Buildings are used every day, but the majority of us don’t know what to do with them, or the kind of construction used to construct the design. Different rules apply to different types of construction, and it is crucial to know the classification within which your building falls.
A thorough knowledge of the building’s construction kind is essential to efficiently create services such as fire combat. Understanding the key aspects of your building, both from an architectural and engineering perspective, allows us to examine our assumptions about construction.
What exactly is construction?
Construction, also known as construction, refers to any work on a construction site that requires special abilities, skills, or techniques, and businesses involved in the construction and demolition of existing structures. All in all, these tasks are necessary to build structures of all kinds and functions, using various techniques and technologies.
The basic kinds of construction
The four major kinds of construction include residential construction and construction for commercial construction, industrial construction as well and infrastructure.
Construction of homes
It’s the process of building an individual or multi-family residence for aesthetics, comfort, as well as utility and longevity. A house for residential use should provide a cozy place where humans can thrive and survive.
Construction for commercial use
It’s the act of designing, constructing, or renovating commercial structures that may be let or sold as offices or storage shelterEvenven warehouses.
Industrial construction
It’s about building buildings or structures that are used for manufacturing, like factories and warehouses, power plants, and processing facilities.
Construction of infrastructure
This includes the construction or renovation and maintenance of private and public physical structures, such as railways, bridges, roads, pipelines, electric supply li, water supply lines, dams, and tunnels that provide shelter.
What does the term “construction type” mean?
The term “construction type” refers to the way a building can withstand fire. This is inclusive of all structural components and the non-load-bearing parts of the structure. The selection of the materials and the design of a structure influence the resistance of a building to earthquakes, fire, as well as other issues, thereby affecting the design of the building.
The materials used for structural construction are chosen to be able to meet the safety rating of fire for the building type. In the US it is known as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)provides widely recognized standards for fire resistance ratings as well as building classifications.
Five main construction styles are widely used in the construction sector, and each one is characterized by the ratings for fire-resistance of the key construction elements.
What is the reason why determining the type of construction is crucial?
Knowing the type of construction used in the building is essential for firefighters as well as building users. If firefighters are able to easily recognize the type of construction, they are able to quickly determine their strategy. For instance, knowing how various kinds of construction are able to resist fire helps emergency personnel to predict how long the structural components will stand up to fire, allowing them to prepare their strategies and increase the outcomes for safety. Additionally, having a thorough knowledge of how fire spreads can help make crucial decisions regarding ventilation and water. Knowing about the building types can save lives.
The type of construction also impacts the building’s resiliency to unexpected disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Similar to earthquakes and hurricanes, construction workers should be aware of accidents that happen during the process of building, and must be aware of how their work impacts the building’s safety in the future.
The five types of construction
At first sight, all structures appear similar. But the building material is the primary factor that affects the strength of a structure, which is why it is important to choose the right building material for each kind. The construction projects can be classified into Types 1 to 5 in accordance with how fire-resistant the structure is. Type A construction is a reference to fire-resistant, protected structures, and Type B construction is non-protected, less fire-resistant structures.
Certain facilities are more essential and cost less to bu;ild how, they must be able to handle fires better. Type 1 structures are the most resistant to fire, while type 5 structures are the least resistant to fire. Without further delay, we will discuss the various construction types.
Type 1: Fire-resistive
The majority of Type 1 structures comprise high-rise commercial and residential spaces. They are constructed mainly of steel and concrete, which are the main construction materials utilized for Type 1 construction, and we consider them to be the most durable in the event of an event of fire. To ensure that they meet the requirements of fire safety, the major construction components must be made using non-combustible material.
Type 1 buildings are able to withstand extreme temperatures for a long duration. The ratings apply to floor and roof assemblies as well as internal partitions and walls that support and bear. The coatings for fire resistance are typically added to the structural elements of these structures to increase their fire resistance and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. The advantage of these buildings is their ability to withstand fire. They aren’t susceptible to collapse and can withstand fire for up to four hours.
The problem with these buildings is that they are constructed out of steel, and they will deteriorate with time because of corrosion. The windows and roofs of these buildings cannot able to be penetrated easily. Certain of these buildings are equipped with stairs that are pressurized to stop flames from spreading.
Type 2. Non-combustible
The majority of modern “big box” shops and malls are classified as Type 2 structures. They are constructed of metals, concrete, and bricks, which are mostly non-combustible. However, some combustible substances may be present, for instance, rubber and foam.
Building codes can stipulate a maximum flame spread index for materials that are used to construct Type 2 construction to ensure safety from fire. In general, materials with a lower flame spread index are preferred for Type 2 buildings to comply with the regulations and decrease the chance of spreading fire.
These structures have an effective system for preventing fires, but are susceptible to collapse, most likely due to the nature of the roofs. When a fire breaks out, firefighters attempt to ventilate the structure to prevent flashovers, which can result in sudden temperature rises.
The building’s flames last for up to two hours, depending on the kind of construction materials used. The materials used in these structures are slow-burning, and they end with fuel added to the flame. In the event of a fire, firefighters must ventilate the building with roll-up doors and skylights on the exterior of a building.
There are differences between type 1 and type 2 structures. Type 2 buildings are prone to expansion, relaxation, and deformation of steel structures that can lead to a total collapse in the event of a fire. Interior partitions and walls of these structures are typically constructed with non-combustible materials in order to ensure fire safety; however, there are some restricted approved non-combustible materials permitted. Some examples of this type of structure are modern school buildings.
Construction of a metal roof on an airfield.
Type 3: The normal type
Also, we refer to these constructions as joist and brick structures. These structures are constructed out of bricks, masonry, or wooden roofs, as well as a floor protected by fire.
In the majority of cases, the majority of the interior components, including frames, ceilings, floors, and fram, es are constructed from the combustible material. The majority of buildings have wooden roofs. However, typically older types 3 structures have roofs with framed pan, , and newer buildings have light roof systems.
The walls can be reinforced with masonry or concrete. When firefighters come across the Type 3 building, they must decide if it’s new or tor to make crucial decisions about ventilation. New and older structures fall into the normal construction category. A few of these buildings include residential, schools, and small commercial buildings.
One advantage of these structures is that the combination of materials enables them to remain standing even if the floors fail. The main drawback is that the large number of attics or void spaces horizontally allows fire to spread quickly.
Type 4: Heavy timber type
A majority of the structures built before 1960 were heavy timber structures. They are easily recognized by firefighters as they feature timber roof spans. The timber components are solid or laminated and have to conform to the dimensions of. Heavy timber construction is designed to reduce the number of concealed areas, which prevents the spread of fire from hidden areas and enhances overall safety in the event of a fire.
Some examples of construction include churches, old factories, barns, and residential homes. Structural supports like beams, arches, and columns require a minimum height of eight inches to support these kinds of structures.
Some buildings might contain non-combustible load-bearing walls. They also allow for quick drainage of water, allowing water used by firefighters to smother the flame to escape effortlessly without adding weight to the building.
The majority of connections are made of joint metal that is prone to failure in the event of a fire. For factory buildings, petroleum, items, and even materials can add to the danger of fires. Large-scale timber buildings stand well against fires; however, damage caused by termites and weather can increase their danger of collapse.
Type 5: Wood-framed type
A lot of modern homes are built using Type 5 construction methods. They use material that is combustible for the ceiling and walls. Contrary to the huge-dimension lumber that is used in large timber-type structures, we construct these structures using flammable or lightweight wood, similar to massive timber. Wood panels are often employed for partitions as well as exterior walls of wood-framed structures; however, their usage is restricted by fire safety rules.
It is simple to put together, cheap, and sturdy. However, it is not fireproof and can collapse in moments in case of fire. But firefighters can manage these structures as they have ventilation from the wooden frames.
This is a drawback since the fire quickly spreads due to the airflow. One method to avoid the collapse and destruction of structures is to use large timber structures for the primary components of the structure. They lack fireproof properties.
The most important materials utilized in every type of construction
The choice of building materials is an important element in determining the structure’s endurance, resistance to fire, and environmental impact.
Type 1: which provides the best fire resistance, non-combustible materials like concrete and steel are utilized for all major structural components. These materials are engineered to withstand extreme temperatures and offer robust protection against fire, which makes them ideal for high-rise residential and commercial buildings of large size.
Type 2: construction can also be constructed using non-combustible material; however, it could comprise steel floors, roof, and flooring with tilt-slab or masonry exterior walls.
Type 3:, also known as regular construction, is distinguished by joist and brick structure, which have non-combustible walls. They are joined by interior structural elements constructed from fire-resistant materials such as wood. This type of construction is typically employed in small commercial structures and apartments.
Type 4: also known as the heavy-timber construction, uses the use of laminated or solid wood for structural elements. Large exposed wood provides aesthetic appeal and enhanced fire efficiency when compared to smaller sections because heavy timber burns around the edges, slowing the spread of the fire.
Type 5: structure, also known as wood-framed construction, permits combustion-free materials all over, making it popular in residential construction, as well as smaller commercial projects.
In virtually all types of construction, sustainable building practices are having an impact on the choice of materials with a particular focus on materials that are energy efficient and a reduction in environmental impact, and enhanced air quality indoors. In recent times, construction companies are using more and more materials such as cross-laminated timber as well as recycled content products to increase the structural integrity and sustainability of all types of construction.
How can you identify the type of construction?
Many factors impact the type of construction a building has. Here are some aspects to take into consideration when deciding on the type of construction.
The most important thing to consider is that the rating for fire resistance of internal bearing walls is a crucial aspect in determining the proper kind of construction for a structure.
1. Scope
The reason for the building is a factor that affects construction factors like materials and the scope of the project. Large commercial buildings have different methods of construction compared to smaller ones.
Certain building classifications based on the purpose of the building are commercial, institutional, educational, industrial, and residential. The reason for the building determines the choice of building materials, which can affect the type of building.
The most common building materials are bricks, hollow concrete blocks, tiles, and stones. The homes that are constructed for residential use require special care when putting in electricity to prevent damage that could cause loss of life in the event of not being properly taken care of. It is the same for all the structures and other infrastructure that humans utilize.
2. Size
The majority of buildings are built with heavier construction. They’ll be equipped with floor spaces that span a long distance and highly supported roofing systems. Smaller buildings are smaller in size and are not fireproof.
The size of the building can affect the thresholds of sprinklers, as well as areas of fire as well The law also calls for the design and construction of fire safety systems in large buildings, which affects the type of building.
The fire areas are protected by exterior assembly and barriers to fire. The buildings with the highest occupancy levels have fire zones in comparison to smaller buildings.
3. Limitations on load bearing
As a building grows the size of its structure, this impacts the capacity of the building to support heavy loads. The construction material should be strong enough to withstand the weight of a large load. For instance, wood isn’t ideal for supporting a superstructure that has multiple floors.
The force of heavy loads causes deformations and stresses within a structure. For instance, masonry bearing loads are not able to withstand the event of a collapse in an earthquake or fire. However, to construct an earthquake- and fire-resistant structure, you must select a better construction method.
4. Speed
The buildings of a less constructed type are quicker to build. This is due to the time required for designing and building being reduced. The amount of work required is lower, and construction materials will speed up construction.
To accelerate construction, it is possible to use pre-engineered techniques and constructed types that are dropped off at the construction site and then swiftly constructed.
5. Cost
The price of a construction project is the main factor that determines its nature of the construction. The reason for this is that the cost determines the materials used and the quality of wor,k as well as the project scope. The lower construction types of projects have a lower cost of construction when compared to more expensive types of construction projects.
6. Environmental factors
The environmental factors impact the choice of the structures we build there. In coastal areas, structures are built on a higher level to shield them from the tidal waves. The selection of materials and designs for structures in areas that are prone to earthquakes differs from that in typical regions. A rigid structure is susceptible to collapse when tremors or fires occur.
FAQs
What qualifies as construction?
Construction refers to any structure, whether simple, small, or massive, that meets the necessary specifications and fulfills its primary purpose of shelter.
What are the prices of construction?
They are visible or tangible expenses that can be calculated and linked to the construction project’s physical aspects. They are materials and labor expenses, as well as tangible improvements like electrical, framing, concrete roofing, carpentry, landscaping, as well as excavation and grading.
What do you proceed you need to take to control the construction project?
Based on the nature or type of project you are working on, the process of managing it may differ. The primary step is to formulate a proper plan, which is the game plan you will use for any construction venture. In accordance with the plan, the execution and monitoring will occur during the process of turnover.
