ABSTRACT
The choice of materials is an important part of the design process. Materials would determine the environmental and structural performance of the building as well as its appearance. The environmental performance of the building was discussed previously. This chapter will deal with structural materials, particularly those found in small-span buildings. The first part of the chapter will review some of those materials commonly found in domestic buildings, while the second part will introduce some principles of structures. Although manufacturing processes and raw materials are similar across the world, the characteristics of the materials can vary from one country to another. The materials discussed in this chapter are those available in the UK market.
