Journal of Architectural Engineering

Current reinforced masonry wall construction design practice in residential gable ends was reviewed for compliance with the Standard Building Code and ASCE 7-93 wind provisions. The investigation team reviewed 31 residential structures built in the state of Florida after Hurricane Andrew (1992) and before adoption of the Florida Building Code (2002). The existing bracing techniques used to support the gable-end wall were found inadequate to resist wind-induced suction forces defined according to the applicable building codes. The controlling parameters were the spacing of reinforcing pilaster columns and the methods of lateral support along the top of the masonry wall system. The investigation led in part to revisions in the Florida Building Code with respect to the lateral bracing of gable-end wall systems.

Sandcrete blocks are widely used in Ghana as walling units. The quality of blocks produced, however, differs from each manufacturer due to the different methods employed in the production and the properties of the constituent materials. This paper focuses on the impact of quality control practices by suppliers on the quality of blocks produced in the Kumasi $(6°{54}^{\prime }N1°{35}^{\prime }E)$ metropolis. Sandcrete blocks were taken from suppliers and tested for compressive strength, bulk density, water absorption, and dimension tolerances. Fine aggregate samples were also taken from the suppliers and tested for grading, silt, and organic matter content. The study confirmed that mix ratio, quality, and mixing of the constituent materials affected the quality of sandcrete blocks. Visual inspection rather than laboratory testing was adopted as the means of ascertaining the quality by a few of the staff of contractors who had no formal training in quality control. Mix ratios used ranged from as lean as 1:8 to as weak as 1:19 (cement:sand). Blocks produced were also found to be unsuitable for use as load bearing walls.

The condensation resistance of fenestration products is typically determined in standard tests with air leakage eliminated by sealing the cracks and balancing the pressure difference across the test specimen. In reality, however, the fenestration system does experience varying pressure differentials. The infiltration and exfiltration of air can affect the temperature distribution on the fenestration system and, thus, the condensation resistance. In this paper the effect of air leakage on the condensation resistance of a large-scale metal curtain wall subjected to a pressure differential of 150 Pa is studied experimentally. By examining the temperature response profiles and the magnitudes of the temperature variations, likely air leakage paths are identified and the impact of air leakage on condensation resistance is quantified. Since the airtightness of the curtain wall tested is relatively high, the effect of air infiltration is relatively small on the average condensation resistance but is significant locally.

With increasing complexity in the building construction trend and the advancement of building material technology, more building materials and substitutes have evolved and been adopted for use to function together in a building that is supposed to maintain its technical performance during its intended working life. Condition surveys of 450 buildings, face-to-face interviews, and workshops were conducted with industry specialists, to examine the behavior of materials used in facades and wet areas in tropical climates and their estimated costs of maintenance. This paper presents an indicative computational method for the durability of building materials for façades and wet areas in the tropics. Total operations and maintenance costs of the identified materials are also included to provide suggestive maintenance expenditure over the materials’ service life. Natural stone was preferred as a more durable façade material while ceramic and homogeneous tiles proved more economical for wet areas.