The development of wall structures

1
The development of wall structures
After the foundations have been completed the
external walls are set out and construction
commenced. There are many methods of construction
which have developed over the last century. The
following slides feature some of these.
2
Stone walls
Traditional walls of dwellings and Industrial
buildings were constructed from stone which were
found locally. If you look carefully at the
picture shown above you will see that the larger
stones were built in courses with small stones
inter spaced. The walls were usually very thick
at about 400 to 700mm in width. Most had no damp
proof course included. Lime mortar was used to
bind these stones together. Some of these stone
walls were built with lime or more recently with
sand and cement.
Stone wall with lime plaster.
Stone wall
3
One brick walls

• One brick thick walls were commonly used to build
  rows of red brick terrace houses in close
  proximity to mills.
• These houses were constructed cheaply by mill
  owners from brick which were usually made
  locally.
• These bricks were often constructed in English
  Bond creating a solid wall.
• The solid wall allowed moisture to travel from
  the outside of the wall to the inside causing
  damp patches on the wall inside the house.
• Damp proof courses were included in some of the
  one brick walls.

Header course Stretcher course Damp proof
course
A section through a one brick wall in English
Bond.
4
Cavity walls in block construction

• The first development to prevent the spread of
  damp into the inside of buildings was the cavity
  wall.
• These walls were constructed from two skins of
  brick or block joined together by twisted
  galvanized steel wall ties.
• The twist was constructed into the wall ties so
  that any moisture which tried to move across the
  cavity would drop off.

Wall ties spaced at 450mm vertically
D.P.C.
5
Cavity walls in brick construction with
insulation

• This wall is similar in construction to the first
  cavity wall, the only exception being the
  inclusion of insulation.
• Wall ties are now manufactured from stainless
  steel.
• When cavity walls are used as part of a cellular
  structure they provide buildings which are
  structurally sound.
• Some of their other advantages are the
  prevention of damp penetrating to the inside of
  the building, fairly good thermal insulation
  properties and a cost efficient method of
  construction.

60mm thick insulation
Plaster
6
Walls of the future

• Current cavity wall construction will be have to
  be improved over the next few years if a
  reduction in heat loss is to be achieved.
• This reduction is necessary in order to reduce
  the energy demands of our nation which will
  ultimately reduce green house gasses.
• The futuristic wall structure shown here may be
  one possible way of achieving a reduction in heat
  loss.

Insulation
Plaster stud wall
7
Timber frame walls

• Timber framed walls differ from those
  constructed of traditional brick and block work
  because the structural frame members are
  fabricated from wood. They transmit their loads
  onto the foundation through a common sole or base
  plate.
• Timber frame structures must comply with the
  building regulations in every aspect including
  resistance to fire.

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Curtain wall for Industrial and commercial
structures

• The photograph shows curtain walling which is
  cladding a leisure centre.

Transom
Mullion
Composite panels for curtain walling
Glass curtain walling
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Curtain wall structures

• Curtain wall structures are a composite of
  mullion, transoms and infill panels which may be
  glass or an opaque material.
• Curtain walling is often used with rectangular
  framed structures.
• There is often an inner skin of block work.

Glass infill panels represented in green
Opaque infill panels represented in blue