Construction Technology and Environmental Services Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the Structure of a Building?
Foundations (Substructure)
Structure / Frame (Superstructure) - Steel frame / concrete / masonry
Envelope - Walls / roof / doors / windows
Fit out - Shell and core / Cat A / Cat B
What are Traditional Methods of Construction?
On site
Traditional techniques include brick and block, timber frame, concrete slabs, brick walls
Linear construction - each step is on site and needs to be completed before the next step can start
What are Modern Methods of Construction?
Improve speed, quality and reliability of the project
Less reliant on weather / labour skills
- Modular - Items (including services) assembled in factories and moved to site
- Prefabrication - components constructed off site and put together on site
Both of the above are off site construction
What are the main types of Building Foundation?
Raft
Pad
Piled
Strip
What are Raft Foundations?
The foundations cover the entire building footprint
Used where there are poor ground conditions
What are Pad Foundations?
The foundations are only supporting columns
Used for light industrial buildings or skeletal structures
What are Piled Foundations?
Rods deep into the ground provide the foundations
Used for tall buildings or poor ground conditions
- Driven Piles are forced into the ground
- Bored Piles and drilled into the ground
What are Strip Foundations?
Foundations are below all structural walls
Usually only used for residential (houses)
Can you name some types of Cladding?
Brick and mortar
Glazed
Timber
UPVC / Tile cladding
What are some types of Ceiling?
Concrete
Suspended
Plasterboard
Microfibre tiles
Exposed services
What is a Mezzanine Floor?
A floor / structure that is not fixed to the building structure / load bearing
Effectively movable
“A box within a box” for self-storage purposes
What is Basement Tanking?
Creating a waterproof barrier to prevent water ingress in a basement
Stops flooding / damp
How can you tell if the building has a Steel Frame?
More of a skeletal frame - columns are further apart
Sometimes back of house areas have expesed beams
Generally tall offices
How can you tell if the building has a Concrete Frame?
Often visible concrete columns - lots more columns
Thicker columns compared to steel
Generally shorter wider buildings
What is a Ground Source Heat Pump?
Uses latent heat from the ground for heating and cooling of buildings
Cyclical system
Buried pipes with liquid absorb the latent heat from the ground - the liquid is then compressed (compressor) - circulated through the heat exchanger - then used to regulate the temperature and water of the building
What is a Plenum Ceiling?
The ceiling acts as the 4th side of a duct
Air is mixed in the void
Links to the HVAC system without extensive ductwork being required
What are common types of Air Conditioning Units?
Fan Coil Units
VRV / VRF
Chilled Beams
What is a Fan Coil Unit?
Common type of AC Unit
2 Way / 4 Way (2 Way hot or cold / 4 Way hot and cold)
Outdoor condensing unit, heating / cooling coil, fan, ducts
Fresh air in - fan pushed the air through the fan coil unit (filled with refrigerant) - air goes through the discharge grill at desired temperature - air goes through the return air duct - extracts air out
What is a VRF / VRV Unit?
They are the same thing
VRF - Variable Refrigerant Flow
VRV - Variable Refrigerant Volume (Dakin trademark)
More sustainable alternative to Constant Flow (Fan Coil)
Single outdoor unit, multiple indoor units - adjust the flow of refrigerant to each indoor unit based on the need.
What are Chilled Beams?
Active Chilled Beams are flexible heating and cooling systems
Work in both large and small spaces
Linked to BMS System - can be controlled individually
Can have hot and cold next to each other
What is MVHR?
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery
A system to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption
Extracts stale air from a building - replaces the air with fresh air - recovers heat from the extracted air
Continuous supply of fresh air - minimum heat loss
How would control temperature in Computer / Data Rooms?
CRAC - Computer Room Air Conditioner - Self-contained - refrigerants and compressors
CRAH - Computer Room Air Handler - fans, cooling coils, water chiller system - less maintenance
What is a HVAC System?
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Ducts and pipes (Ducts for air, pipes for water)
What does BMS Stand For?
Building Management System
Computer based system
monitors and controls various building systems:
- HVAC
- Lighting
- Security
- Fire systems
