Week 7

WEEK 7 Learning Loop Moisture Protection

and

Thermal

Studio Site Visit Review: Fulton Apartments

Glossary Appendix

LEARNING LOOP Moisture and Thermal Protection To prevent moisture (water) and thermal (heat) in a structure, various prevention steps are taken.

Openings Openings are present to keep water away. Examples: • Gutter • Downpipes • Weatherboards • Roof tiles Others are present to neutralize forces.

Example: • Parapet copping • Pressure Equalization Chamber (PEC)

In a structure air leakage could also become an issue. In such here are some prevention to minimize air leakage by wrapping the entire building itself, using; • Air Barrier • Using polyethylene materials • Reflective foil sarking

In case of thermal (heat) issue, two of the main problems can be assumed to be radiation and conduction.

To reduce or minimize the effects of radiation there are prevention that can be done; • Applying a reflective surface • Applying a shading system, for example using o Eaves o Blinds o Solar shelves o Screens o Verandahs

Conduction is one of the methods of heat to travel. Prevention of conduction in a structure include; • Thermal insulation • Thermal breaks (using rubber and plastic which are nonconducting or insulator materials for heat) • Applying double glazing on walls and glass – making use of the air space between panels so heat could not travel easily

STUDIO In this week studio we went off campus for a guided site visit with a studio leader and a project manager or representative of a construction site.

The site visited is the construction site of on of the towers of the new Fulton Apartments.

General Information • 2 Towers o Facing A-Becket St. o Facing Franklin St. • 225 million dollar project • Started in 2012 • Estimated to finish in 2015 • 850 unit apartments • 840 unit car parks • Can host approximately 2000 residents • 400-450 workers weekdays, 300 workers Sundays • 11 retail section Construction Systems The structure of the building is mostly based on a combination of various construction systems; • Concrete Frame Structure (most of the buildings) • Steel Frame Structure • Load Bearing Masonry Construction

Concrete Frame Structure The Fulton Apartment tower is an application of a simple concrete frame structure.

Retrieved from http://www.understandconstruction.com/concrete-framestructures.html

As the name itself portrays, the structure applied in-situ concrete columns and beams to distribute the loads.

Going higher, the loads become less.

In addition to that the bottom part of the building can be inferred to have stronger concrete to hold off more loads and pressure.

The concrete structure used is reinforced with galvanized steel bars.

Concrete is strong in compression and steel is very strong in tension.

For columns, pre-fabricated columns are also used. The fact that it is prefabricated saves time. For a change in level, there is a gap between columns for concrete slabs – the floor of each level.

Forming the concrete slabs takes a quite short amount of time. In a total floor area, half of the area in filled with liquid concrete and left until it dried out first. Then after it dried up, half of the area that is left out is then don the same way, filled with liquid concrete then left to dry.

The concrete was poured and shaped on site using molds to shape liquid concrete. The molds are filled with liquid concrete until it dies up then the molds will be taken off.

Ex: Columns and Beams

Filling out liquid concrete is done manually. Going up higher, a liquid concrete jacking system is used to send liquid concrete from ground level to the designated level.

Each floor of the levels is also made up of concrete slabs.

The jacking system on the 38th level Â

The jacking system tube on between levels

The jacking system on the ground level

The liquid concrete jacking system transports 4-level amount of concrete.

Jump Form Construction Retrieved from http://dnec.com/?portfolio=shams-abudhabi-gateway

Jump Form Construction This method relies on a formwork structure that holds on to a concrete cast (columns) as it builds up a level on top of another.

Steel Frame Structure Steel framework is used at most on the ground level, the lobby. This is due to the height of the lobby level.

With this kind of method also with a concrete frame structure, a concrete frame of all the levels does not have to be completed beforehand. Rather, a level is completed on top of another gradually as the construction goes upwards.

The steel framework other than placed to help bearing loads also acts as a frame and layout for the interior of the building, the lobby.

A level being constructed above and a crane system to transport materials to the highest level.

The steel frame occupied with decorations and other uses such as pipes, wires, electrical chords, etc.

Load Bearing Masonry Construction Masonry construction and a part of mass construction is applied on both of the towers.

Brick masonry is used occupying the gap of the concrete frame, acting as the exterior wall of the building.

Level 9 Recreational Space Up till the 9th floor both towers are connected and accessible to public.

Public facilities are available on this level; pool, sauna, small cinema, etc.

• Galvanized steel around pool area

Sauna and Swimming Pool

On the ceilings, pipes and tubes are still visible, as they are not yet covered up.

Pipes for air conditioning on the ceiling

On the beams above on the ceilings, between them extra steel strap bracings are present. This is due to increasing the stability and connection between the beams.

The height of this level is designed higher than any other levels. Because of this additional small columns are added.

Hollow brick walls are used which are then stacked and then filled with liquid concrete. The main reason to increase stability and strength of the wall itself.

Steel strap bracing

Contract They have a contract for the building and the date to hand over the building ($6000 penalty fee per day to head in contract)

Problems During the construction processes of the building, there are various kinds of problems that can occur, such as: • Precast panels problems, becomes double height • Unexpected on-site and onprocess problems • Concrete ‘dried up’ or was ready much faster • Estimated arrival of precast materials not on time • Gap time, either the project is ahead or behind schedule The problems that can occur are somewhat unplanned. Things that happen in a construction site can happen unexpectedly, depending on the conditions and the circumstances.

GLOSSARY

3

Gutter: A channel at the eaves or on the roof of a building, for carrying off rainwater.

1

Drip: A groove in the underside of a projection, such as a windowsill, that prevents water from running back into the building wall.

2

Vapour Barrier: Material used to prevent the passage of vapor or moisture into a structure or another material, thus preventing condensation within them.

4

Parapet: A part of a wall that extends above the roof level.

5

Down Pipe: A pipe to carry rainwater from a roof to a drain or to ground level.

6

Flashing: A thin, impervious sheet of material placed in construction to prevent water penetration or direct the flow of water. Flashing is used especially at roof hips and valleys, roof penetrations, joints between a roof and a vertical wall, and in masonry walls to direct the flow of water and moisture.

7

Insulation: Material used to reduce the effects of heat, cold, or sound or any material, device, or technique that provides protection against fire or the transfer of electricity, heat, cold, moisture, or sound.

8

Sealant: Typically lower strength, yet flexible, bonding agents used between substrates of differing physical properties to form a seal between the materials.

1 Drip. Retrieved from http://www.dictionaryofconstruction.com/definition/drip.html 2 Vapour Barrier. Retrieved from http://www.dictionaryofconstruction.com/definition/vaporbarrier.html 3 Gutter. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gutter 4 Parapet. Retrieved from http://www.dictionaryofconstruction.com/definition/parapet. html 5 Down Pipe. Retrieved from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/downpi pe 6 Flashing. Retrieved from http://www.dictionaryofconstruction.com/definition/flashing. html 7 Insulation. Retrieved from http://www.dictionaryofconstruction.com/definition/insulatio n.html 8 Sealant. 1 September 2014. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealant