Building Materials Study Guide

Building Materials in Construction

Introduction

• The selection of building materials, design, and construction are influenced by the functions a building needs to fulfill.

• Increasing importance is given to building materials considered harmless to health and produced in an environmentally friendly and resource-saving manner.

Requirements for Buildings and Building Materials

• Exterior walls must be highly heat-insulating and able to bear heavy loads (high compressive strength).

• Interior walls and ceilings should provide sound insulation.

• Some walls are plastered, while others retain visible brickwork.

• Examples given:

  • Industrial buildings, department stores, and schools as work and supply locations.

  • Single-family homes, multi-story apartment blocks, vacation homes, or hotels for housing.

  • Dams and lighthouses as protective structures.

  • Museums, theaters, and swimming pools addressing recreational and cultural needs.

  • Streets, train stations, bridges, and tunnels for transportation.

Traditional Building Materials

• Like our ancestors, we still use materials found in nature: wood, clay, and natural stone.

• Wood: A natural and relatively inexpensive raw material, indispensable in residential buildings for beams and lattices.

  • Entire houses can be constructed from wood.

Modern Building Materials

• Calcium silicate bricks (Kalksandsteine): Made from lime, quartz sand, and water.

  • Hollow spaces make them lighter and provide good thermal insulation.

• Bricks/Tiles (Ziegel): Made from fired clay.

  • Highly compressive strength and resistant to chemical influences.

  • Suitable for attractive facade designs, roofing, and walkways.

• Concrete: An artificial stone made from a mixture of cement (binder), aggregates (sand, gravel, or chippings), and water.

  • The functions of a building influence the choice of building materials.

  • Pore formation can be induced through chemical additives, reducing concrete density, resulting in aerated or porous concrete (Porenbeton).

Aerated Concrete/Porous Concrete (Porenbeton)

• Possesses good thermal insulation properties.

Steel and Reinforced Concrete (Stahlbeton)

• Steel: A high-quality building material used when large forces are involved.

• Reinforced Concrete: Combination of steel and concrete.

  • High strength, suitable for foundations, ceilings, and very large buildings.

Modern Construction Trends

• Architects increasingly combine building materials with glass for optimal use of daylight.

• Plastics are also used as building materials, e.g., for roof tiles, doors, and windows.

Material Properties and Uses

Testing of Building Materials

• Properties of building materials are tested through methods like bending tests (Holz).

Considerations for Material Selection

• Suitability of various building materials depends on the tasks the building needs to fulfill.

Environmental Considerations

• Factors: Availability, price, energy consumption for manufacturing, energy savings during use.

Berufsbilder (Job Profiles)

• Maurer (Bricklayer)

• Zimmermann (Carpenter)

Information such as necessary schollabschluss (degree), Ausbildungsdauer (duration of apprenticeship), Ausbildungsstätte (training location), Ausbildungsfächer (subjects taught), Einsatzmöglichkeiten nach erfolgreichem Abschluss (job opportunities after graduation), and Besonderheiten (special characteristics) would also factor into the profiles.