PREFACE TO EIGHTH EDITION
This edition retains the predominantly illustrative format of earlier editions,
presenting the principles of building construction with comprehensive guidance
to procedures with numerous examples of formulated and empirical design.
Summary notes are supplemented with references to further reading where
appropriate.
The content applies to both current and established UK construction practice.
This includes the building and maintenance of housing and other low-rise
structures and the more advanced techniques applied to medium and high-rise
commercial and large industrial buildings. Many examples from previous
editions are kept as important references and benchmarks for newer applications.
These have evolved in response to material developments and in consideration
for environmental issues, not least with regard to energy conservation measures
and sustainable building.
The UK’s housing stock of about 25 million dwellings includes approximately
2 million units built in the past decade. Therefore, the aftercare of older
buildings is an important part of the construction industry’s economy. In order
to represent this important sector of maintenance, refurbishment, renovation
and remedial work, many established practices are included in theHandbook.
Modern construction processes and associated technology are incorporated in
this new edition, however the content is not extensive, nor is it intended to be
prescriptive. Building design and subsequent construction techniques are varied
and diverse depending on availability of materials and skills. This Handbook
provided guidance to achieving these objectives, but sufficient publishing space
cannot cover every possibility. Therefore, the reader is encouraged to supplement
their study with site observation and practice, with further reading of
professional journals, legislative papers and manufacturer’s catalogues.
Roger Greeno 2010
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