TECH 1: Notes from Lecture
Generic Timber Construction
Stuart Harrison
Regions
Australia is often split into
regions due to different climatic and environmental conditions and this is
reflected in the Building Code of Australia (BCA), which along with Australian Standards
governs how we can build.
Different regions/states in
Australia tend to foreground different techniques of construction, based on factors
of SKILLS; COST and SUPPLY of materials. This reflects traditions in
construction.
Different methods based on
material available, soil type, trade history, environmental conditions
Australian native timber
tends to be hardwoods, and has historically not be
favoured in construction, except in QLD and WA.
Radiata Pine is now grown in Australia, and is used
extensively (most timber framing, studs, etc - often AUSPINE)
Victoria
timber frame, either clad or masonry veneer.
SA Stone. South Australia
has a long tradition in the production and use of stone because the State is
deficient in timber and early settlers turned to stone for building purposes.
Older buildings of the city and country areas, erected before the widespread
use of steel and reinforced concrete, provide fine examples of stone.
NSW timber frame, typically
as seen in Building Your Own Home.
South Australia now leads the
country in the production of granite, slate and limestone. Much pre-cast concrete
is made in SA and transported to the rest of country.
The North: NT, Darwin steel pole, elevated.
Terminates, tropical cooling.
QLD timber, clearly elevated. The Queenslander elevated timber frame and clad
house, regional type.
WA double brick clay availability. SAND soil type (eg
Perth Coastal plane)
Low level construction,
cheaper, avoids scaffolding
Clay fastwall inner skin structural.
Generic
We are interested in how conventional
domestic construction can be used.
The generic is associated
with timber framing in Victoria.
Ground/Floor
The ground is different to
the floor often the floor is above the ground; the ground is the Earth.
The ground is normally
outside.
Ceilings are the underside of
roofs.
Concrete
Concrete is Reinforced Concrete,
makes the most of both materials
Slab on ground. Suspended slabs,
Masonry
Bricks or blocks
Timber
Lightweight construction, cheaper
(most states), often used on domestic projects for carpenter builders
Domestic/Commercial
Two
divisions in construction. Architects
tend to prefer commercial systems used on residential project.
Standard Sizes
Key to constructions systems
is they use STANDARD SIZES for most applications
So beams, studs, joist, etc
coming in set dimensions
For example
Studs often 90 x 35, or 90
x 45
Beams 45 x 240, 45 x 300
So when making models consider this.
Dimensions almost always in
Millimetres (MM)
Centres
Key also is things re often
at standard centre-to-centre distances
Most common studs at 450cts
for standard timber framing
Flooring at 450 or 600
Roof battens at 600
Rafters at 1200cts
Columns at 8.4m cts
Centres do not account for
thickness, and are the preferred system of measurement for structural engineers
as they are the ones used in calculations
Generic Timber Construction
The
key diagram
Stages:
Foundation
Systems
Flooring
Systems
Wall
Framing
Roof
Framing
Typical houses are a layering
of these.