Building systems

The Uniclass classifications, state that: “Systems are typically single-trade built objects made up of several products, collectively serving a common purpose, such as the load-bearing blockwork inner skin of an external wall Element. In ISO 12006-2, they roughly equate to the concept of ‘designed elements’.” NB ISO 12006-2 is the international standard: Building construction -- Organization of information about construction works -- Part 2: Framework for classification.

Uniclass 2015 suggests that: “Systems are the collection of components that go together to make an element or to carry out a function. For a pitched roof, the rafters, lining, tiles, ceiling boards, insulation and ceiling finish comprise a system, or a low temperature hot water heating system is formed from a boiler, pipework, tank, radiators, etc. A signal system for a railway has a number of components and products; and the scum removal system is part of a wastewater treatment entity.”

The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 defines building systems as: ‘The constituent parts of a building, including, but not limited to, structural systems, mechanical and electrical systems, façade, ceiling, floors and wall systems.’

Flourishing systems, published by the Centre for Digital Built Britain in 2020 suggests that: 'A system is a connected collection of interrelated and interdependent parts; a complex whole that may be more than the sum of its parts. A system is influenced by its environment, defined by its structure and purpose, and expressed through its function. Infrastructure is the interconnected ‘system of systems’ that provides the physical foundation for our society. It does more than just provide water, power or transport services; it helps to make cities liveable, boosts quality of life and supports productivity and prosperity, all in the context of its interface with the natural environment.'

Illustrated Guide to Mechanical Cooling (BG 1/2010), written by Kevin Pennycook and published by BSRIA in 2010, defines a system as: ‘An organised arrangement of plant and equipment that works together to provide a function such as heating or cooling.’

PAS 2080:2023 Carbon management in buildings and infrastructure, second edition, published by The British Standards Institution in March 2023, defines a system as a: ‘…collection and interconnection of all physical facilities and human interactions that are operated in a coordinated way to provide a particular service.’

The BSRIA guide to 'Commissioning Air Systems' (BG 49/2024), written by by Keith Barker and published by BSRIA in March 2024, explains how to commission ducted air distribution systems in buildings. It was originally published in 2013, then 2015 with the latest update in 2024. It defines system for the purposes of the guide as: ‘A set of connected components for heating, cooling, ventilation or air conditioning consisting of plant, distribution ducting, piping and terminal units and arrangements to control their operation.'

Offsite residential construction, Glossary of terms, published by Buildoffsite in 2018, states: ‘Applied to offsite, a system is any pre-engineered method of building that has a predefined scope and configuration limits. Building systems can use many different materials, or combinations of materials and can be volumetric, panel, stick build or hybrid.’

It refers to:

• System Building: Internationally this is typically used to describe open or closed building systems that invariably incorporate a significant amount of standardisation, either in components and/or dimensions.
• Open Panel System: The construction of the structural frame for the building using panels assembled in the factory. Open panel systems of various materials are delivered to the site purely as a structural element with services, insulation, cladding and internal finishes installed in situ.
• Closed Panel System: Similar to Open Panel Systems in that the structural elements of the building are delivered to the site in flat panels. However closed panel systems typically include more factory based fabrication such as lining materials and insulation and may even include cladding, internal finishes, services, doors and windows.
• Steel Frame Building System: Stick-build systems that use steel as the primary structural material. It is common to hear the term light steel frame (LSF) which, in this context, refers to thin-gauge steel sections supplied as components or panelised elements.
• Stick Build System: These consist of pre-engineered frame elements in steel, composites, and timber or precast concrete that are typically bolted together onsite to erect a skeletal structure that is then enclosed and finished onsite.

Articles about systems on Designing Buildings include:

• Building Automation and Control Systems
• Building energy management systems
• Building heating systems
• Building management systems
• Classification systems
• Commercial security systems
• Commissioning building systems
• Cooling systems for buildings
• Curtain wall systems
• Daylight lighting systems
• Daylight Lighting Systems
• Daylight systems
• Distributed Antenna Systems
• Electrical control systems
• Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems
• Global positioning systems global navigation satellite systems
• Infrastructure
• Integrated systems
• Intelligent building management systems
• Light gauge steel framing systems
• Lighting control systems
• Parking reservation systems
• Personal protection watermist systems in the homes of vulnerable people
• Solar thermal systems
• Structural systems
• Structural systems for offices
• Sustainable drainage systems
• Systems thinking
• System of systems
• Walling systems

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Assembly.
• BIM.
• Building activities.
• Building complex.
• Building component.
• Building element.
• Building entities.
• Building spaces.
• Construction Project Information committee.
• Function.
• NBS.
• Part.
• Systems approach.
• Types of building.
• Uniclass.
• Uniclass 2015.