Materials and sustainability research

OAK WOOD

Oak wood is a type of hard wood known because it is hard, durable, heavy and dense with very close grain and due to their high tannin content, they are very resistant to insect and fungal infestations. "It is often used for furniture joinery, flooring, panelling, decking and veneers" ( libéron n.d). I have decided to use oak wood in the construction of the multi-faith centre because it has several advantages such as Its durability which will ensures that the multi-faith centre stand for a long time in Zambia's tropical climate and it will help reduce maintenance costs. secondly, it has natural insulation which regulates indoor temperatures for comfort.

ALUMINIUM

I chose to use aluminium due to its to its anti-corrosive property. It is suitable for Zambia's diverse climate. It will help improve energy efficiency because aluminium frames can be incorporated with a thermal break. "Thermal break is a component placed within the window frame to reduce heat loss by separating the interior and exterior sections of the aluminium frame using less conductive materials like polyamide or polyurethane" (Sunny, 2020).

LAMINATED GLASS

I chose laminated glass because it is a suitable material for security purposes due to its double layers which makes it resistant to breaking, and this is important in places such as Zambia that are prone to earthquakes. It will also help reduce the amount of heat from the sun entering the building in order to keep the interior of the multi-faith centre cooler and reduce energy usage. This is beneficial in Kitwe's sunny climate. In addition, when it is sufficiently thick, laminated glass can also help reduce outside noise (www.npsa.gov.uk, 2020).

Image references

Hardwoodgroup (2024) Oak wood, Available at: https://hardwoodsgroup.com/properties-of-oak-wood/ Accessed: 19/03/2024

Deangroup (2019) Aluminium, Available at: https://www.deangroup-int.co.uk/aluminium-a-sustainable-and-efficient-metal/ Accessed: 19/03/2024

Ais (2019) Everything to know about laminated glass, Available at: https://www.aisglass.com/laminated-glass-all-you-need-to-know/ Accessed: 19/03/2024

References

Liberon. (n.d.). Oak (Types of Wood) | Liberon wood cares and products. [online] Available at: https://liberon.co.uk/help-advice/types-of-wood/oak/ [Accessed 19 Mar. 2024].

Sunny (2020). Chigwell Group’s Heartfelt Ukraine Donation. [online] Chigwell Window Centre. Available at: https://www.chigwellwindowcentre.co.uk/news/thermal-break-why-do-aluminium-windows-have-them [Accessed 19 Mar. 2024].

www.npsa.gov.uk. (2020). Laminated Glass | NPSA. [online] Available at: https://www.npsa.gov.uk/laminated-glass [Accessed 19 Mar. 2024].

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ARKHINIA

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