Heavy timber construction models and types have been utilized in most westernized nations especially the United States. Over the century heavy timber construction was characterized by different dimensions of ingenuity and growth, which has transformed the utilization of timber in construction works. The paper will delve to analyze the heavy timber type IV construction by examining the components, systems, and limitations among other factors associated with the latter.
The Description
A heavy timber construction type IV is a construction marvel that is characterized by exterior walls of noncombustible in nature while the interior comprises of construction materials or elements, which are laminated wood with no concealed spaces. The type of construction is typically referred to as the “mill construction” majorly because of its popularity during the nineteenth and twentieth-century milling buildings. The heavy timber type IV construction was or is primarily used in the building of churches, manufacturing plants, and schools among other places. The type IV heavy timber design requires a wooded column of above eight inches thick irrespective of the dimensions while a wooded girder should not be less than six inches thick. One of the main differences between the heavy timber type IV construction types and the conventional methods is that the latter does not contain ceiling covers nor plaster walls in the interior wooden framework. Additionally, the heavy timber type IV building construction will consist of quad-bearing exterior walls curved form noncombustible types of equipment or materials (Allen and Joseph, n.d).
Components heavy timber type IV
There are a variety of components that defined a heavy timber type IV constriction design. In the United States, some states guidelines define the various elements that characterize the heavy timber type IV. The paper will illustrate multiple components of type IV construction type as described by the states of Utah. Some of the components that define the heavy timber type IV construction type in Utah include. 1) column; which consist of a standardized glued laminated or sawn that should go above eight inches, nominal, in a given dimension where the “holding” floor load ought to be six inches and above. The column width of a heavy timber type construction IV should be above six inches epically in depths where the focus supports the load of the ceiling or the roof. All the columns erected in the state of Utah should ensure all superimposed or continuous are connected in a prescribed manner. 2) Floor framing: the framing should comprise of girdles and wooden beams that are glued-laminated and exceeding six inches with an additional ten inches minimal requirement for the flooring frame width. Furthermore, the flooring dept that holds the floor loads in a heavy timber type IV should consist a minimum of eight inches in any given dimension(s). Coherently, the timber trusses initially framed to support the floor load shall consist of a nominal dimensional “member(s)” of eight inches.
3) roofs; a roofing component in the heavy timber type IV structure consists wood roof deck and “no-space” roof and must be glued laminated, saw or splined with measurements, not below two inches in thickness. Additionally, exterior glue measuring thirty-two millimeters and plank-width above three-inches placed on edge together as per the floor-layering procedure. Heavy timber construction type IV permits utilization of other decking materials provided they offer the required structural properties and fire resistance capabilities.
“Things to Watch Out For”
Heavy timber construction type IV designs provide buildings with fire resistance capabilities; therefore, the fire department is constantly devising new methods of combating fires in such buildings. The national fire protection association defines the type IV heavy timber construction as a structure consisting of multiple framing members exceeding eight inches by eight inches with external walls characterized by noncombustible elements or materials (Thomas, 66). Ideally, before the eighteenth century most buildings did not consider the devastating effects of unanticipated infernos; during the industrial period, most insurance companies demanded changes in the constructions industry by the introduction of new methods of building “slow-burning” structures. This was to ensure that insurance companies reduce the cost of claims or losses. A slow-burning building may give firefighters the edge to minimize the inferno damages.
Alternatively, firefighters “ought to know” and understand the repercussions of a building constructed by means of heavy timber type IV because when such building catch fire they tend to consume thousands of cubic water gallons before going off. For instance, the roofing framing of a heavy timber type IV involves huge member frames of six-by-ten inches and wide; they consist of queen post, king post, and Fink Truss meaning in the event of a catastrophic blaze it would take a significant amount of time and resources before such an inferno is “put-off.” Firefighters and building experts ought to be updated with the dangers and complexities of heavy timber type IV buildings in order to seek to appreciate solutions or mitigating factors, which can be used to reduce the loss of lives or property in the event of a fire or any other catastrophic situation.
Failures of Heavy Timber Construction
Heavy timber type Iv buildings are built to endures difficult condition are typically less likely to collapse or consumed by fire, according to building experts ascertain that prolong neglect, weak connections, and poor renovation can cause a type IV heavy timber building to fail and collapse. Ideally, if the floor system of such a building weakens due to inadequate care the joists would not support the lever hence the external masonry walls would crack and collapse (Breneman, n.d). Furthermore, the common failure in heavy timber type IV buildings involves the heavy timber truss, which are parallel vectors typically located behind a parapet wall, therefore, appreciating the existence of such hazards in heavy timber structures is vital. These timber truss span in length of up to twenty feet hence if a particular section of the truss fails or collapse it can create an opening in the roofing frame- forty inches in diameter. Most heavy timber trusses combine the application of hip rafters that can connect the final timber truss to the rear and front positions of the building. Therefore, in the event the roof fails, the rafters would shift the rood capacity (load) to the rear and front walls hence pushing the side walls violently. Such structural movements that involve pushing and collapsing can result in immediate danger to the people or property within the vicinity.
Conclusion
The heavy timber type IV construction concept continues to be used especially in public areas and arenas such as in schools and churches, because of the durability and “stiffness” of such structures. Additionally, type IV contains several shortcomings which have resulted in the introduction of conventional constructions methods being used in the twenty-first century
Works Cited
Allen, Edward, and Joseph Iano. Fundamentals of building construction: materials and methods. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Breneman, Scott. "STRUCTURAL DESIGN." STRUCTURE 13 (2016).
Thomas, Ian R. "Effectiveness of fire safety components and systems." Journal of Fire Protection Engineering 12.2 (2016): 63-78.
