COMPONENTS OF A BUILDING
1. INTRODUCTION
Since ancient times, human beings have been building shelters for self-protection against unwanted elements and natural effects of rain, storms, snowfall, lightning, heat, and glare of Sun. But with the development of engineering. human needs increased manifolds. So buildings were constructed not only for protection but also to provide physical comfort, good appearance, etc. In this chapter, the only introduction to the different terms used in building drawing is given. Because before designing and planning a building one must be conversant with the terms used and components of a building.2.COMPONENTS OF A BUILDING
A building, whether residential or non-residential, can be broadly divided into two parts vie sub-structure and super-structure. The part of a building below the ground level is called the sub-structure whereas above the ground level is called raper-structure.The main components of a building are as under:
| Fig.1.Basic Components of a Building; Image Courtesy: Decole |
- (1) Foundation
- (2) Plinth
- (3) Wall
- (4) (a)Columns (b) Pier
- (5) Floors
- (6) Door, Windows, and Ventilators.
- (7) Roof
- (8) Stairs
- (9) Building finishes.
- (10) Building services
(1) Foundation:- The lowest part of a structure below the ground level is called Foundation.
Foundation provides a base for the super-structure and transmits all the dead, live and other loads to the soil on which the structure rests.
(2) Plinth:- The part of the building above the ground level and the floor immediately above the ground is called Plinth.
The purpose of the plinth is to stop the entry of rainwater from ground level.
(3) Walls:- An enclosure or a division of floor space in the desired pattern to act as partitions for providing security, privacy and to give protection against sun, rain and other adverse effects of weather are called Walls.
The division of floor space varies according to requirements.
Walls are constructed of materials like bricks, stone, concrete blocks, etc,
(4) (a) Column:- An isolated vertical load-bearing member whose width is neither less than its thickness nor more than four times its thickness is called a column.
(b) Pier:- A vertical load-bearing member similar to a column but bonded into the load-bearing wall at the sides to form an integral part extending up to the full height of the wall is called a Pier.
Pier increases the stiffness of the wall and carries additional or vertical concentrated load. Pier also resists lateral pressure without buckling and also strengthens the wall
(5) Floor:- A horizontal flat supporting element of a building is called a Floor.
It also divides a building into different levels. The floor provides a firm dry platform for the people. It is used to place items furniture and household or other such equipment.
A floor consists of two parts:
(a) Sub Floor:- The structural component of the floor which supports all loads is called Sau-floor.
(b) Flooring:- A covering layer of required specifications provided over the subfloor to serve as a finishing layer is called Flooring
Flooring can be of tiles, cement concrete or terrazzo, etc.
(6) Doors, Windows, and Ventilators:- A barrier provided n an opening in a wall to provide means of access to a building is called a Door.
A door mainly consists of two components.
(a) Door Frame:- A-frame permanently held in position and fixed to the sides of the masonry of the wall opening wich help of holdfasts is called a Door Frame.
(b) Door Shutter:- The moving part of the door provided inside the door frame is called Door Shutter.
An opening left in a wall for providing sunlight, ventilation and vision is called a Window.
Similar to a door, window has a frame and one or more shutters.
An opening provided below and near the main roof for the purpose ventilation is called a Ventilator.
(7) Roof:- An uppermost component of a building that mainly covers the space below it and acts protection from rain, snow, and the sun is called a Roof.
Basically, the roof consists of the following two components:
(a) Roof Decking:- The structural component of a roof which supports the roof covering in called Roof Decking.
The structural component or roof decking in flat roof is slab, for the sloping or pitched roof is truss, and for curved roof is shell or dome.
(b) Roof Covering:- A layer of varying thickness of different materials like lime concrete, tiles, mud phuska for flat roof and A.C. sheets, GI Sheets, tiles, slates, etc. for the sloping roof is called Roof Covering.
In the case of flat roofs, the roof covering is termed as terracing, which serves the purpose of providing slopes on the roof for roof drainage of rainwater and as an insulation layer for thermal comfort to the users of the space below.
(8) Stair:- A structure consisting of a number of steps provided for movement from one floor to another or connecting one floor to another is called a Stair.
The construction of the stair should be safe and comfortable for users. Materials for Mairn can be timber, bricks, reinforced cement concrete, stone or steel, etc.
(9) Building Finishes:- Giving appropriate treatment to the surface of components of a building is called Building Finished.
Building finishes protect the surface of a building from the adverse effects of weather and also it gives decorative effects to the building Plastering, pointing, color washing. whitewashing, painting. varnishing and distempering are some of the main building finishes.
(10) Building Services:- Water supply, sanitary, drainage, electricity, lighting, ventilation, heating, acoustics, air conditioning, fire detection and control ete, are called Building Services.
(i) Basement or Cellar:- A story of a building fully or partly below ground level is called a Basement or Cellar.
(ii) Building Line:- The plinth line of a building may lawfully extend up to adjoining a street or extension of the street is called Building Line.
(iii) Balcony:- A passage or sitting place in the form of a horizontal cantilever projection including handrail is called a Balcony.
(iv) Barsati:- A room on the top floor of a building is called a Barsati.
(v) Courtyard:- An open to sky space enclosed fully or partially by a building is called a Courtyard.
(vi) Chhajja or Sunshade:- A horizontal or inclined structure overhang generally provided over openings on external walls for the purpose of protection from rain and sun is called a Chhaja or Sunshade.
(vii) Front:- The portion of a building facing the street from which it has access is called Front
(viii) Gallery:- An inter-mediate floor projection from a wall of a hall or auditorium providing extra flor area is called a Gallery,
(ix) Loft:- An intermediate floor area created by putting a slab between the floor and ceiling of a room or passage or store is called a Loft. The loft should have a maximum clear height of 1.5 meters and be used for storage purposes only.
(x) Mumti or Stair Cover:- A structural enclosure with roof covering provided over a Maircase and its landing is called a Mumei or Stair Cover,
(xi) Mezzanine Floor:- An intermediate floor between two floors above the ground floor, having at least one side as an integral of the space floor below is called a Mezzanine Floor.
(xii) Porch:- A vehicular approach of a building, covered and supported on pillars or otherwise is called a Porch.
(xiii) Room Height:- Vertical clear height or distance from the finished floor surface to the ceiling of a room is called Room Height.
(xiv)Ceiling:- The underside of the roof is called Ceiling.
(xv) Service Rond or Service Lane:- A road or lane provided at the backside of a plot or building for service purposes is called a Service Road or Surface Lane.
(2) Plinth:- The part of the building above the ground level and the floor immediately above the ground is called Plinth.
The purpose of the plinth is to stop the entry of rainwater from ground level.
(3) Walls:- An enclosure or a division of floor space in the desired pattern to act as partitions for providing security, privacy and to give protection against sun, rain and other adverse effects of weather are called Walls.
The division of floor space varies according to requirements.
Walls are constructed of materials like bricks, stone, concrete blocks, etc,
(4) (a) Column:- An isolated vertical load-bearing member whose width is neither less than its thickness nor more than four times its thickness is called a column.
(b) Pier:- A vertical load-bearing member similar to a column but bonded into the load-bearing wall at the sides to form an integral part extending up to the full height of the wall is called a Pier.
Pier increases the stiffness of the wall and carries additional or vertical concentrated load. Pier also resists lateral pressure without buckling and also strengthens the wall
(5) Floor:- A horizontal flat supporting element of a building is called a Floor.
It also divides a building into different levels. The floor provides a firm dry platform for the people. It is used to place items furniture and household or other such equipment.
A floor consists of two parts:
(a) Sub Floor:- The structural component of the floor which supports all loads is called Sau-floor.
(b) Flooring:- A covering layer of required specifications provided over the subfloor to serve as a finishing layer is called Flooring
Flooring can be of tiles, cement concrete or terrazzo, etc.
(6) Doors, Windows, and Ventilators:- A barrier provided n an opening in a wall to provide means of access to a building is called a Door.
A door mainly consists of two components.
(a) Door Frame:- A-frame permanently held in position and fixed to the sides of the masonry of the wall opening wich help of holdfasts is called a Door Frame.
(b) Door Shutter:- The moving part of the door provided inside the door frame is called Door Shutter.
An opening left in a wall for providing sunlight, ventilation and vision is called a Window.
Similar to a door, window has a frame and one or more shutters.
An opening provided below and near the main roof for the purpose ventilation is called a Ventilator.
(7) Roof:- An uppermost component of a building that mainly covers the space below it and acts protection from rain, snow, and the sun is called a Roof.
Basically, the roof consists of the following two components:
(a) Roof Decking:- The structural component of a roof which supports the roof covering in called Roof Decking.
The structural component or roof decking in flat roof is slab, for the sloping or pitched roof is truss, and for curved roof is shell or dome.
(b) Roof Covering:- A layer of varying thickness of different materials like lime concrete, tiles, mud phuska for flat roof and A.C. sheets, GI Sheets, tiles, slates, etc. for the sloping roof is called Roof Covering.
In the case of flat roofs, the roof covering is termed as terracing, which serves the purpose of providing slopes on the roof for roof drainage of rainwater and as an insulation layer for thermal comfort to the users of the space below.
(8) Stair:- A structure consisting of a number of steps provided for movement from one floor to another or connecting one floor to another is called a Stair.
The construction of the stair should be safe and comfortable for users. Materials for Mairn can be timber, bricks, reinforced cement concrete, stone or steel, etc.
(9) Building Finishes:- Giving appropriate treatment to the surface of components of a building is called Building Finished.
Building finishes protect the surface of a building from the adverse effects of weather and also it gives decorative effects to the building Plastering, pointing, color washing. whitewashing, painting. varnishing and distempering are some of the main building finishes.
(10) Building Services:- Water supply, sanitary, drainage, electricity, lighting, ventilation, heating, acoustics, air conditioning, fire detection and control ete, are called Building Services.
3. SOME TECHNICAL TERMS
The following are some of the technical terms used in planning a building:(i) Basement or Cellar:- A story of a building fully or partly below ground level is called a Basement or Cellar.
(ii) Building Line:- The plinth line of a building may lawfully extend up to adjoining a street or extension of the street is called Building Line.
(iii) Balcony:- A passage or sitting place in the form of a horizontal cantilever projection including handrail is called a Balcony.
(iv) Barsati:- A room on the top floor of a building is called a Barsati.
(v) Courtyard:- An open to sky space enclosed fully or partially by a building is called a Courtyard.
(vi) Chhajja or Sunshade:- A horizontal or inclined structure overhang generally provided over openings on external walls for the purpose of protection from rain and sun is called a Chhaja or Sunshade.
(vii) Front:- The portion of a building facing the street from which it has access is called Front
(viii) Gallery:- An inter-mediate floor projection from a wall of a hall or auditorium providing extra flor area is called a Gallery,
(ix) Loft:- An intermediate floor area created by putting a slab between the floor and ceiling of a room or passage or store is called a Loft. The loft should have a maximum clear height of 1.5 meters and be used for storage purposes only.
(x) Mumti or Stair Cover:- A structural enclosure with roof covering provided over a Maircase and its landing is called a Mumei or Stair Cover,
(xi) Mezzanine Floor:- An intermediate floor between two floors above the ground floor, having at least one side as an integral of the space floor below is called a Mezzanine Floor.
(xii) Porch:- A vehicular approach of a building, covered and supported on pillars or otherwise is called a Porch.
(xiii) Room Height:- Vertical clear height or distance from the finished floor surface to the ceiling of a room is called Room Height.
(xiv)Ceiling:- The underside of the roof is called Ceiling.
(xv) Service Rond or Service Lane:- A road or lane provided at the backside of a plot or building for service purposes is called a Service Road or Surface Lane.
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