C1 - Construction Technology and Environmental Services Flashcards
(45 cards)
1
Q
What types of foundation are there?
A
- Strip
- Raft
- Piled
2
Q
What types of pile foundation are there?
A
- Friction - Suspended within the ground
- End bearing - Hits strong soil or bedrock
3
Q
What is the DDA?
A
- Disability Discrimination Act
4
Q
Steel or concrete, key differences in constructing frame?
A
- Steel = Longer lead time / Fast erection time
- Steel = Building can be occupied sooner
- Steel = Lighter overall, less expensive foundations
- Steel = Needs fire protection
- Concrete = Naturally fireproof
- Concrete = Shorter lead time / Slow erection time
- Concrete = Needs stronger foundations as frame is heavier
- Concrete = Reduced insurance premiums as the structure is more solid
- Costs are similar
5
Q
How do you enhance your construction knowledge?
A
- Visit site
- Shadow senior colleagues
- Attend seminars
- Building Regulations - Keep up to date
6
Q
How would the Building Regs impact on your cost plans?
A
- Changes in regs regarding sustainable technologies
- Floorslab insulation increased 75 > 100mm
- Rainwater harvesting
- LED Lighting incorporation
7
Q
Have you came across the term SUDS?
A
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
- SUDS work by slowing and holding back the water that runs off from a site, allowing natural processes to break down pollutants
8
Q
What are the different types of asbestos survey?
A
- Type 1 - Buildings surveyed without sampling or checking in inaccessible places
- Type 2 - Buildings surveyed and possible ACMs analysed by a UKAS accredited laboratory, and where possible inaccessible places inspected and if necessary sampled
- Type 3 - A full survey normally carried out prior to a building’s demolition. This type of survey is similar to type 2, however all areas must be inspected if there is a risk of asbestos content
9
Q
Where would you go to find out if a material was banned from use in construction?
A
British Standards Online
10
Q
Name some subsances banned from use in UK construction?
A
- Asbestos
- Urea formaldehyde
- High alumnia cement in structural elements
11
Q
What does FCU/AHU/VAV stand for?
A
- Fan Coil Unit
- Air Handling Unit
- Variable Air Volume Unit
12
Q
Why do we install generators in buildings?
A
- Act as back up power supply should the primary power supply fail
- Becoming less common as technical advances are being in UPS’s (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
13
Q
What is a UPS and why is it required?
A
- An Uninterruptible Power Supply is a device that maintains a continuous supply of electric power to certain essential equipment that must not be shut down unexpectedly
- Typically installed in hospitals for life critical equipment and IT servers
14
Q
What is slip forming?
A
- A method for constructing a repetitive structure such as a core, lift shaft or stairwell
- The formwork constantly moves upwards on hydraulic jacks
- The concrete that becomes exposed must be cured enough to support its own weight
15
Q
What are raised access floors?
A
- A floor raised on pedestals above the concrete slab
- Allows services to be located within trays e.g. IT cables
- Tiled system which allows access to required areas
- Mostly found in office fit-outs
16
Q
What is the dimensions of a standard brick?
A
- 225 x 112.5 x 65mm
17
Q
What are the factors that might affect the choice materials for internal partitions?
A
- Fire rating requirements
- Restriction for noise (Db rating)
- Visually – Opaque/Transparent
- Fixed or movable
- Strength - If anything is to be fixed to the wall
18
Q
What is Cat A or Category A fit out?
A
A Cat A fit out will provide a basic level of finish. This may include raised floors, suspended ceilings and internal surfaces, along with basic mechanical and electrical services. While Cat A spaces will have a floor and alls, they’ll be quite basic and finished to an industrial standard.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that a landlord may request for the space to be returned back to them in Cat A condition at the end of the tenancy
What’s usually included in a Category A fit out:
- Raised floors and suspended ceilings (with a basic finish)
- Basic mechanical and electrical services
- Fire detection services and smoke alarms
- Air-conditioning and ventilation (HVAC)
- Basic internal finishes
19
Q
What is Cat B or Category B fit out?
A
- A Cat B fit out provides you with a workspace in a finished condition that’s ready for your staff to move into. At this point, tenants will often work with office designers, property consultants and architects to determine how the space can be used to maximise
productivity for the client and boost their bottom line. - A Cat B fit out tends to include interior partitions to divide up the space and create offices, meeting rooms and breakout spaces. At this stage, you’ll also choose the final finish for the floors, walls and doors (including textures and colours) to reflect your corporate culture and branding. Cat B also covers the planning and installation of IT infrastructure, ensuring enough power outlets and AV facilities are available to support your working style.
20
Q
What is Shell and Core?
A
A Shell and Core is the basic internal framework of the building that has been completed. At this point an office building will look complete from the outside, however the space will simply be an empty shell on the inside. If a developer is planning to hand over a project in this state, it is unlikely you’d have any level of polished finish, so expect to see concrete floors and exposed ceilings. A Shell and Core fit out may have shared areas completed, for example; the building reception, lifts and communal toilets, however it’s best to check this with your developer
21
Q
What are O&Ms?
A
- Operation & Maintenance Manuals
- Produced by the contractor & issued to the client / building owner
- Includes all information relation to how the building has been constructed, should be maintained, cleaned, decommissioned
- Includes as built drawings, specifications of all the services and operational manuals
22
Q
Name some cooling methods
A
- Fan Coil Unit: Fresh intake, Heating/Cool Units, Fans, Ducts. Inefficient.
- VRF: Outdoor Unit; saves space, expensive to re-configure when installed.
- Chilled Beam: Good for floor to floor height, good for energy use. Expensive.
23
Q
Name some heating methods
A
- MVHR; requires high levels of airtightness, requires high maintenance.
- Air Source Heat Pump; low efficiency in cold temperatures, Lower heat supply than boilers.
- Ground Source Heat Pump; need to be installed into the ground, can be more expensive than air source.
24
Q
Describe the secant wall construction process. Why was it required on fleet street? Were there alternative methods that could have been used?
A
- Guide wall is installed first.
- Female piles which are unreinforced are entered into the ground
- Male piles are entered in next.
- Capping Beam
25
Pros of Secant Wall?
- Minimal vibration
- Less noisy
- Greater wall stiffness
- Can go through underground obstructions
- Good for complex site boundaries
26
Cons of Secant Wall?
- Difficult to achieve waterproofing.
- More expensive when compared to sheet pile walls
- Vertical tolerances may be hard to achieve.
27
What are the levels of basement waterproofing?
- 1. Car Parks, Plant rooms without electricity
- 2. Electrical plant
- 3. Habitable, residential/offices
- 4. Habitable & containing archives
28
Advantages of sheet piling
- Lightweight
- Reusable
- Little maintenance required
29
Disadvantages of sheet piling
- Rocky terrains won't work, it cannot puncture through
- Neighbourhood disturbance
- Most sheets are temporary & require removal
30
How do piles transfer their loads to the ground?
- Columns transfer the substructure to the ground level.
- Pile caps transfer that load to the pile below
- Pile transfer their load to the substrate below.
31
What is more cost effective, steel or concrete frame?
- Steel is generally the cheaper option.
- This depends on market fluctuations, concrete is a much more stable market when compared to Steel.
- Steel requires prefabrication on site but is quicker to erect, no curing time.
32
What is the difference between rainscreen cladding and curtain walling?
- The primary difference between the two types of glass cladding is that curtain walling is usually the whole building envelope, which is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building.
33
Describe the construction methods for curtain walling
- Panels are developed off-site.
- Anchors are installed to the slab.
- Erect mullions & horizontals
- Ensure there is a sealed surface.
34
Describe the advice you gave to the client regarding different construction technologies on fleet street?
- We priced bomb blast resistant internal walls to the ground floor.
- I advised on using prefabricated HMCTS custody suite cells, rather than wet trades. This helped us reduce the programme pressures.
35
What programme advice did you give? Is this within your professional remit?
I have given the Client some general feedback on which methods taken longer than others. However, I would always make sure the advice is detailed & correct.
36
What are R-ratings?
- The 'R' stands for 'ramp test'. This 'R' value ranges from R9, which has a small degree of slip resistance, right up to R13, which is the highest slip resistance.
- R9: good for domestic applications to hallways etc.
- R13: Changing rooms etc.
37
What is GGBS?
- Cementitious material whose main use is in concrete and is a by-product from the blast-furnaces used to make iron.
- Slight increase to curing times.
- Could be used in horizontal slabs, but not columns & core walls etc.
38
What happens if you were not to comply with building regulations?
- Building Control may serve a "section 36 notice" requiring rectification of works which do not comply with building regulations within 28 days.
- If the building owner does not comply, Building Control can carry out the works themselves and recover the cost from the owner of the property.
- The section 36 notice must be served within 12 months of the breach.
39
How is a stud partition made?
- Baseplate and top plate
- Vertical and horizontal timber or metal studs
- Plasterboard or gyroc boards screwed and fixed into studs
- Firestop and smoke seal added to the top of the partition
40
What is the full name of Part B?
- Fire safety: Approved Document B
- Volume 1: Dwellings
- Volume 2: Buidlings Other Than Dwellings
41
What is Part L building regs?
- Conservation of fuel and power
42
What is Part M building regs?
- Access to and use of buildings
43
What is modular construction?
- Modular construction is the idea of constructing a building off-site and bringing it in once the work is complete.
44
What are the benefits of modular construction?
- Saves Costs: Factory labor is more efficient in an assembly line format and materials can be ordered in higher volumes, cutting out subcontractor overhead.
- Save Time: The factory can build modules concurrently as site and foundation work is underway. Traditional construction can not begin until site and foundation work is completed.
- Save Waste: Materials can be recycled within the factory and the assembly line process leads to more accurate construction.
- No Weather Issues: The factory-controlled setting reduces the risk of delays and damaged materials due to weather.
- Safer: There is less risk of worker accidents since construction occurs indoors and within a structured process.
- Quality Control: Modules are built to meet or exceed the same local, state, and national regulations and codes as traditionally built buildings.
45
What are the disadvantages of modular construction?
- Transportation: The factory where modules are built may be distant from the construction site and there are inherent risks in transporting such large loads. The further away the factory is from the building site, the more costly as well.
- Size Constraints: Modules are restricted to the size and capability of the trucks transporting them. Thus, modules are typically restricted to maximum dimensions of 16′ widths and 70′ lengths.
- Site Constraints: An irregularly shaped site may pose design issues since modules are usually rectangularly shaped.
- Inflexible: Unlike traditional builds where design updates can be made during construction (where to install electrical outlets for instance), modules are pre-built so making updates once modules leave the factory are difficult.
- Permitting and Inspection Issues: The permitting process may vary state-to-state but in California, the modules are permitted at the state-level and the site-work is permitted by local jurisdictions. Sometimes, local jurisdictions may refuse to accept the state-level permit for module interiors.
