What Are the Components of a Building? . Building or housing is the most fundamental need for humankind. It shelters us. When we see or hear the “Building” word, we imagine that a building is tall and has a roof, walls, rooms, etc. However, in a broader sense, the definition of a building is structurally constructive based on bricks, sands, types of cement, water, concrete, metal, etc.
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What is Building?
The building is a kind of structure which is built with materials and including with foundation, plinth, walls, floors, roofs, chimneys, plumbing, and building services, fixed platforms, veranda, balcony, cornice or projection, part of a building or anything affixed thereto or any wall enclosing or intended to enclose any land or space and signs and outdoor display structures. For example, houses, factories, shopping malls, hospitals, etc.
A building aims to give shelter along with security. Other purposes such as buildings serve several needs of society primarily as shelter from the weather, security, living space, privacy, to store belongings, supplied electricity, and to comfortably live and work.
Types of Buildings
Buildings may be load-bearing masonry buildings, RCC, or steel-framed structure buildings. There are many different types of Buildings. Such as-
- Residential houses,
- Schools, Colleges & Universities,
- Hospitals,
- Factories, Workshops,
- Mosques, Churches, Temples,
- Malls etc.
Read More : Building Structures 3rd Edition
Basic Components of a Building
The basic components of a building structure are the foundation, floors, walls, beams, columns, roof, stair, etc. These elements serve the purpose of supporting, enclosing and protecting the building structure.
Foundation
The Foundation is a structural unit that uniformly distributes the load from the superstructure to the underlying soil. This is the first structural unit to be constructed for any building construction. A good foundation prevents settlement of the building.
Plinth
The plinth is constructed above the ground level. It is a cement-mortar layer lying between the substructure and the superstructure.
Read More : Structural Elements of Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Walls
Walls are vertical elements which support the roof. It can be made from stones, bricks, concrete blocks, etc. Walls provide an enclosure and protect against wind, sunshine, rain etc. Openings are provided in the walls for ventilation and access to the building.
Columns
Columns are vertical members constructed above the ground level. Columns can be of two types: Architectural columns and structural columns. Architectural columns are constructed to improve the building’s aesthetics while a structural column takes the load coming from the slab above and transfers safely to the foundation.
Beams and slabs
Beams and slabs form the horizontal members in a building. For a single storey building, the top slab forms the roof. In case of a multi-storey building, the beam transfers the load coming from the floor above the slab which is in turn transferred to the columns. Beams and slabs are constructed by reinforced cement concrete (R.C.C).
Floors
The floor is the surface laid on the plinth level. Flooring can be done by a variety of materials like tiles, granites, marbles, concrete, etc. Before flooring, the ground has to be properly compacted and leveled.
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Doors and Windows
Doors
These are openings provided for entry or exit of users / occupants into different spaces inside a building. They play an important role in circulation of occupants from one room to another. Privacy of a space can be maintained by doors. It provides protection to interior of any space from exterior.
Doors are made up of many materials such as metal, wood, timber, etc., and are usually placed in a door frame made up of same material. The portion of brickwork above the doors and windows are usually supported below lintels beams placed on the top of them. So keeping doors and windows height at one level is recommended in buildings.
Window
These are openings provided for circulation of air and to get natural light inside spaces of buildings. Windows are generally provided on external walls only.
Windows can be shape is rectangular, circular or elliptical. Windows are usually have glass with a framing material on top of it. The framing material can be aluminium, wood, UPVC etc., In olden Indian Houses, people used to cover entire windows with wooden shutters.
Roof
The roof forms the topmost component of a building structure. It covers the top face of the building. Roofs can be either flat or sloped based on the location and weather conditions of the area.
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Staircase
A stair is a sequence of steps that connects different floors in a building structure. The space occupied by a stair is called as the stairway. There are different types of stairs like a wooden stair, R.C.C stair etc.
Lintels
Lintels are constructed above the wall openings like doors, windows, etc. These structures support the weight of the wall coming over the opening. Normally, lintels are constructed by reinforced cement concrete. In residential buildings, lintels can be either constructed from concrete or from bricks.
Parapet
Parapets are short walls extended above the roof slab. Parapets are installed for flat roofs. It acts as a safety wall for people using the roof.
Damp Proof Course(DPC)
DPC is a layer of waterproofing material applied on the basement level to prevent the rise of surface water into the walls. The walls are constructed over the DPC.
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Plinth Beam
Plinth beam is a beam structure constructed either at or above the ground level to take up the load of the wall coming over it.
Some Important Points to remember
- Walls and slab act as important structural elements in LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE. Thickness of walls is grater than that of RCC building walls, so, floor area is minimum in load bearing structures. Step footing is adopted.
- Columns, Beams, Slabs act as important structural elements in RCC buildings. These should not be disturbed or demolished as they form the skeleton of RCC structure and carry all the load. Thickness of wall in framed structure is less in comparison with the thickness of wall in load bearing structure. Internal wall can be removed if required in framed structures, only under supervision of an engineer.
- Along with staircase, LIFT also plays an important role in vertical circulation. Lift is mechanically driven element used in multi-storey building or high rise structures. Purpose of lift is to transfer humans/materials from one floor to another in very less time.
Read More : Advances In Civil Engineering And Building Materials IV
FAQs
1. Why is the foundation important in a building?
The foundation distributes the weight of the structure evenly and prevents it from collapsing or sinking into the ground.
2. What materials are commonly used for walls?
Walls are typically constructed with materials like bricks, concrete, stone, or glass, depending on the building’s purpose and design.
3. What is the purpose of lintels in a building?
Lintels provide structural support above openings like doors and windows, distributing the load to surrounding walls.
4. How do building services contribute to a structure’s functionality?
Building services like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems ensure that the building is habitable and comfortable.
