WALLS (mainly internal)

Question 1

What are Masonry Walls?

Answer 1

Masonry walls are structures made from individual units of brick, stone, or concrete blocks, laid and bound together by mortar.

Question 2

How are walls classified?

Answer 2

By being either:

Solid
Cavity
Internal
External
Load bearing
Non load bearing

Question 3

What are the types of walls?

Answer 3

The types of walls are:

Load Bearing: Supports roofs, floors, etc.

Non Load Bearing: Divides spaces.

Question 4

What are the conventional masonry wall types?

Answer 4

Solid Walls:

Constructed using thin joint construction.

Cavity Walls:

Consist of two layers (leaves) with a cavity between them, often filled with insulation.
Internal Walls

Used to divide internal spaces, can be load bearing or non-load bearing.

External Walls:

Outer walls of a building, providing structural support and protection from the elements.

External Load-Bearing Walls:

Support both the roof and floors above them.

Internal Load-Bearing Walls:

Support floors and other loads within the building.

Non Load-Bearing Walls/Partitions:

Primarily used to divide spaces without carrying significant loads.

Question 5

What are the main functions of walls?

Answer 5

Strength
Stability
Weather exclusion
Thermal insulation
Sound insulation
Durability
Fire resistance
Appearance
Locating windows and doors

Question 6

What are the basic principles of wall construction?

Answer 6

Structural Characteristics: Walls are strong in compression but weak in tension.

Load Distribution: Brick walls can support heavy vertical loads and resist horizontal loads along their length but are weaker perpendicular to their plane.

Question 7

What are the standard brick and block dimensions in the uk?

Answer 7

Bricks: 215mm long x 65mm high x 102.5mm thick

Concrete Blocks: 440mm long x 215mm high x various thicknesses

Question 8

What is the standard measurement for imperial/metric bricks?

Answer 8

Metric Bricks:

Length: 225mm (including joint)
Width: 112.5mm (including joint)
Height: 75mm (including joint)
Typical Joint: 10mm

Imperial Bricks:

Length: 9 inches (228.6mm including joint)
Width: 4.5 inches (114.3mm including joint)
Height: 3 inches (76.2mm including joint)
Typical Joint: 3/8 inch (9.55mm)

Question 9

What amount of mortar is required for brick and blockwork?

Answer 9

Bricks:

1 sq. metre: 60 bricks, 0.02 cubic metres mortar
2 sq. metres: 120 bricks, 0.05 cubic metres mortar
5 sq. metres: 300 bricks, 0.12 cubic metres mortar
10 sq. metres: 600 bricks, 0.24 cubic metres mortar

Blocks:

1 sq. metre: 10 blocks, 0.01 cubic metres mortar
2 sq. metres: 21 blocks, 0.02 cubic metres mortar
5 sq. metres: 53 blocks, 0.05 cubic metres mortar
10 sq. metres: 106 blocks, 0.10 cubic metres mortar

Question 10

What is the function and composition of mortar in the UK?

Answer 10

Function: Mortar distributes loads between bricks/blocks so that they act as a unit.

Composition: Typically made from soft sand and a binding agent (cement or lime) in a ratio of 3 sand to 1 binder.

Question 11

What is the purpose and types of bonding associated with brick and block work?

Answer 11

Purpose:

Maximum strength and load distribution.
Lateral stability and resistance to side thrusts.
Acceptable appearance.

Types of Bonding:

Stretcher Bond: Simplest and most widely used, suitable for half-brick walls and cavity walls.

Formation of Corners: Involves the use of half bats to form stopped ends and racking back.

Question 12

Give me an overview of wall ties.

Answer 12

Function:

Tie the outer and inner leaves of the cavity wall together.

Prevent moisture from passing from the outer to the inner skin.

Materials: Stainless-steel or nylon.

Spacing: Proper spacing is essential to prevent mortar droppings from bridging the cavity and allowing moisture ingress.

Question 13

What is pointing and what types are there in walls?

Answer 13

What is pointing in construction ? Pointing, in its simplest terms, refers to the art of filling the gaps between bricks or stones with mortar or other suitable materials.

Types of pointing are:

Curved Recessed.

Struck or Weathered.

Flush Pointing.

Question 14

What is a cavity wall?

Answer 14

Construction: Two ½ brick thick leaves with a cavity.

Function: Outer leaf acts as a barrier to moisture; inner leaf supports loads.

Insulation: Cavity can include insulation to improve thermal performance.

Wall Ties: Stainless-steel ties to connect the two leaves.

Question 15

What is thermal insulation?

Answer 15

Thermal insulation reduces heat transfer between solid objects, fluids, or gases by introducing a barrier between them.

U-Value: Measure of heat loss in a building element.
Lower U-value indicates better insulation.

Units: Measured in W/m²K (Watts per metre squared degrees Kelvin).

Question 16

What are the structural considerations of walls?

Answer 16

Wall Thickness: Determined by the structural load and the desired insulation properties.

Reinforcement: Sometimes, masonry walls are reinforced with steel bars to enhance their load-bearing capacity.

Damp Proofing: Measures such as damp proof courses (DPC) and membranes are used to prevent moisture ingress.

Question 17

What are internal walls?

Answer 17

Internal walls and partitions in buildings serve multiple purposes beyond mere separation of spaces.

They are constructed from a variety of materials and designed to meet specific performance criteria.

Question 18

What are the functions of internal walls?

Answer 18

Physical Separation: Divide spaces within a building.

Fire Resistance: Provide barriers to prevent the spread of fire.

Sound Insulation: Reduce noise transmission between rooms.

Durability: Withstand the wear and tear typical of the building’s use.

Robustness: Support fixtures and fittings.

Aesthetics: Enhance the building’s appearance and match its overall character.

Load-Bearing or Non-Load-Bearing: Either support structural loads or simply divide spaces.

Question 19

What are the common types of internal walls?

Answer 19

Fire Walls:

Purpose: Restrict the spread of fire through a building.

Construction: Extend from the ground to the roof.

Openings: Restricted in size and fitted with fire doors and wired glass.

Fire Compartment Walls:

Purpose: Similar to fire walls but do not extend from foundation to roof.

Use: Divide buildings between different occupancies or enclose stairways and exit corridors.

Openings: Also restricted and fitted with fire doors and wired glass.

Shaft Walls:

Purpose: Enclose multi-storey open spaces like elevator shafts or ductwork.

Requirements: Provide necessary fire resistance and withstand air pressure from lift movements.

Also designed to minimise noise from elevator machinery.

Other Non-Load-Bearing Partitions:

Purpose: Divide spaces without bearing structural loads or acting as fire separations.

Materials: Can include glass, plastics, steel, or wood studs.

Question 20

What materials are used primarily used in internal walls?

Answer 20

Concrete Block Work: Commonly used in load-bearing partitions.

In-Situ Concrete, Bricks, or Blocks: Used for fire compartment walls.

In-Situ Concrete, Blocks, or Plasterboard: Used for shaft walls.

Glass, Plastics, Steel, or Wood Studs: Used for non-load-bearing partitions.

Question 21

What are lightweight partitions and their types?

Answer 21

Lightweight Partitions are particularly suited as partitions for cabins and technical rooms as they are of lighter weight than wood filled panels and have good soundproofing properties

Framed with Steel or Wood Studs: Typically faced with gypsum boards.

Metal Section Partitions (MetSec): Lightweight, non-loadbearing, and quick to assemble. Suitable for various building types and can meet fire resistance, sound insulation, impact resistance, and stability requirements.

Jumbo Stud Partitions: Used for larger spaces and offer robust support.

Question 22

What are timber stud walls?

Answer 22

Construction: Made from 100 x 50mm or 100 x 75mm sole plates and head plates, with vertical studs at 400mm centers.

Materials: Often covered with plasterboard and finished with a plaster coat.

Features: Easy to construct, lightweight, adaptable, and can be filled with various materials for different finishes and properties.

Question 23

What is a traditional partition wall?

Answer 23

Materials: Built from blocks or bricks.

Enhanced Appearance: May be faced with ceramic tiles or other proprietary materials for improved aesthetics.

Question 24

What are Curtain Wall systems?

Answer 24

Curtain wall systems are a type of non-loadbearing wall that hang from a building’s structural frame, serving as an external enclosure.

Question 25

What are the CWCT and NHBC definitions for curtain walling?

Answer 25

CWCT Definition: Vertical enclosures that support only their own weight and environmental forces.

NHBC Definition: Includes slope glazing and all components like frames, brackets, fixings, etc.

Question 26

How are curtain walls different from windows?

Answer 26

Curtain walls are storey-height and fixed back to the frame.

Windows are fixed into openings and lack large structural sections.

Question 27

What are the basic designs of curtain walling?

Answer 27

Front-Sealed Curtain Wall:

Totally impervious, reliant on perfect seals.

Suitable for low-rise buildings in sheltered locations.

Drained and Ventilated Systems:

Recognizes seals won’t remain watertight indefinitely.

Includes drainage holes to allow water egress.

Pressure-Equalised Systems:

Uses an outer rainscreen to balance internal and external pressures.

Effective in preventing water ingress due to pressure differentials.

Question 28

What are the fabrication (assembly) techniques used to create curtain walls?

Answer 28

Stick Systems:

Assembled on-site from components.

Labour-intensive but economical.

Unitised Systems:

Factory-assembled units installed on-site.

Quicker installation without scaffolding.

Panellised Systems:

Similar to unitised but uses larger panels.

Requires craneage and is faster to install.

Question 29

What are the typical materials and finishes associated with curtain walls?

Answer 29

Typically made from aluminium and glass; steel is used for fire barriers.

Finishes include polyester powder coating and anodising.

Additional features like natural stone or composite panels can be added.

Question 30

What are the common factors associated with fire protection in curtain walls?

Answer 30

Cladding systems can be hazardous if they contain combustible materials.

Regulations in England and Wales now ban combustible materials on buildings taller than 18 meters with multiple dwellings.

Fire protection measures are critical for safety.

Question 31

What are the key considerations of working with curtain walling?

Answer 31

Safety: Working at height, handling materials, and ensuring proper installation.

Quality: Dependent on workmanship and careful handling to avoid damage.

Testing: Systems are tested for water, wind, stability, noise, fire, and durability.