Product Description

Now in its Fifth Edition, this essential textbook has been used by thousands of students annually in schools of architecture, engineering, and construction technology. The bestselling reference focuses on the basic materials and methods used in building construction, emphasizing common construction systems such as light wood frames, masonry bearing walls, steel frames, and reinforced concrete. New introductory material on the processes, organization, constraints, and choices in construction offers a better look at the management of construction. New sections covering the building envelope uncover the secrets to designing enclosures for thermal insulation, vapor retarders, air barriers, and moisture control. The Fifth Edition also features more axonometric detail drawings and revised photographs for a thoroughly illustrated approach and the latest IBC 2006, CSI MasterFormat, ASTM references, and LEED information.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45277 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1008 pages

Review
"In the new fifth edition of Fundamentals of Building Construction, Allen and Iano set a new benchmark by incorporating sustainability issues into a mainstream construction textbook, section by section, as in this concise overview from the first chapter. We also look forward to a future edition of their outstanding book in which appropriate sustainability considerations have penetrated every topic and page." (ArchitectureWeek, April 13, 2009)

From the Publisher
An introduction to the art of building, it has been revised and updated to reflect changes in the industry. Describes the materials used since ancient times--wood, stone, brick and the techniques by which they are made into buildings today--before proceeding to structural steel, reinforced and prestressed concrete, float glass, extruded aluminum, advanced gypsum products, synthetic rubber compounds and plastics. Deals with whole systems of building including foundations, framing, roofing, interiors, electrical and mechanical systems. Each chapter contains a summary, list of key terms and concepts, review questions and references. Illustrated with over 300 line drawings and 700 photographs.

From the Back Cover
The leading book on building construction——thoroughly renovated from the ground up

For the nuts-and-bolts on building construction practices and materials, thousands of professionals and students of architecture, engineering, and construction technology have turned to Edward Allen and Joseph Iano's Fundamentals of Building Construction. This new Fifth Edition of the bestselling reference and textbook provides the most up-to-date survey of the basic materials and methods used in building construction.

Using the latest building codes, standards, and developments in materials and technologies as its basis, this book covers the complete range of construction activities—from excavating and foundations to cladding and interior finishes—and examines common construction systems such as light wood frame, masonry bearing wall, steel frame, and reinforced concrete construction.

The Fifth Edition adds a host of updated and completely new information on such current topics as:

• The changing role of the construction contractor in the process of making buildings

• Construction management and methods of project delivery

• Controlling the movement of heat, air, and moisture through the building enclosure

• Sustainability and green building techniques

• Innovations in glass, concrete, wood, and other construction materials

• The 2006 International Building and Residential Codes, 2004 MasterFormat, and the latest ASTM references and LEED standards

Supplemented by Exercises in Building Construction, Fifth Edition, available separately, Fundamentals of Building Construction, Fifth Edition lays the foundation every architect and construction professional needs to build a successful career.

Customer Reviews

Surpassed expectations
Being a student in Construction Management Edward Allen's book was assigned as our text book. The course entitled materials and methods is intended to teach future construction manajors about the wide variety of materials on the market today as well as tradional methods of constructing with these materials.
The book is chalked full of knowledge most of which would take a person hours, even days of research to uncover with other sources. It is very comprehensive. If you are active in the comercial building construction this book is a must for your refrence shelf. Residential construction owners/workers would gain considerable knowledge from the book it has plenty of useful information however I feel the book is leaning more towards heavy commercial.

Great Book on Construction
Simply put, this is one of the best technical textbooks I've ever read. It's basic stuff for someone just starting out in the discipline of architecture, but I'm keeping it as a reference for future professional use. It is clearly written and well illustrated and worth it's high price. I wish Allen would now write a book on Environmental Control Systems--everything in that field is too dry and too technical.

Interesting and informative
I had this as a textbook for an Architectural Technology class as an undergrad ARCH major. Detailed with illustrations and photos of actual ongoing construction projects, this book was very informative for showing details and connections necessary to the making of a building. While not necessarily written for the layman, it would definitely be useful to anyone wondering "how you put it together." There are moments when it can become dry, but as I said, I used it as a textbook, therefore a lot of my reading was REQUIRED. It's not mandatory that one read this cover to cover, but it would definitely be handy for examining processes and checking details of wall sections.