This fifth edition offers engineers, architects, contractors and other building professionals a concise, authoritative guide to modern building design and construction. It presents step-by-step descriptions of building design and construction techniques, offers good-practice suggestions and proposes many ideas for saving time and money in design and construction tasks. The handbook features current information on building systems; protection against hazards; structural theory; construction management; estimating construction costs; the building team; structural steel construction; concrete design and construction; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; electrical systems; plumbing; roof systems; surveying; soil mechanics and foundations; wall, floor and ceiling systems; vertical circulation; cold-formed steel construction; building materials; and wood construction. This edition features significant changes in design and construction practices, especially in building codes and specifications for structural materials. It also contains 685 detailed illustrations, useful definitions of terms used by the various building trades, as well as an appendix of factors for conversion to SI units. The design and construction information contained in the book should enable building professionals to make the most of new techniques, materials and equipment, thus improving their competitive advantage.