Author: workhouse123
-
HISTORY
The origins of glass are lost in prehistory. Initially a material for colored beads and small bottles, glass was first used in windows in Roman times. The largest known piece of Roman glass, a crudely cast sheet used for a window in a public bath at Pompeii, was nearly 3 by 4 feet (800 by…
-
FENESTRATION TESTING AND STANDARDS
The designer’s task in selecting windows, doors, and skylights is facilitated by testing programs that allow objective comparisons of the structural, thermal, and other performance requirements of products of different types and from different manufacturers. Structural Performance and Resistance to Wind and Rain The first of these standards is the Standard/Specification for Windows, Doors, and…
-
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN WINDOWS AND DOORS
In order to prevent accidental breakage and injuries, building codes require glass within doors, and large lights within windows that are near enough to the floor or to doors to be mistaken for open doorways, to be made of breakage-resistant material. Tempered glass is most often used for this purpose, but laminated glass and plastic…
-
DOORS
Doors fall into two general categories, exterior and interior. Weather resistance is usually the most important functional factor in choosing exterior doors, whereas resistance to the passage of sound or fire and smoke are frequently important criteria in the selection of interior doors. Many different modes of door operation are possible (Figure 18.23). There are numerous types of exterior…
-
WINDOWS
The word window is thought to have originated in an old English expression that means “wind eye.” The earliest windows in buildings were open holes through which smoke could escape and fresh air could enter. Devices were soon added to the holes to give greater control: hanging skins, mats, or fabric to regulate airflow; shutters for shading…
-
WALL AND PARTITION FACINGS
The vast majority of gypsum board partitions are finished with several coats of paint. For more information about paints and coatings, see pages 234–237. Ceramic tile facings are often added to walls for reasons of appearance, durability, sanitation, or moisture resistance. In a thickset or mortar bed application, tile is applied to a base of portland cement mortar (Figure 23.41). Lower-cost…
-
MASONRY PARTITION SYSTEMS
A century ago, interior partitions were often made of common brick masonry plastered on both sides. These had excellent STC and fire resistance ratings but were labor intensive and heavy. Partition systems of hollow clay tile and hollow gypsum tile (Figure 23.39) were developed to meet these objections and continued to be used extensively until…
-
FRAMED PARTITION SYSTEMS
Partition Framing Partitions that will be finished in plaster or gypsum board are usually framed with wood or metal studs (Figures 23.1–23.3). Framing with wood studs is permitted by the building code only in buildings of certain combustible construction types, including Types III and V. Partitions in buildings of Type I or Type II (noncombustible)…
-
Fire Walls
A fire wall is a wall that forms a required separation to restrict the spread of fire through a building and extends continuously from the foundation to or through the roof. A fire wall is used to divide a single building into smaller units, each of which may be considered as a separate building when calculating allowable…
-
ROOFING AND THE BUILDING CODES
Manufacturing standards, minimum slopes, permitted underlayment materials, and installation requirements for roofing materials are specified by building codes. The codes also regulate a roof’s required level of resistance to flame spread and fire penetration, tested according to standards ASTM E108 or UL 790 and rated as Class A, B, or C roof coverings (listed here in decreasing…