Courses and Seminars
Courses - 2010
An introduction to 'Walter Segal' timber-framed building.
Friday 23rd April and Friday 16th July
Aim: To introduce students to the concept of self-build timber-frame building and the practicalities thereof.
By the end of the course students should be able to:- Recognise the basic principles of post-and-beam timber-framed construction.
- Understand the applicability of this building type to 'difficult' sites.
- Answer typical questions concerning thermal performance, fire resistance and stability.
- Identify further sources of information, volunteering and training opportunities in timber-framed building.
- A brief background to timber-framed building with particular reference to the Walter Segal design.
- A discussion of timber-framed building issues, including thermal performance and the building control and planning context.
- Practical activities including the construction of small-scale timber frames and frame-raising.
- Referral to other information sources.
An introduction to strawbale building.
Saturday 24th April and Saturday 17th July
Aim: To introduce students to the concept of straw-bale building and the practicalities thereof.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:- Recognise the two major types of straw-bale building used in the UK;
- Understand the practical issues related to load-bearing straw-bale construction;
- Answer typical questions concerning thermal performance, moisture ingress, rodent attack and fire resistance;
- Identify further sources of information, volunteering and training opportunities in straw-bale building.
- A brief background to straw-bale building in the US and the UK;
- A discussion of straw-bale building issues, including thermal performance and the building control and planning context;
- Practical activities around load-bearing straw-bale construction, including forming wall-plates, bale raising and forming window openings;
- Referral to other information sources including books, websites, lime-plasterers and other materials sources.
These courses are taught by SYEC staff and run by College of the Peak at the National Stone Centre, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Fees are £39 per course. For further details see http://www.collegeofthepeak.org.uk/ai.html or telephone 01629 824 765.