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APC Project Management > 12 - Construction Technology and Environmental Services > Flashcards

12 - Construction Technology and Environmental Services Flashcards

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1
Q

What is substructure?

A
  • The lower portion of the building (in the ground) which supports the superstructure
  • Transfers loads of the building into the ground
  • i.e. foundations, basements
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2
Q

What is superstructure?

A

Structural elements of the building above ground (generally everything above the DPC)
i.e walls, frame, roof, windows, doors

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3
Q

What is the external envelope?

A

The components that seperate and protect indoors from outdoors/from external environment i.e walls, roof, floors.

Including systems for controlling and disposing water i.e. guttering and DPC.

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4
Q

What do you understand by substructure?

A

The lower part of a building, (in the ground).

Transmits the loads from the superstructure to the ground.
i.e. foundations and basements

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5
Q

Give me an example of a substructure

A

Basement
Pile foundations
Pad foundations
Retaining wall

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6
Q

What do you understand by superstructure in construction

A

The structural components of a building constructed above ground (generally everything above the DPC)

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7
Q

Give me 2 examples of superstructure in a building

A

Windows
Doors
Walls
Roof
Columns
Beams

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8
Q

What are the types of foundation you are aware of?

A

Pad
Strip
Piles
Raft

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9
Q

What are the Building Regulations?

A
  • Minimum standards for design, construction and alterations in the UK
  • Applicable to most new buildings and alterations
  • Including for example, fire safety, ventilation, access, structure, overheating
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10
Q

Tell me about the process of construction and alteration?

A

Construction and alteration are works undertaken to a particular building or site.

Construction - process of building something i.e. house, but can also include alteration, demolition, remodelling

Alteration - work intended to change function or appearance of a place to change/modify/improve performance or nature of use.

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11
Q

Tell me about you understanding of operational and maintenance processes?

A

Processes that determine how a building should be operated, maintained, cleaned and decomissioned.
E.g. inspections, cleaning, minor part replacement, lubrication, repair

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12
Q

What are the benefits of off-site construction

A
  • Quality is more consistent
  • Can be brought in when needed - less concern over space
  • Less time consuming to construct on site.
  • Hazard reduction - less chance of an accident in the factory than on site
  • Efficiency
  • Controlled enviornment
  • Less waste
  • Speed - prefab can be in manufacture while other works are ongoing on site
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13
Q

What regulations are there which control the design of a project?

A
  • Building Regulations 2010
  • CDM 2015
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14
Q

What are building regulations?

A

UK standards that apply to most building works including new buildings, conversions, renovations, extensions are going to be safe, healthy and high performing.

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15
Q

What sort of construction can each of the foundations be used for?

A

Pile - to transfer heavy loads into deeper soil where shallow foundations can not be used. Usually where soil near ground surface is unsuitable.

Strip - most suitable where soil is of relatively good bearing capacity. For low and medium-rise domestic buildings.

Pad - for localised loads, i.e. columns.

Raft - differential settlement, spread load of structure, basement, low-bearing capacity soil

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16
Q

What are the Approved Documents, give some examples

A
  • Documents that provide guidance on how to meet Building Regs
  • A ‘structure’
  • B ‘fire safety’
  • C ‘site preparation’
  • D ‘toxic substance’
  • E ‘ sound resistance’
  • F ‘ventilation’
  • G ‘sanitation, hot water safety’
  • H ‘Drainage and waste disposal’
  • J ‘Combustion’
  • K ‘ protecting from falling’
  • L ‘conservation of fuel and power’
  • M ‘access’
  • O ‘overheating’
  • P ‘ electrical safety’
  • Q ‘ security in dwellings’
  • R ‘High speed electronic communication networks’
  • S ‘EV charging’
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17
Q

What is your understanding of soil investigation?

A

Investigations to determine characteristics of soil in an area such as classifying soil, soil behaviour, ground water table, bearing capacity and settlement rate.
Such as trial pits and bore holes

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18
Q

What are temporary works?

A
  • Parts of the project that are needed to enable the permanent works to built.
  • For e.g. for access or safety reasons.
  • Incl, scaffold, formwork, excavation support
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19
Q

What are the Building Regulations

A

UK regulations to ensure new buildings, conversions, extensions are going to be healthy, safe and high perfoming.

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20
Q

What are the Approved Documents

A

A suite of documents that provide guidance on how to comply to the Building Regs

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21
Q

What is the importance of levelling during highways work?

A
  • to plan and estimate works
  • finalise final level
  • to determine elevations of certain points
  • decide slope for drainage
  • calculate cut & fill
    *

Leveling is a method or element of land surveying which deals with determining points on land surface above sea level.

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22
Q

What are British Standards

A

Publication by British Standards Institute.

Outlined ‘generally accepted’ standards incl technicals specs, practices, materials, components, design and construction.

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23
Q

What are the typical components of site investigations?

A
  1. Planning - set clear objectives, incl scope and requirements
  2. Desk study - Reviewing historical, geological and environmental information
  3. Site reconnaissance /walkover survey - Identifying actual and potential hazards and the design of the main investigation.
  4. Main investigation and reporting: Including intrusive and non-intrusive sampling and testing
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24
Q

Site investigations, what are the main site considerations?

A
  • Contaminants
  • Susceptibility to groundwater levels and flow
  • Underlying geology, and ground and hydro-geological properties.
  • Identification of physical hazards.
  • Identification of methane and other gases.
  • Determining an appropriate design.
  • Providing soil parameters for design and construction
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25
What is a retained facade?
-The facade of the building is preserved while the rest of the structure is remodelled, or new structure built behind it. -Usually used when restoring listed buildings
26
What are temporary works?
Temporary works that enable permenent works to be built, usually for safety or access * Scaffolding * Propping * Formwork * Excavation support * Access lighting
27
What is landfill tax?
Tax for waste disposed on landfill sites
28
What is a tower crane and how do you erect one?
Heavy lifting machine. Enables the heavy lifting of materials and equipment for high-rise construction. Erected by large mobile cranes, or the crane sits on a concrete foundation and raises itself through the procss of climbing i.e. adding or removing masts.
29
What would stop a tower crane from working?
Collision Faulty parts Overloading High winds Failure of ground/foundation base Incompetent persons Lack of maintenance strategy
30
What is a scaffold?
Provides temporary, safe-working platform for maintenance, construction, repairs, inspection, access Formed from joints and tubes
31
What is shoring?
Temporary form of support for a building, usually a prop to make a structure safe Often used to provide lateral support: -for walls undergoing repair/replacement -excavation -when adjacent structure to be pulled down
32
What are hoists?
Designed for mechanical transportation of materials and/or people
33
What is a foundation?
Part of the structural system to transport loads of the structure to the earth/ground. Bears loads of the superstructure
34
What is a foundation?
Part of the structural system to transport loads of the structure to the earth/ground. Bears loads of the superstructure
35
What are the main components of concrete?
* Cement * Water * Aggregrate (sand, rock, gravel)
36
What is a borehole?
A hole bored into the ground as part of investigations to test the depth and quality of soil, rock and groundwater
37
What are piles?
Piles are columnar elements, typically made from steel or reinforced concrete to transfer loads from the structure, to the ground. Usually where soil conditions have poor load-bearing, to transfer to deeper strata
38
What are the different types of piles?
Main types: End-bearing piles Friction piles
39
What are the different ways that the piles transfer their loads to the surrounding ground?
End bearing piles- the bottom of the piles rests on a layer of strong soil or rock. The load of the building is transferred through the pile onto the strong layer. Friction piles - friction piles develop most of the pile bearing capacity by shear stresses along the sides of the pile.
40
How does a load pass from the top of a single storey building to the foundations
From the highest point of the structure down to the lowest, i.e. from the roof, down to the load-bearing wall and frame, across floors/slab/joists, and down to the foundations where the load is transferred to the ground.
41
How does load pass from the top of a 5 storey building to the foundations
Vertical loads are the self-weights, finishing loads and live loads and they are transferred to the foundation through columns, load-bearing walls or towers. Vertical/ateral load path is the path in which the lateral loads, especially due to wind and earthquake, are transferred through a building structure to the foundation. Vertical components, like shear walls, braced frame, etc. and horizontal components, like slab, roof, etc. are the main components that involve the transferal of lateral load. Horizontal loads is taken by slabs, roof, and then carried to walls or frames. The loads are transferred to the foundation through columns and finally to the soil.
42
How do you construct a strip foundation?
A continuous strip of concrete supporting load-bearing walls. For a single storey building strip foundations will typically be 450mm wide and at least 200mm deep, and for two storey building 600mm wide and 200mm deep.
43
How do you construct a pad foundation?
Formed by rectangular, square, or sometimes circular concrete ‘pads’ that support localised single-point loads such as structural columns, groups of columns or framed structures. This load is then spread by the pad to the bearing layer of soil or rock below For low-rise buildings, it is generally recommended to limit the overall depth of a pad foundation to 1 m from ground level.
44
What is a strip foundation?
A continuous strip of concrete supporting load-bearing walls
45
What are pad foundations?
Pad foundations are typically used to support individual or multiple columns. Usually square or rectangular, and can be reinforced or non reinforced.
46
What are the technical advantages of concrete frames?
* One of the most fire resistant materials * Cladding and other finishes can be fixed to the structure * Good heat and sound insulation - energy efficient * High compressive strength
47
What are the technical disadvantages of concrete frames?
* Require formwork * Slower to construct on site * Requires a bulky structure * Long curing time * Low tensile strength
48
What are the technical advantages of steel frames?
* Faster to erect than concrete * Recycable * High strength to weight ratio * Beams can span over long distances
49
What are the technical disadvantages of steel frames?
* Typically have a lower load bearing than concrete * Fire protection may be required * Price can be volatile * Steel frame does not have the same acoustic and thermal properties of a concrete frame
50
What is the size of a typical brick
215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
51
How many bricks are in a m2?
60 bricks per m2
52
What are retaining walls?
Retaining walls hold/retain the soil behind it To resist lateral pressure of soil where there is a change in ground elevation
53
What are formworks?
The structure, usually temporary, used to pour and mould concrete to the required dimensions. Usually stripped away once concrete has hardened and can support itslrf.
54
What is shoring?
Temporary form of support to make structure safe. Lateral support
55
What is intumescent paint?
A reactive paint that swells up when exposed to high temperatures such as fire Used to protect load-bearing elements from the spread and damage of fire. Protects structure underneath.
56
What are retaining walls?
A retaining wall retains/holds back soil behind it to resist lateral pressure of soil where there is a change in ground elevation
57
What construction materials have you worked with?
Concrete Wood Brick/masonry Steel Glass UPVC/plastic Aluminium
58
What do you understand by underpinning?
Underpinning is the process of strengthening the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Common reasons include: -original foundation is not strong or stable enough -structure use has changed -soil supporting the structure has changed incl subsidence -To increase depth/load of foundations to accommodate additional stories/loads
59
What was the underlying cause of the Grenfell Tower fire?
Originated from a faulty fridge freezer Flames broke out of the kitchen window and set the cladding alight - combustible cladding Compartmentalization failed due to flammable cladding Stay put policy
60
What is the RIBA Plan of Works? and what are the stages?
The RIBA Plan of Work organises the process of briefing, designing, constructing and operating building projects into eight stages and explains the stage outcomes, core tasks and information exchanges required at each stage. 0 - Strategic Definition 1 - Preparation and briefing 2 - Concept design 3 - Spatial Coordination - PA 4 - Technical Design - BC & T 5 - Manufacturing and Construction 6 - Handover 7 - In Use
61
What are the stages of design and construction from inception to completion?
1. Design 2. Preconstruction 3. Procurement 4. Construction 5. Post-construction stage
62
What is the impact of current legislation regulations and standards, both national and international on your work?
Better/safer working practices, and greater consideration towards risk eradication/minisation/control * Protect people from harm * Improve fire and building safety * Ensure works carried out are safe * Risk management. Minimisation of risks.
63
Tell me about how the various elements of a building work and interrelate, including: substructures superstructures mechanical electrical elevation fenestration
Work together to support, enclose and protect the structure Substructure: supports substructures, and transmits loads of the building to the ground Superstructure: supported by the substructure, provides external shell of the structure. Mechanical and electrical: ventilate, heat the structure Fenestration: design/construction of openings in the building. Air, heat, ventilation control.
64
How do you adhere to CDM 2015?
* Make sure suitable welfare facilities availale * Provide relevent PCI information in good time * Allow adequate time for each project * Comment and approve CPP and H&S file * Notify where applicable
65
How do you adhere to CDM 2015?
* Make sure suitable welfare facilities availale * Provide relevent PCI information in good time * Allow adequate time for each project * Comment and approve CPP and H&S file * Notify where applicable
66
Tell me about your understanding of alternative construction details in relation to functional elements of the design, such as different types of piling or structural frame solutions?
Different construction methods for a wide range of applications, different considerations. i.e. load, ground conditions, water presence, weather, cost, material durability, accessibility, proximity to other structures, load, design function. For example foundations: -Shallow or deep dependant on ground conditions -pile, raft, pad, strip -different design types: i.e. piling: end-bearing, friction, driven depending on ground conditions and loading
67
What are mains services?
This is the general term used to cover the connection to the property of drainage, water, gas and electricity.
68
What surveys would you expect to undertaken prior to designing a foundation?
Desktop Walkover Direct investigation: * Soil investigations - trial pit * Services * Topographical * Ecological * Utility
69
What dangerous or banned substances are you aware of?
* Asbestos and asbestos containing materials * Lead
70
Name the types of asbestos?
Crocidolite amosite chrysotile
71
Where can you typically find asbestos?
Cement gutters and downpipes Corrugated roofs Insulated boards Floor and ceiling tiles Lagging Textiles Soffits
72
Areas where you could be at risk of asbestos
Confined space Unventilated areas Disturbed areas Building constructed prior to 2000
73
How should asbestos be removed?
Carefully and safely be a competent asbestos removal contractor licensed by HSE.

APC Project Management (23 decks)

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