Introduction

This section aims to explore the process of choosing materials during

the technical design process. It is pertinent because the detailed knowl-

edge required to fully understand and appreciate even the most mun-

dane of building materials is in fact well beyond most designers. This is

not to suggest that designers cannot become expert in the field of

materials and indeed, they require a substantial knowledge of particular

materials in order to design effectively but simply to acknowledge that

there are too many parameters to consider in all the materials involved

in technical design.