HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF EGIS

D38TA : Construction Technology 2

Exploration 3 : Functional requirements and material properties

Summary
In this exercise you will research the functional requirements of a part of the building fabric
(allocated to each student individually) and the properties of a particular material (allocated
individually). You will then appraise your material against the functional requirements for
your part of the building fabric. The outcome will be a technical report.

Technical objectives
To match the properties of a construction material against the performance requirements of a
part of the building fabric, at both domestic and non-domestic scale.

Learning objectives
You will gain experience in searching for and handling technical information. You will
improve your understanding of the concepts of performance / functional requirements and
material properties. You will practise your report writing skills.

Procedure
1. Identify the thermal insulation, wall cladding, mass wall or roof cladding that has been
allocated to you from the table in Appendix 1.
2. For your allocated part of the building fabric, use any suitable technical sources to
investigate the functional performance requirements associated with it. Draw up a fully
comprehensive list of requirements, remembering that there are lots of secondary
requirements to be met by materials for the fabric, such as buildability, low environmental
impact and attractive appearance, alongside the obvious ones of thermal insulation and
weather exclusion. Ensure that the sources of information used are fully referenced.
3. For your allocated material, use any suitable technical sources to investigate its properties.
Draw up a fully comprehensive list of properties. Remember that materials interact with
adjacent materials in the building fabric, so wall claddings and roofings may need sealants,
and thermal insulators may need to be supported by other surfaces: these must be considered
as part of the system. Ensure that the sources of information used are fully referenced.
4. Carry out a technical appraisal of the properties and performance of your material against
the functional requirements of your part of the fabric. This is probably most clearly presented
in the form of tables of information or data. Discuss the extent to which your chosen material
is suitable for its use and draw conclusions which answer the technical objectives.

Report
Write a typewritten technical report of about 2500 words maximum length, with title page
and appropriate layout, using subheadings and a logical arrangement of the content. I would
expect suitable sections to include:
Introduction, objectives / purpose of the report, functional requirements of the fabric,
properties of the material, discussion and conclusion.
Finally, write a short technical summary of your report (max half a page).
To be submitted via Turnitin.
Appendix 1