Construction Technology Flashcards
(120 cards)
1
Q
What are the benefits of off-site construction over in-situ?
A
- Safety – Hazards such as falls from heights,
- Sustainability – reduction in waste produced
- Efficiency and quality – Construction takes place in a controlled environment
- Speed – Overlapping of activities, construction can start in the factory while on site they are preparing the slab
2
Q
Who reviews the design and construction phase for compliance with building regulations?
A
• The building control officer or approved inspector
3
Q
What are British Standards?
A
- Publication issued by the British standard institution
- The give recommended minimum standard of materials, component , design and construction practices.
- technical specifications or practices that can be used as guidance for the production of a product, carrying out a process or providing a service.
4
Q
What type of vegetation can cause issues for construction project?
A
• Japanese knotweed
5
Q
What are foundations?
A
• Provide support for structures , transferring their load to the ground to avoid excessive settlement
6
Q
What are different types of fire extinguishers and their typical uses?
A
- Water – Wood, carboard , textiles etc
- Foam
- Dry powder
- Carbon dioxide
- Wet chemical
7
Q
How do you do an excavation?
A
- GPR, permits, permit to sig, rams
- floor saw, breaker that breaks the asphalt/concrete, then you reach soil level
- you cannot excavate with a digger (mechanical ) within 500mm of a live service
- excavated material gets recycled and we use our own type 1 to prove that is up to specification
8
Q
What is the composition of a flexible road?
A
- Surface Course 40mm
- Binder course 60mm
- Base course - granular base - Type 1 - 245
- subbase - type 1 00-250mm
- subgrade - clay
9
Q
What is reinforced concrete?
A
• It is when mesh, steel bars or roads are embedded in concrete increasing the structural strength of a structure
10
Q
What is buildability?
A
• The extend of design of a building or any other construction project facilitates how easy it is to construct it
11
Q
What is glulam beam?
A
- Glue-laminated timber
- Made with multiple layers of solid wood bonded together with high strength type of glue to form a single structural unit
12
Q
Can you briefly explain what O&M manual is?
A
- Operation and maintenance manuals
- They are issued to the client /building owner
- Include info relating to how the building has been constructed and maintained
- Includes built drawings and specifications
13
Q
What are the key factors the contractor should consider when excavating?
A
- Nature of the soil and moisture content of the ground.
- Method of excavation.
- Is trench support required?
- Depth of the excavation
- Proximity of existing buildings
- Underground services and drainage
14
Q
What are different types of roofs?
A
- Gable roof – upper horizontal edges reach meet to form its ridge
- Flat roof – it’s a roof that is level
- Hipped roof – where all sides of the roof slope downwards towards the walls
15
Q
What are the key advantages and disadvantages of driven piles?
A
Advantages
• Can be precast to specific qualifications
• Piles of any size,length and shape can be made in advance.
• Fast neat and clen istalation
• Less health and safety risks
Disadvantages
• Requires heavy equipment for handling and elivery
• Can be costly if they are short
• Increased noise and vibrations generated by driving the piles
16
Q
What are secant piles walls?
A
- A wall formed by installing interlocking piles which create a solid barrier free of gaps
- Typically used to form a retaining wall
17
Q
When might a pile foundation be suitable?
A
- Poor soil conditions
- High water table
- When load distribution of the structure is not uniform
18
Q
What is the difference between dead loads and live loads on a structure?
A
- Dead loads are relatively forces that are constant and don’t change like the weight of the wall, plasterboard, roof
- Live loads refer to the dynamic forces from occupancy and intended use such as weight of buildings, furniture, appliances (washing machine)
19
Q
What is a trial hole?
A
• It is a form of excavation in order to determine the condition of the ground before beginning constructions works
20
Q
What is stage 6 of RIBA stage?
A
- Handover
- Building is handed over , Aftercare initiated and building contract concluded.
- 12 month defect period
- Feedback sessions (project performance) to share lessons learned
- Aftercare – undertake survey after commissioning to see how the building is performing
21
Q
What are temporary works?
A
- They are part of construction project that are needed to enable the permanent works to be built
- For example: scaffolding, formwork, propping scaffolding, excavation support, access and task lighting
22
Q
How many UK standard size blocks are required per m2
A
• 10blocks per m2
23
Q
What is formwork?
A
• Temporary structure usually made of wood that is used to contain concrete and therefore mould it in the desired way. They are removed after that.
24
Q
What are the key considerations when designing external walls?
A
- Weather protection
- Fire resistance
- Acoustic requirements
- Thermal performance
- Structural performance
- Aesthetics
- Expected lifespan
- Future maintenance
25
What are the approved documents?
The Approved Documents provide guidance on ways to meet the building regulations.
* Part A - Structure
* Part B - Fire Safety
* Part C - Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture
* Part D - Toxic Substances
* Part E - Resistance to the passage of sound
* Part F - Ventilation
* Part G - Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency
* Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal
* Part J - Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
* Part K - Protection from falling, collision and impact
* Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
* Part M - Access to and use of buildings
* Part N - Glazing Safety (Withdrawn)
* Part P - Electrical Safety
* Part Q - Security
* Part R - Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks.
* Regulation 7 - Materials and workmanship
26
What is a movement joint and why are they used?
* It is a dynamic component designed to safely absorb the expansion and contraction of construction materials
* Movement joints can also allow for movement associated with ground settlement of seismic activity
27
What is a substructure?
* Substructure is the lower portion of the building (in the ground) which supports the superstructure
* Transmits the loads of the building to the ground
* Includes foundations , basements and retaining walls
28
What is jump forming?
• When concrete is poured to vertical formwork. When the concrete has gained structural strength, the formwork is moved upwards where more concrete is poured and slowly forming the structure
29
What is a Cat B fit out?
* Space that ready to move into which includes floor finishes, café, tea points and kitchen areas
* Furniture
* Branded material and décor
30
Differences between flexible and rigid pavement?
* Design
* Life
* Maintenance
* Initial cost
* More time for curing for rigid
31
What is party wall act 1996 is?
* It provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings
* Act is separate from obtaining planning permission or building regulations approval
32
What is a retaining wall?
• It is a wall that hold back the soil behind it. It resists the lateral pressure of the soil where there is a change in ground elevation.
33
What key factors should be considered when designing internal partitions?
* Fire ratings and acoustic requirements
* Thermal
* Requirement for doors and internal windows
* Strength and structural requirements including fixing details
* Robustness
* Height of partition
34
What would you consider for selecting a foundation?
* The total load of the building
* Near by buildings
* Ground/soil capacity
* Cost
35
What are hoists?
• Design for the vertical transportation of materials and or people
36
What is life cycle costing?
* Method of measuring and managing the lifetime costs of any project
* life cycle costs are those associated directly with constructing and operating the building until its end of life
37
What is the composition of a rigid road?
1. Surface Course 40mm
2. Binder course 60mm
3. reinforced concrete
4. Base course - granular base - Type 1
5. subbase -existing soil - optional
6. subgrade - clay
38
What is a raft foundation?
* It is a continuous slab that extends over the entire footprint of the building.
* The raft spreads the load of the building over a larger area than the other foundations, the stress acting the ground below is reduced.
39
What are strip foundations?
* Used for ground where the subsoil is of good bearing capacity
* Consists of a continues strip of concrete formed centrally under load bearing walls.
40
What is intumescent paint?
* Intumescent paint is a passive fire protection system.
| * Rapidly expands to protect the surface that it is applied to delaying the spread of the fire
41
What are building regulations?
• They ensure that new buildings, conversions, renovations and extensions (domestic or external) are going to be safe, healthy and high performing.
42
What is the difference between flexible and rigid roads?
• Rigid is design to withstand more loads than flexible and as a result rigid includes a
Benefits
• Longer span
• More durable
• Low repairing and maintenance costs
Drawbacks
• Costly
• Take time to cure
43
What is shoring?
• Form of temporary support given to existing buildings and excavations. The purpose is to prevent collapse or excessive movement.
44
Can you name some materials that have been banned from construction use?
* Asbestos
* High alumina cement in structural elements
* Urea formaldehyde
45
What is the purpose of a parapet?
* Vertical extension of wall that go over a above the level of the roof
* Used for aesthetic reasons, for example hiding plat roof, and enable maintenance to take place.
46
What safety provisions you might have in a new building?
* Maximum occupy numbers
* Fire evacuation plan
* Fire extinguishers
* Fire alarms
* Sprinklers
* Smoke control systems
* Fire barriers in floor, wall and ceiling cavities
47
What are key advantages/disadvantages of timber frames?
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Advantages
• Faster construction
• Relatively lightweight
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Sustainability (when harvest responsibly
Disadvantages
• Skilled workmanship is required to achieve a high quality finish
• Potential for wet rot, dry rot etc
• Fire protection might be required
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48
How does Equality Act impact construction?
* It requires reasonable adjustments to be made when providing access to goods, facilities and services
* Building regulations part M
49
If you were pricing a trial hole, what costs would you include?
* Labor
* Plant like excavator, road saw, cat and genny, petrol saw, compressor, whacker plate, generator
* Materials – concrete, mesh muck away , type 1, asphalt
* Risk
50
How would you excavate and break ground?
* Mark area that you will be excavating
* Make sure you have all the paper work in place, you understand the Rams etc
* Use a petrol/floor saw and water to suppress dust and cool the blade
* Cat and genny
* before we resort to excavating by hand, we always look the see if alternative safe digging methods can be used such as mooring, directional drilling
51
What are the stages?
0: Strategic Definition
1: Preparation and Briefing
2: Concept Design
3: Spatial Coordination
4: Technical Design
5: Manufacturing & Construction
6: Handover and Close Out
7: In Use
52
How many UK standard size bricks are required per m2?
• 60 bricks per m2
53
What are automatic fire sprinklers and how are they activated?
* Sprinkles head are usually heat activated
| * A liquid filled glass bulb will shatter to activate a sprinkler realizing water
54
What are the main components of concrete?
* Cement
* Aggregate
* Water
55
What are some of the techniques available for ground improvement?
* Vibro compaction
* Vibro stone columns
* Dynamic compaction
* Soil mixing
* Dynamic compaction
* Dynamic replacement
56
What is the envelope of a building?
* It is the boundary between the exterior and the interior of the building
* This includes the windows, brickwork, cladding, curtain walls
57
Can you name some common types of plasterboard?
* Standard boards
* Fire boards
* Acoustic board
* Moisture resistant boards
58
What is retained façade?
* It is when the façade of the building is reserved while the rest of the structure is remodeled or new structure is build behind it
* Used when restoring listed buildings
59
What is a curtain walling system?
• It is a nonstructural cladding system where glass panels are fixed on aluminum frame.
60
Differences between bored piles and driven piles?
• Driven pile is formed off site in a factory and bored pile is manufactured on site.
61
What does HVAC stand for?
• Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
62
What is level 2 of RIBA stage?
* Concept design
* The outcome is that the architectural concept is approved by the client and aligned to the project Brief.
* So different proposals are assessed based on site requirements, special requirements, etc. and one is agreed,
* Regular design reviews in order to seek comments from the client and other project stakeholders.
63
What are standard brick dimensions in the uk
• 215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
64
What is a bypass?
• pipe that diverts the flow of gas/water/power to make a strech of the existing pipe redundant
65
What are key advantages/disadvantages of steel?
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Advantages
• Faster to erect than concrete
• Span over longer distances
• Recyclable
• High strength to weight ratio
Disadvantages
• Fire protection might be required
• Price fluctuates
• Price of steel can be volatile
• Steel frames do not have the same acoustic and thermal properties of a concrete frame
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66
What is fire compartmentation within a building?
* It is a form passive fire protection
| * Divide the structure into fire compartments to limit the spread of fire
67
What is required before you commence excavation around live services?
* permit to dig,
* Look at utilities drawings ,
* Cat and genny
* Use competent people
* Insulated tools
68
What is End bearing vs Friction pile transfer?
* End bearing is when the load is transfer to a hard surface such as a rock and therefore the load is transferred to a strong layer
* Friction pile tis when the load is transferred the load into the soil through the sides of the pile.
69
Can you explain how siphonic drainage system work?
* Different type of drainage system that uses anti vortex plate that allows it to operate at full capacity, rather than part full in conventional drainage system.
* Benefits – fewer roof outles and down pipes, higher rate of efficiency water is emptied quicker
* Pipe diameter are smaller due to full volume discharge
70
What safety practices would you apply?
* Set up traffic management, make area safe
* No mechanical excavation around 500mm
* Treat services as live
* Take pictures and report any damages
* If you smell gas follow emergency procedures
71
What are weep holes?
• small opening in the outer skin of a masonry construction, to provide ventilation to the cavity and allow moisture to drain away
72
What is stage 7 of RIBA stage?
* Building used, operated and maintained efficiently.
* Post occupancy evaluation, facilities management, asset management
* Design and construction team don’t participate.
73
What is required before you commence excavation around live services?
* Need to take reasonable steps to identify if where the services is
* GPR survey
* Permit to dig
* Permit from local authority
* Personnel needs to be competent
* Rams in place (to identify site specific hazards)
74
What is underpinning and why might be required?
• Strengthen foundations of a structure. One way to do it is replacing the soil under the foundations with boxed shaped concrete.
It could be done due to:
• Stabilizing foundations undergoing settlement
• Foundations that might have moved due to settlement
• Damage caused by erosion, subsidence, or heave
• Increase the load capacity of foundations
75
What is pre-tensioned concrete?
* When lengths of steel wire , bales or ropes are stretched and anchored are poured with concrete.
* It is a way to reinforce concrete
76
What are the key advantages and disadvantages of concrete frames?
• Fire protection in inherent in the structure
• Cladding and other finishes can be fixed direct to the frame
• Provides good sound and heat insulation
• High compressive strength
Disadvantages
• Don’t span long distances like steal
• Require formwork
• Slower to construct on site
• Long curing time , maximum strength is typically achieved after 28 days.
77
What does FCU, AHU and VAV stand for?
* Fan coil unit
* Air handling unit
* Variable air volume system (VAV)
78
What is Pad foundation?
• They are usually, rectangular, square, or sometimes circular concrete pads that support single-point loads like columns by spreading the load on the ground.
79
What is a CBR test?
• California bearing ratio
• Tests the load bearing capacity of the ground to inform foundation design and construction details for other ground bear elements
harder the surface higher the CBR
80
What is a UPS and why might the client require one?
* Uninterruptible power supply
* It provides an alternative ‘no break’ electrical supply in situations where it is important no loss of electrical supply.
* Used in hospitals, data centers, IT server rooms
81
What is natural ventilation?
* Supplying fresh air through a means of passive forces , typically wind, such as simply using windows.
* There are no mechanical systems
82
What is ground heave?
* It is the upwards movement of ground usually when the clay soil get wet.
* Usually caused in areas where trees have been removed
83
What is level 4 of RIBA stage?
* Technical design
* All design information required to manufacture and construct the project completed.
* Integrate specialist subcontractor in the design
84
What is a flexible road and what are its benefits and drawbacks?
Benefits
• Low Cost
• Easy to repair
• Easy to install
Drawback
• Short life span
• Less durable
85
What are the benefits of life cycle costing?
* Long term value
* Green building certification credits, you get credit points for BREEAM
* Reduce cost over all -
86
Have you come across the term SUDS?
* Sustainable urban drainage systems
* SUDS are designed to manage stormwater locally mimicking natural drainage
* Help reduce reliance on existin drainage infrastructure
* Example filter strip or drains
87
What is ‘permit to dig’?
It is a management system that aims to reduce to the minimum any risk of injury in relation to excavations.
It includes.
All permits and licences for site work.
Compilation of all survey data.
Identification of utilities on site.
On-site mark out of utilities using appropriate methods (spray paint included).
Confirms its okay to excavate a free from any risks
88
What are pile foundations?
* Pile is a column that extend into the ground
* Usually made from steel or reinforced concrete
* Deep foundations
* When poor capacity is poor
* Types: End bearing pilers, friction piles
* Main construction methods: bored piles, driven concrete piles
89
What is a Superstructure:
* It is the structural components of a building constructed above the ground level
* Such as columns slabs, beams, walls
90
What key tasks does the quantity surveyor do in RIBA stages?
Stage 0 Strategic definition – Order of magnitude
Stage 1 Preparation and briefing – Agree project budget
Stage 2 Concept design – Form a cost plan
Stage 3 Spatial Coordination- Design studies to be checked against cost plan to check if it align with the project budget – you get greater certainty which might decrease contingencies.
Stage 4 Technical Design- Updated cost plan, prepare a bills of quantity , pricing schedule . Undertake tender and appoint conductor
Stage 5 Manufacture and Construction– CVR, monitor costs, manage any change, issue instructions m undertake interim valuations
Stage 6 Handover – Calculate and agree the adjusted contract sum, Final certificate issues
Stage 7 Use– You can embed construction data sources during construction in the facilities management operating model
91
What is mechanical ventilation?
• Is the intentional fan driven floor of outdoor air into a building, such as using air conditioning units, mechanical fans, exhaust fans
92
What are the objectives of site investigation?
* It is used to identify the ground condition and how they will impact the proposed development
* For example based on this investigation if there is poor soil, pile foundations might be used
* Also, it determines if the soil is contaminated and the different structural integrity of the soils and rock
* Topography of land and direction of ground water movement
93
Can you explain some of the techniques to waterproof a basement?
* Tanking – materials such as asphalt , polyethene are applied internally or externally to provide a continuous membrane to slab and walls
* Drained cavity – A method that accepts a small amount of water seepage to occur. Cavity (empty space) walls ar formed where water seepage is collected in the cavity and drained or pumped away
94
What is the difference between single-phase and 3 phase electrical supply?
* Single-phase has a single wire and 3 phase uses three wires to distribute current and both have a neutral wire and earth wire
* Three-phase is distributing more load and it is meant for commercial buildings.
* Single phase is for houses (less current needed
95
What are the different forms of excavation?
* Stripping topsoil
* Reduced level dig
* Cut and fill
* Excavation for foundations
* Excavation for bridge
* Excavation for trip
96
What are key advantages and disadvantages of bored piles?
Advantages
• Any size or shape of pile can be formed on site
• No risk of damage during delivery and handling
• Reduced vibrations and noise
Disadvantages
• Significant spoils are generated that need to be handled
• Reliance and coordination on multiple trades (reinforcement crew, pilling crew)
97
What are different types of foundations?
* Strip foundations
* Pad foundations
* Raft foundations
* Piled foundations
98
What do you do before you excavate?
* Permit to dig
* Permit from local authority
* Personnel needs to be competent
* Rams in place (to identify site specific hazards)
99
What key factors should be considered when selecting the type of structural frame?
* Programme requirements
* Fire protection
* Acoustic and thermal properties
* Market conditions and supply costs
* Site logistics and general site constrints
* Sustainability (BREEAM)
* Mechanical and electrical services strategy
* Future expansion requirements
100
What is Strategic definition?
* It is identifying the best means of satisfying the client requirements.
* Prepare client requirements
* Prepare business case
* Rough order of magnitude
* Review feedback from other projects
* Only client team involved
101
What are some typical surveys?
* Topographical surveys
* Site investigation
* Asbestos survey
* Drainage CCTV survey
* UXO survey (unexploded ordnance survey)
* Condition surveys
102
What is level 3 of RIBA stage?
* Special Coordination
* Outcome to Architectural and engineering information spatially coordinated
* Preparing detailed design and undertaking engineering analysis to check assumptions made on stage 2.
* Design studies should be aligned to cost exercises to understand if the cost plan aligns with the project budget
* Prepare design programme
103
What is Stage 5 of RIBA stage?
* Manufacturing and construction
* Manufacture building systems and construct building
* Inspect Construction quality
* Resolve site queries
* Undertake commissioning
* Issuing practical completion
* Preparation for handover- building manual
104
What is RIBA plan of work?
* Royal institute of architects
* It organizes the process of briefing, designing, constructing, and operating building projects into eight stages
* Explains the stage outcomes, core tasks, and information exchanges required at each stage
105
What legislation are you aware of that relate to roads?
* Highways Act 1980
* New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA)
* You need to get a Section 50 agreement
106
What is slipform construction?
* It’s when there is a formwork continually moving vertically and concrete is poured on top of it, and as the concrete cures the structure is being formed
* Used to build towers
107
What is a CAT A fit out?
* It provides a basic level of finish of a building with the provision of simply floors, suspended ceilings, partitions along with basic mechanical electrical services
* Cat A space is often a bare-bones finish that is considered a blank canvas for interior and office designers
108
What is raised access flooring?
* Floor raised with pedestals above the structural slab
| * The system allows cables to be located under the raised floor in the void
109
What is a portal frame and what type of buildings are they most suitable for?
• Its a when a column is connected to a rafter with eaves connections providing a long clear span. This is usually to construct warehouses, where a large are of open space is needed.
110
What is level 1 of RIBA Stage?
* Preparation and Briefing
* Prepare project brief
* Client requirement considered more detailed
* Select design team for stage 2
* Agree project budget
* Prepare programme
111
What was the cost-saving for £9k about?
* By not carrying out the bypass that would mean that we won’t have to break ground, excavate, and undertake the diversion
* You had the additional cost of carrying out the trial hole however
* That resulted in a 9k saving
112
What was the programme efficiency about?
• The team will be put to different tasks on an excavation on Chase Road which will be undertaken quicker
113
What was health and safety about?
* So one option you had a team carrying out excavation and exposing themselves in the H&S risk that comes with it i.e contaminated ground, working in a confined space, the collapse of sides
* And the other option you had eliminate this risk altogether by simply not carrying it out.
114
How do you carry out a typical water/gas diversion?
1. Carry out survey of existing assets. Survey should include desktop survey of service drawings, on-site non-intrusive survey and intrusive trial-hole surveys (if suitable).
2. Informed by survey information, carry out a full design for position on new assets and gain appropriate approvals.
3. Excavate and install pipes and fittings for the new diversion, with the use of trial holes to route prove.
4. Gain appropriate permissions from the utility company for commissioning, inform residents/businesses of planned supply interruptions and carry out commissioning of new assets.
5. Appropriately abandon redundant assets
115
What is the difference between whole life cycle costing and life cycle costing?
* life cycle costs are those associated directly with constructing and operating the building until its end of life
* Whole life costs include other costs such as land, income from the building and support costs associated with the activity within the building.
116
What are the benefits of life cycle cost analysis?
* Long term value
* Green building
* Lower costs in the long term
117
What are CFA piles and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
• CFA piles are formed by drilling to required depth then concrete is poured, while the concrete is still fluid a reinforcing cage is dropped in.
Benefits
Virtually vibration-free
Low noise emissions
Disadvantages
Removal and disposal of spoil material generated from the pile
Strict quality control and thorough supervision is required during the pile installation
118
What are driven piles?
• Long pile driven into the ground installed by impact hammering, vibration into the ground.
119
What do you understand with confined space?
• a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby
The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
• need to put in place adequate emergency arrangements before the work start
• avoid entry to confined spaces, e.g. by doing the work from the outside;
• if entry to a confined space is unavoidable, follow a safe system of work; and
120
What temporary works are you aware of for excavations?
Steel sheet piling and steel trench shitting (with walling) (Trench shitting is a lightweight version of sheet piling)
Hydraulic support such as GRP trench boxes (Glass-reinforced plastic) .
