3.5 Construction Tech

Question 1

What are the RIBA Stages?

Answer 1

0 - Strategic Def
1 - Preparation and Brief
2 - Concept Design
3 - Spatial Coordination
4 - Technical design
5 - Manufacturing and Construction
6 - Handover
7 - Use

Question 2

What are the benefits of off-site construction?

Answer 2

• Safety
• Efficiency
• Sustainability
• Speed
• Quality

Question 3

Techniques of waterproofing a basement?

Answer 3

• Tanking - using materials such as asphalt, polythene sheeting, bitumen
• Drained cavity - create a cavity wall with drainage in-between to remove the water that seeps.

Question 4

Typical road build-up?

Answer 4

Wearing/ surface - 20-40mm
Binder - 50-100mm
Base - 70-150mm
Subbase/type 1 - 100-250mm

Question 5

Typical footpath build-up?

Answer 5

Similar to road build-up but sometimes you don’t need base course.

Question 6

What should be considered when selecting foundations?

Answer 6

-The load of the building.
-Nature of the ground.
-Type of structure
-Cost.
-Construction constraints (proximity to adjacent buildings).

Question 7

What are the different foundation types?

Answer 7

• Strip foundations - typically used for masonry linear.
• Pad foundations - support columns.
• Raft foundations - continuous slab.
• Piled foundations - columns into the ground.

Question 8

What are the types of pile foundations and the construction methods?

Answer 8

Types of piles:
-Friction
-End bearing
-Construction methods:
-Driven
-Bored

Question 9

How many standard bricks per m/2?

Answer 9

60

Question 10

How many concrete standard blocks per m/2?

Answer 10

10

Question 11

What are the main components of concrete?

Answer 11

Cement
Aggregate
Water

Question 12

What site surveys are required for typical construction?

Answer 12

Topo survey
Asbestos
GPR
Drainage CCTV
Flood risk assessment
CBR test
Archaeologist

Question 13

Fire extinguisher types?

Answer 13

Water - dry solid materials
Foam - flammable liquids
Dry power - flammable liquids
Co2 - electrical
Wet chemical - cooking oil

Question 14

What are building regulations and examples of them?

Answer 14

Ensure buildings are safe, healthy and high performing.
-Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
-Part M - Access to and use of buildings

Question 15

What are modern methods of construction with examples?

Answer 15

Innovative ways to build structure. Ways to save time, money, or increase quality.
- Modular building / 3D volumetric construction
- Prefabrication (SIPs)
- Precast concrete

Question 16

Composite materials in construction?

Answer 16

• Reinforced concrete
• Glulam / plywood
• Reinforced plastics

Question 17

What is the ICMS?

Answer 17

Sets international standard for cost management created by the RICS for
- latest edition updates life cycle costing and carbon emissions

Question 18

What is the IPMS?

Answer 18

International property measurement standard.

Question 19

What is the difference between Value Management and Value Engineering?

Answer 19

VE - design alteration to increase value.
VM - brief alteration to manage value.

Question 20

Concrete Curing Time

Answer 20

Sets enough to walk on in 24-48 hours
80% of its strength after 7 days
Generally 28 days to “finish” curing

Question 21

Advantages and Disadvantages of Steel construction

Answer 21

Advantages:
-High Strength to weight
-Ductile not brittle
-Speed in erection
Disadvantages:
-Expensive to produce
-Fireproofing (1/3 of steel costs on Pershore)
-Maintenance

Question 22

Advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete construction

Answer 22

Advantages:
-High tensile and compressive strength
-Fire resistance
-Low maintenance
Disadvantages:
-Hard to store - starts to set as soon as it is mixed
-Cost of formwork is high
-Thicker structure = bigger foundations

Question 23

Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber construction

Answer 23

Advantages:
-Environmentally friendly
-Sound absorption
-Lightweight structure = lighter foundations
Disadvantages:
-Shrinkage and swelling
-Susceptible to mould and mites.