TM 5-852-9/AFR 88-19, Vol. IX
CHAPTER 2
ARCHITECTURAL
2-1. General. Buildings should be designed and constructed in accordance with standard practice except
that special attention should be given to features listed herein and in TM 5-852-1/AFR 88-19, Volume 1.
Special designs and construction techniques are required primarily because of prolonged and extreme cold,
permafrost, snow and wind combinations, transportation, equipment, and maintenance problems. Designers
must provide a functional building while considering all factors required to provide an environment which
will meet the total needs of the occupants and contribute to high morale. In addition to the facility's intended
function, consideration must be given to general data discussed in chapter 1. Factors affecting morale and
psychological acceptance must be considered. Inside, proper use of materials, fixtures, colors, textures,
component arrangement, space, form and style, temperature and noise control are of key importance.
Outside, vegetation and landscaping will contribute toward the goal: a total environment which positively
affects personnel stationed at the facility.
2-2. Types of construction. Three general types of building construction may be used in arctic and subarctic
regions: concrete, metal, and wood. All have advantages and disadvantages. Transportation methods and
costs, necessary labor to construct, existing site conditions, material availability, length of construction
season, feasible use of prefabricated items, temperature affects on materials, material fire resistance, stability,
durability, plasticity, etc., all must be considered when evaluating the type of construction best suited to a
particular function and location. All construction shall comply with fire protection criteria established for
Army and Air Force projects. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) and National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) codes shall be followed to the extent authorized by the current criteria. Special attention shall be paid
to the NFPA 101. Type of construction shall be specified as required in the above referenced fire protection
manuals. Selection processes are discussed later in this technical manual.
a. Concrete. Concrete's fire resistant quality is especially important because low temperatures, high
winds, and possible water or chemical shortages make fires extremely dangerous. Concrete has a high thermal
conductivity compared with insulative materials, therefore thermal breaks must be provided, and thermal
bridges avoided. A concrete slab supporting an exterior masonry wall is one example of a thermal bridge
often seen in poorly designed buildings. Even with insulation on the wall's inside surface, heat flows through
the slab to the wall, is distributed laterally and dissipated to the outdoors. This process effectively bypasses
the insulation. Exterior insulation used with no exposed concrete provides a solution to this problem. Other
types of thermal breaks are possible, but successful use is difficult. Concrete is durable in arctic climatic
conditions because of its inert nature after curing. Surface cracks and air-path porosity will allow moisture
to enter the concrete, however, and freezing results in surface spalling. Air entraining admixtures help prevent
such surface spalling and provide a more durable finish. All concrete, whether used indoors or out, should
be air entrained to protect it from frost damage during construction. Specifications must include adequate
cold weather curing, placing, and handling procedures. (See American Concrete Institute ACI 306.) Quality
control is difficult to maintain in the field because of inconsistent batching and limited raw material
availability. Local aggregates, if available, may require testing with consistent time requirements. The costs
of shipping cement, aggregate, reinforcing steel, form materials, and production equipment for cast-in-place
concrete, versus shipping costs and equipment to assemble prefabricated concrete members, plus the basic
costs of the materials or members themselves and onsite labor, must all be considered when evaluating the
use of concrete for construction.
(1) Prefabricated concrete items. Factory prefabricated items such as wall, roof, partition and floor
panels, columns, and beams should be considered especially for sites where sand, gravel, and water may not
be available or would require excessive hauling or processing. The possibility of damage in transit, the
suitability of the manufacturer's and site delivery dates, handling capability at the site, and construction time
must all be evaluated. Generally, because prefabricated concrete items are bulky and heavy, the only
economical transportation is by water. Occasionally, the components are subjected to the severest stresses
in transit rather than during or after erection. Differential settlement often occurs with foundations placed on
permafrost, however, and can cause problems with precast concrete wall panels. This potential problem
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