1.1 Buildings and The Environment PDF

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1.1 Buildings and the Environment
1.2 The Work of the Design Professionals
1.3 The Work of the Construction Professionals
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Determine the relationship of building construction to its surrounding environment
and determine the nature of materials
2. Identify the scope of work for Design Professionals
3. Identify the scope of work for Construction Professionals
Building materials have an important role to play in this modern age of

technology. Also, the building materials industry is an important contributor in our
national economy as its output governs both the rate and the quality of construction
work.
There are certain general factors which affect the choice of materials for a
particular scheme. Perhaps the most important of these is the climatic background.
Obviously, different materials and forms of construction have developed in different
parts of the world as a result of climatic differences. Another factor is the economic
aspect of the choice of materials. The rapid advance of constructional methods, the
increasing introduction of mechanical tools and plants, and changes in the
organisation of the building industry may appreciably influence the choice of materials.
The importance of standardisation cannot be over emphasised. It requires the

quality of materials and manufactured items to be not below a specific standard
level. However, the importance of standardisation is not limited to this factor alone,
since each revised standard places higher requirements upon the products than the
preceding one, with the effect that the industry concerned has to keep up with the
standards and improved production techniques. Thus, the industry of building
materials gains both in quantity and quality, so that new, more efficient products are
manufactured and the output of conventional materials is increased.
1.1 BUILDINGS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

An understanding of the properties of materials is essential in both the design
and construction phases of any civil engineering or building project if this is to
prove satisfactory for its intended purpose.
Naturally occurring materials are used very successfully in many parts of the
world in the construction of buildings and unpaved/graded roads and the successful
way in which these materials have been used is a direct result of those using them
having become aware of the properties of the materials, and the ways in which
these might be improved for a given purpose, through a trial-and-error (learning)
process.
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RJFGUINTO & MAFPENAFLOR
The use of composite materials, such as the clay mixed with fibrous materials,
recognises the inadequacy of certain materials on their own to resist all the forces to
which they will be subjected. However, modern technology has resulted in a wide
range of man-made materials being available for use in the construction
industry today.
However, in constructing and occupying buildings, we expend vast quantities

of the earth’s resources and generate a significant portion of its environmental
pollution. Thus building construction and operation cause many forms of
environmental degradation and place a heavy burden on the earth’s resources.
Sustainability is when the building meet the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Some ways on how the environment is degraded are as follows;

1. Consuming irreplaceable fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources by
building in sprawling urban patterns that covers extensive areas of prime
agricultural land,
2. Using destructive forestry practices that affects the ecosystem,
3. Allowing topsoil to be eroded by wind and water,
4. Generating substance that pollutes water, air, and soil, and
5. Generating copious amounts of waste materials that eventually incinerated
of buried in the earth.
Sustainable building construction demands a more symbiotic

relationship between people, buildings, communities, and the natural
environment. Sustainable buildings—in both their operation and construction—must;
1. Use less energy,
2. Consume fewer resources,
3. Cause less pollution of the air, water, and soil,
4. Reduce waste,
5. Discourage wasteful land development practices,
6. Contribute to the protection of natural environments and ecosystems,
7. Provide healthier interiors for building occupants, and minimize adverse
social impacts.
Green building. The practice of sustainable design and construction which

continues to mature.
The understanding of the interplay between buildings and the environment has
deepened and standards for sustainability continue to evolve. Interest in and adoption
of green building has broadened among public agencies, private owners, and building
occupants. The design and construction industry has become more skilful at
applying green practices, and sustainable building is becoming more integrated
with mainstream practice. As a result, sustainable building performance is improving
while the premium in cost and effort to design and construct such buildings in
comparison to conventional buildings is declining or disappearing completely.
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Sustainable Building Materials

Building sustainably requires access to information about the environmental
impacts of the materials used in construction. A series of international standards
designated as ISO 14020, distinguish three types of environmental labels that
defines expectations for comprehensiveness and reliability of sustainable materials
and product information.
Types of Environmental Labels

 Type I Environmental Labels
- For eco-labelling where there are clearly defined criteria for product.
- ISO 14024 features the principles and procedures for selecting
product categories, product-environmental criteria, product-function
characteristics and for assessing and demonstrating compliance. It
also establishes the certification procedures for awarding the label.
 Type II Self-Declared Environmental Claims.

- For products and services where there are neither criteria nor
labelling schemes.
- ISO 14021 identifies and clarifies a number of commonly used terms
used in claims, whether they be on the product or elsewhere such as
in product literature, advertising or reports. It also details the
evaluation methods for each term in order to help ensure they are
valid and scientifically sound.
 Type III Environmental Declarations.

- For specific aspects of products using a life-cycle approach.
- ISO 14025 establishes the principles and procedures for developing
the data for such declarations and the requirements for declaration
programmes, including the requirement that data are independently
verified.
LESSON SUMMARY
 Building materials have an important role to play in this modern age of
technology.
 General factors which affect the choice of materials for a particular scheme;
climatic background and economic aspect.
 Properties of materials is essential in both the design and construction phases
of any civil engineering or building project.
 Modern technology has resulted in a wide range of man-made materials being
available for use in the construction industry today.
 Building construction and operation cause many forms of environmental
degradation and place a heavy burden on the earth’s resources.
 Sustainability is when the building meet the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
 Green building is the practice of sustainable design and construction
 The design and construction industry has become more skilful at applying green
practices, and sustainable building is becoming more integrated with
mainstream practice.
 Building sustainably requires access to information about the environmental
impacts of the materials used in construction.
4
REVIEW QUESTIONS
A. Write T if the statement is TRUE and F if the statement is FALSE. Write your answer
on the space provided before the number.
_____ 1. The industry of building materials gains both in quantity and quality which
are the good output of conventional materials.
_____ 2. ISO 14024 establishes the principles and procedures for developing the data
for such declarations and the requirements for declaration programmes.
_____ 3. Green building is the practice of sustainable design and construction which
continues to mature.
_____ 4. Reducing the use of energy and waste generation are some ways to protect
the environment from degradation.
_____ 5. Sustainability is when the building does not meet the needs of the present
generation which compromised the ability of the present situation.
_____ 6. ISO 14020 provide information about a product or service in terms of its
overall environmental benefits, such as the recyclability of its packaging, or the
absence of noxious ingredients.
_____ 7. The use of natural materials, such as the clay mixed with fibrous materials,
recognises the inadequacy of certain materials on their own to resist all the forces to
which they will be subjected.
_____ 8. ISO 14024 features the principles and procedures for selecting product
categories, product-environmental criteria, product-function characteristics and for
assessing and demonstrating compliance.
_____ 9. The importance of standardisation can be emphasised through the quality of
materials and manufactured items to be not below a specific standard level.
_____ 10. Environmental degradation include the use of destructive forestry practices
which affects the ecosystem.
5

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CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Building materials have an important role to play in this modern age of

The importance of standardisation cannot be over emphasised. It requires the

1.1 BUILDINGS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

However, in constructing and occupying buildings, we expend vast quantities

Some ways on how the environment is degraded are as follows;

Sustainable building construction demands a more symbiotic

Green building. The practice of sustainable design and construction which

Sustainable Building Materials

Types of Environmental Labels

 Type II Self-Declared Environmental Claims.

 Type III Environmental Declarations.

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