Construction Tech Flashcards
Tell me about a time you gave your client advice on a design solution
On the Cricklewood project during the pre construction phase, the delivery team needed to assess the condition of the roof.
The building was 4 storeys high so it posed implications how to go about carrying out the roof survey.
I presented two options that can be used to assess the roof.
- Setup scaffolding, around the perimeter of the building. During the construction phase this would be erected regardless, but by doing this now the scaffolding would be set up earlier. However I had to consider value for money in this instance. The scaffolding would take a long time to erect just for a roof survey, it would be costly and between the design and construction stage the scaffolding cost would be inefficient due to it being unused
- Another option I considered was making a use of drone surveys, which were much cheaper, quicker to setup and the health and safety associated with drones over scaffolding was safer. However drone surveys were prone to weather conditions, and the quality was lower compared to assessing in person.
I presented a comparison between the two and weighed up the pros and cons to my client and ultimately chose to use the drone surveys.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using drones to carry out site surveys?
Advantages:
Fairly safe to use
Quick and easy
Cheaper over scaffolding
Disadvantages:
Low quality
Prone to weather conditions
How did you estimate the cost of scaffolding vs surveys? How did you measure the building?
NRM tends to deal with scaffolding as number per weeks so by utilising previous quotes I worked out the average rate per square meter to adjust it for the size of the building.
I also consulted our framework contractors to confirm the figure is within a suitable range and presented it as a range.
For drone surveys I found an estimate of £1200 from a previous project.
With regards to your site visit on Mercury House, how did this impact your understanding of the construction methods?
Cricklewood allowed me to understand the level of surveys required for maintaining the asthetic of the building
Internal and external scaffolding and the time it takes to put those up. I think it took 4 weeks to even prepare it
I got a good understanding of flat roofs
How did extending the project timeline impact project? budgets?
This obviously increased prelims by two weeks and therefore the cost. I believe the weekly cost was under £5,000 which included project management and scaffolding
I effectively had to consider a whole life cycle cost rather than just construction
What is substructure?
All elements of work that are undertaken below the damp proof course that provides the basis for the
superstructure to be constructed upon.
What are the Building Regulations
Regulations that set out the minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings.
What are the approved documents?
A. Structure.-Provides guidance on ensuring that the structure of a building is robust and stable.
B. Fire safety. - Covers fire safety measures in buildings, including means of escape, fire resistance of materials and structures, and fire detection and alarm systems.
F. Ventilation. - Offers guidance on providing adequate ventilation within buildings to maintain air quality and prevent issues such as condensation and mold growt
H. Drainage and waste disposal. - Covers requirements for sanitation facilities, hot water systems, and water efficiency measures in buildings.
What is superstructure?
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.
What are the typical components of site investigations?
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.
What is the purpose of soil investigations?
- 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.
What are temporary works?
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
What temporary works are you aware of?
Scaffolding
Cranes
Shoring
What is a scaffold?
- 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.
What is shoring?
- 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.
What is a borehole?
- 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.
What are piles?
Piles transfer loads from the structure to the ground, helping to support it. Pile foundations are often used where the ground is too weak to underpin the structure.