ᐅ Multiple support columns planned – is this normal and acceptable?

Hello,

we are building our new house with the following wall construction: 24cm Poroton blocks + 14cm insulation + 11.5cm facing bricks.

I posted the floor plan here yesterday: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-licht-fenster.16509/

Now the architect has updated the drawings shortly before the start of construction. Suddenly, the two western corners of the house are made of reinforced concrete, and there are also reinforced concrete columns in the western and southern walls. Apparently, this is due to the size of the living-dining area.

Furthermore, on the upper floor, each of the two longer sides of the house now has two reinforced concrete bracing columns, supposedly because of the large span of the rooms. The house is 15 meters long, and upstairs there are two rooms each almost 7 meters long.

Question: Could this be solved differently? Should I ask the architect about a stronger ceiling (currently 20cm) or about "better" masonry units? Or is this acceptable as it is? I am concerned about so-called thermal bridges.

Good evening,

Your architect did not change the construction drawings without reason but based on the structural engineering calculations; as required by the structural engineer. I would have been surprised to see fewer steel columns in the design of the single-family house, not the other way around.

Bauexperte

Hello building expert,

thank you for your response.

Do I need to expect issues in the areas with poorer thermal insulation, or is this evened out by the 14cm (5.5 inches) core insulation?

Many people already collaborate closely during the planning phase of a construction project. I am confident that your architect pays special attention to the building envelope.

Keep placing your trust in them; after all, you did so when signing the contract, didn’t you?

If you feel uncertain, you might want to consider external construction supervision; an extra pair of eyes is never a bad idea... for all three temporary partners ;-)


Bauexperte

14 cm (5.5 inches) of insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK results in a U-value of 0.24 W/m²K. This is lower than with aerated concrete, but not low enough to raise concerns about condensation. At an outside temperature of -5°C (23°F), the interior surface temperature would be 18.5°C (65°F). For condensation to occur at this surface temperature, you would need an indoor temperature of 22°C (72°F) combined with a relative humidity of around 80%, which is quite rare (almost never) during winter.

Thank you very much for the helpful reply.