Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

As both a practising architect and a researcher, Berge introduces us authoritatively to issues such as using raw materials from renewable sources, and the possibilities of designing and manufacturing reusable building materials. The alternatives to modern building materials are outlined and discussed from an ecological perspective.



In a time when environmental labelling is becoming increasingly popular and the producers of building materials are urged to be more environmentally aware, it is obviously important that we are acquainted with these alternatives.

Important issues discussed in this book include:

Can raw materials from non-renewable sources be replaced with raw materials from widely available or non-depletable sources?
Can environmentally friendly chemicals replace environmentally damaging ones?
Can the make-up of building materials be altered so that individual components can be re-used?

A clear interpretation of complicated Life Cycle Analysis issues and vital guidance are given to specifiers confronted with a plethora of manufacturers' environmental claims.

* Gain a comprehensive understanding of ecology in building
* Learn about alternative building materials and how to use them
* Vital technological information allows you to pu the ideas of sustainability into practice

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Author's foreword(p. vii)
• Foreword(p. ix)
• Preface(p. xi)
• Introduction(p. xiii)
• Section 1 Eddies and water-level markers: Environmental profiles and criteria for assessment
• 1 Resources(p. 3)
• Material resources(p. 5)
• Energy resources(p. 15)
• 2 Pollution(p. 25)
• Types of pollution(p. 28)
• Reduction of pollution in the production stage(p. 34)
• Reduction of pollution during building use(p. 35)
• 3 Local production and the human ecological aspect(p. 43)
• The production process, product quality and the quality of work(p. 45)
• Technology(p. 48)
• Economy and efficiency(p. 49)
• 4 The chemical and physical properties of building materials(p. 53)
• A small introduction to the chemistry of building materials(p. 54)
• Important factors in the physics of building materials(p. 58)
• Section 2 The flower, iron and ocean: Raw materials and basic materials
• 5 Water and air(p. 65)
• Water(p. 65)
• Air(p. 66)
• 6 Minerals(p. 69)
• Metallic minerals(p. 69)
• Metals in building(p. 74)
• Non-metallic minerals(p. 81)
• Non-metallic minerals in building(p. 92)
• 7 Stone(p. 107)
• Production of building stone(p. 111)
• 8 Loose materials(p. 117)
• Loose materials in building(p. 119)
• Sand and gravel as aggregate in cement products(p. 121)
• Earth as a building material(p. 121)
• Brick and other fired clay products(p. 128)
• 9 Fossil oils(p. 141)
• The basic materials(p. 144)
• Plastics in building(p. 147)
• 10 Plants(p. 157)
• Living plants(p. 161)
• Timber(p. 163)
• Grasses and other small plants(p. 174)
• Building chemicals from plants(p. 176)
• Cellulose(p. 178)
• 11 Materials of animal origin(p. 179)
• 12 Industrial by-products(p. 183)
• Section 3 The construction of a sea-iron flower: Building materials
• 13 Structural materials(p. 189)
• Metal structures(p. 191)
• Concrete structures(p. 192)
• Stone structures(p. 200)
• Structural brickwork(p. 203)
• Earth structures(p. 209)
• Plastic structures(p. 221)
• Timber structures(p. 222)
• Peat walls(p. 237)
• The energy and material used by different structural systems(p. 238)
• 14 Climatic materials(p. 243)
• Thermal insulation materials(p. 244)
• Warmth-reflecting materials(p. 247)
• Moisture-regulating materials(p. 248)
• Air-regulating materials(p. 253)
• Snow as a climatic material(p. 255)
• Metal-based materials(p. 258)
• Materials based on non-metallic minerals(p. 259)
• Fired clay materials(p. 270)
• Earth and sand as climatic materials(p. 272)
• Bitumen-based materials(p. 275)
• Plastic materials(p. 276)
• Timber materials(p. 278)
• Peat and grass materials(p. 287)
• Materials based on animal products(p. 297)
• Materials based on recycled textiles(p. 305)
• 15 Surface materials(p. 307)
• Metal surface materials(p. 310)
• Non-metallic surface materials (pre-formed or applied)(p. 311)
• Stone surface materials(p. 318)
• Fired clay sheet materials(p. 323)
• Earth surface materials(p. 327)
• Plastic-based sheet materials(p. 327)
• Living plant surfaces(p. 328)
• Wall cladding with plants(p. 337)
• Timber sheet materials(p. 338)
• Straw and grass sheet materials(p. 355)
• Soft floor coverings(p. 361)
• Wallpapers(p. 366)
• 16 Building components(p. 375)
• Windows and doors(p. 375)
• Stairs(p. 382)
• 17 Fixings and connections(p. 385)
• Mechanical fixings(p. 385)
• Chemical binders(p. 389)
• 18 Paint, varnish, stain and wax(p. 401)
• The main ingredients of paint(p. 404)
• Paints with mineral binders(p. 411)
• Paints with organic binders(p. 415)
• 19 Impregnating agents, and how to avoid them(p. 429)
• Choosing quality material(p. 430)
• Structural protection of exposed components(p. 431)
• Methods of impregnation(p. 433)
• Oxidizing and exposure to the sun(p. 434)
• Non-poisonous surface coats(p. 434)
• Poisonous surface-coats or impregnation(p. 435)
• The least dangerous impregnating substances(p. 438)
• Index(p. 443)