FILIPINO CONSTRUCTION TERMS

FILIPINO CONSTRUCTION TERMS
VERNACULAR TAGALOG TERMS USED IN CONSTRUCTION

1. POSTE - COLUMN
    HALIGE - WALL
2. GUILILAN - GIRDER
3. SULERAS - JOIST
4. SAHIG, SUELO - FLOORING
5. SEPO - GIRT
6. BIGA - BEAM
7. BARAKILAN - BOTTOM CHORD
8. REOSTRA - PURLIN
9. SENEPA - FASCIA BOARD
10. KOSTILYAHE - CEILING JOIST
11. TABIKE - SIDING (EXTERNAL)
12. PILARETE - STUD (VERTICAL)
13. PABALAGBAG - STUD (HORIZONTAL)
14. PASAMANO - WINDOW SILL
15. SUMBRERO - WINDOW HEAD
16. HAMBA - WINDOW JAMB / DOOR JAMB
17. SINTURON - COLLAR PLATE
18. HARDINERA - STRINGER (OPEN)
19. MADRE (de escalera) - STRINGER (CLOSED)
20. BAYTANG - TREAD
21. TAKIP (SILIPAN) - RISER

22. GABAY - HANDRAIL
23. MULDURA - MOULDING
24. SIBE - EAVE
25. BOLADA - PROJECTION
26. BALANGKAS - FRAME WORK
27. KANAL - GUTTER
28. ALULOD - CONDUCTOR
29. PLANCHUELA - W. I. STRAP
30. PIERNO - BOLT
31. PLANCHA - SCAFFOLDING
32. ESTAKA - STAKE
33. KUSTURADA - PLASTERED COURSE
34. PALITADA - STUCCO OR PLASTER
35. REBOCADA - SCRATCH COAT
36. PIKETA - PICKWORK (on masonry)
37. MONYEKA - VARNISH FINISH
38. BIENTO - SPACING OF GAP
39. LARGA MASA - CONCRETE SLAB(rough)
40. ASINTADA - ALIGNMENT
41. HULOG - PLUMB LINE
42. BALDOSA - CEMENT TILE
43. LADRILYO - CEMENT BRICK
44. BATIDORA - DOOR FILLET
45. KANAL - GROOVE
46. HASPE - GOOD GRAIN
47. PLANTILYA - PATTERN / SCHEDULE
48. BISAGRA - HINGE
49. DE BANDEHA - PANELED DOOR
50. ESCOMBRO - EARTHFILL
51. LASTILYAS - MASONRY FILL
52. LIYABE - ADOBE ANCHOR
53. HINANG - SOLDER
54. ESTANYO - NICOLITE BAR
55. SUBAN, SUBUHAL - TEMPER (metal work)
56. PIE DE GALLO - DIAGONAL BRACE
57. PUNSOL - NAIL SETTER
58. POLEYA - WIRING KNOB
59. ESPOLON - CABINET HINGE

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Paints & Protective Coatings, Hardware

PAINTS AND PROTECTIVE COATINGS


Paint – a mixture consisting of vehicles or binders, with or without coloring pigments, adjusted and diluted with correct amounts and types of additives and thinners, which when applied on a surface, forms an adherent continuous film which provides protection, decoration, sanitation, identification and other functional properties.

Components of an oil base paint are:

1. body – that solid, finely ground material which gives a paint the powder to hide, as well as color a surface.
2. vehicle – a nonvolatile fluid in which the solid body material is suspended. The vehicle should consists of from 85 to 90 percent drying oil and the remainder thinner and drier.
3. pigment – material which give the paint its color
4. thinners – are volatile solvents, materials which have a natural affinity for the vehicle in the paint. They cause the paint to flow better. Most common thinner is turpentine.
5. driers – organic salts of various metals such as iron, zinc, cobalt, lead manganese, and calcium, which are added to the paint to accelerate the oxidation and hardening of the vehicle.

Varnishes – a group pf more-or-less transparent liquids which are used to provide a protective surface coating, at the same time they allow the original surface to show but add a lustrous and glossy finish to it.

Enamels – when pigment is added to a varnish, the result is enamel.

Shellac – the only liquid protective coating containing a resin of animal origin. The resin is an exudation of the lac insect of India and Southeast Asia, deposited on the branches of the tree.
Lacquers – a new product made from synthetic materials to take the place of varnish for clear finishes. The ingredients are dissolved in a mixture of volatile solvents which evaporate, leaving a film to form the protective coating. When another class of material, “pigments” are added to clear lacquer, the result is lacquer enamel, available in wide range of colors.

Stains – materials used to apply color to wood surfaces. They are intended to impart color without concealing or obscuring the grain and not to provide a protective coating.

Fillers – are finishing materials which are used on wood surfaces, particularly those with open grain, to fill the pores and provide a perfect smooth, uniform surface for varnish or lacquer. It is also used to impart color to the wood pores and so emphasize the grain.

Sealers – to seal the surface of the wood and prevent the absorption of succeeding finish coats. It may be applied to bare wood in essentially the same way as paste filler but has much less filling capacity.

Silicone Water Repellant – used on all non-painted concrete, synthetic finishes, rubble, brick, and wash-out finishes as a protection from absorption of water and prevent moss, alkali, fungi to destroy the surface.


HARDWARES


Hardware – metal products used in construction, such as bolts, hinges, locks, tools. Etc. they are classified as:

Finishing hardware – hardware such as hinges, catches, etc. that has a finished appearance as well as function, especially that used with doors, windows, and cabinets, maybe considered part of the decorative treatment of a room or building.

Rough hardware – in building construction, hardware meant to be concealed, such as bolts, nails, screws, spikes, rods, and other metal fittings.

Types of Doors:

Flush – a smooth surface door having faces which are plane conceal its rails and stiles or other structure when used inside, it is of hollow core when used for exterior, it is of solid core.

Panel door – a door having stiles, rail and sometimes muntins, which form one or more frames around recessed thinner panels.

Overhead Swing-up door – a rigid overhead door which opens as an entire unit.

Overhead Roll-up garage door - a door which, when open, assumes a horizontal position above the door opening, made of several leaves.

Roll-up door – a door made up of small horizontal interlocking metal slats which are guided in a track; the configuration coils about an overhead drum which is housed at the head of the opening, either manual or motor-driven.

Accordion door – a hinge door consisting of a system of panels which are hung from an overhead track.

Bi-fold door – one of two or more doors which are hinged together so that they can open and fold in a confined space.

Revolving door – an exterior door consisting of four leaves which pivot about a common vertical axis within a cylindrically shape vestibule, prevents the direct passage of air through the vestibule, thereby eliminating drafts from outside.

Sliding door – a door mounted on track which slides I a horizontal direction usually parallel to one wall.

By-passing sliding door – a sliding door which slides to cover a fixed door of the same width or another sliding door.

Sliding pocket door – a door which slides inside a hollow of the wall.

Dutch door – a hinge door which is divided into two. The upper part can be opened while the lower portion is closed.

Example of Finishing Hardware:

Hinge - a movable joint used to attach support and turn a door about a pivot, consists of two plates joined together by a pin which the door and connect it to its frame, enabling it to swing open or closed.

1. Butt hinge – consists of two rectangular metal plates which are joined with a pin. In large hinge, the pin is removable, in small hinges, it is fixed.
2. Fast pin hinge – a hinge I which the pin is fastened permanently in place.
3. Full surface hinge – a hinge designed for attachment on the surface of the door and jamb without mortising.
4. Loose joint hinge – a door hinge having two knuckles, one of which has vertical pin that fits in a corresponding hole in the other, by lifting the door up, off the vertical pin, the door maybe removed with unscrewing the hinge.
5. Loose pin hinge – a hinge having a removable pin which permits its two parts to be separated.
6. Paumelle hinge – a type of door hinge having a single joint of the pivot type, usually of modern design.
7. Olive knuckle hinge – a paumelle hinge with knuckles forming an oval shape.
8. Spring hinge – a hinge containing one or more springs, when a door is opened, the hinge returns it to the open position automatically, may act in one direction only, or in both directions.
9. Vertical spring pivot hinge – a spring hinge for a door which is mortised into the heel of the door, the door is fastened to the floor and door head with pivots.

Example of Rough Hardware:

CW- common wire nail with head and for strength; box nail also used for strength.

FIN – finishing nail without head; casing nail also without head.

Screws – classified by gauge (diameter), length, head-type, and metallic make-up.

Bolts – have threaded shafts that receive nuts. To use them, a hole is drilled, pushing the bolt through and adding a nut.

Flush bolt – a door bolt so designed that when applied it is flush with the face or edge of the door.

Chain door fastener – a device attached to a door and its jamb limits the door opening to the length of the chain.

Lockset – a complete lock system including the basic locking mechanism and all the accessories, such as knobs, escutcheons, plates, etc.

Latch – a simple fastening device having a latch bolt, but not a dead bolt containing no provisions for locking with a key, usually can be open from both sides.
Lift latch – a type of door latch which fastens a door by means of a pivoted bar that engages a hook on the door jamb, a lever which lifts the pivoted bar used to unfasten the door.

Button - a small rejecting member used to fasten the frame of a door or window.

Knob – a handle, more or less spherical usually for operating a lock.

Escutcheon – a protective plate surrounding the keyhole of a door switch or a light switch.

Plates – a thin flat sheet of material

Strikes – a metal plate or box which is et in a door jamb and is either placed or recessed to receive the bolt or latch of a lock, fixed on a door.

Lip strike – the projection from the side of a strike plate which the bolt of a lock strikes first, when a door is closed; projects out from the side of the strike plate to protect the frame.

Hasp – a fastening device consisting of a loop or staple and a slotted hinge plate normally secured with a padlock.

Key-padlock – a device which fastens in position maybe operated by a key.

Hasplock – a kind of hasp that has a built-in locking device which can be opened only with a key.

Friction catch – any catch which when it engages a strike, is held in the engaged position by friction.

Magnetic catch – a door catch flat that uses a magnet to hold the door in a closed position.

Bullet catch – a fastener which holds a door in place by means of a projecting spring arctuated steel hall which is depressed when the door is closed.

Hospital arm pull – a handle for opening a hospital door without the use of hands, by hooking an arm over the handle.

Panic exit device – fire exit bolt a door locking device used on exit doors; the door latch releases when a bar, across the inside of the door is pushed.

Eye bolt – a bolt having its head in the form of a loop or eye.

Concrete insert – a plastic, wood fiber, or metal usually leads plug either built in a wall or ceiling or inserted by drilling, used as an anchor or support to hold attached load.

Hook bolt – a bolt having one end in the form of a hook.

Door stopper – to prevent the door with its lockset from harming the wall or tiles.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Insulating Materials, Building Protection

INSULATING MATERIALS


Three ways of heat transfer:

1. Conduction – the inside of a concrete wall which has one side exposed to outside winter temperatures feels cold to the touch. Heat is being conducted from the side of higher temperature to that lower temperature.
2. Radiation – from this point, it is transferred to the outside air by radiation.
3. Convection – when air is heated, it expands and begins to circulate, during the circulation it comes in contact with cooler surface, some of its heat is given up to them. It is therefore important to try to prevent air currents from being set up in the walls and ceiling of our buildings.

Kinds of Thermal Insulation:

1. Loose Fill:
a. fibrous type – made from mineral woolrock wool, glass wool, or slag wool – or vegetable fiber – usually wood fiber.
b. Granular insulation – made from expanded minerals such as perlite and vermaculite or from ground vegetable matter such as granulated coork.
c. Fibrous loose fill – used to insulate walls of buildings that have been built without insulation.
d. Granules – are graded into four sizes, 1, (3/8 in. to no. 16 sieve) and sizes 2 (no. 4 to no. 30 sieve) used as loose-fill insulation for sidewalls and ceilings over suspended ceilings, between wood sleepers over a concrete floor slab, as fill for the cores of concrete blocks, and sizes 3 (no. 8 to no. 100 sieve) size 4 (no. 16 to 100 sieve).
2. Blanket Insulation – made from some fibrous materials such as mineral wool, wood fiber, cotton fiber, or animal hair, manufactured in the form of a mat, 16, 20 or 24 in. width, in 8 ft. lengths or put up in rolls of from 40 to 100 linear feet, with controlled thickness of 1, ½, 2, 3 and 4 inches.
3. Batts – similar to blankets but they are restricted to 48 inches in long or less they are always covered with paper, and made especially for installation between stud spacings.
4. Structural Insulation Board – made from organic fiber-wood, cane, straw or cork. The wood and cane raw material is first pulped, after which it is treated with water proofing chemicals.
a. Strawboard – made from carefully selected straw, fused under heat and pressure into a panel 2 inches thick and 4 ft. wide.
b. Corkboard – made from granulated cork mixed with resin and pressed into sheets of several thickness, depending on the use to which they will be put.
5. Block or Rigid Slab Insulation – type of insulation is so called because the units are relatively stiff and inelastic. In most cases inorganic materials are used in their manufactures.
6. Reflective Insulation – made from such materials as aluminum or copper foil or sheet metal, with bright surfaces that reflect heat rather than absorbing it.
7. Foamed-In-Place Insulation – this is polyurethane product made by combining a polyisocyanate and a polyester resin.
8. Sprayed-on-Insulations – materials used are polyurethane foam asbestos fiber mixed with inorganic binders, vermiculite aggregate with a binder such as Portland cement or gypsum and perlite aggregate using gypsum as binders.
9. Corrugated Insulation – usually made from paper foamed into shapes that produce enclosed air pockets. One type is produced by shaping heavy paper into a series of small regular semicircular corrugations and covering a both sides with a sheet of flat paper to give strength and produce the air pockets.


BUILDING PROTECTION


Waterproofing – a method of protecting surfaces against the destructive effects of water
Damp-Proofing – protection from the outside is provided by water repellent materials which turn water aside and force it to return to the earth.
Soil Poisoning – it is important to poison the soil against anay in order to stop the anay from infesting the main posts, walls and flooring.
Wood Preservative – a chemical liquid painted and applied to lumber to preserve it for years. It protects wood against powder post beatles (buk-bok), powder post termite (unos), decay causing fungi such as sap stain and dry rot.
Fire- Proofing – a clear liquid applied easily on wood, plywood, lumber and other board that retains the natural beauty, gives added strength and protects materials against fire, weather, decay, insects and warping.
Ratproofing – a method of protecting rooms against the intrusion of rats and other small destructive animals from gnawing the wooden parts of the house, habitating on ceilings and floors of houses and buildings.
Rustproofing – a method of protecting the ferrous materials like steel, iron from rusting or corrosion.

Thoroseal – a cement-based, heavy-duty, easy to apply, water proof sealant and coating. Thoroseal is ideal for basement walls.

Vapor barriers – are materials which effectively retard or stop the flow of water vapor and normally are produced in sheets or thin layers.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Plastics & Related Products, Adhesives and Sealants

PLASTICS AND RELATED PRODUCTS


Plastics – a large group of synthetic materials which are made from a number of common substances such as coal, salt, oil. Natural gas, cotton, wood and water. From these, relatively simple chemicals known as monomers, which are capable of reacting with one another are produced. These are then built up into chainlike molecules of high molecular weight called polymers.

Two General Classification:

1. Thermoplastics – become soft when heated and hard when cooled, regardless of the number of times the process is repeated. Include in the thermoplastics are acrylic cellulosis, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polysterene, polyallomers polycarbonates, polyimide, polypropylene, polysulfone, phenylene oxide, nylons, methyl pertenes, ionomer, fluoroplastics, acetal and acryonitrile butadieniene styrene (ABS).
2. Thermosetting Plastics – set into a permanent shape when heat and pressure are applied to them during the forming stage. Thermosetting group includes phenolics, aminos (urea and melamine) epoxies, polyesters, polyurethane, alkyd silicones and diallyl phthalate (DAP).

Production: Plastics products are formed by a number of methods which include:

1. Injection Molding Process – measured amount of powder or granules is heated and when flowing forced through the nozzle of the barrel into a shaped cavity, where it cools of solidities.
2. Blow-Molding Process – an extruder extrudes a hollow tube which is captured between the two halves of a hollow. As the mold closes, air is blown into the tube and expand it to fit inside surface of the mold.
3. Rotational Molding – used to form hollow units with complex shapes and heavy walls, a premeasured amount of powder or liquid resin is placed at the bottom half of a cold mold which is then closed.
4. Expandable Bead Molding – a process used to produce light weight products of polysterene foam, small granules of polysterene with a small amount of an expanding agent are placed in a rolling drum and steam heated.
5. Compression Molding – a measured quantity of powder in a heated mold, which is then closed. Heat and pressure are applied to the powder which melts and flows to all parts of the mold.
6. Transfer Molding – similar to compression molding except that the powder is heated and liquefied outside the mold and injected into the mold under heat and pressure, where the forming and setting takes place.
7. Foamed Plastics – are made by expanding agent with either granules or powder and then heating. Heat melts the plastic and causes the formation of a gas which expands the molten material into foamed structure.
8. Thermoset Foam – made by mixing the appropriate resin with a curing agent and an expanding agent and then heating them in a mold.
9. Extrusion Forming – used for mass-produced materials which have a constant cross section, and it is done in two ways by forcing of semi-liquid plastic through a die of the proper size and shape in a manner similar to that used for forming brick by extrusion.
10. Thermoforming Process – sheet plastic is heated until soft and then forced by air pressure against a cold and hardens in shape.
11. Laminating Process – consists of impregnating sheets of paper, glass fiber, or cloth with a thermosetting liquid resin and then applying heat and pressure to a number of sheets to form a laminated product.
12. Casting – a simple process in which liquid plastics, with their appropriate curing agent, are poured into molds and set, with or without heat.
13. Calendaring Process – plastic is fed to revolving rollers which turn out a thin sheet or film the thickness of the product is determined by the roller spacing, and the surface of the sheet may be smooth or matted, depending on the roller surface.

Plastic Laminates – consists of three or more layers of material bonded or laminated together with plastic adhesive under high pressure.



ADHESIVES AND SEALANTS


Cohesiveness – the ability of particles of a material to cling tightly to one another.

Adhesiveness – the ability of a material to fix itself and cling to an entirely different material.

Sealers – products which are used to seal the surface of various materials against the penetration of water or other liquids or in some cases to prevent the escape of water through the surface.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Bituminous Materials, Ferrous and Non-Ferrous, Glass & Glazing

BITUMINOUS MATERIALS


Bitumen – a generic name applied to a semisolid mixture of complex hydrocarbons, derived from coal or petroleum, as a coal-tar pitch or asphalt.

Tar – the resulting condensate when destructive distillation is carried out on such materials as wood coal, shale, peat or bone.

Pitch – a solid or semi-solid residue produced from partial evaporation or fractional distillation of tar.

Coal-tar Pitch – most common material of this kind of pitch.

Asphalts - dark brown or black solids or semi-solids which are found in the natural state and are also produced by the refining of petroleum.

Liquid Paving Asphalts – liquid asphalts used for paving are cutbacks.

Asphalt Paving Cements – used as binders for more expensive asphalt pavements.

FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS MATERIALS


Ferrous – metal in which iron is the principal element
Nonferrous – containing no, or very little iron.

Ferrous Metal:

1. Steel – a malleable alloy of iron and carbon produced by melting and refining pig iron and/or scrap steel, graded according to the carbon content.
2. Pig Iron – used to make cast iron which is high in compressive strength but low in tensile strength, and has little use for construction.
3. Wrought Iron – produced when pig iron is melted in such a way as to remove nearly all of the carbon and other impurities.
4. Alloy Steels – made by containing other elements with the molten steel. Nickel, chromium copper and manganese are used.
5. Nickel Steel – stronger than carbon steel and is used to make structural members for building chromium steel is very hard and corrosion-resistant.
6. Stainless Steels – made with chromium or a combination of nickel and chromium used in buildings for exterior wall panels, frames for doors, expansion joints, flashings, copings, fascia and gravel stops.
7. Copper – bearing steel has high resistance to corrosion and is used for making sheet steel and metal lath.
8. Manganese Steel – offers great resistance to abrasion and finds important use in the cutting edges of heavy digging tools.
9. Weathering Steel – recently developed grade of steel. It forms its protection against atmospheric corrosion and thus requires no painting.

Nonferrous Metal:

Aluminum – a lustrous, silver-white nonmagnetic, lightweight metal which is very malleable; has good thermal and electrical conductivity; a good reflector of both heat and light.

Aluminum Foil – used as a vapor barrier on walls and ceilings and as reflective insulation.

Copper – a lustrous reddish metal, highly ductile and malleable; has high tensile strength; is an excellent electrical and thermal conductor; is available in a wide variety of shapes; widely used for downspout, electrical conductors, flashings, gutter, roofing, etc.

Lead – a soft, malleable, heavy metal; has low melting point and a high coefficient of thermal expansion. Very easy to cut and work, enabling it to be fitted over uneven surfaces. Used for roofing, flashing and spandrel wall panels.

Tin – a lustrous white, soft and malleable metal having a low melting point; relatively unaffected by exposure to air; used for making alloys and solder and in coating sheet metal.




GLASS AND GLAZING


Glass – a hard, brittle inorganic substance, ordinarily transparent or translucent; produced by melting a mixture of silica, a flux and a stabilizer.

Types of Glass:

1. Reflective Glass – used to control glare and reduce solar heat. It the product of a glass-coating process which is carried out in a large, rectangular vacuum chamber. Manufactured in two types, silver and gold, the glass can be specified in any one of three nominal light transmittance of 8, 14, or 20 percent.
2. Rolled and Rough Cast Glass – used where clear vision is not required, such as by factory roofs and walls, windows for halls and staircases, skylights, and partitions in offices. Cast glass diffuses light, and because of its low reflecting and absorption index, transmits 90 to 93 percent of light rays striking it.
3. Cathedral and Figured Glass – manufacturing is similar to rolled and rough-cast glasses. However, they contain a pattern or texture impressed usually on one surface by a patterned roller.
4. Wired Glass – simply a rolled glass into which wire mesh is inserted during the process of manufacture.
5. Heat –Absorbing Plate Glass – made by adding ingredients to the mix used in making regular slate glass so that the finished product is pale bluish-green or gray.
6. Tempered Plate Glass – three to five times as strong as regular plate of the same thickness – and area in resisting compressive forces and fracture due to strain or thermal shock.
7. Vitreous Colored Plate – polished plate glass can be heat-strengthened and coated on one side with vitreous color which is fire-fused to the surface.
8. Laminated Safety Glass (Bullet Proofing) – widely used in the automotive industry and transportation, but now finding some uses in the building industry, like glass that can withstand firearm attack and explosions.
9. Insulating Glass – consists of two sheets of plate or sheet glass, separated by an air space, and joined around the edges to produce a hermitically sealed unit.

Classification of Sheet Glass:

1. Window Glass – used for glazing windows doors and storm sash in residential buildings where good light and vision are required at moderate cost.
2. Heavy Sheet Glass – used for glazing windows and doors where greater strength is required but where slight distortion is not objectionable.
3. Picture Glass – used for covering pictures, photographs, maps, charts projector slides and instrument dials.

Glass products:

1. Glass Blocks – comparable in many ways to unit masonry but have the added feature of transmitting light.
2. Solid Glass Brick – also made to admit light into a building, because of its solid construction, it offers greater protection against vandalism than conventional window glass or glass blocks. The ability of the brick is to allow undistorted passage of light.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Building Boards

RECYCLED WASTE PRODUCTS, BUILDING BOARDS AND PAPERS


Building Boards – a group of sheets of building materials often faced with paper or vinyl, suitable for use as a finished surface on walls, ceiling, etc.

Kinds of Building Boards:
1. Plywood – made by bonding together thin layers of wood in a way that the grain of each layer is at right angles to the grain of each adjacent layer.
Veneer - each layer of plywood
Rotary Cutting – a method of cutting wood veneer in which a log is fixed in a lathe and rotated against a knife so that the veneer is peeled from the log in a continuous sheet.
2. Hardboard – made from processed wood chips.
Three grades of board:
a. Standard – flexible to be quite easily bent
b. Tempered hardboard – made by impregnated standard board with a tempering compound of oils and resin and baking it to polymerize the tempering material.
c. Low-density hardboard – not as strong and durable as standard hardboard.
3. Insulating Fiberboard – made from three types of fiber – wood, sugar cane, and asbestos, and binder, formed into a board.
4. Chipboard – a large class of building board made from wood and particles and a binder, often faced with veneer.
5. Particle Board – a hardboard made from relatively small particles.
6. Gypsum Board – a wall board having a gypsum core.
7. Straw Board – a hardboard made of compressed wheat straw, processed at 350 to 400 degree Fahrenheit and covered with a tough kraft paper.
8. Asbestos-cement Board – a dense, rigid board containing a high proportion of asbestos fibers bonded with Portland cement, resistant to fire, flame, and weathering, has low resistance to heat flow.
9. Corkboard – from the outer bark of the cork oak tree, cork granules is mixed with synthetic resin, compressed and formed into sheet from 1 to 6 inches thick and baked under pressure into rigid boards.
10. Paperboard – made into two different types: a paper pulp pressed into boards 3/16, or ¼ in. thick, 4 ft. wide, and 6, 7 or 8 ft. long. Usually one surface is primed for easier finishing. The other is a layer of stiff paper folded into corrugated from and faced on both sides with a thick paper backing, cemented to the core.
11. Mineral Fiberground – thick mats of mineral fibers, usually glass or rock wool are covered with a backing of stiff paper on one or both sides to form rigid boards, ranging in thickness from ½ to 2 in. The usual board size is 24 x 48 inches.
12. Plastic Foamboards – polystrene and polyurethane plastics are formed by a patented process to about 40 times their original volume. Used for perimeter insulation for concrete floor slabs, for wall and roof deck insulation, and for roof decks when properly supported.

Building Papers – in building construction, paper is used for sheathing, roofing and insulation, in making asphalt shingles, laminated and corrugated building products, and concrete form materials, as a moisture and vapor barrier; as cushioning material; as wallpaper; as an envelope or sheath for other materials; and as a fireproofing material.

Type of Wood Pulp:
1. Mechanical Pulp – or groundwood, is produced by grinding blocks of wood against a revolving abrasive stone or by grinding steamed wood chips in a grinding mill.
2. Chemical Pulp – produced by digesting wood chips in various chemicals to free the cellulose fibers from the liquid binding.
3. Semi-chemical Pulp – wood chips are first subjected to a mild chemical treatment and then mechanically disintegrated in rotating disk refiners.

Types of Paper:
1. Sheathing Paper – used to provide an airtight barrier over walls, floors, etc.
2. Roofing Paper – A. roofing felts - used in making a built-up roof and are usually produced in 36 in. wide rolls, in various weights from 3 to 20 lb/square. B. Rolled roofing – a heavy, mineral surfaced paper used as a final roof covering, made 18 and 36 in. wide, in various weights from 45 to 120 lb/square.
3. Insulating Paper – used to secure bulk and entrapped air with as much strength as possible. Insulating papers are made from both wood-fiber insulating paper and asbestos fibers.
4. Cushioning Paper – similar to wood-fiber insulating paper, but less attention is paid to strength. Its chief use is for cushioning under linoleum, carpets, or slate roofing.
5. Vapor Barrier Paper- intended to prevent the passage of moisture vapor through walls, ceilings and floors.
6. Laminating Paper – a special, high strength kraft paper made for use in the production of plastic laminates. The thin, strong paper is impregnated with liquid plastic resin and several sheet are laminated together under heat and pressure to form the base for the plastic sheet.
7. Concrete Form Paper – made from strong kraft paper in the form of a spiral tube and boxlike from made from corrugated container paper.
8. Wallpaper – paper from which decorative wallpaper is made.
9. Envelope Paper – used as an outer covering or envelope for a number of building materials. One of these is gypsum board, composed of a layer of calcined gypsum covered in both sides by a sheet of kraft paper.
10. Fire Proofing Paper – made from asbestos fibers, since this is an incombustible material. This material maybe in the form of matted paper, similar to asbestos insulating or roofing paper, or it may be in the form of a cloth woven from thread spun from asbestos fibers.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Wood and Wood Products

WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS


Wood – a traditional building material, it is easily worked, has durability and beauty. It has great ability to absorb shocks from sudden load. In addition, wood has freedom from rust and corrosion, is comparatively light in weight, and is adaptable to countless variety of purposes.

Classification of Trees:
1. Hardwoods – ‘deciduous’ trees that have broad leaves which are normally shed in the winter time.
2. Softwoods – ‘conifers’ trees that have needles rather than leaves and that bear their seeds in cones.

Moisture Content of Wood – expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry weight and can be determined by the oven-dry method or by an electric-moisture meter method.

Three categories of Lumber:
1. Yard Lumber – used for ordinary light construction and finishing work and consists of 1 and 2 inches material manufactured into common boards, shiplap, shelving dimension lumber, center match, flooring, roof plank, siding, v-joint, trim and molding of all kinds. These are usually found in retail lumberyards.
2. Shop Lumber – usually left in 1 and 2 inches rough thickness often containing knots or defects not ordinarily permissible in other categories. It is intended for use in shops or mills making sash, doors and cabinets where it will be cut into relatively short pieces and the defective material discarded.
3. Structural Lumber – in intended for use in heavy construction for load-bearing purposes and is cut into timbers of large size than yard lumber, 3 inches or more thick and 4 inches or more wide. It is made from the heartwood of the log.

Finishes of Wood:
S1S – surfacing or planning of one side
S2S – two sides planed
S4S – four sides planed
Rough – as sawn and not planed

Wood Grain:
1. Edge Grain – annual rings run approximately at right angle to the face.
2. Flat Grain – when the annual rings run more or less parallel to the surface.
3. Angle Grain – when the annual rings are at about 45 degrees to the face.

Seasoning of Lumber:
1. Air-Drying – lumber is strip-piled at a slope on a solid foundation. This allows air to circulate around every piece while the sloping allows water to run off quickly.
2. Kiln-Drying – more expensive lumber which is required for more refined uses so as wood will not move, such as furniture. Flooring and general interior use.
Pressure treated lumber – when lumber is subjected to pressure and injected with chemicals or salts to insure it from rots.

Specification when buying lumber:
Indicate no. of pieces, thickness, width, length, total bd. Ft. kind of lumber and finish.
Example: 6-2” x 8” x 14’-0” = 112 bd. Ft. tanguile S4S

Glue laminated timber – term used to describe a wooden member built up of several layers of wood whose grain directions are all substantially parallel, and held together with glue as fastening commonly used for beams, girders, posts, columns, arches, arches, bowstring truss chords, usually softwoods are commonly used because of their low cost, lightness and strength.

Glue use in laminating:
1. Casein glue – satisfactory for use in dry locations not exposed to rain or water.
2. Urea-formaldehyde-resin – cheap and well cure at from 70 degrees Fahrenheit up. Will withstand soaking in cool water.
3. Phenol-formaldehyde-resin glues – not usually recommended because of the high temperature needed to cure them. Useful for combining timber and plywood and are very water-resistant.
4. Resorcinol-phenol-formaldehyde – resin glues are expensive but have excellent qualities of durability and water resistance.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Building Stones, Gypsum and Lime

BUILDING STONES, GYPSUM AND LIME

Building Stones – stones usually blocks or pieces of the basic material rock.

Classification:
1. Three general categories:
a. Igneous – formed as a result of the cooling of molten matter.
b. Sedimentary – formed by the action of water either by depositing materials at the bottom of a water body or depositing them on the earth’s surface.
c. Metamorphic – rocks changed from their original structure by the action of extreme pressure, heat, or various combinations of these factors.
2. Classified according to form:
a. Rubble – includes rough fieldstone which may merely have been broken into suitable sizes, or it may include irregular pieces of stone that have been roughly cut to size, usually used for and filling material. (escombro and lastillas)
b. Dimension (Cut stone) – consists of pieces that have been cut or finished according to a set or drawing. (for facing walls)
c. Flagstone (Flat slabs) - consists of thin pieces (1/2 in. and up which may or may not have had their face dimensions cut to some particular size. (for walks and floors)
d. Crushed rock – consisting of pieces varying I size from 3/8 to 6 in. and is used to a large extent in concreting.

Building Stones:

1. Argilite – one formed d\from clay, commonly dark-blue with faint shades of green, used for floor tile, stair treads, coping stones, interior wall base, interior window stools of exterior window sills.
2. Granite – igneous origin and composed of quartz, feldspar, hornblende and mica.  Its generally very hard, strong durable and capable of taking a high polish.
3. Limestone – a sedimentary rock which is either oolitic, or calcite cemented calcareous stone formed of shells fragments, particularly non-crystalline in nature, it has no cleavage lines and uniform in structure and composition.
4. Travertine – a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It has been formed at the earth’s surface through the evaporation of water from hot springs.
5. Marble – metamorphic rock, one that has been changed from its original structure in this case, limestone and dolomite have been recrystallized to form marble.
6. Serpentine – igneous rock with the mineral serpentine. The mineral is olive green to greenish black, but impurities may give the rock other colors.
7. Sandstone – a class of rock composed of cemented silica grains. Colors include gray, buff, light brown and red.
8. Slate rock – formed by metamorphosis of clays and shales deposited in layers. A unique characteristic of the rock is the relative ease with which it may be separated into thin tough sheets, called slates, ¼” or more thick.

Stone Construction:

1. Paneling – consists of using slabs of stone cut to dimension and thickness to cover backup walls and provide a finished exterior.
2. Ashlar – work requires the use of cut stone and includes broken ashlar, irregular coursed ashlar, regular coursed ashlar.
3. Rubblework – used as random when no attempt is made to produce either horizontal or vertical course lines. Small spaces are filled with spalls, small stones and used as course rubble work, horizontal course lines are maintained but no vertical course lines used.
4. Trim – involves use of stones cut for a specific purpose and include Quoin – stones laid at the intersection of two walls.
a. As jambs – stones which form the sides of window and door openings.
b. As sills – stones which form the bottom of window and door openings
c. As belts – special stone courses which are built into a wall for a particular purpose. One reason is to provide architectural relief to a large wall of one material or to provide a break I the vertical plane of the wall, another reason is to hide a change in the wall thickness.
d. As copings – one which is cut fit on the top of a masonry wall. It prevents the passage of water into the wall, sheds water to either inside or outside, and gives a finished appearance to the wall.
e. As cornices – specially cut stones which are built into and project from a masonry wall near the top to provide the appearance of a cave.
f. As lintels – stones which bridge the top of door and window openings.
g. As stone steps – made to fit over an inclined concrete slab or to cap steps cast in concrete.
h. As an arch stone – cut to form some particular type of arch over a door or window opening.
i. As stone flooring – walks and patios, made by covering a base of stone concrete, brick or tile with flagstones, trimmed flagstone, trimmed rectangular and square.

Gypsum – a soft mineral consisting of a hydrated calcium sulfate from which gypsum plaster is made (by heating); colorless when pure used as a retarder in Portland cement.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Ceramics and Clay Products

CERAMICS AND CLAY PRODUCTS

Brick – basic ingredient in clay.

Three Principal Forms:
1. Surface Clay – found near the surface of the earth
2. Shales – clay which have been subjected to high pressure until they have become relatively hard.
3. Fire Clay – found at deeper levels and usually have more uniform physical and chemical qualities.

Two Classes of Clay:
1. Calcareous Clays – contains about 15 percent calcium carbonate and burn to a yellowish color.
2. Non-calcareous Clays – composed of silicate of alumina, with feldspar and iron oxide. These clays burn buff, red or salmon depending on the iron oxide content which vary from 2 to 10 percent.

Standard Brick Size is 2 ¼ x 3 ¾ x 8 inches

Structural Clay Tiles – are hollow units as opposed to brick which is sold. Tiles are made from the same material as brick, but all clay tiles are formed by extrusion in the stiff-mud process.

Types of Tiles:
1. Load bearing wall tile – used for bearing walls of light buildings, the height usually restricted to four stories. Structural load bearing wall tile are made in 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 in thickness.
2. Partition tile – non-load bearing
3. Back-up tile – intended for use in both bearing and non-bearing walls which will be faced with brick or facing tile.
4. Furring tile – used on the inside of exterior walls to provide air spaces for insulation to prevent the passage of moisture and to provide a suitable plastering surface. Classified as non-load bearing.
5. Fireproofing tile – structural steel must be insulated in fireproof construction. One method of doing this is to cover it with fire-proofing tile.
6. Floor tile – manufactured in both load-bearing and non-load bearing grades in standard thickness raging from 3 to 12 inches in standard length and widths of 12 inches.
7. Structural Clay Facing tile – unglazed tile and may have either a smooth or a rough textured finish. They are designed to used as exposed facing material on either exterior or interior walls and partitions.
8. Structural Glazed Facing tile – produced from high-grade light burning clay which is suitable for the application of ceramic or salt glaze.

Terra Cotta – means “fired earth” is a clay product which has been used for architectural decorative purposes, since ancient Greece and Rome. Modern terracotta is machine-extruded and molded or pressed. The machine-made product is usually referred to as ceramic veneer, and is a unit with flat face and flat or ribbed back.

Two Types of Ceramic Veneer:
1. Adhesion Type – held to the wall by the bond of the mortar to the ceramic veneer back and to the backing wall.
2. Anchor type – are held y mortar and by wire tiles between the terracotta and the wall behind.

Read more »

Review Notes: Building Materials - Concrete & Concrete Works

CONCRETE & CONCRETE WOKS

Portland Cement – made from materials which must contain the proper proportions of lime, silica, alumina and iron components.

Special Cements:
1. White Portland cement – same materials as normal Portland except in color
2. Masonry Cement – designed to produce better mortar than that made with normal Portland cement or with a lime-cement combination.
3. Air-entraining Portland Cement – small amounts of this is added to the clinker and ground with it to produce air-entraining cements, effective use for resistance to severe frost.
4. Oil Well Cement – special Portland cement used for sealing oil wells.
5. Waterproofed Portland Cement – normally produced by adding a small amount of stearate, usually calcium or aluminum to the cement clinker during the final grinding.

Types of Aggregates Used in Concrete:

Concrete – artificial stone made by binding together particles of some inert material with a paste made of cement and water. These inert materials are the aggregate.

Aggregate – sand, gravel crushed stone, cinder, crushed furnace slag, burned clay, expanded vermaculite, and perlite.
Sand – found in riverbends, free of salt and must be washed.
Fine aggregate – smaller than ¼” diameter stones.
Course aggregate – bigger than ¼” diameter stones.

Concrete Mixes:

Class “AA” - 1:1 ½ :3 - concrete under water, retaining walls
Class A - 1:2:4 - footings, columns, beams, RC slabs
Class B - 1:2 ½:5 - slab on fill, non-bearing walls
Class C - 1:3:6 - concrete plant boxes, etc.

Control of Concrete Mixes:

Slump Test – when freshly mixed concrete is checked to ensure that the specified slump is being attained consistently. A standard slump cone is 12 inches high (0.30) and 8 inches (0.20) in diameter at the bottom and 4 inches (0.10) on top which is open on both ends.

Compressive Strength Test – common quality-control test of concrete, based on 7 and 28 day curing periods.


Concrete Additives – materials often added to the concrete or applied to the surface of freshly placed concrete to produce some special result.

Accelerators – an admixture which is used to speed up the initial set of concrete. Such a material maybe added to the mix to increase the rate of early-strength development for several reasons.

Retarders – to delay or extend the setting time of the cement paste in concrete.

Air-entraining agents – air-entrained concrete contains microscopic bubbles of air formed with the aid of a group of chemical called surface active agents, materials that have the property of reducing the surface tension of water intended for use when better resistance to frost action is concerned.


Concrete Hardeners – applied on concrete surface to increase hardiness and toughness.

Two Types of Concrete hardeners:
1. Chemical Hardeners – liquids containing silicofluorides or fluosilicates and a wetting agent which reduces the surface tension of the liquid and allows it to penetrate the pores of the concrete more easily.
2. Fine Metallic Aggregate – are specially processed and graded iron particles which are dry-mixed with Portland cement, spread evenly over the surface of freshly floated concrete, and worked into the surface by floating.

Water Reducing Admixtures – material used to reduce the amount of water necessary to produce a concrete of given consistency or to increase the slump for a given water content.

Damproofers – materials used to reduce or stop the penetration of moisture through the concrete. Reduces permeability.

Bonding Agents:

Paste Slurry – often applied to such an old surface immediately prior to pouring new concrete to increase the amount of paste.

Two Types of Bonding Agents:
1. Metallic Aggregate – iron particle are larger, but with same materials as the permeability reducer. Bonding takes place through the oxidation and subsequent expansion of the iron particles.
2. Synthetic Latex Emulsion – consists of highly polymerized synthetic liquid resin dispersed in water.

Set-Inhibiting Agents – prevent the cement paste from bonding to the surface aggregate but will not interfere with the set throughout the remainder of the pour.

Pozzolanic Admixtures – materials sometimes used in structures where it s desirable to avoid high temperature or in structures exposed to seawater or water containing sulfates. Pozzolans maybe added to concrete mixes-rather than substituting for part of the cement to improve workability, impermeability, and resistance to chemical attack.

Concrete Products – made of lightweight and heavyweight materials for use in exterior and interior load-bearing walls, firewalls, curtain and panel walls, partitions etc.

Concrete Block:
1. Hollow load-bearing concrete block – an 8” x 8” x 16” will approximately weigh 40 to 50 lb. Made with heavyweight aggregate and 25 to 35 lb. when made with lightweight aggregate.
2. Solid load bearing block – defines as one having a core area of not more than 25 percent of the gross cross-sectional area.
3. Hollow; non-load bearing concrete block – one in which the core area exceeds 25 percent of the cross-sectional area.
4. Concrete building tile
5. Concrete brick

Common Sizes:
1. 4” x 8” x 16” – for non-load bearing partitions
2. 6” x 8” x 16” – for load bearing walls

Quality:
1. Hand made – backyard industry
2. Machine made – commonly sold
3. Steam cured – manufactured by big and nationally known factories for load bearing walls. Usually specified for government and multi-storey buildings.

Cellular Concrete Blocks – lightweight block which is outstanding in thermal and sound insulation qualities. Basic ingredients are cement-made from silica-rich sand and lime-water, and aluminum powder.

Read more »

Syllabus for the Philippine Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA)

BUILDING MATERIALS , ARCHITECTURAL SPECIFICATIONS  AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Rationale and Description
1. Understanding of the properties of building con¬struction and finishing materials; their applica¬tion and articulation; systems and methods of specifying and construction;
2. Awareness of the different types/ formats of architectural specifications and presentations i.e. specifications brief, outline specifications, specifications matrix, technical specifications, schedules of finishes/ fenestrations (doors and windows)/ fixtures (sanitary, electrical, etc.)/ furniture (assembled, custom, etc.)/ equipment/ hardware, etc. ;
3.    Understanding of the types of con¬struction systems and methods; and
4. Application of certain management principles relative to the realization of the various stages of construction (including pre-construction and post-construction)

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates
1. Ability to promote awareness and to apply in practice the principles of public safety through the correct specification and application of construction and finishing materials;
2. Ability to utilize the basic properties and compositions of construction and finishing materials, including their basic application and articulation for the building envelope;
3. Ability to specify appropriate building materials considering their applicability, practicability and functionality and in accordance with the standard and uniform system of architectural and/ or building specification e.g. Masterformat, etc.;
4. Ability to expresses the language of building materials, both in English and the vernacular e.g. Filipino, as used in the construction and design industries;
5. Ability to apply the essentials of architectural specification writing in identifying, recommending and using the appropriate type of materials for a particular building situation and/ or condition;
6. Ability to utilize architectural specifications as non-graphical tool to fully complement architectural working drawings;
7. Ability to promote awareness and to apply in practice the principles of public safety through systems and methods of construction;
8. Ability to describe the essentials of working drawing production through the language of graphical presentation;
9. Ability to translate conceptual architectural designs into architectural working drawings;
10. Ability to do detailing for architectural working drawings;
11. Ability to apply methods and techniques in the production of construction drawings/ documents for the construction, erection or assembly of a building/ structure;
12. Ability to describe essential concepts and principles relative to construction, erection, assembly and fabrication of various types of common buildings;
13. Ability to apply the different methods and techniques of estimating different quantities of materials, equipment and labor for use as a basis for sound project programming, scheduling and control;
14. Ability to describe the fundamental principles governing the design, purpose and application of the different types of non-conventional systems of construction and the advantages of using such systems;
15. Ability to provide some architectural working details for the various types of alternative building construction systems and components;
16. Ability to describe the latest system/s available in the construction industry; and
17. Ability to comprehend tender and construction documents and to understand the basic functions and legal importance of such documents.

C. Scope
The applicable architectural specifications for the following conventional and alternative building works:
a. Non-engineering civil works;
b. Carpentry and joinery;
Concrete and masonry;
d. Various metal works;
e. Structural steel for architectural applications;
f. Concrete and reinforced concrete for architectural applications;
g. Waterproofing, damp-roofing, insulation and the like;
h. Glass and glazing;
i. Painting and varnishing;
j. Doors, Windows and Other Fenestrations;
k. Hardware; and
1. Specialty works (pre-fabrication, vaults, signage, parking systems, etc.)

           The methods of construction for the following conventional and alternative building works:
a. Non-engineering civil works;
b. Carpentry and joinery;
c. Concrete and masonry;
d. Various metal works;
e. Structural steel for architectural applications;
f. Concrete and reinforced concrete for architectural applications;
g. Waterproofing, damp-roofing, sound and thermal insulation and the like;
h. Glass and glazing;
i. Painting and varnishing;
j. Doors, Windows and Other Fenestrations;
k. Hardware; and
1. Specialty works (pre-fabrication, vaults, signage, parking systems, etc.)

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding and analyses of architectural manifestations from the beginning of civilization to contemporary periods of development; and

2. Understanding and analyses of the influences of environmental, historical and socio-cultural factors and their relevance to the development of art, buildings, structures and of human settlements.

B. Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to relate the history of arts and architecture as well as the technologies and human sciences to considerations of ecology and sustainable development;

2. Ability to identify/ differentiate, analyze and compare evolved architectural styles; 

3. Ability to relate past architectural styles to the development of present-day utility and construction systems/ technologies;

4. Ability to help reinforce culture and architecture as reflected in tradition, convention and/ or current practices;

5. Ability to utilize insights in the history of the human community/ settlements planning and design, with special emphasis on Asian structures/ buildings/ settlements;

6. Ability to relate the evolution of Philippine architecture to historical and present-day architecture in Asia and elsewhere.

   C. Scope

1.. Introduction

a. The origin of architecture;

b. Historic styles of architecture; and

c. Factors affecting architectural solutions and styles.

2. Pre-Historic Architecture

a. Centers of development; and

b. Dolmen, Menhir, Cromlech. 

3. Historic Styles of Architecture

a. Period/ extent and centers of development;

b. Factors that affect the development of archi¬tectural solutions and styles (historical, environmental and socio-cultural);

c. General characteristics (architectural, struc¬tural, decorative, etc.);

d. General contributions; and

e. Notable examples.

3.1 Ancient architecture and the Western succession

a. Egyptian;

b. West Asiatic;

c. Greek;

d. Roman;

e. Early Christian;

f. Byzantine;

g. Romanesque Architecture in Europe;

h. Gothic Architecture in Europe;

i. Renaissance Architecture in Europe;

j. Nineteenth and Twentieth Century in Great Britain;

k. Architecture of Africa, Australia and New Zealand;

1. Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture in Continental Europe; and

m. Architecture of the Americas.

3.2 Architecture in Asia and the Pacific Re¬gion

3.3 Architecture in the Philippines

a. Architectural legacies

a.1 Vernacular,  Folk and Pre-Spanish Architecture (before 1550 A.D.);

a.2 Spanish Colonial Architecture (1550-1899 A.D.);

a.3 American Colonial Architecture (1900-1945);

a.4 Architecture of the Commonwealth Period and of the Post-World War II period (1946-2000); and 

a.5 21st Century Philippine Architecture (2001 to present).

b. Architectural preservation, conser¬vation and restoration

c. Pillars of Philippine Architecture

c.1 Philosophies of Famous Filipino Architects; and

c.2 Examples of great works.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the theories and principles of architectural programming, space planning, architectural planning and design and of the architectural program/ plan/ design process;

2. Understanding and analyses of the anthropometric, proxemic and kines¬thetic requirements of space in relation to the architectural program, plan and design preparation; and

3. Understanding and analyses of the socio-cultural and technological influences that contribute to the development of contemporary architecture.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to identify, relate to and apply the principles of architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design to other art forms; 

2. Ability to transform the psychological, visual and perceptual language of architecture to symbols and representations of architectural programs, plans and designs; 

3. Awareness of construction and design industry standards for architectural program, plan and design preparation, particularly applicable space planning standards/ practices;

4. Ability to assess current theories and principles on architectural programming, on space planning and on architectural planning and design and to apply these theories and principles in the architectural program/ plan/ design processes; 

5. Ability to apply anthropometrics and ergonomics to architectural programming, to space planning and to architectural planning and design; 

6. Ability to apply the proxemic and kinesthetic requirements of space for human comfort in the context of Filipino culture, behavior and tradition and to anticipate the effects of these on architectural programs, on space plans and on architectural plans and designs;

7. Ability to apply analytical tools in determining the relevance of architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design theories to cultural development;

8. Ability to utilize critical socio-cultural and technological methods for analyzing architectural programming, space planning and architectural planning and design concepts in relation to national/ state development thrusts;

9. Ability to correlate architectural programs, space plans and architectural plans and designs with interior designs and landscape architecture plans and designs through a holistic approach.

10. Ability to effectively address climate, orientation and building environment/ setting considerations in the architectural programming, planning and design process.

11. Ability to employ different processes and instruments that shall result in a climate-/ setting-responsive architectural program, space plan and architectural plan and design;

12. Ability to apply different concepts, theories and principles of tropical architectural programming, planning and design as these apply to different architectural planning and design problems; and

13. Ability to correlate the significance of the philosophies of great/ past architects and their works to contemporary architecture.

C. Scope 

1. Introduction

a. The nature of architecture;

b. Architecture as an art and as a science; 

c. Processes in architectural programming and space planning; and

d. Processes in architectural programming, planning and design. 

2. Elements of Architecture and the Basic Principles of Architectural Programming, Space Planning and Architectural Planning and Design

a. Need-specific elements;

b. Structural, circulatory, protective and deco¬rative elements;

c. Influences in architectural programming, space planning and in architectural planning and design;

d. Basic principles of architectural programming, space planning and of architectural planning and design; and 

e.   Principles of Composition.

3. Architectural Planning and Design Perception

a. Anthropometric bases of architectural programming, planning and design;

b. Space articulation and territoriality;

c. Visual and perceptual language;

d. Psychology of space; and

e. Proxemics and culture.

4. Tropical Architecture - Architectural Programming, Planning and Design with Climate

a. Climatic Design : elements, factors, concepts, analysis and application for comfort;

b. Theories and Principles of Tropical Architectural Programming/ Planning/ Design;

c. Influences and elements of Tropical Architec¬ture; and

d. Specific examples of Tropical Architecture.

5. Masters of Architecture

a. Philosophies of the Great Architects; and

b. Examples of great works.

PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the role, legal rights and obli¬gations and responsibilities of the registered and licensed architect (RLA);

2. Understanding, analyses and application of the various statutes, codes, and regulations affecting the state-regulated practice of the profession of architecture in the Philippines;

3. Understanding, analyses and application of the various international agreements affecting the global practice of the profession of architecture i.e. by duly-qualified Philippine RLAs outside the Philippines and by duly-qualified foreign architects (FAs) within Philippine territory; and

4. Understanding of the various aspects of the pro¬fessional practice of architecture as well as the efficient conduct of client and business-oriented relations for architectural planning/ design projects and for construction projects.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to efficiently and effectively utilize legally-recognized types/ forms of architectural services in response to the needs of clients within the context of state-regulated professional architectural practice;

2. Ability to employ organized professional practice activities, basic concepts, tools and areas of application of business and office management, meeting/ monitoring project milestones and operational targets, etc.;  

3. Ability to conduct the post-evaluation and monitoring of completed projects and services;

4. Ability to implement the basic services of the registered and licensed architect (RLA) for effective organization, management and operation-related activities to satisfactorily deliver the RLA’s contracted services;

5. Ability to undertake comprehensive architectural planning and design services and the expanded role of the RLA beyond the regular architectural services;

6. Ability to prepares the various types of  architectural specifications and contract documents;

7. Ability to compute and evaluate architectural and other cost estimates involving construction, resource allocation and project management;

8. Ability to applies codes and standards of the profession and the laws, rules and regulations, guidelines, etc. relevant to the professional practice of architecture; 

9. Ability to understand and comply with the different laws that affect the professional practice of architecture in the Philippines;

10. Ability to understand and effectively address the legal consequences of an RLA’s actions as these relate to the pertinent laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and standards;

11. Ability to apply in practice the principles of public safety through building laws and codes;

12. Ability to comply with quality, cost and delivery standards;

13. Ability to apply ethical standards and professionalism in the practice of architecture i.e. ethical parameters applicable to situations in the practice of the profession;

14. Ability to comply with the moral responsibilities and obligations of a RLA to peers, clients, colleagues in the industry and society in general; 

15. Ability to understand and describe the processes involved in the generation of a globally competitive office/ project management system;

16. Ability to understand and appreciate the implications of a globally open practice; and

17. Ability to assume responsibility for personal and professional growth and the development of leadership qualities.

C. Scope

1. Current state regulations for the registration, licensing and practice of architecture, the Standards of Pro¬fessional Practice and the Code of Ethical Conduct

a. Statutes regulating the practice of architec¬ture in the Philippines

a.1 Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004) and its 2004 implementing rules and regulations (IRR), particularly those focusing on the relationships of the RLAs with the PRBoA and of the PRBoA with the PRC;

a.2 R.A. No. 8981 (The PRC Modernization Act of 2000) and its IRR; and

a.3 Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture (PRBoA) Resolutions  related to the Practice of Architecture in the Philippines.

b. Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects (IAPoA) - The United Architects of the Philippines as the IAPoA;

c. RLA’s Code of Ethical Conduct;  

d. RLA’s Credo;

d. Rights and responsibilities of the RLA;

e. Spectrum of architectural services;

e.1  Pre-Design Services

e.2  Design Services

e.3  Specialized Allied Services

e.4  Construction Services

e.5  Post-Construction Service

e.6  Comprehensive Services 

e.7  Design-Build Services

f. Architectural fees and charges;

g. Selection of the Architect and Methods of  Compensation  (including the conduct of architectural competitions); and

h.   Global Practice : GATS, APEC Architect, ASEAN Architect and its Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)

2. General Laws, Building Laws and Related Regulations and Standards;

a. Architectural design standards, building and construction-related laws and their IRRs;

a.1 Presidential Decree (P.D.) No, 1096 : The 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) and its 2004 Revised IRR;

a.2 R.A. No. 8293 : 1997 Philippine Intellectual Property Code and IRR; 

a.3 The Philippine Civil Code, particularly Article 1723 on the civil liability of RLAs;

         a.4 R.A. No. 9285 : The 2004 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Act and Executive Order (E.O.) No. 1008 : The Construction Industry Arbitration Law;

a.5 Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law;

a.6 R.A. No. 9184 : The Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 and IRR; and

a.7 E.O. No. 278 : Practice of Architecture and Related Consulting Services for Foreign-Assisted Projects and its IRR and Guidelines;

b. Laws on real estate and subdivisions e.g. P.D. No. 957 and its 2001 IRR, etc.;

c. Laws on housing and human settlements e.g. Batas Pambansa (B.P.) No. 220 and its 2001 IRR, etc.;

d.   Awareness and general appreciation of P.D. No. 1096/ 1977 NBCP Referral Codes and their respective IRRs:

d.1  P.D. No. 1185 : Fire Code of the Philippines and IRR;

d.2  B.P. No. 344 : Accessibility Law and IRR;

d.3  Philippine Electrical Code;

d.4  Plumbing Code of the Philippines;

d.5  Sanitation Code of the Philippines;

d.6  Environmental Laws e.g. Clean Air, Water and Solid Waste Management Acts, etc.; and

d.7  National Structural Code of the Philippines. 

e.   Awareness and general appreciation of other professional regulatory laws (PRLs):

e.1  R.A. No. 1582 : Amended Civil Engineering Law of 1956, particularly its Sec. 24;

e.2  R.A. No. 8534 : Interior Design Law of 1997 and IRR; and

e.3  P.D. No. 1308 : Environmental Planning Law.

3. Other aspects of regulated architectural practice

a. Operating divisions of architectural practice, development, production, administration, and management (with emphases on prepa¬ration of tender and contract documents);

b. General quantity surveying for architectural works; 

c. Legal aspects of architectural practice e.g. administrative, criminal and civil cases, etc.;

d.      Business aspects of architectural practice;

e. 2008 Regional Trial Court (RTC) Decisions promulgated in support of RLAs; and

f, Various legal documents and issuances posted at the PRBoA website i.e. www.architectureboard.ph. 

PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding and analysis of the concepts and techniques in macro-planning process at its various levels i.e. site and physical planning (specifically subdivision planning and master planning), human settle¬ments planning, urban and regional planning, land and water use planning, transportation planning, environmental planning, etc.; and

2. Understanding of the art and science of site and physical plan¬ning with emphases on their ecological, socio-psycho¬logical, aesthetic and functional bases.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to utilize the art and science/s of site and physical planning with emphases on their ecological, socio-psychological, aesthetic and functional bases; 

3. Ability to relates the social issues and implications of site and physical planning; 

4. Ability to correlate history and macro-planning theories to ecology and sustainable development;  

5. Ability to employ the basic foundations of site and physical planning and the different macro-planning processes.

6. Ability to utilize useful planning techniques relevant to the rank of the architect as a planning and/ or design professional;

7. Ability to relate history and theories of site and physical planning, urban and regional planning, etc. to ecology and sustainable development; and

8. Ability to apply current thoughts and practices as regards site and physical plan formulation, implementation and monitoring. 

C. Scope

1. General Principles of Site and Physical Planning

a. Hierarchy of site and physical plans, definitions and classifications;

b. History and scope of site and physical planning; and

c. General planning process.

2. Urban and Regional Planning  

a. History of the urban and regional planning;

b. Theories of urban and regional planning;

c. Comprehensive land and water use planning (CLWUPs); 

d. Zoning ordinances (ZOs); and

e. Urbanization and urban social relationships.

3. Housing and Human Settlements Planning

a. Definitions and classifications;

b. State housing policies, programs and agencies;

c. State housing finance, production and practices;

4. The Art and Science of Site and Physical Planning 

a. Map and plan typology, identification and reading/ appreciation;

b. Site appreciation, analyses and programming; 

c. Primary considerations in site and physical planning e.g. physical, aesthetic, ecologi¬cal, socio-psychological, management, maintenance, etc.;

d. Subdivision Planning, Deed of Restriction and Development Guidelines; 

e. Master Development Planning (MDP); and

f.   Site Development Planning (SDP) for areas immediately surrounding buildings/ structures.

URBAN DESIGN

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the concepts and techniques in the general planning of physical settings and in the systematic/ comprehensive design of a community on an urban plane;

2.   Understanding of the art and science of urban design with emphasis on its ecological, socio-psychological, aesthetic and functional bases.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to apply a sense of spatial order, scale, culture and history in handling urban design and community architecture problems;

2. Ability to develop an awareness of the need for expression and communication in the design of specific places in towns and cities;

3. Ability to utilize the knowledge of organization and behavior in the design of specific towns and cities through expression and communication;

4. Ability to associate the importance of community involvement/ participation and techniques in urban/community architecture; and 

5. Ability to describe the built environment in the context of ecological balance, sustainable development and conservation of cultural and historical heritage.

C. Scope 

1. General Principles of Urban Design and Community Architecture

a. Elements of urban design;

b. Community architecture e.g. orientation, identity, etc.;

c. Spaces in urban design, urban aesthetics and urban patterns;

d. Creating and identifying the sense of space;

e. Images of cities and symbols of urban design;

f. Cultural Basis of the design of communities;

g. Documenting the city: the system of design and process of presentation; and

h. Current public policy and concerns and legal considerations in urban design.

2.   Urban Design Theories, Rules and Processes

3.   Applications of design requirements for specific places in towns and cities:

a. Cluster Housing and Planned Unit Development (PUD);

b. Areas for Priority Development (APDs)/ Mixed Used Developments and Commercial Centers;

c. Industrial Parks and Districts;

d. Planning Educational Campuses;

e. Government/ Civic Centers and the Plaza Complex;

f. Village Planning,  Ecological Communities, Coastal/ Lakeshore Community Planning; 

g. Resort Community Planning and Design;

h. Parks and Open Spaces; Recreational Areas; 

i. Urban Renewal; 

j. Streetscapes; and 

k. Road rights-of-way (RROWs), ROWs and legal easements.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN (CONCEPTUAL LEVEL)

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the fundamentals of mechan¬ics, strength of materials and theory of struc¬tures; and

2. General conceptualization of the structural design for a building/ structure, its principles and analyses of the structural elements for the various types of construction materials, methods and systems to be used for the foundation, superstructure and shell of the building/ structure.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to apply in practice the principles of public safety and structural stability;

2. Ability to generally conceptualize the building/ structure under combined loads and seismic forces;  

3. Awareness, appreciation and general understanding of he principles of stress and strain, bending, shear, torsion under plain and combined loads, shear and moment, determinate and indeterminate structures and elastic stability of columns;  

4. Ability to conceptualize structural design for simple timber, steel, reinforced concrete and composite buildings/ structures;

5. Ability to apply relevant provisions of P.D. No. 1096 (the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines/ NBCP), the National Structural Code of the Philippines and other NBCP Referral Codes for simple timber and steel structures and simple reinforced concrete and composite buildings/ structures.  

6. Ability to read, understand and generally interpret structural plans, details, drawings, documents and soil investigation reports.

C. Scope

General conceptualization of structural design (including a basic understanding of seismic analysis), in the following building mate¬rials and construction systems:

a. Timber;

b. Reinforced concrete;

c. Structural steel;

d. Composite structures; and

e. Advanced construction methods.

UTILITIES

A. Rationale and Description

1. Understanding of the basic practices, principles, general design and installation and/or construc-tion of utilities required for a building/ struc¬ture and its grounds/premises;

2. Understanding and analyses of utility, facility, and equipment require¬ments in relation to aesthetics, function, and stability of a building/ structure and its pre¬mises.

B.  Terminal Competencies for LEA Candidates

1. Ability to identify and apply the fundamentals of building utilities and systems;

2. Ability to apply fundamental concepts and principles covering the general design and installation of electrical, mechanical, electronic/ communications, fire protection, building management, plumbing and sanitary systems, waste management systems, and the like in buildings and its grounds, consistent with trade practices and recommendations by the pertinent professionals;

3. Ability to applies the pertinent code provisions relative to the planning/ lay-outing, design, installation, operation and maintenance of such utility systems and their components; 

4. Ability to converse and coordinate with the professionals and their staff concerned with such utility systems and components;

5. Ability to apply the basic principles of planning, designing, operating and maintaining such utility systems and components;

6. Ability to identify and to apply  the different important aspects of acoustics and lighting as these relate to planning and design principles for buildings/ structures and their grounds; and

7. Ability to relate the psychological and physiological effects of such utility systems, sound and light on building occupants/ end-users.

C. Scope

Design and construction and/or installation of the following utility systems and their respective components:

1. Sanitary and Plumbing Systems and Equipment

a. Water source, storage, supply and distribu¬tion;

b. Plumbing rough-in and fixtures;

c. Drainage and sewerage systems; and

d. Waste collection, disposal, treatment and/or recycling.

2. Mechanical Systems

a. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems;

b. Conveyors and other building mechanical equipment e.g. elevators, funiculars, escalators, walkalators, etc.;

3. Electrical and Other Power Systems

a. Electrical power and lighting supply, distri¬bution and fixtures; and

b. Electrical power source and alternative power sources.

4. Acoustics and Illumination

a. The psycho-physics of acoustics and lighting; and

b. Acoustical treatment and corrections.

5. Disaster Prevention and Protection Systems; Se¬curity Systems

a. Building fire-fighting, prevention, and pro¬tection apparatus;

b. Installation and/or construction of the different protection systems;

c. Materials and fixtures; and

d. Disaster prevention and mitigation systems.

6. Communication Systems

a. Electronics system; and

b. Telephone, intercom, internet/ DSL, cable TV, audio/video facilities, public address (PA) system, etc.

7. Building management and other systems

a. Climate/ lighting/ security controls and related applications for buildings/ structures;

b. Robotics and related intelligent building features.

Read more »