›
58 TheStructuralEngineer Opinion
November 2014 Book review
Review Peter Harris is impressed by the comprehensive subject matter and clear illustrations of
this introduction to building construction, which would be of value to both students and
practising structural engineers.
Barry’s useful sections on unfired clay brick walls,
adobe construction and hempcrete.
Introduction to Chapter 6 is devoted to roofs, including
a section on green roofs. Warm and cold
roofs are discussed in detail, as is the
Construction of positioning of insulation and vapour barriers.
Roof construction in timber, including
Buildings (3rd ed.) trussed rafters, is shown, although minimum
pitch related to tile/slate weathering is not
mentioned. Various types of tile and slate,
together with their respective gauging,
are discussed. Sheet metal coverings and
flat roofs in timber and concrete receive
attention, as does the use of lead and zinc
for roof coverings and drainage goods.
Authors: Stephen Emmitt and Christopher A. Gorse Compartmentalisation in roof voids for fire
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell protection is not covered, however.
Price: £27.99 (paperback); £22.99 (ebook) Chapters 7 and 8 address the function,
ISBN: 978-1-118-25542-1 fire design, security, aesthetics and framing
details of windows and doors. These
subjects are treated comprehensively and
This comprehensive book, running to different types of floor screed and surface there are appropriate sections on the related
around 800 pages, is — together with finishes are adequately covered, while ironmongery and on glazing. There are
the companion book Barry’s Advanced ventilation, thermal insulation and sound plenty of examples to illustrate prevention of
Construction of Buildings1 — a redesign insulation are treated properly as important water ingress and thermal bridging.
and update of the five volumes of Robin design aspects. Chapter 9 is useful as it is devoted to
Barry’s The Construction of Buildings. Walls are extensively covered in a stairs and ramps, with information from the
The authors are respectively Professor chapter of 167 pages. Solid and cavity Building Regulations’ Approved Document
of Architectural Practice and Professor of walls in brick and stone construction are B. The use of concrete, stone, timber and
Construction and Project Management; covered in depth, as is timber-framed structural glass as the medium for staircases
they bring a lucidity of text and clarity of is discussed with appropriate accompanying
diagrams enabling the reader to readily details.
grasp the principles behind the detail.
"THEY BRING A LUCIDITY Chapter 10 is entitled ‘Surface finishes’
The book is essentially written for first- OF TEXT AND CLARITY OF and, as the name suggests, covers floor, wall
year students of architecture and building DIAGRAMS ENABLING THE and ceiling finishes in the range that can be
technology and is limited to domestic READER TO READILY GRASP expected for domestic and/or commercial
housing and low-level development up THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND development.
to three storeys in height. Chapter 1 THE DETAIL" Chapter 11, on energy, deals with climate
introduces the function and performance of control and renewable energy sources, with
buildings, with chapters 2 and 3 providing a an emphasis on promoting renewable forms
useful guide to site investigations, rock and rather than on their variable efficiency and
soil types, ground movement, foundation construction. The text provides a concise whole-life costs. Fuel-burning appliances,
construction and site preparation. and thorough review of best practice using flues and chimneys are included and
Floors and walls are fully covered in the various materials and deals well with the chapter concludes with gas supply
chapters 4 and 5. Ground-bearing floors in thermal bridging and its avoidance. Water details and domestic electrical supply and
concrete are discussed, as are suspended vapour and fire requirements are discussed installations.
floors in both timber and concrete. and, towards the end of the chapter, Surface water, with sustainable drainage
Guidance on concrete mixes and strengths there is an in-depth section on straw bale systems (SuDS) in mind, and foul drainage
is not given. Damp-proof membranes, construction. This last section precedes systems are discussed in chapter 12.
TSE35_58-59 BOOK REVIEW v3.indd 58 23/10/2014 11:21
58 TheStructuralEngineer Opinion
November 2014 Book review
Review Peter Harris is impressed by the comprehensive subject matter and clear illustrations of
this introduction to building construction, which would be of value to both students and
practising structural engineers.
Barry’s useful sections on unfired clay brick walls,
adobe construction and hempcrete.
Introduction to Chapter 6 is devoted to roofs, including
a section on green roofs. Warm and cold
roofs are discussed in detail, as is the
Construction of positioning of insulation and vapour barriers.
Roof construction in timber, including
Buildings (3rd ed.) trussed rafters, is shown, although minimum
pitch related to tile/slate weathering is not
mentioned. Various types of tile and slate,
together with their respective gauging,
are discussed. Sheet metal coverings and
flat roofs in timber and concrete receive
attention, as does the use of lead and zinc
for roof coverings and drainage goods.
Authors: Stephen Emmitt and Christopher A. Gorse Compartmentalisation in roof voids for fire
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell protection is not covered, however.
Price: £27.99 (paperback); £22.99 (ebook) Chapters 7 and 8 address the function,
ISBN: 978-1-118-25542-1 fire design, security, aesthetics and framing
details of windows and doors. These
subjects are treated comprehensively and
This comprehensive book, running to different types of floor screed and surface there are appropriate sections on the related
around 800 pages, is — together with finishes are adequately covered, while ironmongery and on glazing. There are
the companion book Barry’s Advanced ventilation, thermal insulation and sound plenty of examples to illustrate prevention of
Construction of Buildings1 — a redesign insulation are treated properly as important water ingress and thermal bridging.
and update of the five volumes of Robin design aspects. Chapter 9 is useful as it is devoted to
Barry’s The Construction of Buildings. Walls are extensively covered in a stairs and ramps, with information from the
The authors are respectively Professor chapter of 167 pages. Solid and cavity Building Regulations’ Approved Document
of Architectural Practice and Professor of walls in brick and stone construction are B. The use of concrete, stone, timber and
Construction and Project Management; covered in depth, as is timber-framed structural glass as the medium for staircases
they bring a lucidity of text and clarity of is discussed with appropriate accompanying
diagrams enabling the reader to readily details.
grasp the principles behind the detail.
"THEY BRING A LUCIDITY Chapter 10 is entitled ‘Surface finishes’
The book is essentially written for first- OF TEXT AND CLARITY OF and, as the name suggests, covers floor, wall
year students of architecture and building DIAGRAMS ENABLING THE and ceiling finishes in the range that can be
technology and is limited to domestic READER TO READILY GRASP expected for domestic and/or commercial
housing and low-level development up THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND development.
to three storeys in height. Chapter 1 THE DETAIL" Chapter 11, on energy, deals with climate
introduces the function and performance of control and renewable energy sources, with
buildings, with chapters 2 and 3 providing a an emphasis on promoting renewable forms
useful guide to site investigations, rock and rather than on their variable efficiency and
soil types, ground movement, foundation construction. The text provides a concise whole-life costs. Fuel-burning appliances,
construction and site preparation. and thorough review of best practice using flues and chimneys are included and
Floors and walls are fully covered in the various materials and deals well with the chapter concludes with gas supply
chapters 4 and 5. Ground-bearing floors in thermal bridging and its avoidance. Water details and domestic electrical supply and
concrete are discussed, as are suspended vapour and fire requirements are discussed installations.
floors in both timber and concrete. and, towards the end of the chapter, Surface water, with sustainable drainage
Guidance on concrete mixes and strengths there is an in-depth section on straw bale systems (SuDS) in mind, and foul drainage
is not given. Damp-proof membranes, construction. This last section precedes systems are discussed in chapter 12.
TSE35_58-59 BOOK REVIEW v3.indd 58 23/10/2014 11:21
