The Early Industrial Revolution (18th - 19th Century)
The construction activity in the initial stages of the Industrial Age (that is, in the latter half of the 18th century) can be summarized by one single term -- mass production. Unforseen innovation in technology made possible new building prototypes during this period. The methods used by these prototypes were:
Iron members as the Structural Frame: With the advent of steam engine and the knowledge of the smelting and puddling process, iron could be made easily for construction purposes at a large scale. Many different forms and members could be mass produced in factories. Soon these forms were standardized. Hollow tubular columns, wrought iron trusses, tension beams, and rivets were some such forms being made. Although initially iron beams were supported by the masonry, soon iron was being used for the entire structure.
Brick was also being mass produced in factories using the mechanical extrusion method and the fired beehive kilns. This reduced the cost of bricks and led to their extensive use in buildings as infill with the iron members being the structure.
Glass was used extensively with the iron frame - the best and most known example being the Crystal Palace in London. The Crystal Palace was made entirely of prefabricated materials which were simply assembled together on the site. The plate glass panels let in light like never before. The concept of construction underwent a major change. The same prototype was employed for train stations all across western Europe. The biggest is the St. Pancras Station in London with the iron trusses spanning 74 m (243 ft).
The Ballon Frame: In North America there was an abundance of softwood forests. With the advent of steam and water powered sawmills, the wood from these forests could be manufactured in standard-sized timber members at large scales. Also, cheap machine-made nails were soon available. This led to a major innovation in construction - generation of the balloon frame. The mass migration to America needed a quick and cheap method for housing all the new immigrants. The balloon frame provided the answer. As a typical illustration, the walls are framed using vertical timber members, studs of dimensions 2" x 4", at 16" center. The floor and roof were laid out with similar timber members, joists of dimensions 2" x 10", at 16" center. Lateral stability was achieved by 3/4" thick diagonal boards applied to the exterior walls and to floor and roof joists. The walls could be easily faced with a variety of materials, both externally and internally. This system is still in use today.
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