BACKGROUND

Modular coordination was first explored as an aid to

design, shortly after introduction of prefabrication,
Conceived as a step in the development of systematic
design and construction of buildings. First introduced in
Malaysia in 1896, but not widely implemented.
In many countries it has become an essential tool in their
design and construction.
Academically Modular coordination was introduced in
Singapore in Early 70’s Concept was fist implemented in
1973 in Malaysia in New generation flats to solve the
problem of material shortage in steel, timber, plywood, ,
manufacturing delay, and labor shortage through
standardization. Modular bricks and blocks were introduced
in 1983.
CLASSICAL
ORDER
BASE OF MODULAR COORDINATION
Recommanded Modular dimensions
 HORIZONTAL COORDINATING
DIMENSION
The series of preferred
multimodular sizes for horizontal
dimensions
The 12M series can be extended
further to use larger increments such
as 18M 24M where
technical and economical advantages
are evident.
The 15M, 30M and 60M series
correspond to the series in a system
of preferred numbers,
which contain the factor five. These
series can also be extended to use
larger increments in the series of the
multimodule 60M such as 120M or
larger.
BASIC MODULAR
GRIDS
TARTAN GRID
Reference lines of horizontal
controlling coordinating dimensions
 Controlling dimensions are key dimensions of buildings
for which sizes must be established in relation to the
functional and user requirements.
These are preferred dimensions intended to be used in
the design of
buildings and also to assist in the selection of ranges of
coordinating
sizes for standard modular building components,
Since the ranges of preferred sizes are intended to be
of universal application, a limited selection will be
appropriate to the scale and function of individual
building types.
DEFINATIONS
 Controlling Lines - Modular grid lines
which establish the need for
delineating the datum/reference lines
in respect to load bearing elements
of structure on the horizontal plane.
 Controlling Dimensions - Modular co-
ordinating dimensions between
controlling points, lines and planes (
for example, storey height, distance
between axis of columns and
thickness of controlling zone ).
 Controlling Zone:A zone between
controlling planes provided for floor,
roof, walls or columns
PLANNING APPROACHES
APPLICATION:
PREFERRED HORIZONTAL
DIMENSIONS
Preferred horizontal dimensions for building
components and buildings are such multiples of 3M
which are preferred to other multiples of other
modules.
The value of Multimodules in horizontal dimensions
shall be 3M, 9M, 15M, 21M, 27M,33M, 39M, 45M
MODULAR ROOM DIMENSIONS
In the perfect modular designs, all room dimensions
shall Be modular.
The modular room dimensions shall be designed and
that modular fixtures, fittings and partitions shall fit
into them without shaping on site, This shall only be
achieved when all building components are made
available on modular dimensions for the modular
planning.
5 mm rule (IS 7921:1989)
AXIAL PLANNING
While applying this principle, modular room dimensions shall only
be achieved if the wall thicknesses are also modular ( seuexample in
Fig. 3 ). But in practice, the useof conventional bricks also results in
non-modular wall thickness.
It’ wall axial principle is neglected, modular room dimensions shall be
achieved with conventional bricks, which are thicker than 2M by
introducing a neutral zone in the wall ( see Fig. 4 ).
Thus, the modular room dimension becomes n x M + 10 mm with
plaster and n x M + 30 mm without plaster. In practice, the clear
room dimensions are considered without plaster and ‘5-mm Rule’.
The room dimensions shall be determined with rules for modular
7.4 Modular room dimensions in the carcass shall not be normally
achieved with economical wall thickness and inaccuracies that occur
in present constructional methods. Therefore, modular room
dimensions shall not normally be utilized,
Component
dimensions
Controlling dimension of building components like
doors, windows, built-in furniture and fixtures
shall be as per the table .
Choice of dimensions shall be determined by
functional requirements, structure, production
techniques, economy, transport conditions etc.
BUILDING DIMENSIONS
 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: Horizontal preferred
dimensions multiple of 3M
 INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS: The 3M, 6M,12M, 24M,
48M, 96M, etc
 HEALTH BUILDINGS Horizontal preferred dimensions
for health buildings shall be multiple of 6M
 OFFICE BUILDINGS :Horizontal preferred dimensions
for office buildings shall be multipleof 6M
EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS: The horizontal planning
module shall be 12M increment.
DEVIATION OF
ROOM
DIMENSIONS
WITH
REFERNECE TO
WALL
THICKNESS
GRAPHIC CONVENTIONS IN
MODULAR COORDINATION
GRAPHIC CONVENTIONS
MODULAR SPACE GRID
MODULAR SPACE GRID
VERTICAL MODULATION-
DEFINATIONS
VERTICAL MODULATION:DEFINATIONS
VERTICAL COORDINATION
AUXILIARY REFERNCE PLANE
CONTROLLING DIMENSIONS FOR
CHANGE OF LEVELS IN FLOORS
PREFERRED
DIMENSIONS
FOR
HEIGHT OF
BUILDING
COMPONENTS
PREFERRED
DIMENSIONS FOR
STOREY HEIGHT,
ROOM HEIGHT &
VERTICAL HEIGHTS OF
CONSTRUCTION
ZONES
PREFERRED VERICAL CONTROLLING
DIMENSIONS
 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS- IM MULTIPLE OF 2M:
20M,22M,24M, 26M,28M,30M
 INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS- IN MULTIPLE OF 2M AND
3M, LARGER SIZES MAY BE SELECTED FROM 6M
SERIES
 HEALTH BUILDINGS: CONTROLLING DIM SHALL BE
28M,32M,34M,36M
 OFFICE BUILDINGS: 28M,30M,32M,34M,36M
 EDUCATION BUILDINGS: 30M,36M,42M
DEVIATION OF DIMENSIONS FOR
MODULAR COORDINATION
 Derivation of Dimensions for Modular Component
 In component building design the application of the special
reference system and the selection of preferred sizes for component
and space dimensions is only the first step towards ensuring that
components as supplied can be assembled with ease of fit.
 The reference system enables designers to relate the position and
size of components by means of modular planes. Such co-ordinating
planes form the boundaries of modular component spaces and
include allowances for inaccuracy and the size clearances.
 In modular design practice, therefore, these spaces shall be defined
by co-ordinating dimensions which are modular.
 It is important to stress the essential theoretical nature of such
dimensions in the context of building component manufacture.
 The modular co-ordination shall provide co-ordinating
length, width and thickness of components. By this, it
means it shall providex flexible dimensional
compatibility between the position of different material
sub-systems comprising the components and positioning
andxdimensions of these functional sub-systems.
 The modular sizes shall provide the basis only for
determining the manufacturing sizes of components
 Deduction from the modular sizes shall require to be
made to accommodate any allowance for joint and for
the dimensional deviations that occur in production and
erection.
TYPE OF DIMENSIONAL DEVIATIONS
a) induced deviations, and
b) Inherent deviations.
Induced deviations are divided in three groups: namely,
(a) manufacturing deviations,
(b) setting out deviations, and
(c) location deviations.
arise’ as a result of manufacturing and building processes. are caused by
human error, inaccuracy of tools and limitations in precise measurements
inherent deviations are summed arithmetically
Inherent deviations falls in two groups namely,
(a) Irreversible, caused by initial shrinkage, settlement and creep.
(b) reversible. caused by the change in temperature or humidity or by
deflection due to live/wind loading.
DEVIATION IN SHAPE
TOLERANCES
 TOLERENCES IN BUILDINGS &
COMPONENTS
 Construction Tolerance
The width of the space on the site, related to reference points or lines, within the
limits of which a point, a line or a surface of a component shall be situated.
NOTE - Manufacturing tolerance, setting-out tolerance and erection tolerance
together shall comprise the construction tolerance. Construction tolerances are
determined by the requirements of the construction for satisfactory performance.
Manufacturing ToleranceThe width of the space related to the reference form,
within the limits of which a point, a line or a surface of a component shall be
situated after manufacture.
NOTE-Dimensional tolerance, orientation tolerance and form tolerance together
shall comprise the manufacturing tolerance. The latter is not related to any
reference object on the site.
 Setting Out Tolerance The width of the space on the site within the limits of
which a setting-out point or line shall be situated.
 NOTE -The positional and orientation tolerance for setting out together shall
compose the setting out tolerance.
 Dimensional Tolerance :The tolerance width governing the size of a
dimension in a given direction of the component concerned; that is length,
width, thickness, height,depth or diameter.
 Orientation Tolerance ( Angularity Manufacture) The tolerance width
governing the relative orientation of straight lines or planes of a
component.
 Form Tolerance : The tolerance width governing the form of a line or a
surface C such as of a component ) relative to a reference form.
 Positional Tolerance: The tolerance width governing the position of a point,
a line, a plane or a surface relative to a reference position.
 Orientation Tolerance ( Erection Settingaut ) The tolerance width after
setting-out or erection, governing the orientation of a straight line or plane
surface relative to a reference orientation.
 Feature Tolerance:The location or dimensional tolerance of feature,
such as a corbel or a blockout with respect to the overall member
dimensions.