Casing

A casing is an enclosure or housing which contains another material or component(s) and functions as a case. This is normally to protect the contents of the casing from exposure to, or damage by; heat, water, knocks from handling or human interference. It may also conceal the components if they are of an unsightly nature and/or do nor normally need to be accessed.

Casings can be temporary or permanent. A fuse box is housed in a permanent casing, as is pipework that is boxed-in for purposes of concealment. The delivery of a sensitive item to a construction site – such as a boiler or chiller – is likely to be in a temporary casing for protection (as opposed to a cardboard box) which is discarded (or recycled) as soon as delivery to site has been completed. The outer casing of a mobile phone can be permanent or temporary.

Casings can be made from various materials, including:

• Cardboard.
• Plastic.
• Metal.
• Timber.

Growing environmental awareness has seen casings being made from more sustainable materials that can be easily recycled, such as cardboard and wood products, as well as biodegradable and compostable materials.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Site waste management plan.
• Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP.
• Waste hierarchy for construction.