Building Components: The basic components of a building structure are the foundation,

floors, walls, beams, columns, roof, stair, etc. These elements serve the purpose of
supporting, enclosing, and protecting the building structure.

Mentioned below are the 12 basic components a building structure.

1. Roof: The roof forms the topmost component of a building structure. It covers the top
face of the building. Roofs can be either flat or sloped based on the location and
weather conditions of the area.
2. Parapet: Parapets are short walls extended above the roof slab. Parapets are installed
for flat roofs. It acts as a safety wall for people using the roof.
3. Lintels: Lintels are constructed above the wall openings like doors, windows, etc.
These structures support the weight of the wall coming over the opening. Normally,
lintels are constructed by reinforced cement concrete. In residential buildings, lintels
can be either constructed from concrete or from bricks.
4. Beams: Beams and slabs form the horizontal members in a building. For a single
storey building, the top slab forms the roof. In case of a multi-storey building, the
beam transfers the load coming from the floor above the slab which is in turn
transferred to the columns. Beams and slabs are constructed by reinforced cement
concrete (R.C.C).
5. Columns: Columns are vertical members constructed above the ground level.
Columns can be of two types: Architectural columns and structural columns.
Architectural columns are constructed to improve the building's aesthetics while a
structural column takes the load coming from the slab above and transfers safely to
the foundation.
6. Damp proof course (DPC): DPC is a layer of waterproofing material applied on the
basement level to prevent the rise of surface water into the walls. The walls are
constructed over the DPC.
7. Walls: Walls are vertical elements which support the roof. It can be made from
stones, bricks, concrete blocks, etc. Walls provide an enclosure and protect against
 wind, sunshine, rain etc. Openings are provided in the walls for ventilation and access
to the building.
8. Floor: The floor is the surface laid on the plinth level. Flooring can be done by a
variety of materials like tiles, granites, marbles, concrete, etc. Before flooring, the
ground has to be properly compacted and levelled.
9. Stairs: A stair is a sequence of steps that connects different floors in a building
structure. The space occupied by a stair is called as the stairway. There are different
types of stairs like a wooden stair, R.C.C stair etc.
10. Plinth Beam: Plinth beam is a beam structure constructed either at or above the
ground level to take up the load of the wall coming over it.
11. Foundation: The Foundation is a structural unit that uniformly distributes the load
from the superstructure to the underlying soil. This is the first structural unit to be
constructed for any building construction. A good foundation prevents settlement of
the building.
12. Plinth: The plinth is constructed above the ground level. It is a cement-mortar layer
lying between the substructure and the superstructure.

Types of structures:
Load Bearing Wall Structure: A load-bearing structure is one in which the walls themselves
bear the weight of the building. These walls carry and transfer the loads from the roof and
floors to the foundation. Load-bearing walls structures are commonly found in traditional
buildings where the walls are thick and sturdy enough to support the entire structure.
Truss Structure: Truss structures consist of interconnected triangular elements designed to
distribute loads efficiently. They are often made of steel or timber and commonly used for
bridges, roofs, and industrial buildings. Truss structures are known for their strength and
ability to span long distances without the need for internal supports.
Framed Structure: This type of building structure uses a combination of columns and
beams to support the building’s weight. These structures are flexible and allow for versatile
floor plans. Reinforced concrete and steel are frequently used in framed
structures, providing excellent strength and load-carrying capacity.
Shell Structure: Shell structures are curved, thin, and lightweight, with the ability to resist
compressive and tensile forces. They derive their strength from their shape rather than their
mass. Sports stadiums are one, common example of shell structures.
Cables and Arch Structure: Cable and arch structures rely on tensioned cables or curved
arches to support the load. These structures are often used in long-span bridges, canopies, and
roofs, providing an elegant and aesthetically pleasing design.
Composite Structure: Composite structures are a type of building structure that combine
different materials to leverage the strengths of each. For instance, a combination of steel and
concrete can be used to create stronger and more efficient structures, allowing for innovative
and sustainable construction solutions.
Pre-Engineered Structure: Pre-engineered buildings (PEB) are structures that are
manufactured and designed off-site, then assembled on-site. These buildings, often made of
steel structures, offer cost-effectiveness, faster construction timelines, and customisation
options. Customisability is the major advantage of prefabricated steel structures, as they can
be designed to suit the specific need of any project. Usually used in industrial and
commercial applications, PEB steel buildings have gained popularity due to their durability,
sustainability, and versatility.
Tension Structures: Tension structures are characterised by tensioned membranes or cables
that carry the load. They are lightweight and flexible, making them ideal for creating unique
shapes and covering large areas, like in tents, canopies, and fabric-covered buildings.
Mass Structure: Mass structures use the building’s mass itself to resist and distribute loads.
These structures are commonly seen in ancient buildings made of stone or earth, where the
sheer weight of the materials provides stability.

Structural Member: A structural member of a building is any load-supporting component of

a structure, such as beams or walls, or any non-load-supporting component.

Purlins – Horizontal roof frame members Roof Truss –It consists of components
that support the weight of the roof and assembled into a series of triangles that
external loads (such as wind loads and live receives the load from the roof purlins. See
loads). Types of Roof Truss.

Girder -The main horizontal structural Beam – A horizontal structural member of a

component of the frame system, which structure that resists vertical and lateral
usually spans between columns. All girders loads. See Types of Beam and Types of
are beams but not all beams are considered Failures in Concrete Beam.
as girders.
 Column – The vertical support members of Footing – Part of the foundation system of
the structure are used to bear the weight of the structure that transfer the loads from the
the upper structure and transfer to the column to the soil. Types of Footing.
structure below.

Slab – A concrete slab is a common structural element shown in modern structures that
consists of a flat, horizontal surface composed of cast concrete. Steel-reinforced slabs are
commonly utilized to build floors and ceilings, while thinner mud slabs can be used for
external pavement

Principles of Building Planning

Firstly, let’s understand what does principle of planning mean?
“The concept of positioning all the elements and units of a building in a systematic and
practical manner to have the maximum and best utilization of the available space, area
and facilities is termed as Principles of Building Planning.”
There are several principles that affect the planning of a building. This article will give you a
brief knowledge of all those principles.

Aspect:
The aspect of building can be achieved by arranging the rooms, kitchen, veranda, and many
other components in proper directions. The ways to cover the direction with advisable aspect
is given below:
The above diagram indicates the appropriate directions which should be preferred for the
positioning of various rooms in a house.
Prospect:
In these modern times, all the buildings and constructions are aimed to achieve an
aesthetically appealing look from both exteriors and interior considerations. The appearance
of a house or a building is defined as PROSPECT.
Grouping:
The simple meaning of GROUPING was described by ‘S. P. Arora’ & ‘S. P.
Bindra’[376] (Author of Building Construction) that it is to organize the different rooms in such
a way that they are adequately interconnected with each other to form a functional and
practical layout of the house. The accessibility of all the rooms is interlinked with each other,
and this provision can be satisfied by grouping.
An idea of the grouping is applicable not only in a residential building but also applies to
commercial and industrial buildings. In industries, the storage rooms must be near the road to
ease the loading and unloading of the goods.
The above figure indicates the common groups of rooms, which should be combined together
while planning a residential building.
ROOMINESS:
The meaning of ROOMINESS is to maximize the advantage of the available space from the
minimum dimension of a room. Both the size and shape of the room play a vital role in
providing roominess.
Here are the few points to understand the roominess practically.
 A square room seems small in size when compared to a rectangular room.
 It is always advisable to plan a rectangular room with a proportion of 1.2 to 1.5 times
the ratio of the length to the breadth. The increase in ratio due to length gives the
tunnel experience as it looks longer.
 Also, the height should neither be too high nor toolless that the ceiling becomes a
hindrance.
 Floors, ceilings, walls, ceiling, lifts, furniture, and all such elements should be
appropriately placed to offer more space in the rooms.
Are you worried about what should be the advantageous size of different rooms? Here we
come up with the solution by providing a link to know the same.
CIRCULATION :
Well, it was clearly mentioned by ‘G. S. Birdie’ & ‘T. D. Ahuja’ (Author of Building
Construction & Construction Materials) that the internal access in a room in both ways i.e. in
horizontal and vertical directions of a building is defined as CIRCULATION. The movement
from one room to another on the same floor can be described as horizontal circulation.
Likely, the movement from one floor to the other floor is termed as vertical circulation. To
have the efficient circulation in a building, passages, corridors and foyer etc should be
provided in such a way that these elements are neither too narrow nor too large. They must
have good lighting and ventilation. Some better options are highlighted in the diagram which
reflects the ways of good circulation in a house.
Flexibility:
Flexibility means “to allow use of the element in another way possible to fulfil a specific
purpose. An element is initially designed for one reason, but later the same element is used
differently.”
Privacy :
Privacy is an important factor that needs prior attention. Usually, the privacy can be
considered in two ways:
01. Internal Privacy: This deals with the privacy inside a house, amongst the rooms. It
covers the privacy between rooms and water closets, corridors, passage lobbies etc.
02. External Privacy: Privacy of a building with respect to other buildings and the things
outside the building- such as streets, roads, etc., is external privacy.

Above diagram suggests the few methods recommended for attaining privacy. Privacy can be
achieved by suitable appointment of the door, windows, ventilators and curtains.

Furniture : according to rooms’ functions, the type of furniture varies. The architects and
planner must consider the furniture’s relative positions to avoid the congestion of space. The
furniture should match the purpose of the room and justify the effective use of a room and
furniture as well.
SANITATION
The maintenance of hygiene in a building is crucial. Light, ventilation, and sanitary
conveniences, are essential factors that provide good sanitation in a building. Adequate
sanitation can be achieved by placing doors, windows, and ventilators appropriately.
Installing exhaust fans, lighting lamps, suitable absorbent flooring, and improvised plumbing
equipment can lead to better sanitation.
Economy:
The economy is also one of the major factors to keep in mind while planning a structure. The
building should not be too expensive. However, having said that, the cost cutting should not
happen by compromising on the safety and the building principles. Often, the cost of the
construction at the initial stage is higher as standard designs and materials are used, but it
reduces the cost of maintenance and repair in the future.
ELEGANCE :
The elegance has a direct connection with the appearance and layout of a plan. It has become
a trend nowadays to construct attractive elevations, which gives a pleasant sense of visibility.
Straight, it depends on the materials used for construction in the exterior portion and relies on
the positions of the door, windows, chhajja, balconies, and many such factors. All these
components aim to enhance the look and thus it is necessary to give more footage to it while
building planning.
While designing and planning a building, there are several practical points to be considered
for better results. These practical considerations are briefly mentioned as follows:

Apart from understanding these twelve principles, there are two more factors which are
important to consider while planning a building. They are as follows:
 Local Bye-Laws
 Strength, Material and Life of a Building
Foundation: In engineering, a foundation is the element of a structure which connects it
to the ground or more rarely, water (as with floating structures), transferring loads from
the structure to the ground. Foundations are generally considered either shallow or deep.

The various types of structural foundations may be grouped into two broad categories—
shallow foundations and deep foundations. The classification indicates the depth of the
foundation relative to its size and the depth of the soil providing most of the support.
According to Terzaghi, a foundation is shallow if its depth is equal to or less than its
width and deep when it exceeds the width.

Spread footings: Spread footing foundation is basically a pad used to ‘‘spread out’’ loads
from walls or columns over a sufficiently large area of foundation soil. These are
constructed as close to the ground surface as possible consistent with the design
requirements, and with factors such as frost penetration depth and possibility of soil
erosion. Footings for permanent structures are rarely located directly on the ground
surface.

Spread footing required to support a wall is known as a continuous, wall, or strip footing,
while that required to support a column is known as an individual or an isolated footing.
An isolated footing may be square, circular, or rectangular in shape in plan, depending
upon factors such as the plan shape of the column and constraints of space. If the footing
supports more than one column or wall, it will be a strap footing, combined footing or a
raft foundation.

Strap footings A ‘strap footing’ comprises two or more footings connected by a beam
called ‘strap’. This is also called a ‘cantilever footing’ or ‘pump-handle foundation’. This
may be required when the footing of an exterior column cannot extend into an adjoining
private property. Common types of strap beam arrangements are shown in Fig. 15.3.
Combined footings A combined footing supports two or more columns in a row when
the areas required for individual footings are such that they come very near each other.
They are also preferred in situations of limited space on one side owing to the existence
of the boundary line of private property.
The plan shape of the footing may be rectangular or trapezoidal; the footing will then
be called ‘rectangular combined footing’ or ‘trapezoidal combined footing’, as the case
may be. These are shown in Fig. 15.4.

Raft foundations (Mats) A raft or mat foundation is a large footing, usually supporting
walls as well as several columns in two or more rows. This is adopted when individual
column footings would tend to be too close or tend to overlap; further, this is considered
suitable when differential settlements arising out of footings on weak soils are to be
minimised. A typical mat or raft is shown in Fig. 15.5.
Choice of Foundation:
Compact sand deposit extending to great depth: Spread footings most appropriate for
conventional needs. Piles may be required only if unusual forces such as uplift are
expected.
Firm clay or silty clay extending to great depth: Spread footings most appropriate for
conventional needs. Piles may be used only if unusual forces such as uplift are expected.
Soft clay extending to great depth: Spread footing appropriate for low or medium
loading, if not too close to soft clay. Deep foundations may be required for heavy loading.
Loose sand extending to great depth: Spread footings may settle excessively. Raft
foundation may be appropriate. Spread footings may be used if the sand is compacted by
vibrofloatation. Driven piles or augered cast-in-place piles may also be used.
Hard clay extending to great depth: Spread footings in upper sand layer would
probably experience large settlement because of underlying soft clay layer. Drilled piers
with a bell formed in the hard clay layer, or other pile foundation may be considered.