Architecture of Civil Buildings: Lecture 7 Partitions – Types and General Requirements

1. Lecture 7 Architecture of Civil Buildings

Prepared by: PhD S. Niyetbay

2. Partitions – Types and General Requirements

• Definition: Partitions are vertical
non-load-bearing enclosing
structures that divide one room
from another. In some cases,
partition walls may also perform
load-bearing functions and rest on
independent foundations.

3. Structural Support

USUALLY SUPPORTED BY
FLOOR STRUCTURES
(BEAMS, SLABS).
ON GROUND FLOORS AND
BASEMENTS: SUPPORTED
BY BRICK OR CONCRETE
PIERS OR CONCRETE BASE
LAYERS.
PARTITIONS MUST NOT BE
SUPPORTED DIRECTLY ON
FLOOR FINISHES (EXCEPT
LIGHTWEIGHT CARPENTRY
PARTITIONS).

4. General Requirements

Partitions must:
Have low weight and small thickness
Provide good sound insulation
Ensure fire resistance
Meet sanitary and hygienic standards
(smooth surface, easy to clean, no gaps)
Be suitable for industrialized
construction methods

5. Classification of Partitions

1. BY FUNCTION
(RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS)
INTER-ROOM PARTITIONS
INTER-APARTMENT
PARTITIONS (HIGHER
SOUND INSULATION
REQUIRED)
KITCHEN AND SANITARY
UNIT ENCLOSURES
(MOISTURE RESISTANCE
REQUIRED)

6. By Construction Method

Small-size elements (built
in place)
Large prefabricated panels
(installed by монтаж)

7. By Material

Partitions may be made of:
Brick
Hollow ceramic or lightweight concrete blocks
Timber
Wood chipboard and fiberboard panels
Gypsum and gypsum-slag panels
Cellular/lightweight concrete
Glass blocks and glass profiles

8. Design Considerations

WHEN
SELECTING
PARTITION
TYPES,
CONSIDER:
TECHNICAL
PERFORMANCE
ACOUSTIC AND
FIRE SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS
ECONOMIC
EFFICIENCY
INSTALLATION
TECHNOLOGY

9. Small-Unit Partitions and Construction Efficiency

Economic and
Technical
Considerations
When selecting
partition systems, it
is necessary to
consider:
Installation cost
Labor intensity
Construction time
reduction
Use of local building
materials
In residential
buildings:
Partitions account
for 8–10% of total
building cost
About 15% of total
labor intensity
Large prefabricated
panels:
Reduce labor costs
by 1.5–2 times
compared to small
gypsum blocks
Increase
productivity in multistorey construction
Reduce overall
construction cost
Panel dimensions
must correspond to
crane lifting
capacity.

10. Application in Different Building Types

In multi-storey buildings →
prefabricated panels are more
efficient
In low-rise buildings → smallunit elements are widely used
When local materials are
available (shell rock, tuff,
timber, etc.), partitions are
often constructed from these
materials

11. Partitions from Small-Size Elements

Partitions from SmallSize Elements
Materials Used
Partitions from
small elements
may be made of:
Brick
Lightweight
concrete blocks
Ceramic blocks
Timber boards
and panels
Glass blocks

12. Brick Partitions

Thickness options:
1/2 brick
1/4 brick
Design requirements:
1/2 brick partitions → height ≤ 3 m, length ≤ 5 m
If dimensions exceed these values → reinforcement is
required
Reinforcement:
Flat steel strips (approx. 1.5 × 25 mm) placed in horizontal
joints every 6 courses
Ends of reinforcement anchored to main structural elements
For 1/4 brick partitions:
Reinforced both horizontally and vertically
Reinforcement forms a mesh system

13. Glass Block Partitions

Features:
Masonry
construction with
cement mortar
Reinforcement
placed in joints
Elastic gaskets
may be used
Anchored to
main structural
elements
Often integrated
with door frames
Advantages:
Natural light
transmission
Aesthetic
appearance
Suitable for
interior zoning

14. Timber and Glass Partitions

1. Board (Timber)
Partitions
Construction:
Made of wooden
boards (approx. 50
mm thick)
Installed on a lower
binding beam
Surface finished with:
Upper ends fixed with
triangular wooden
cleats
• Lime-gypsum plaster (≈ 20
mm), or
• Gypsum plasterboard
sheets
Structural Features:
Reinforced if partition
height or length is
significant
Construction is
relatively laborintensive
Advantages:
Simple technology
Suitable for low-rise
buildings
Easily finished and
modified

15. Glass Block and Glass Profile Partitions

Applications:
Public buildings
Sanitary and moisture-prone areas
Advantages:
Moisture resistant
High light transmission
Allow “secondary lighting” of interior spaces
Aesthetic appearance
Construction Method:
Installed with cement mortar
Reinforcement placed in vertical and horizontal joints
Sealed with special mastics
Glass profile elements installed between upper and lower frames

16. Panel and Frame Partitions

1. Panel (Shield)
Partitions
High level of
industrialization
Made as two- or
three-layer
panels
Full height of the
room
Provided with
edge
connections for
joining panels
If plastered by
wet process →
covered with lath
before
plastering.
Benefits:
Fast installation
Reduced labor
costs
Suitable for mass
housing
construction

17. 2. Frame (Stud) Partitions

Structure:
Wooden frame with vertical
studs spaced 0.5–1.0 m
Covered on both sides with
boards (20–25 mm thick)
Internal cavity filled with
loose insulating material
Performance:
Good acoustic insulation
Lightweight construction
Flexible layout solutions
Design Notes:
Fire and acoustic
requirements must be
considered
These partition systems
demonstrate the balance
between construction
technology, performance
requirements, and
architectural functionality
in civil buildings.
Must ensure proper
anchorage to floor and
ceiling

18. Frame, Carpentry, and Gypsum Panel Partitions

1. Frame (Stud)
Partitions
Structure:
Wooden frame with
vertical studs
Lower and upper
binding beams
Covered with
boards or panels
Internal cavity filled
with loose insulation
(slag, expanded
clay, etc.)
Finished with
plaster or gypsum
boards
Characteristics:
Lightweight
Good acoustic
performance
Flexible interior
planning
Suitable for
residential and
public buildings

19. Carpentry (Joinery) Partitions

Application:
Used in public buildings for auxiliary spaces
Construction:
Solid or glazed prefabricated wooden panels
Installed on floor binding beams
Upper parts connected with cornice boards
Often painted with oil-based coatings
Advantages:
Aesthetic appearance
Natural lighting (if glazed)
Modular and easy installation

20. Gypsum Small-Panel Partitions

Material:
Small-size
gypsum boards
or slabs
Installation:
Mounted with
gypsum mortar
Joints filled
and finished
Additional
sealing layers
may be applied
Benefits:
Smooth
surface
Easy finishing
Fast assembly
Suitable for dry
interior spaces

21. Structural Solutions for Partitions

Sound Insulation
Requirements
Partitions must not be
installed directly on
finished floors or
wooden joists in
capital buildings.
To improve acoustic
performance:
They should rest on:
• Rigid beams (girders)
between slabs, or
• Reinforced concrete slabs
(installed on mortar directly
on concrete).
At floor–partition
junctions:
Provide elastic soundinsulating layers.
Use resilient gaskets to
prevent airborne noise
transmission.
If partitions are placed
across beams and
there is a subfloor
cavity:
Install special dense
diaphragms under the
partition.
Carefully seal all gaps.

22. Structural Solutions for Partitions

Joint Sealing and
Installation Details
For proper acoustic
and structural
performance:
Ensure tight joints
between:
• Partitions and walls
• Adjacent partitions
Gaps must be:
• Caulked (packed tightly),
• Filled with mortar.
Leave a gap of 10–15
mm.
Steel anchors (driven
into antiseptic-treated
wooden inserts
embedded in the
wall).
At the ceiling:
Partitions should not
reach the slab
directly.
Fill it carefully and
seal with mortar to a
depth of 20–30 mm.
Panels are attached
to brick walls using:

23. Fixing of Partitions to Structural Elements

Connection to
Ceiling
Partition panels
are fixed to
ceilings by:
Special steel
brackets
embedded in slab
joints, or
Steel plates
anchored into
grooves.
Installation
details:
Grooves in slabs:
10–15 mm deep
Grooves in panel
tops: 6–7 mm
deep
Steel plates
inserted and
secured

24. Design Principles

Proper structural
solutions must ensure:
Reliable load transfer
Sound insulation
Crack prevention
Ease of installation
Compatibility with
prefabricated systems
These constructive
solutions provide both
structural stability
and acoustic comfort
in civil buildings.