SUPERSTRUCTURE - EXTERNAL WALLS & CLADDINGS

SUPERSTRUCTURE - EXTERNAL WALLS & CLADDINGS

1. Load bearing walls

   • Modern domestic construction and in many older buildings
   • Carry own self weight together with other elements of building
   • Rarely used in multi storey and large span buildings these days
   • Building regulations place restrictions on height and thickness of walls, no. of openings etc
   • Advantage of using precast concrete external walls
     • Eliminate need for perimeter and internal columns and beams

2. Infill walling

   • Used in large scale construction
     • Common in framed buildings
     • Wall sections are non load bearing, act only to exclude the weather
   • Wall must be secured to structural frame
     • Must also allow for differential movement between dissimilar materials
       • Achieved through use of wall ties and sliding anchors
   • Main structural frame is exposed

3. Non load bearing cladding

   • Allowance must be made for differential movement between frame and panels (and adjacent panels)
     • Whilst sill maintaining weather tight enclosure
   • Cladding options
     • Reinforced concrete
     • Plastics
     • Aluminium
     • Steel
   • Main structural frame is concealed
     • Cladding acts only to present a pleasant appearance and resist external weather

4. Curtain walling

   • Consists of self supporting framework tied laterally to structural building frame
     • Framework carries loading from external cladding
       • Acts independently of main building frame whilst totally concealing it
   • Often includes large areas of glazing
   • Difference between cladding and curtain walling
     • Cladding fixed to main structural frame of building
     • Curtain walling cladding is fixed to independent supporting frame erected around building