BEFORE CLASS
Before week 8 Tahira shared some work based on sustainability and commuting. These were a podcast and presentation on sustainable commuting. these were very useful to understand the impact of regular commuting like cars and how to counter this with sustainable methods like walking and cycling or mitigate the impacts with public transport like busses. in addition to these they also showed how to incorporate and encourage this by designing a site around this idea to help improve the sustainability of the site and and work towards the goal of being carbon 0. One example of a company that does this well that I found with my research was CITU. CITU is a company that are working towards creating net 0 communities with efficient homes and business's that use sustainable communities designed for walking and cycling with cars left outside the community.
Tahira also posted a link to some reading on using trees as infrastructure - https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/trees-as-infrastructure-aa141acdf227 - .
The article "Trees as Infrastructure" argues that trees should be considered a vital part of urban infrastructure. The author explains that trees provide numerous benefits, including improving air quality and enhancing biodiversity. However, trees are often undervalued and underfunded, leading to their neglect and eventual removal. The article suggests that by reframing trees as infrastructure, they can be prioritized and receive the funding and attention they need. This can be achieved by establishing a clear framework for the management and maintenance of urban trees and recognizing their value in creating sustainable and livable cities.
Tahira also posted a link to some reading on using trees as infrastructure - https://provocations.darkmatterlabs.org/trees-as-infrastructure-aa141acdf227 - .
The article "Trees as Infrastructure" argues that trees should be considered a vital part of urban infrastructure. The author explains that trees provide numerous benefits, including improving air quality and enhancing biodiversity. However, trees are often undervalued and underfunded, leading to their neglect and eventual removal. The article suggests that by reframing trees as infrastructure, they can be prioritized and receive the funding and attention they need. This can be achieved by establishing a clear framework for the management and maintenance of urban trees and recognizing their value in creating sustainable and livable cities.
IN CLASS
In class we were told to work through the approved documents to make sure our ideas fit withing its parameters. for this session we worked through part A, structure and picked out the ones that applied to our project.
PART A - BUILDING REG NOTES - PROJECT RELEVENT
Any building work which is subject to the requirements imposed by Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations shall be carried out in accordance with regulation 7. Guidance on meeting these requirements on materials and workmanship is contained in Approved Document 7. Building Regulations are made for specific purposes, primarily the health and safety, welfare and convenience of people and for energy conservation. Standards and other technical specifications may provide relevant guidance to the extent that they relate to these considerations. However, they may also address other aspects of performance or matters which, although they relate to health and safety etc., are not covered by the Building Regulations.
Loading
A1. (1) The building shall be constructed so that the combined dead, imposed and wind loads are sustained and transmitted by it to the ground: (a) safely; and (b) without causing such deflection or deformation of any part of the building, or such movement of the ground, as will impair the stability of any part of another building.
(2) In assessing whether a building complies with sub-paragraph (1) regard shall be had to the imposed and wind loads to which it is likely to be subjected in the ordinary course of its use for the purpose for which it is intended.
Ground movement
A2. The building shall be constructed so that ground movement caused by: (a) swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil; or (b) land-slip or subsidence (other than subsidence arising from shrinkage), in so far as the risk can be reasonably foreseen, will not impair the stability of any part of the building
0.2 The safety of a structure depends on the successful combination of design and completed construction, particularly:
a. The design should be based on identification of the hazards to which the structure is likely to be subjected and assessment of the risks. The selection of relevant critical situations for design should be made reflecting the conditions that can reasonably be foreseen during future use.
b. Loading. Dead load, imposed load and wind load should be in accordance with the current Codes of practice referred to in Section 1 of this document.
c. Properties of materials.
d. Detailed design and assembly of the structure.
e. Safety factors.
f. Workmanship.
1.11 There may be known or recorded conditions of ground instability, such as that arising from landslides, disused mines or unstable strata which, if ignored, can have a devastating effect on the safety of a building and its environs.
Definitions
Buttressing wall - A wall designed and constructed to afford lateral support to another wall perpendicular to it, support being provided from the base to the top of the wall.
Cavity width - The horizontal distance between the two leaves of a cavity wall.
Compartment wall - A wall constructed as a compartment wall to meet the requirements of regulation B3(2).
Dead load - The load due to the weight of all walls, permanent partitions, floors, roofs and finishes including services, and all other permanent construction.
Imposed load - The load assumed to be produced by the intended occupancy or use, including the weight of movable partitions, distributed, concentrated, impact, inertia and snow loads, but excluding wind loads.
Pier - A member which forms an integral part of a wall, in the form of a thickened section at intervals along the wall, so as to afford lateral support to the wall to which it is bonded or securely tied.
Separating wall - A wall or part of a wall which is common to adjoining buildings, and constructed to meet the requirements of regulation B3(2).
Spacing - The distance between the longitudinal centres of any two adjacent timber members of the same type, measured in the plane of floor, ceiling or roof structure.
Span - The distance measured along the centre line of a member between the centres of any two adjacent bearings or supports.
Supported wall - A wall to which lateral support is afforded by a combination of buttressing walls, piers or chimneys acting in conjunction with floor(s) or roof.
Wind load - The load due to the effect of wind pressure or suction.
2A2 Adequate provision shall be made to ensure that the building is stable under the likely imposed and wind loading conditions. This will commonly necessitate meeting the following requirements:
a. - That the overall size and proportioning of the building are limited in accordance with the specific guidance for each form of construction.
b. - That a suitable layout of walls (both internal and external) forming a robust 3 dimensional box structure in plan is constructed with restriction on the maximum size of cells measured in accordance with the specific guidance for each form of construction.
c. - That the internal and external walls are adequately connected either by masonry bonding or by using mechanical connections.
d. - That the intermediate floors and roof are of such construction and interconnection with the walls that they provide local support to the walls and also act as horizontal diaphragms capable of transferring the wind forces to buttressing elements of the building.
2B1 – guidance for sizing of certain timber
2B2 – timber in certain areas should be regularly treated for infestation
2C1 - This section applies to the following building types:
a. - residential buildings of not more than three storeys;
b. - small single-storey non-residential buildings;
c. - small buildings forming annexes to residential buildings (including garages and outbuildings).
PART A - BUILDING REG NOTES - PROJECT RELEVENT
Any building work which is subject to the requirements imposed by Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations shall be carried out in accordance with regulation 7. Guidance on meeting these requirements on materials and workmanship is contained in Approved Document 7. Building Regulations are made for specific purposes, primarily the health and safety, welfare and convenience of people and for energy conservation. Standards and other technical specifications may provide relevant guidance to the extent that they relate to these considerations. However, they may also address other aspects of performance or matters which, although they relate to health and safety etc., are not covered by the Building Regulations.
Loading
A1. (1) The building shall be constructed so that the combined dead, imposed and wind loads are sustained and transmitted by it to the ground: (a) safely; and (b) without causing such deflection or deformation of any part of the building, or such movement of the ground, as will impair the stability of any part of another building.
(2) In assessing whether a building complies with sub-paragraph (1) regard shall be had to the imposed and wind loads to which it is likely to be subjected in the ordinary course of its use for the purpose for which it is intended.
Ground movement
A2. The building shall be constructed so that ground movement caused by: (a) swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil; or (b) land-slip or subsidence (other than subsidence arising from shrinkage), in so far as the risk can be reasonably foreseen, will not impair the stability of any part of the building
0.2 The safety of a structure depends on the successful combination of design and completed construction, particularly:
a. The design should be based on identification of the hazards to which the structure is likely to be subjected and assessment of the risks. The selection of relevant critical situations for design should be made reflecting the conditions that can reasonably be foreseen during future use.
b. Loading. Dead load, imposed load and wind load should be in accordance with the current Codes of practice referred to in Section 1 of this document.
c. Properties of materials.
d. Detailed design and assembly of the structure.
e. Safety factors.
f. Workmanship.
1.11 There may be known or recorded conditions of ground instability, such as that arising from landslides, disused mines or unstable strata which, if ignored, can have a devastating effect on the safety of a building and its environs.
Definitions
Buttressing wall - A wall designed and constructed to afford lateral support to another wall perpendicular to it, support being provided from the base to the top of the wall.
Cavity width - The horizontal distance between the two leaves of a cavity wall.
Compartment wall - A wall constructed as a compartment wall to meet the requirements of regulation B3(2).
Dead load - The load due to the weight of all walls, permanent partitions, floors, roofs and finishes including services, and all other permanent construction.
Imposed load - The load assumed to be produced by the intended occupancy or use, including the weight of movable partitions, distributed, concentrated, impact, inertia and snow loads, but excluding wind loads.
Pier - A member which forms an integral part of a wall, in the form of a thickened section at intervals along the wall, so as to afford lateral support to the wall to which it is bonded or securely tied.
Separating wall - A wall or part of a wall which is common to adjoining buildings, and constructed to meet the requirements of regulation B3(2).
Spacing - The distance between the longitudinal centres of any two adjacent timber members of the same type, measured in the plane of floor, ceiling or roof structure.
Span - The distance measured along the centre line of a member between the centres of any two adjacent bearings or supports.
Supported wall - A wall to which lateral support is afforded by a combination of buttressing walls, piers or chimneys acting in conjunction with floor(s) or roof.
Wind load - The load due to the effect of wind pressure or suction.
2A2 Adequate provision shall be made to ensure that the building is stable under the likely imposed and wind loading conditions. This will commonly necessitate meeting the following requirements:
a. - That the overall size and proportioning of the building are limited in accordance with the specific guidance for each form of construction.
b. - That a suitable layout of walls (both internal and external) forming a robust 3 dimensional box structure in plan is constructed with restriction on the maximum size of cells measured in accordance with the specific guidance for each form of construction.
c. - That the internal and external walls are adequately connected either by masonry bonding or by using mechanical connections.
d. - That the intermediate floors and roof are of such construction and interconnection with the walls that they provide local support to the walls and also act as horizontal diaphragms capable of transferring the wind forces to buttressing elements of the building.
2B1 – guidance for sizing of certain timber
2B2 – timber in certain areas should be regularly treated for infestation
2C1 - This section applies to the following building types:
a. - residential buildings of not more than three storeys;
b. - small single-storey non-residential buildings;
c. - small buildings forming annexes to residential buildings (including garages and outbuildings).
AFTER CLASS
After class Tahira share 2 books to look at these were BREEAM New UK Construction and BREEAM New UK Construction : Technical Manual.
how this will help me
it is important to make projects sustainable to help protect the planet and ensure that future generations can continue to use the same resources as us and it was useful to see how to help this beyond construction materials and look at how the site will be used. The work with the Approved Building Regulations was also very useful too as it is imperative to understand and meet to ensure buildings are actually safe and able to build.
