Construction Technology & Environmental Services

Question 1

What are the benefits of using a concrete frame?

Answer 1

1) Good acoustic qualities
2) Strong fire and thermal qualities
3) Flexibility in design during construction phase

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of using a concrete frame?

Answer 2

1) Slower to build on site compared to steel (steel is pre-fabricated)
2) No recycling value

Question 3

What are the advantages of using a steel frame?

Answer 3

1) Faster to erect on site than concrete frames.
2) Recyclable
3) High strength to weight properties
4) Beams can span over long distances

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of using a steel frame?

Answer 4

1) Fireproofing may be required
2) The price of steel can be volatile
3) Steel frames do not share the same acoustic qualities as concrete / laminated timber.

Question 5

What are the advantages of using a timber frame?

Answer 5

1) Environmentally friendly.
2) Very lightweight.
3) Shorter construction duration than concrete.

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of using a timber frame?

Answer 6

1) Poor fire resistance
2) Spans shorter than steel or concrete

Question 7

What building type / construction project would a concrete frame suit?

Answer 7

Residential due to it good natural acoustic properties, as well as good fire resistance and thermal qualities.

Question 8

What building type / construction project would a steel frame suit?

Answer 8

Warehouse due to the beams being able to span over long distances.

Question 9

What building type / construction project would a timber frame suit?

Answer 9

Residential (houses specifically) due to its speed efficiency vs concrete.

Question 10

What is a foundation?

Answer 10

The substructure of a building which transfers the weight of the load into the ground.

Question 11

What are the different foundation types?

Answer 11

1) Pile
2) Raft
3) Pad
4) Strip

Question 12

What are the different types of piles?

Answer 12

1) Board Piles
2) End-Bearing Piles
3) Sheet Piles

Question 13

What is a pile foundation?

Answer 13

A cylindrical foundation made from either reinforced concrete or steel, and can go deeper into the ground than most foundations.

Question 14

What is a pad foundation?

Answer 14

Pad foundations are rectangular or circular pads used to support loads such as columns. Pad foundations are only suitable when the ground has an adequate load bearing capacity at shallow depths.

Question 15

What is a raft foundation?

Answer 15

A raft foundation (or “mat” foundation” is a reinforced concrete slab under the whole of a building. Typically used in housing.

Question 16

What is a strip foundation?

Answer 16

A strip foundation is a type of shallow foundation that consists of a long and narrow footing that supports a load-bearing wall. It is typically used for small to medium-sized structures that have relatively low loads.

Question 17

How are piles constructed?

Answer 17

1) Replacement piles
2) Displacement piles

Question 18

What are replacement piles (board piles)?

Answer 18

1) You remove the soil first, and then pour the concrete into the excavation to create the pile.

Question 19

What are displacement piles (Controlled Flight Auger piles)?

Answer 19

Displacement piles, or CFA piles, “displace” the soil by pouring the concrete into the ground as the soil is removed. So they lift the soil out from the bottom and as they pull it out, concrete is poured underneath. Quicker than board piles.

Question 20

What level of design information would you expect during different RIBA stages?

Answer 20

Stage 1 - Floor plans, elevation plans, base build drawings.
Stage 2 - More detailed floor plans, small details on finishes & partition types.
Stage 3 - Should have some schedules and specifications, even if all the information isn’t there (schedules might say TBC) but can market test elements.
Stage 4 - Fully detailed information, all schedules and specifications.

Question 21

What is Cat A Construction?

Answer 21

A very basic form of fit-out for a commercial building, typically only including elements necessary for occupation. Lacks any specific finishes or customisation (internal walls etc).

Question 22

What is Cat B construction?

Answer 22

A Cat B fit out is the term used to describe a fully operational workplace that has been designed to a client’s unique specifications to make it their own.

Question 23

What is meant by shell and core fit-out?

Answer 23

The basic inside, or core, and the outer building envelope, or shell, are constructed without adding things like furnishings, interior lighting fixtures, interior walls or ceilings.

Question 24

On PWI, you mention the discovery of a pipe in the trenches. What would need to be considered prior to removal?

Answer 24

1) If it was live or not.
2) The importance of the pipe so see if we could remove it entirely or it would have to be frozen and moved.