Construction Technology & Environmental Services

Question 1

What year were building regulations introduced?

Answer 1

Building Regulation 1965, introduced 1966.

Question 2

What does BREEAM stand for.

Answer 2

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology

Question 2

what are the BREEAM standards?

Answer 2

It comprises six technical standards which apply to the different stages of a building or project’s life cycle. BREEAM supports solutions to reduce net zero carbon, improve whole life performance, manage health and social impacts, boost circularity, resilience and biodiversity, and support disclosures and reporting

Question 3

What are the 6 BREEAM standards

Answer 3

BREEAM In use
BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit-out
BREEAM Communities
BREEAM New Construction
Home Quality Mark
BREEAM Infrastructure

Question 4

What are the different type of foundations available?

Answer 4

Strip Foundation
Trench Foundations
Pad Foundations
Raft Foundations
Pile Foundations

Question 5

What is CBR

Answer 5

California Bearing Ratio

Question 6

How are earthworks supported and why?

Answer 6

Timber boards and timber walings and struts. Or steel walings and struts

Prevent collapse

Question 7

When is a raft preferred

Answer 7

Places with bad soil, clay or soft soil

Question 8

What are the different type of piling and when would they be used?

Answer 8

End Bearing - Sits on rock below
Friction Pile - uses friction to hold
Bored piles - Create hole then fill with concrete
Continuous flight Auger - Same as bored but happens simultaneously. Smaller and more cost effective but less load
Sheet piles -
Reinforced concrete piles

Question 9

Describe the components of a piled substructure and what their function is?

Answer 9

Pile
Pile Cap
Reinforcement

Question 10

What is the difference between hollow and a solid ground floor construction?

Answer 10

On sat on earth, other suspended requiring ventilation.

Question 11

How does a diaphragm wall work?

Answer 11

A diaphragm wall (slurry wall) is a reinforced cast-in-place continuous concrete wall. The construction includes the excavation of a trench under the protection of a support suspension (i.e. a thixotropic slurry such as bentonite mud for example) designed to temporarily stabilize the trench wall. After excavation with a mechanical or hydraulic grab, the support slurry is replaced by concrete and steel reinforcement is placed.

Question 12

Where would you expect to find the main reinforcement in the following structural concrete components and why: beam, column, staircase, suspended slab, cantilevered slab, pad foundation, raft foundation.

Answer 12

This is about movement - i.e. the structural steel reinforcement will be on the side which is under greatest stress.
i.e. suspended slab = bottom

Question 13

What does C40 mean in relation to concrete

Answer 13

Number of KN/m2

Question 14

What is GRC

Answer 14

Glass Reinforced Concrete

Question 15

How is composite metal cladding fixed to a steel frame?

Answer 15

Most fasteners are typically self tapping and self dripping.

Question 16

What is the difference between a common, facing and engineering brick?

Answer 16

Common = typically rendered over lower cost not facing
Facing = typical seen on houses - finished product
Engineering = low porosity and high strength

Question 17

Explain the purpose of using a plasticiser in a mortar mix

Answer 17

A plasticiser is a substance or material added to concrete to make it softer, improve workability and strength, and reduce water requirements

Question 18

What is pointing

Answer 18

Filling between bricks with mortar

Question 19

Different bonds
Stretcher
English
Flemish

Answer 19

Stretcher = stretcher side of bricks
English = One coarse Header one coarse stretcher
Flemish = Header/Stretcher/Header

Question 20

What is Corbeling

Answer 20

Corbel = structural stone/brick juting out to take weight. Often coming ‘out’ from the building.

Question 21

Main components of hipped end pitched timber roof.

Answer 21

Ridge Board
Rafter
Jack Rafter
Hip Rafter
Purlins
Strut
Wall plate

Question 22

What is Rainscreen cladding and how does it work?

Answer 22

Rainscreen cladding is an external panel façade system that protects a building’s backing wall from the full force of the weather. In a nutshell: Rainscreen cladding protects a building’s backing wall from the elements. Cladding systems can also improve thermal performance and enhance a building’s appearance.

Question 23

What is curtain walling?

Answer 23

Non-Structural cladding for external of a property.
Only support their own weight.

Question 24

What is a mullion?

Answer 24

Separating bars of a window

Question 25

Name four different types of glass used in glazing systems.

Answer 25

- Annealed Glass - Heat strengthened - Tempered or toughened - Laminated Glass

Question 26

What is the purpose of screed?

Answer 26

Levelling Better surface for adhesives

Question 27

What is Granolithic paving

Answer 27

Cement and granite/hard wearing aggregates to produce flooring or paving

Question 28

What different types of plaster and render are there?

Answer 28

Cement Gypsum Lime Acrylic Silicone

Question 29

Difference between tarmac and macadam

Answer 29

Asphalt is a mix of aggregates and bitumen, whereas tarmac, or tarmacadam, is a mix of aggregates and tar

Question 30

What different types of retaining walls or structures are common in the industry?

Answer 30

Gravity retaining Cantilever Retaining Embedded retaining Reinforced soil

Question 31

Describe the different ways of dealing with ground water in excavations?

Answer 31

Sump pump Wellpoint systems Siphon drainage Deep well systems Ejector systems

Question 32

Upper floor construction methods

Answer 32

Timber joists Beam and block Reinforced concrete Precast concrete

Answer 33

Single ply - light weight, cheap, fast to install, not suitable to be walked on, shorter life span, 3 layer - stronger, less maintenance, more affected by UV/

Question 34

From a technical view explain the factors that you would consider when comparing a steel and concrete frame solution for a building?

Answer 34

Cost Structural loading capacity Span Use of property Lead in time Fire rating Location i.e. weather & building movement

Question 35

Viewed technically, explain the factors that you would consider when comparing a pre-cast and an insitu concrete frame solution for a building

Answer 35

Moulded off-site Controlled pour conditions Made to measure off site Requires transport (impractical?) In situ Easily transported More expensive potentially for small jobs

Question 36

How can slip-forming help a project and when might it be used?

Answer 36

Pro: Reduced crane time High production rates Slipform is inependent - can delay critical path Reduces congestion due to less scaffold Cons: Minimal changes available post slipform May requires additional steel support Wall thickness may be required thicker

Question 37

What is the difference between a drain and sewer

Answer 37

Drain takes waste from property to sewer It serves only one building.

Question 38

What is a backdrop inspection chamber

Answer 38

A backdrop manhole is a drop shaft installed either externally or internally in a manhole in a sewer network. Backdrop manholes connect pipes of differing invert levels and allow for the pipe at a higher level to connect to the lower level pipe with minimum fall.

Question 39

What is a saddle in drainage

Answer 39

Way to connect pipes

Question 40

What is a siphonic drainage system?

Answer 40

Siphonic drainage systems prevent air from entering the downpipes. This allows higher volumes of water to drain more quickly from flat roofs, which means fewer, smaller diameter downpipes are required.

Question 41

What is cat II lighting?

Answer 41

Class 2 double insulated lights are designed to operate without the need for an earth wire. They usually have two layers of insulation which cover the live parts, for example the cables inside the fitting.

Question 42

How is water provided to a sprinkler system?

Answer 42

Some systems are fed directly from the water mains; others via a storage cistern and pump or pressure vessel arrangement

Question 43

what materials are typically used for internal drainage systems?

Answer 43

PVC Clay

Question 44

Which fire safety provisions would you expect to find in a typical office block?

Answer 44

Fire extinguisher Fire Alarm Sprinkler system? Signage Fire Doors

Question 45

What recent changes have there been to the Building Regulations?

Answer 45

Updated Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and these included signifcant changes to Approved Documents. In addition to the changes to Part B, Part F, and Part L, two new approved documents were included, O (Overheating) and S (Infrastructure relating to charging electric vehicles).

Question 46

List of banned materials?

Answer 46

Red List?

Question 47

Do building's require a fire certificate?

Answer 47

No, it’s no longer a legal requirement to have a Fire Safety Certificate. In the past, the Fire Authority would issue a Fire Safety Certificate to businesses that met the required fire safety standards in the UK. However, this certificate no longer exists. Instead, all businesses must now undergo a Fire Risk Assessment — which puts the responsibility on you as the business owner.

Question 48

What is PPG

Answer 48

Planning Policy Guidance

Question 49

Section 106

Answer 49

Requirement for developer to do x e.g. sculpture or upgrade park

Question 50

Section 278

Answer 50

Requirement to upgrade highway as part of planning

Question 51

On your projects, how has Building Regulation compliance of the finished building been demonstrated

Answer 51

After the final inspection of building work, property owners are issued with a completion certificate which demonstrates that the surveyor is satisfied that the work inspected conforms with the building regulations.