DEPARTMENT OF QUANTITY SURVEYING

KULLIYYAH OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

BAQS 1195 INTRODUCTION TO WORKING DRAWINGS AND ICT

SEMESTER 1, 2022/2023

ASSIGNMENT 2

INSTRUCTOR: SITI NORA HARYATI BT. ABDULLAH HABIB

SUBMISSION DATE: 8TH DECEMBER 2022

NAME & MATRIC NUMBER:

1 ASYRAF AZIM BIN ABDUL AZIZ 2213467

2 MUHAMMAD AFIQ DANIAL BIN MOHAMMAD 2117099

3 FIRDAUS SYARGAWI BIN SAIFUL SAMSURI 2212683

4 AMMAR ZULHILMI BIN AMINUDDIN 2217281

5 MUHAMMAD THAQIF AZFAR BIN MOHD SUHAIMI 2212253

6 ASHROF NAJHI BIN MOHD RADZUAN 2213377

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

No Content Pages

1 Introduction 3

2 Conventional post & beam method of construction of 4-7

3 Inventory on the structural component of a house 8-14

4 Variation of building materials of a house 15-20

5 Variation of the architectural component of a house 21-27

6 Conclusion 28

7 References 29-30

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 1. INTRODUCTION

We conducted this research to gather information and knowledge about the construction

element of a residential building. A number of common building elements are used in different

types of buildings. Each aspect has areas that must demonstrate performance. Housing

construction usually applies the most basic elements. There are many basic elements even for a

single story house in order to make the building safe to be used. For example, foundation, floors,

walls and so on. Every single element plays an important role in the particular building. There also

needs to be done step by step in the sequence without skipping any step. Materials to be used also

depend on many factors on the site. Different types of environments require different materials to

be used in the construction. Therefore, all of those elements should be considered before the

construction starts because it can determine the safety, costing and ensure every work runs

according to the plans.

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2. CONVENTIONAL POST & BEAM METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF A

HOUSE

2.1 POST & BEAM

The post and beam system are a skeletal framework of decking, beams, and posts supported

on a foundation. Post and beam construction is so named because of the constituents that

make up the structure. The beams need to be attached to the posts to make them stand.

Diagram 2.1 - Simple anatomy of post & beam

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2.2 METHOD TO CONSTRUCT POST & BEAM

1. Joinery

Diagram 2.2 - Post & beam joinery

Braces supports and fasteners that hold a beam to a post. A braced frame is a structural system

designed to resist wind and earthquake forces. Members in a braced frame are not allowed to sway

laterally. They are usually placed diagonally between a post and a beam to share the load between

them. Mortise and tenon is one of the strongest in woodwork construction. This connection

technique involves creating a hole (mortise) in the timbers that will serve as beams and tongue

(tenon) on the lumber that will serve as posts. This method of connecting beams and posts has

been around for a long time.

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 2. Steel pins and plates

Diagram 2.3 - Post & beam steel pins and plates

Another method of Post and beam construction uses steel pins and steel plates cut in square and

rectangular shapes to hold beams and posts together. These pins and plates can either be concealed

or exposed. Due to the modified fastening, it requires lesser-skilled labor and also reduced labor

cost. A strong connection at a right angle between joists and beams. Made of steel but typically

made of galvanized steel sheet metal.

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2.3 The function of post & beam

Diagram 2.4 - Function of post & beam

The post & beam construction system posts are (vertical members), and beams are (horizontal

members) to create the building's load-bearing structure. All structural members should be

designed to carry the imposed loads. The posts are used to safely transfer a dead load or live load

of the building to the foundation. The beam equally transfers the load from the floor slab to every

corner of the post. Beams support the weight of a building's floors, ceilings, and roofs and move

the load to the framework of a vertical load-bearing element.

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3. INVENTORY ON STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF A HOUSE

1. Foundation

● Foundation of a house is the most critical structural component.

● A good foundation must remain in position without sliding, bending, and overturning.

● Its purpose is to transfer load of entire building to the underlying soil.

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2. Plinth

● Plinth is the portion of the structure between the surface of the surrounding ground and the

surface of the floor.

● The plinth height should be determined after proper leveling and grading of the ground

adjoining the building.

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3. Column

● Column is a vertical structural member which transfers loads from the beam and slab

directly to the underneath soil.

● That means an entire building stands on columns.

● Most of the building failure occurs for design fault and poor construction practices.

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4. Wall

● The component which resists horizontal forces e.g. wind, earthquake.

● Provide lateral shear strength to the building to resist horizontal earthquake loads, wind

loads and transfer these loads to the foundation.

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5. Beam

● A beam is a horizontal structural element/member spanning a distance between one or more

supports and carrying vertical loads across its longitudinal axis capable of withstanding

load primarily by resisting against bending.

● A beam is a laterally loaded member whose cross-sectional dimensions are small compared

to its length.

● Beams are structural components on which the slabs rest.

● The beams transfer load of the slab to the columns.

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6. Slab

● A Slab is used as a base as well as a ceiling/roof to transfer the load of the structure to the

beams/walls.

● A slab is a structural component that is used to create flat horizontal surfaces such as floors,

roof decks, and ceilings.

● A slab is usually several inches thick and supported by beams, columns, walls, or the

ground.

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7. Lintel and Weather Shed

● The openings are provided in the wall of a building to accommodate the doors or windows

● Actual frame of the door or window is not strong enough to support the weight of the wall

above the opening and a separate structural component has, therefore, a Lintel is needed.

● Weather Shades are generally combined with lintels of windows to protect them from the

weather elements such as sun, rain, frost, etc.

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 4. VARIATION OF BUILDING MATERIALS OF A HOUSE

1. Wood

Wood is one of the most used materials in construction since the beginning of history worldwide.

Using wood as a building material gives a lot of benefits in environmental terms. First, it is the

only renewable and recyclable construction material. Trees can be a renewable resource if we

manage the sustainability of forests. In addition, wood also requires less energy consumption.

Next, using wood also produces less waste and can help speed up construction times. Wood also

contributes to energy efficiency due to its ability to conduct heat. It is a much better insulator than

other materials, such as steel or concrete. The use of wood can accumulate large amounts of carbon

dioxide, and industrialization generates lower greenhouse gas emissions than other materials. For

example, producing a ton of wood, 33 kilos of net emission compared to 264 kilos of cement and

694 kilos of steel. In addition to the benefits, there is a reason why wood is the first-class

construction element. Firstly, wood can be very flexible under loads, keeping strength while

bending, and incredibly strong when compressed vertically. Using wood can also reduce cost and

construction period.

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 2. Concrete

Concrete is a mixture of other materials such as cement, crushed stone, fine aggregate, and water.

The usage of concrete in construction is very popular nowadays because it speeds up the

construction process and is more reliable. The reason why house developers and construction

companies choose concrete is strength. Concrete is a solid material that can withstand tensile and

compressive stresses without being affected. For a concrete construction of any size, as concrete

has a rather low tensile strength, it is generally strengthened using steel rods or bars known as

rebars. This strengthened concrete is then referred to as reinforced concrete. Concrete can last for

ages as it can survive harsh weather conditions and natural disasters. It is resistant to extreme

weather, rusting, chemical reactions, fire, erosion, compressive and tensile stress, and abrasion. As

a result, the structural integrity of the concrete will not be undermined for an extended period,

making it suitable for every other place in the world.

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 3. Glass

Glass is a brilliant material, having multifarious properties and uses. It is majorly used as a

transparent glazing material, providing architects with a plethora of new designs and possibilities

to enhance the look and features of the building. Windows, doors, and partitions in the office area

are some of the common architectural features of a building to make the most out of glass. There

are various types of glass such as float glass, shatterproof glass, laminated glass, chromatic glass,

toughened glass, and insulated glass. There are advantages of using glass as a building material.

Glass is basically a translucent material, created by the application of heat to sand. It can easily be

molded into any shape which makes it one of the most versatile materials to be used in the

construction of buildings and also, one of the most frequent ones. Unlike any other material, glass

can withstand the effects of water, wind, sun, and other environmental effects, without losing an

inch of its appearance and integrity. Glass is an excellent insulator. In the absence of free electrons,

it ensures that you are safe from any possible electrical hazards. The main reason for developers

to use glass as a building material accentuates the beauty and elegance of the building. It has a

smooth and glossy surface, which makes it an ideal material for showrooms and showcases.

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 4. Ceramic

Ceramics are a material often used in construction, made from a mixture of minerals, typically

silica sand, with a clay binder and some impurities, and up to 30% water. They are fired at a higher

temperature than bricks so that the silica re-crystallizes to form a glassy material with greater

density, strength, hardness, resistance to chemicals and frost, and dimensional stability. During

firing, the water is driven off, though this may be reduced from 30% to 2-5% by drying before

firing. At this reduced water, content products are moulded as powder before being fired at 1,800-

2,000 degrees for days or weeks at a time, depending on the ceramic and process details. Ceramics

may have an as-fired appearance or be glazed (a glass-like coating). These materials are

environmentally stable - they will not oxidize further in the atmosphere. Therefore, they are

economical in terms of maintenance costs. Problems are likely to occur when they are combined

with other materials, typically fixings that are highly stressed and subject to corrosion. If fixings

fail, the result can be dramatic. Unlike metals, ceramics are not capable of ductile behavior. They

fail in a brittle manner, directly after their elastic limit. There are various types of ceramic such as

fire clays and shales, terracotta, faience, fireclay, porcelain, stoneware, and earthenware.

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 5. Brick and block

A brick is a block made of kiln-fired material, usually clay or shale, but it also may be of lower-

quality mud, etc. Clay bricks are formed in molding (the soft mud method) or commercial

manufacture more frequently by extruding clay through a die and then wire-cutting them to the

proper size (the stiff mud process). Bricks were widely used as a construction material in the 1700,

1800, and 1900s. This was probably because it was much more flame retardant than wood in the

ever-crowding cities and fairly cheap to produce. Another type of block replaced clay bricks in the

late 20th century. It was the Cinder block. Made mostly with concrete. An important low-cost

material in developing countries is the Sandcrete block, which is weaker but cheaper than fired

clay bricks.

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 6. Metal

Metal is used as a structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers or as an external

surface covering. There are many types of metals used for building. Steel is a metal alloy whose

major component is iron and is the usual choice for metal structural construction. It is strong,

flexible, and if refined well and/or treated lasts a long time. Corrosion is metal's prime enemy when

it comes to longevity. The lower density and better corrosion resistance of aluminium alloys and

tin sometimes overcome their greater cost. Brass was more common in the past but is usually

restricted to specific uses or specialty items today. Metal figures quite prominently in prefabricated

structures such as the Quonset hut and can be seen used in most cosmopolitan cities. It requires a

great deal of human labour to produce metal, especially in the large amounts needed for the

building industries. Other metals used include titanium, chrome, gold, silver. Titanium can be used

for structural purposes, but it is much more expensive than steel. Chrome, gold, and silver are used

as decoration because these materials are expensive and lack structural qualities such as tensile

strength or hardness.

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5. VARIATION OF ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENT OF A HOUSE

1. ROOF

● Roof is the uppermost component of a building, and its main function is to cover the space

below and protect it from rain, snow, sun, wind, etc.

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2. STAIRCASE

● A stair may be defined as a structure consisting of a number of steps connecting

one floor to another.

● The stair should be constructed in such a manner that it is safe and comfortable to

use and they should be so located as to permit easy communication.

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3. FLOOR

● Floors are flat supporting structural components of a building

● They divide a building into different levels so that creating more accommodation on a

given plot of land

● The basic purpose of a floor is to provide a firm and dry platform for people and other

items like furniture, stores, equipment, etc.

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4. WINDOW

● Window is opening formed in a wall or roof primarily to admit daylight through some

transparent or translucent material and allow people to see out.

● They are often opentable to providing natural ventilation to buildings and enhancing the

visual appeal of buildings.

● It also functions to exclude rain and wind, act as a barrier to excessive transfer of heat, and

provide safety and security.

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5. DOOR

● Doors are openable barriers through a building wall or partition to provide access to the

inside of a building or rooms of a building.

● The main purpose of a door is to serve as a connecting link between the internal parts and

to allow free movement to the outside of the building.

● A door is held in position by door frames located at the sides and top of the opening. It

usually swings on hinges that allow them to open, close, stay closed, and lock.

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6. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, there are a few elements in the construction of a residential building or

single-story houses that should be understood clearly. It is because each of them plays an

important role in a single building. The method that is being implemented in conventional

post and beam, such as joinery and steel pins and plates are carefully done by the contractor

to ensure all the load on the frame of the building is strong and sturdy, therefore not

harming the users. Besides, the structural components like the foundation, beam, column,

and so on also to support dead or live loads in addition to the buildings’ own weight and

makes the environment in the building safe. Materials that are in the construction of the

residential building have their own function as well. It plays the role of visual comfort,

temperature control, noise control, occupancy, site condition, surrounding environment,

shape, and overall dimension. All of this will stimulate the satisfaction of clients towards

the particular project. In addition, the architectural structure also shouldn't be apart from

the construction of a residential building. Architectural designs and structure are often

useful in embracing the continuity of time and development within an organization. Its

aesthetic values are critical in embracing the ideas of individual architects as well as

creating an identity. Therefore, it’s very clear that every single element is being made for

a reason in order to have a useful, worthy and satisfying building.

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