the inverse square law?
The principle that light radiates outward from source and loses concentration exponentially with distance
What lighting levels do office spaces typically aim for? (task lighting)
500 lux
