12. Construction Tech Reduced

Question 1

What is substructure?

Answer 1

All elements of work that are undertaken below the damp proof course that provides the basis for the
superstructure to be constructed upon.

Question 2

What are the Building Regulations

Answer 2

Regulations that set out the minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings.

Question 3

What are the approved documents?

Answer 3

A. Structure.
B. Fire safety.
C. Site preparation and damp proofing.
D. Toxic substances.
E. Sound proofing.
F. Ventilation.
G. Hygiene.
H. Drainage and waste disposal.
I. Not in use.
J. Heating appliances.
K. Protection from falling, collision and impact.
L. Conservation of fuel and power.
M. Disabled access and facilities.
N. Glazing.
O. Not in use.
P. Electrical safety.

Question 4

What are British Standards?

Answer 4

Publications that give recommended minimum standards for materials, components, design and construction practices.

Question 5

What are the international standards?

Answer 5

Publications issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation

Question 6

What is superstructure?

Answer 6

All internal and external works items above the damp proof course.
This is made up of:
o External walls.
o Stairs.
o Roof.
o Structural walls.
o Suspended ceilings.
o Raised floors.

Question 7

What are the typical components of site investigations?

Answer 7

Their objective is to collect and record data to help with the design and construction process. This should include matters in relation to the site that may impact the development for example:-
o Boundary hedges & fencing.
o Existing trees.
o Size, depth and location of services including gas, telephone, electricity, water & drains.
o Existing buildings.
o Ground water conditions.
o Soil investigations.
o Trial pit information.

Question 8

What is the purpose of soil investigations?

Answer 8

• Their purpose is to determine the suitability of the site for the proposed works and determine adequate
  and economic foundation design.
• The investigation should determine the potential difficulties associated with the ground conditions and
  assist with identifying a suitable foundation solution.

Question 9

What are the main site considerations?

Answer 9

• Access considerations.
• Storage considerations.
• Accommodation.
• Temporary services.
• Plant.
• Fencing & hoarding.
• Health & Safety risks.

Question 10

What are temporary works?

Answer 10

Temporary works do not normally appear on construction drawings but may be required depending on the construction methodology being used.

Temporary works may also be required as a result of health and safety requirements to ensure a safe method of construction

Question 11

What is a tower crane and what are some considerations during its erection and operation?

Answer 11

• A tower crane is a tall crane used for lifting objects into high places.
• The boom allows a longer reach with 360° access.
• A longer boom reduces the payload capability.
• You would usually use a smaller crane to erect a tower crane.
• Weather conditions could prevent it from working, in particular high, strong winds

Question 12

What is a scaffold?

Answer 12

• Scaffold is a temporary working platform erected around the perimeter of a building or structure to
  provide a safe working place at a convenient height.
• Scaffold is usually required for work 1.5m above ground level.

Question 13

What is shoring?

Answer 13

• Shoring is a form of temporary support given to existing buildings.
• Its purpose is to provide a precaution against damage or injury due to collapse of the structure.

Question 14

What is a borehole?

Answer 14

• Any shaft drilled into the ground vertically or horizontally
• A borehole can be used for soil investigation or for geothermal heating solutions.
• Boreholes are the most suitable method of soil investigation when foundations are over 3m deep.
• Geothermal boreholes are permanent boreholes that use the Earth’s natural heat to raise the temperature of circulated water.
• This is a closed system and can be used to heat the building above which is adopted as a sustainable technology.

Question 15

What are piles?

Answer 15

• A series of columns constructed or inserted into the ground to transmit the load of a structure to a
  lower level of subsoil.
• They are used where no suitable foundations conditions are present near ground level or if there is a
  high water table.

Question 16

What are the different types of piles?

Answer 16

Sheet piles.
o A deep trench is excavated and concrete is poured in situ.
o The piles can be used to form basement walls or act as retaining walls.
Secant piles.
o Interlocking piles (male and female, often different diameters and hardness) are bored to provide a combination of foundations and basement walls.
o They support in providing a waterproof structure and are often seen when a top down construction method is used.

Bored Piles.
o An auger is used to excavate the soil and then concrete is poured in once complete.

Pre-cast piles.
o Piles are and hammered into the ground. This is not often favoured due to the high noise levels associated with installation and the lack of flexibility in terms of depth required.

Question 17

What is a strip foundation?

Answer 17

• Strip foundations are formed by creating a shallow continuous excavation to support the perimeter and internal walls.

Question 18

What are the technical advantages of steel frames?

Answer 18

• Steel frames are often quicker to assemble in comparison to alternative methods.
• They are 100% recyclable and inorganic meaning they will not warp, split, crack or creep.
• They offer the highest strength to weight ratio of any building material.
• Steel frames are not vulnerable to termites or any type of fungi or organism.
• They are dimensionally stable and do not expand or contract with moisture or temperature changes.
• Due to strict manufacturing controls, consistent material quality can be obtained due to production
  taking place in line with strict standards.
• Steel is non-combustible so it will not contribute to the spread of a fire.
• Steel frames are lighter in comparison to concrete frames and will often benefit from a cheaper
  foundation solution.

Question 19

What are the technical disadvantages of steel frames?

Answer 19

• Steel frames require fire protection to be retrospectively installed.
• Fixing components may require replacement over time.
• The price of steel often fluctuates and can result in a lack of cost certainty.
• Installation of steel frames requires experienced builders at an additional cost. Resources can also be
  difficult to acquire depending on market conditions.

Question 20

What are the technical advantages of concrete frames?

Answer 20

• Fire protection is often provided inherently as part of the structure.
• Maintenance requirements associated with concrete frames are relatively low in comparison to alternative methods.
• Concrete frames often provide good sound and heat insulation properties in comparison to steel frame constructions.

Question 21

What are the technical disadvantages of concrete frames?

Answer 21

• In comparison to steel frames, they are more time consuming to install.
• There may also be complications during the install resulting from colder and inclement weather
  conditions.
• The need for steel reinforcement can lead to issues around price fluctuations and cost uncertainty
  associated with steel frames.
• Concrete frames are often heavier and require larger foundations.

Question 22

What type of building work is covered by the Building regulations?

Answer 22

• The Erection or extension of a building.
• Installation or extension of a service that is controlled by the regulations.
• Alteration projects which will temporarily or permanently affect the building in terms of structure, fire & access.
• Insertion of insulation into cavity walls.
• Underpinning building foundations.

Question 23

What are building regulations and What are the specific areas covered by the Building Regulations?

Answer 23

• Building regulations are a set of standards and guidelines established by government authorities to ensure that buildings are constructed and maintained to certain minimum standards of safety, health, sustainability, and welfare
• • A) Structure.
• B) Fire Safety.
• C) Site preparation and resistance to moisture.
• D) Toxic substances.
• E) Resistance to the passage of sound.
• F) Ventilation.
• G) Hygiene.
• H) Drainage.
• J) Heat producing appliances.
• K) Protection from falling, collision and impact.
• L) Conservation of fuel and power.
• M) Access and facilities for disabled people.
• N) Glazing – safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning.
• P) Electrical safety.

Question 24

What are the Building Regulations Approved Documents?

Answer 24

• They provide general guidance on performance of materials expected in order to comply with the
  functional requirements of the building regulations & provide practical examples.
• They only provide guidance & therefore there is no obligation to adopt specific solutions if it is possible
  to meet requirements via a different means.

Question 25

Can you explain the key stages outlined in the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 and how they structure the design and construction process?

Answer 25

Stage 0 - Strategic definition

Stage 1 - Preperatation and briefing

Stage 2 - Concept design

Stage 3 - Spatial coordination

Stage 4 - Technical design

Stage 5 - Manufacturing

Stage 6 - Handover

Stage 7 - Use

Question 26

In Stage 2 (Concept Design), how do you contribute to the development of initial design concepts? Can you share an example where the concept design phase significantly influenced the project outcome?

Question 27

During your site visit to the pumping station at Cricklewood, you mentioned appreciating the structures of the building. Can you provide specific details about the structural elements you observed and how they compared to the design drawings?

Question 28

Can you provide a time where you gave advice to a client in relation to a design solution?

Question 29

With regards to your site visit on Mercury House, how did this impact your understanding of the construction methods?

Question 30

Can you elaborate on your decision to recommend drone technology for assessing the condition of the roof in Cricklewood? How did you assess the effectiveness of drones compared to traditional methods like scaffolding?

Question 31

When the contractor discovered irreparable damage to the windows at Cricklewood, you proposed extending the project timeline for window replacements. How did you communicate this solution to the project manager, and what considerations were involved in determining the long-term cost-effectiveness of this approach?

Question 32

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using drones to carry out site surveys?

Question 33

What is an external envelope?

Answer 33

• The materials and components that form the external shell or enclosure of a building.
• These may be load or non-load bearing.

Question 34

What is the difference between bored vs pre-cast piles?

Answer 34

• Bored piles are defined when the process for removing the spoil to form the hole for the pile is carried
  out by a boring technique.
• They are used primarily in cohesive subsoils for the formation of friction piles and when forming pile
  foundations close to existing buildings where the allowable amount of noise and/or vibration is limited.
• Pre-cast Concrete piles are generally used where soft soil deposits overlie firmer strata. These piles are
  usually driven using a drop or single action hammer.
• Issues can arise due to the noise levels associated with the installation method of pre-cast piles.

Question 35

What are pad foundations?

Answer 35

• Pad foundations provide a base for reinforced concrete or steel columns.
• They are usually formed by making an isolated excavation in the shape of a square or rectangle.
• They often have reinforcement mesh as part of the construction and spread the load to a layer of
  bearing soil or rock below.

Question 36

What are retaining walls?

Answer 36

• They act as an earth retaining structure for the whole or part of their heights.
• They are used to support and retain soils laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two
  sides.
  *Retaining walls are structures built to hold back soil or other materials and prevent erosion or slope instability. They are commonly used in landscaping and civil engineering projects to create level surfaces or terraces on slopes, prevent landslides, or create usable space in areas with uneven terrain

Question 37

What is form work?

Answer 37

Formwork, also known as shuttering or molds, is a temporary structure or mold into which concrete or other materials are poured to create a specific shape or structure.

Question 38

What is the Building Act 1984?

Answer 38

The Building Act 1984 is a central piece of legislation which sets out the legal framework for the construction, alteration and maintenance of buildings in England and Wales

Question 39

What is the Town Country Planning Act 1990?

Answer 39

This legislation deals with the roles and responsibilities of planning authorities, such as local authorities and national park authorities
development control, including planning permission, development orders, determination of applications, appeals, major infrastructure projects
enforcement, including enforcement and stop notices
*trees, including tree preservation orders