Building Material — Cement and Concrete Materials: What are Types of Building Construction?

Today, concrete is the second most-consumed material after water, with 3 tons per person per year consumed worldwide. The amount of concrete used in buildings is twice that of all other building materials online in Lahore Pakistan. There is no doubt that concrete will continue to be used as a building material in the future. However, with this widespread use of the material, the discovery of defects and problems associated with concrete and reinforced concrete structures becomes a matter of considerable public concern, both in terms of safety and the costs associated with correcting defects. For this reason, this paper first reviews the historical development of cement and concrete and then examines the mechanical response of concrete and reinforced concrete to the working environment. Where appropriate in the paper, practical examples are used to illustrate or highlight the main theme.

What are the Fire resistive, Non-Combustible, and Ordinary Types?

1. In this type of construction, the walls, partitions, columns, floors, and roofs are the least flammable in terms of fire resistance. These structures can be easily identified by their height; fireproof buildings over 75 feet tall are constructed of cast-in-place concrete and safety steel. They are designed to withstand the effects of fire for long periods of time and to prevent the spread of fire. In these buildings, the roof must also be made of non-combustible materials so that ventilation is not possible.

2. A noncombustible building is one in which the walls, partitions, columns, floors, and roof are noncombustible, as in fire-resistant buildings. However, they are less fire resistant and cannot resist the effects of fire or the spread of fire as well as Type I buildings. This type of building is not fire-resistant, but the building is non-combustible, hence the name “non-combustible”. New school buildings are a typical example of this type of construction. These buildings typically have metal floors and roofs with masonry or slab-on-grade walls. They are the most vulnerable to destruction by fire.

3. These buildings are also known as brick and beam buildings. This type of building consists of brick or log walls combined with a wooden roof or slab, and is not fireproof. All or part of the internal structural elements (frame, floor, ceiling, etc.) must be combustible/wood. Vertical ventilation is possible in this type of building. You can see construction work done as usual in old and new buildings.

Heavy Timber

Type IV buildings have non-combustible exterior walls and interior materials. These buildings are constructed of solid wood or laminated wood. All wood parts must meet the dimensional requirements. Wood posts, beams, and balusters must be at least 8 inches thick. Thick boards used for floors and roofs must be at least 6 inches thick. This type of building resists fire well and does not collapse due to its structural mass, although it must be extinguished with large quantities of water in the event of a fire.

Wood Frame Buildings

1. Wood-frame buildings are the most flammable of all building types. This is the only building type where combustible exterior walls are allowed. Type V also allows combustible interior finishes (frames, walls, floors, and roofs) made entirely or partially of wood. This type is often found in modern homes. Because exposed wood is often used, it is not fire-resistant. It is flammable but relatively resistant to collapse unless the structure is so light that it collapses in minutes.

2. Given the different types of buildings we see around us, we can observe their materials and structures during our daily walks. We can take notes in our construction toolbox and compare the quality of each building itself. This will give you the experience you need to develop a vision for building the structure, which can then be categorized into five building types, allowing you to decide for yourself which design is best for your new building. These building types include fire-resistant, non-combustible, conventional, heavy timber, and wood-frame. What are your top building types? Tell us in the comments below.