S Tests on Bricks The following laboratory tests may be conducted on the bricks to find their suitability: (i) Crushing strength (ii) Absorption (iii) Shape and size and (iv) Efflorescence. (i) Crushing Strength: The brick specimen are immersed in water for 24 hours. The frog of the brick is filled flush with 1:3 cement mortar and the specimen is stored in damp jute bag for 24 hours and then immersed in clean water for 24 hours. The specimen is placed in compression testing machine with 6 mm plywood on top and bottom of it to get uniform load on the specimen. Then load is applied axially at a uniform rate of 14 N/mm2 . The crushing load is noted. Then the crushing strength is the ratio of crushing load to the area of brick loaded. Average of five specimen is taken as the crushing strength. (ii) Absorption Test: Brick spe...
PLANNING SUITABLE ORIENTATION Orientation means setting out the plan of the building with respect to north-south and east-west directions to provide an opportunity to user to enjoy sun-shine and breeze when required and to avoid the same whenever not required. This is also known as planning the aspect of a building. Aspect means arrangement of doors, windows in the external wall to make good use of nature. This term has nothing to do with the architectural aspect of outlook of building. Kitchen should have eastern aspect to enjoy morning sunshine, means, kitchen should be located on the eastern side of the building to make use of morning sun rays. The following are the required aspects for various parts of the building in the northern hemisphere of earth: (a) Kitchen–eastern aspect. (b) Dining room–southern aspect to enjoy winter sun. (c) Drawing and living room–southern or south-eastern aspect to enjoy winter sun. (d) Bed rooms–western or south-western aspect...
Building Planning ELEMENTS OF A BUILDING The following are the basic elements of a building: 1. Foundation 2. Plinth 3. Walls and columns 4. Sills, lintels and chejjas 5. Doors and windows 6. Floors 7. Roofs 8. Steps, stairs and lifts 9. Finishing work 10. Building services. The functions of these elements and the main requirement of them is presented in this article. 1. Foundation: Foundation is the most important part of the building. Building activity starts with digging the ground for foundation and then building it. It is the lowermost part of the building. It transfers the load of the building to the ground. Its main functions and requirements are: (a) Distribute the load from the structure to soil evenly and safely. (b) To anchor the building to the ground so that under lateral loads building will not move. (c) It prevents the building from overturning due to lateral forces. (d) It gives level surface for the construction of su...
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