Bearing wall system

introduction

Any building consists of basic structural elements whose function is primarily to maintain the durability of the building and ensure its stability when exposed to forces and loads, as well as transfer the loads that fall on it to the foundation level

In this part, a system will be discussed that is one of the oldest construction systems in use so far, and it is the first system in a series of different construction systems

Bearing wall system

A figure showing the load-bearing wall system, what are the load-bearing walls

It is usually used to carry the vertical pressures of buildings and their construction systems, represented in the transfer of all loads of floors and ceilings of the different floors of the building to all its internal and external walls based on it and from there to the soil

Bearing walls are used as the main elements to transfer the loads of roofs and floors from the repeated floors of the building and then to the foundations and from there to the soil of the site

Bearing wall system

The load-bearing wall system: The load-bearing wall system is one of the oldest building systems, and this system has been developed to become as follows

1-1Strip bases (under load-bearing walls)

2-2Bearing walls using stone, concrete, or load-bearing red bricks

3-3The ceiling is made of tiles cast on the site and this method is under what is called pre-prepared methods that will be written in the near future, God willing

Also, there are other methods such as the waffle system, which is also commonly used

How the structural systems work

The dead and live loads move from the ceilings, then to the beams, then to the walls, which in turn move them to the floors below them until these loads reach the continuous foundation under the walls, which in turn distributes these loads to the soil suitable for foundation

Bearing wall system components

1-1Building walls

1-2Building nerves

1-3Building roofs

Building with load-bearing walls requires basic elements

1-1A good study of the soil and its properties

1-2It is preferable to use stone, solid or hollow blocks, or any type of bricks that have great durability

The correct way to start a load-bearing wall

1.1The hollow block that is filled with concrete after that, or using iron bars within these cavities

1-2Making a block with a width of about 20 cm at the level of the ground floor as a connecting belt

1-3Then the construction is done with solid or hollow blocks, with a bonding beam made as a belt at the level of the windowsill

1-4Complete the construction with the block until the level is less than the level of the roof slab by 20 cm, and a bridge is made for the roof with a height equal to 20 cm + the thickness of the roof

How to determine the thickness of the load-bearing wall

If - the height of the building is 7 meters + the number of floors 2 = the thickness of the outer wall 25 cm with the calculation of the course.

If - the height of the building is 10 meters + the number of floors 3 = the thickness of the outer wall 38 cm for the first floor and 25 cm for the second and the round

If - the height of the building is 13 meters + the number of floors 4 = the thickness of the outer wall of the floor 51 cm, the first and second 38 cm, the third and fourth and the course 25 cm

If the building height is 16 meters + the number of floors is 5 = the thickness of the outer wall of the ground and the first 51 cm, the second and third 38 cm, the fourth and fifth and the course 25 cm

* Note: The internal wall buildings of the building are all executed with a thickness of 25 cm, while the walls on which the stairs are installed shall be executed with a thickness of 35 cm

Features of the load-bearing wall system

1-1Fast to build

1-2Inexpensive because the materials used in this system are low in cost and do not require high technology in construction

1-3The walls used here are heat-insulating due to their thickness

1-4Distributing the construction loads regularly along the load-bearing wall

1-5It has high durability, so it can withstand climatic changes and shocks

Defects of the load-bearing wall system

1-1Limit the configurations required in the façades

1-2The permissible height is limited to approximately 6 floors

1-3The larger span of the load-bearing walls - the thickness of the walls increases as we approach the foundation to increase the loads to which the wall is exposed

1-4The change in the architectural design is close to the impossible, as it is forbidden to make any modification such as removing walls or modifying the division of the building from one floor to another without taking severe precautions to ensure that the building does not collapse

1-5The presence of openings in the walls of this type of construction weakens the building, and therefore it must be reduced, especially if its width is large, so the windows do not work wide, but their height is relatively high and the width is relatively small

A comparison between the use of bearing walls and reinforced concrete

It is clear from the above that there are differences between building with bearing walls and building with reinforced concrete

The most important of these differences is getting rid of the columns and rebar and avoiding the rebar problems of staining, rust and quality

And the rise in price. Also, a percentage of concrete is not less than 20%. As for the construction with reinforced concrete, very successful

For big heights

Some special tips to follow when using a load-bearing wall system

1-1The necessity of filling the brick holes in the corners of the building with concrete and extending 20 cm in both directions with an iron skewer placed in each hole that extends from the floor to the end of the upper ceiling

1-2Filling the intersections of the walls with an extension of 20 cm in each direction (T-shaped intersections with the placement of an iron skewer in each hole that extends from the floor to the end of the upper ceiling

1-3Fill the sides of window and door openings with concrete, with a single iron skewer placed in them extending to the lintel of the opening

1-4The walls carrying the ladder shall be filled with concrete with an iron skewer placed in each hole that extends from the floor field to the end of the upper ceiling.

1-5Avoid cracking in any part that has been built, and if you require that, it will be in a way that does not expose the block to loosening

1-6The need for the building mortar to be strong so that it is at least one and a half times the strength of the block in the ratio of mixing cement: sand (1: 3)

1-7Taking complete care of the insulation against moisture in all parts of the buildings under the floor of the ground floor, using liquid rubber bitumen, so that it gives a thickness of not less than 2 - 3 mm

1-8Attempting to wiring electricity pipes in the walls during the construction of the block, in parallel with the construction process to prevent cracking and loosening of the block later

1-9Take into account that the width of the door and window openings is as small as possible, and so that the width of the opening does not exceed its height

General characteristics of load-bearing wall buildings

1-1The dead and live loads are transferred from the ceilings to the walls

1-2The walls transfer these loads in addition to their own weight to the walls below them until they reach the continuous foundation under the walls

1-3The foundation distributes the loads to the foundation soil layer

1-4The thickness of the walls increases as we get closer to the foundation level

1-5The thickness of the inner wall differs from the outer, and in order not to affect the shape of the building, the difference is from the inside

1-6The presence of openings in the construction walls weakens its bearing capacity, and therefore the surface of it must be reduced and window openings should be executed so that the width is small and the height is large

1-7No internal modifications should be made in this work of buildings without taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the building does not collapse