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RICS APC > Con Tech Competency > Flashcards

Con Tech Competency Flashcards

1
Q

What is buildability? 

A

Buildability is how the design of a building facilitates the ease of construction. Early contractor involvement can assist due to their experience and expertise for buildability. 

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2
Q

What are the building regulations? 

A

The building regulations set out minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings. They are supported by the approved documents.

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3
Q

Can you explain what operational and maintenance manuals are?

A

Upon building completion operation and maintenance manuals are issued to the client to inform them how the building has been constructed and how it should be cleaned maintained and decommissioned 

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4
Q

What might be included in the operation and maintenance manuals? 

A

It would include as built drawings and specifications and certificates for example, electrical gas and fire certificates


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5
Q

Can you walk me through the methodical erection of a building?

A

On the Kingsway the piles were board and cast; the ground floor slab was cast first column were affected; form work put in place for upper floors; first floor slab was cast on top of this; process repeated until all floors were completed external envelope and roof was fitted; internal walls and partitions were erected with first fix M&E; plasterboard fitted and skimming if required; suspended ceilings and raised access floors fitted; finishes and secondary M&E; external works

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6
Q

What surveys would be carried out on a new site?

A

Topographical; archaeological; asbestos; desktop study; drainage CCTV; California bearing ratio (CBR test)

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7
Q

Why are site investigations important?

A

Site investigations could establish foundation and substructure design; also assesses ground conditions and contamination that could affect construction or safety

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8
Q

What is a California bearing ratio test?

A

Test the load-bearing capacity of the ground to inform the foundation design and construction

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9
Q

Are you aware of any vegetation that could cause issues for construction?

A

I am aware of Japanese knot weed and I understand further guidance can be sorted in the RICS Japanese knot weed and residential property guidance

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10
Q

What is a design and access statement?

A

Design and access statement is a short report that accompanies the planning application to demonstrate how the building has been designed and can be accessed by prospective users

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11
Q

What do you understand about the benefits of prefabrication?

A

The quality can be controlled in factories; it can reduce building time on site which can provide program efficiencies; it can be considered sustainable due to less waste on site; health and safety can be improved for site workers

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12
Q

What are some of the drawbacks of prefabrication?

A
  • The immediate cost can be higher
  • Materials may not be sustainably sourced as a lot of MMC takes place in other countries
  • can have a negative effect on social sustainability as it may limit opportunities for local workers
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13
Q

What are the risks of prefabrication?

A

Item may not fit when delivered to site; client doesn’t have control over quality; materials could get damaged in transit

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14
Q

How can the risk of damage be mitigated with prefabricated building elements?

A

Conducting a Factory Acceptance Test before departing the facility; conducting a Site Acceptance Test post arrival on site

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15
Q

What are temporary works?

A

Parts of construction projects that are required to enable the permanent building to be built

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16
Q

Can you provide some examples of temporary works?

A

Propping; scaffolding; formwork; excavation support

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17
Q

What is a hoist? 

A

A lift for material and people transportation up and down the building

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18
Q

What is a culvert? 

A

A tunnel like structure that allows water to flow under a road railway or other obstruction

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19
Q

What is a substructure? 

A

The lower part of the building underground that supports the superstructure and transfers loads to the ground; this can include foundations basements and retaining walls

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20
Q

What is ground heave? 

A

The swelling of the ground causing an upward movement that can affect foundations and buildings

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21
Q

Can you name some different forms of excavation? 

A

Site clearance; topsoil strip; cut and fill; excavation for substructures or basements

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22
Q

What key factors should a contractor consider when excavating? 

A

Working space allowance; proximity to existing structures; nature of the soil; depth of excavation; requirement for earthwork support

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23
Q

What considerations are given when selecting the type and size of foundations? 

A

Loadings of the building; type of structure; cost; construction restraints for example proximity to other buildings

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24
Q

What type of foundations are you aware of? 

A

Pad foundations; piled foundations; raft foundations; strip foundations

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25
Q

What is a raft foundation?

A

Continuous slap the stretches over the whole footprint of the building 

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26
Q

What is a pad foundation? 

A

Pad foundation uses individual foundations to support columns spreading the loads across the ground below

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27
Q

What are strip foundations?

A

Strip foundations are linear strips that serves to spread weight across the total ground area typically use to support masonry works 

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28
Q

Why might you use piled foundations? 

A

To support large structures the require loadings to be distributed to the ground below; may be adopted where site conditions require more reinforced foundation solution 

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29
Q

What is the difference between end bearing piles and friction piles?

A

End bearing piles rest on hard ground beneath the surface; friction piles work to transfer loads to the soil around each pile

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30
Q

What is the difference between bored piles and driven piles?

A

Board piles are manufactured on site where hole in the ground is excavated and the pile is manufactured and cast on site; driven piles are generally manufactured offsite in a factory prefabricated and then driven into the ground using a pile drill 

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31
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of bored piles?

A

Advantages include: any shape or size of pile can be matched on site; no risk of damage during delivery; reduced vibration and noise

Disadvantages include: coordination of multiple trades for example reinforcement crew, piling crew, concrete supplier; significant spoils are generated that need to be disposed of

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32
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of driven piles?

A

Advantages include:
-piles can be pre-cast any specific requirements
- bearing capacity of the pile may increase
- fast, neat and clean installation
- suitable for contaminated ground

Disadvantages include:
- requires heavy equipment for handling and delivery
- increase noise and vibration
- can be costly if piles are short
- precast piles can be damaged during delivery

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33
Q

What is a retaining wall?

A

Retaining walls hold back the ground behind it; typical purpose is to resist the lateral pressure of soil where there is a change in ground elevation

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34
Q

What are secant piled walls?

A

A wall that uses a female and male interlocking pile with no gaps creating a solid barrier

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35
Q

What is underpinning and when might it be required?

A

Underpinning is a method for repairing and strengthening foundations; it may be required to stabilise foundations that have moved because of landslide; affected by vibration damage; affected by heave or subsidence

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36
Q

What issues may be encountered on an enclosed site?

A

Materials may need to be stored offsite; site cabins may need to be located offsite

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37
Q

What are the key design considerations for external walls?

A

Weather protection
Fire resistance
Acoustic performance
Thermal performance
Appearance
Lifespan
Maintenance requirements

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38
Q

 what is a retained facade?

A

A facade that is kept the same while the building is being restored. Retain fades are often used when restoring listed buildings.

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39
Q

How many bricks are in a metre squared?

A

60 

40
Q

How many blocks are in a metre squared?

A

10

41
Q

What are weep holes?

A

Small openings incorporated into the outer skin of masonry work to provide ventilation for cavity

42
Q

What is a curtain walling system?

A

A lightweight aluminium frame onto which glazed or opaque panels can be fixed

43
Q

What is a movement joint and why are they used?

A

A movement joint is designed a slab to safely absorb the expansion and contraction of the construction

44
Q

What factors influence the choice of material in a structural frame?

A

Client requirements
Program requirements
Availability of cost and resources
Appearance and quality

45
Q

What are the difference between dead loads and live loads?

A

Dead loads are weights throughout the building that will stay the same, for example kitchens and walls

Live loads are weights throughout the building that will change, for example people and furniture

46
Q

What is reinforced concrete?

A

Uses a combination of concrete and reinforcement such as steel bars

47
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a timber frame?

A

Advantages:
Construction on site may may be faster
Structure is lightweight
Can be aesthetically pleasing
Has sustainability benefits

Disadvantages:
Skilled workmanship required
Potential for wet dry rot or woodworm
Fire protection may be required

48
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel frames?

A

Advantages:
Fast erection on site
Recyclable
High strength to weight ratio
Beams can span over long distances

Disadvantages:
Price of steel is volatile
Fire protection may be required

49
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete frames?

A

Advantages:
Fire protection is inherent
Cladding and other finishes can be fixed directly to the frame
Provides good sound and heat insulation
Has a high compressive strength

Disadvantages :
Requires formwork
Slower to construct on site
Does not span as well as steel
Long curing time, which can increase program

50
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using steel frame versus concrete frame?

A

Steel is more lightweight, which could reduce the foundation requirements
Concrete has inherent fire protection, whereas this would be an additional cost for steel frame
Program can be lengthy for concrete frames, but using precast could bring program benefits
Comes with sustainability benefits due to its high recyclability

51
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using precast concrete vs in situ?

A

Precast concrete could provide programme benefits as curing time is not required
Pre-concrete materials could be damaged en route to site
Quality of precast units can be controlled within the factory

52
Q

What factors should be considered when selecting the type of structural frame?

A

Program, including erection and lead-in time
Fire protection requirements
Cost of materials
Quality and finish
Thermal performance
Acoustic performance

53
Q

What are the key factors to consider when designing internal partitions?

A

Thermal performance
Acoustic performance
Height of partition
Fire rating requirement
Strength and structure requirements, including any fixings anticipated to the walls

54
Q

What are the categories of fit out?

A

Shell and core
Cat A (basic)
Cat B (fit out finish)

55
Q

What is a cat a fit out?

A

Basic level of finish including raised access floors, suspended ceilings and M&E fixings

56
Q

What is a cat b fit out?

A

Inclusive of cat a and also but not limited to:
Café, tea points and kitchens
Furniture
Decor 

57
Q

What is a raised access floor?

A

A floor system that sits on pedestals to create a void for mechanical and electrical services

58
Q

Why do we install generators in addition to regular grid power?

A

As a backup supply should the primary power source fail

59
Q

What is a UPS and why might a client require one?

A

A UPS is an uninterrupted power supply and it may be required to ensure there is no break in power

A client may need a UPS for projects such as hospitals and data centres

60
Q

What does HVAC stand for?

A

Heating ventilation and air-conditioning

61
Q

What is natural ventilation?

A

A method of supplying fresh air to the building without the requirement of a ventilation system

62
Q

What is mechanical ventilation?

A

Ventilation driven by a fan so air can flow from outdoors into a building

May be appropriate for high-rise buildings where curtain walling systems form the envelope

63
Q

What is rain screen cladding used for?

A

Rain screen cladding is a system that manages the flow of rainwater on a building

64
Q

What is an air source heat pump and how does it work?

A

An air source heat pump takes heat from the air and boost it to a higher temperature using a compressor

It would then transfer this heat to a heating system for distribution

(Like how a fridge becomes cold but in reverse)

65
Q

What fire safety provisions are you aware of in buildings?

A

Fire evacuation plans
Sprinklers
Fire alarms
Evacuation chairs
Emergency exit signs
Fire extinguisher

66
Q

What is fire compartmentation?

A

Fire compartmentation is subdividing a building into compartments to limit the spread of fire and smoke

67
Q

What is intumescent paint?

A

Fire protection system used to reduce the impact of the structure of a building

When exposed to high temperatures, innocent paint rapidly expands to protect the surface it is applied to

68
Q

What is a man safe fall arrest system?

A

A horizontal or vertical safety line designed to keep people safe whilst they are working at height

Usually found on the roofs of buildings

69
Q

What kind of things do you need to consider when  working on a refurbishment?

A

Does any consideration need to be given to retain elements, for example frame strengthening
Asbestos present in the building
Are there any planning restrictions

70
Q

What are the different types of fire extinguisher?

A

Water (wood, cardboard, textiles)
Foam (flammable liquid)
Dry powder (flammable liquids and electric fires)
Carbon dioxide (electrical fires)
Wet chemical (cooking oil)

71
Q

What components build up a road?

A

Compacted and rolled type one subbase (250mm)
Base course (100mm)
Binder course (50mm)
Wearing or surface course (20/30mm)

72
Q

What are the different approved documents?

A

Approved document A - structure
Approved document B - fire safety
Approved document C - site prep and resistance to contaminants and moisture
Approved document D - toxic substances
Approved document E - resistance to sound
Approved document F - ventilation
Approved document G - sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency
Approved document H - drainage and waste disposal
Approved document J - combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
Approved document K - protection from falling, collision and impact
Approved document L - conservation of fuel and power
Approved document M - access to and use of buildings
Approved document O - overheating
Approved document P - electrical safety
Approved document Q - security in dwellings
Approved document R - infrastructure for electronic communications
Approved document S - infrastructure for charging electric vehicles

73
Q

Can you name some of the approved documents?

A

I am aware of:

Approved document a - structures
Approved document b - fire safety
Approved document L - conservation of fuel and power
Approved document M - access and use of buildings
Approved document o - overheating 

74
Q

What are the different stages of the RIBA plan of Work?

A

Stage 0 - strategic definition
QS- Prepare Client Requirements / Benchmark / Feasibility Studies

Stage 1 - Preparation and briefing
QS- Feasibility Study

Stage 2 - Concept Design
QS - Formal Cost Plan 1
Elemental LCC

Stage 3 - Spatial Coordination
QS - Formal Cost Plan 2
Tender documents & issuance

Stage 4 - Technical Design
QS - Formal Cost Plan 3
Tender review

Stage 5 - Manufacturing and construction
QS - post contract cost reporting / valuations / variations

Stage 6 - Handover
QS - Final Account / release of retention

Stage 7 - In use
QS - dealing with defects / release of remaining retention

75
Q

How does the RIBA Plan of Work help with effective management?

A

Keeps designers and consultants at the correct progression to ensure design information aligns and design adheres to client budget at each stage to ensure scheme remains viable

76
Q

What considerations may you give when working on new build developments?

A

Site constraints
Survey requirements
Ecological requirements
Client requirements
Design solutions

77
Q

What do you understand by modern methods of construction?

A

Modern methods of construction generally adopts an offsite fabrication methodology to produce certain elements of a building. For example, bathroom pods for hotels could be manufactured offsite and lifted into separate rooms.

78
Q

Can you tell me a bit about the modern methods of construction report produced by the RICS?

A

The report looks at the advantages of modern methods of construction, various different solutions for example cross laminated timber and modular construction solutions, such as bathroom pods

The report also highlights barriers for implementing modern method of construction on projects, for example, lack of quality control, Supply chain development and consumer perception

79
Q

What construction solutions were considered when working on the oak house refurbishment?

A

Retaining existing frame and slab, or demolishing and breaking out foundations to rebuild

High security facility solutions, such as secure line options and well-being options, eg windows and roof lights

External works options to raise floating floor level locally or via ramp

80
Q

What potential issues could come with working on a live airfield?

A

Ground contamination from aviation fuel
Working in close proximity to moving aircraft’s
The requirement for airside insurance

81
Q

What potential issues can come with working on a live airfield in relation to design considerations and construction technologies?

A

Specialist subcontractors required for manufacture of certain elements, for example,
the span of the aircraft hangars needed to be large enough to fit the whole length and width of the planes
The doors needed to be specially made to allow the back of the aircraft to sit outside the hangar
Where the plane sits outside the hangar, the aircraft needed to be secure and sealed, so a bouncy castle manufacturer was consulted to produce a special ring for the aircraft doors

82
Q

What was the difference in the external wall cost between the stage 2 and stage 3 cost plans for CiNER glass?

A

Stage 2 was around £14m, Stage 3 was around £19m

83
Q

Beside cost, what other considerations did you have when informing the client and design team to omit the glazing in lieu of cladding? For CiNER glass?

A

Appearance
Acoustic performance
Thermal performance
Light into the building

84
Q

How was the glazing affixed to the building on CiNER glass?

A

It was anticipated that the glazing was secured using a stick frame system, and the timber fins would be overlaid connected directly to the structural steel frame 

85
Q

What is ballistic board?

A

A product used that can take a bullet three times in one location

Used for secure facilities

86
Q

What are the alternatives to ballistic board? To meet the security requirements?

A

The alternatives were an 8 mm steel plate or a 200 mm blockwork wall

87
Q

How much did you include in your cost estimate for the ballistic board?

A

£350 per metre squared

88
Q

What cost per meter square did you include for the 200 mm blockeork wall?

A

£175 per metre squared

89
Q

What other design considerations did you make when suggesting the design team use the 200 mm blockwork wall for Oak house?

A

I considered the additional depth required to accommodate the blockwork wall which would slightly decrease the gross and internal

I considered the thermal performance of the blockwork vs the ballistic board

I considered the acoustic requirements for the secure line

I considered the clients requirements and ensured my suggestion of executing the blockwork wall aligned with their expectations

90
Q

On CiNER glass, you mention if the client used a steel frame the substructures could be reduced to a more economical solution. What would be your other considerations, besides cost, that could affect which foundations are adopted?

A

Ground conditions
Site topography
Groundwater table
Soil bearing capacity (can use a CBR test to find this)

91
Q

What are the various grades of basement waterproofing?

A
  • Grade 1 = Basic utility, eg car park / plant
  • Grade 2 = Better utility, eg workshops / plant
  • Grade 3 = Habitable, eg office / living spaces
  • Grade 4 = Special requirements, areas with high water tables and contaminated land
92
Q

What are the ways in which a basement can be waterproofed?

A
  • Waterproof concrete
  • Drain cavity (sump pumps in cavity to remove excess water)
  • Waterproof membrane
  • Damp proof course / damp proof membrane
93
Q

What could effect the cost of a wall?

A
  • Height
  • Length
  • Fire requirements
  • Thermal performance
  • Acoustic performance
  • Specialist requirements, eg ballistic board
  • Material
  • Programme
94
Q

What is a piling matt?

A
  • A layer of hardcore used to allow the plant / equipment move around to insert foundations
95
Q
A

RICS APC (19 decks)

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