Design & Specification Flashcards
What is the RIBA plan of work?
- First developed in 1963
- The definitive UK model for the design and construction process.
What are the RIBA stages?
- 0: Strategic Definition
- 1: Preparation and Brief
- 2: Concept Design
- 3: Developed Design
- 4: Technical Design
- 5: Construction
- 6: Handover and Close out
- 7: In Use
At what RIBA stage would you tender works?
- RIBA Stage 4
- Depends on procurement route
At what RIBA stage would you sign the contract?
- Traditional, RIBA Stage 4
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 0 – Strategic Definition?
- Stage outcome: The best means of achieving the client requirements are confirmed.
- Core tasks:
o + Prepare client requirements.
o + Develop business case for feasible options including review of project risks and budget.
o + Undertake site appraisals. - Core statutory processes:
o + Strategic appraisal of planning considerations. - Information Exchanges:
o + Client requirements.
o + Business case.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 1 – Preparation & Briefing?
- Stage outcomes: Project brief approved by the client and confirmed that it can be accommodated on the site.
- Core tasks:
o + Prepare client brief - including project outcomes, sustainability outcomes, quality aspirations and spatial requirements.
o + Undertake feasibility studies.
o + Agree project budget.
o + Source site information - surveys.
o + Prepare project programme. - Core statutory processes:
o + Source pre-application planning advise.
o + Initiate collation of health and safety Pre-Construction Information. - Information Exchanges:
o + Project brief.
o + Site information.
o + Procurement Strategy.
o + Responsibility Matrix.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 3 - Spatial Coordination
Stage outcomes: Architectural and engineering information spatially coordinated.
Core tasks:
+ Undertake design studies, engineering analysis and cost exercises to test architectural concept resulting in spatially coordinated design aligned to updated cost plan, project strategies and outline specification.
+ Initiate change control procedures (process for making any requested changes to the project to make sure they are not made unnecessarily and don’t impact negatively on project programme and cost).
+ Prepare stage design programme.
Core statutory processes:
+ Review design against building regulations.
+ Prepare and submit planning application.
Information exchanges:
+ Signed off stage report.
+ Project strategies.
+ Updated outline specification.
+ Updated cost plan.
+ planning application.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 4 - Technical Design
Stage outcomes: All design information required to manufacture and construct the project completed.
Core Tasks:
+ Develop architectural and engineering technical design.
+ Prepare and coordinate design team building system information.
+ Prepare and integrate specialist subcontractor building systems information.
+ Prepare stage design programme.
Core Statutory Processes:
+ Submit Building Regulations Application.
+ Discharge pre-commencement planning conditions.
+ Prepare Construction Phase Plan.
+ Submit F10 form to HSE if applicable.
Information exchange:
+ Manufacturing information.
+ Construction information.
+ Final specifications.
+ Building Regulations Application.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 5 - Manufacturing and Construction?
Stage outcomes: Manufacturing, construction and commissioning completed.
Core tasks:
+ Finalise site logistics.
+ Manufacture building systems and construct building.
+ Monitor progress against construction programme.
+ Inspect construction quality.
+ Resolve site queries as required.
+ Undertake commissioning of building.
+ Prepare building manual.
Core statutory processes:
+ Carry out Construction Phase Plan.
+ Comply with planning conditions relating to construction.
Information exchange:
+ Building manual (O&M manual) including Health and Safety File and Fire Safety Information.
+ Practical completion certificate including defects list.
+ Asset information.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 6 - Handover
Stage outcomes: Building handed over, aftercare initiated and building contract concluded.
Core tasks:
+ Hand over building in line with Plan for Use Strategy.
+ Undertake review of project performance.
+ Undertake seasonal commissioning.
+ Rectify defects.
+ Complete initial aftercare tasks.
Core statutory processes:
+ Comply with planning conditions as required.
Information exchange:
+ Feedback on project performance.
+ Final certificate (AI).
+ Feedback from light touch post occupancy evaluation.
What are the stage outcomes, core tasks, core statutory processes and information exchange at Stage 7 - Use
Stage outcomes: Building used, operated and maintained efficiently.
Core tasks:
+ Implement facilities management and asset management.
+ Undertake post occupancy evaluation of building performance in use.
+ verify project outcomes including sustainability outcomes.
Core statutory processes:
+ Comply with planning conditions as required.
Information exchange:
+ Feedback from post occupancy evaluation.
+ Updated building manual including health and safety file and fire safety information as necessary.
What are preliminaries?
They provide the description of the project to allow cost assessment and specify general conditions and requirements for execution. For example: project description, site access and parking etc.
From the preliminaries a contractor can price for cost significant items that they need to carry out the works such as site welfare and provision of temporary services.
What are preambles?
A preamble is an explanation of a document, commonly found in contracts, specifications and bills of quantities. It helps with the interpretation of a document.
A preamble may include:
Description of parties to the contract.
A description of the competence of parties to a contract - this will include a set of general standards for the quality of goods or services required.
Tendering procedures.
Objectives of the project.
What is the difference between preliminaries and preambles?
Preambles are the explanation of the works that don’t form part of the costings, preliminaries are used to describe the project and allow costing of items that are required to complete the works, for example temporary access and welfare.
What is NBS?
The National Building Specification is a UK based company that provides specification platforms used by construction professionals to produce high quality and standardised specifications for construction projects.
Why would you use NBS?
Allows collaboration - others can be invited to edit the document.
Ensures consistent standard and format for all projects.
All statutory standards are kept up to date, such as British Standards.
It is the standard specification platform used in the UK so contractors are used to working with this form of specification.
What is NBS Chorus?
A cloud based collaborative specification platform that is used internationally. It allows construction professionals to produce high quality specifications efficiently.
What is a schedule of works?
A description of the work in list format often used on smaller projects or those involving alteration works prepared by designers.
What supporting documentation could you include within a specification the contractor(s)?
Specialist surveys such as structural engineers reports, drainage surveys, asbestos register etc.
What does the pre-construction information contain?
The information that is in the client’s possession or which is reasonably obtained relevant to the works and is of appropriate detail proportionate to the task.
Includes:
- Project description.
- Client’s considerations and management requirements (hoarding, welfare, traffic restrictions).
- Environmental restrictions and existing on site risks (ground conditions, buried services, asbestos surveys, local infrastructure - adjacent railways etc).
- Significant design and construction hazards (design risk assessments, suggested method statements).
Health and Safety file requirements.
What are the different types of specification?
Prescriptive.
Performance.
Descriptive.
Name and explain the different types of specification.
Prescriptive specifications: Provide detailed descriptions of specific materials to use and how they should be installed.
Performance specifications: Addresses the operational requirements of a installation. The focus is on the project outcome, indicating how it must function, it is up to the contractor how they achieve this.
Descriptive specifications: Designer controls design intent and defines the performance criteria. Specialist contractor uses skills and expertise to complete the design whilst maintaining the design intent.
What types of specification would you use for different procurement routes?
Prescriptive specification: Traditional
Performance specification: Design and Build
Descriptive specification: construction management & management contract
What are the building regulations?
Statutory instruments that set our the minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings.
What are the approved documents?
They provide general guidance on performance and materials expected in order to comply with the functional requirements of the building regulations.
Who ensures that the building regulations are complied with?
Building control services:
1.Local Authority.
2.Approved Inspector.
What is the procedure for obtaining building regulations approval?
Dependent on the nature and the scale of the works.
Full plan application: Plans and construction details need to be reviewed prior to starting on site. There may be conditions attached to the approval. Lasts 3 years from notice of approval.
Building notice: Allows work to commence upon giving notice. No need to wait for prior approval before commencing the works.
What happens is a project contravenes the building regulations?
Magistrates Court can penalise the offending party up to £5,000. They can then issue a fine of £50 per day for every day that the works continue to contravene the building regulations.
Local authority can issue an enforcement notice which requires for the works to be made compliant or the local authority can undertake the works themselves then recover the associated costs if the building owner does not.
Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the building regulations?
The person who carries out the works. So if the owner does themselves they do but if employing a contractor it is the contractor’s responsibility.
Should bear in mind that ultimately the building owner will be served an enforcement notice.
Why did you choose an Approved Inspector?
Generally more responsive and open to giving advise.
Often present lower costs compared to building control
What documents will building control provide?
Plan Certificate: AI / LA review plans and proposed works to confirm whether the works will comply to the building regulations in principal.
Final Certificate: AI / LA issue following inspection of the completed works to certify that they are compliant with the building regulations.
What would your duties as a designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015?
Ensure the client is aware of their client duties under the regulations prior to undertaking any design work.
Take into account any pre-construction information provided by the client / PD.
Eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the project (as practically possible).
Take steps to reduce and control residual risks.
Provide design information to the PD to include in the pre-construction information and health and safety file.
Provide design information to the principal contractor (or contractor on single contractor projects) to help them comply with their duties e.g ensuring Construction Phase Plan is prepared.
Communicate, cooperate and coordinate with:
1. any other designers to ensure all designs are compatible and ensure H&S.
2. all contractors to utilise their experience of building design.
What is a budget cost plan?
Breakdown of the works required for a project and their anticipated costs.
Document is prepared to indicate the budget needed for a project.
Allows client to present the budget to the board to apply for funding and to determine whether the project is financially feasible.
Would form part of feasibility studies during stage 1 of RIBA.
What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for ensure fire safety of a building?
Covers England and Wales.
Places responsibility for anyone who has some sense of control in a premises to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and make sure people can escape safely if there is one. The order applies to all premises whether they are permanent of temporary.
The fire safety act 2021 has now amended the act which means any premises with two or more domestic dwellings must undertake a Fire Risk Assessment which takes into account the structure and external walls (from outer cladding to internal plasterboard), attachments to the external walls (balconies and green walls etc), doors and windows within external walls, doors between domestic premises and common parts (flat entrance doors) and any common parts.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 who is responsible for the fire safety in business or non-domestic premises?
The responsible person – any person who has a sense of control over a premises, this can include:
Employers
Owner.
Landlords.
Occupier.
Anyone else with control of the premises e.g facilities manager, managing agent etc.
If there is more than one responsible person, these individuals are expected to work together to meet their responsibilities.
How do you consider sustainability in your design?
- When am I required to provide increased thermal performance?
- Thermal elements subject to renovation should be improved to achieve improved u value requirements provided the area is greater than 50% of the surface of the individual element or 25% of the total building envelope
What is a threshold value?
- Where an element falls below the threshold value, it should be upgraded to achieve an improved value.
Upgrading thermal elements – U-values W/m2K:
- Wall cavity insulation – threshold 0.70 improved 0.55
- Wall external / internal insulation – threshold 0.70 improved 0.30
- Floors – threshold 0.70 improved 0.25
- Pitched roof insulation ceiling level – threshold 0.35 improved 0.16
- Pitched roof insulation rafter level – threshold 0.35 improved 0.16
- Flat roof with integral insulation – threshold 0.35 improved 0.16
What is consequential improvement?
- Applies to existing building with total useful floor area over 1000m2, where the works consists of or includes; an extension, the initial provision of any fixed building services, an increase to the installed capacity of any fixed building services.
- Where the works fall into the above, additional works should be undertaken to ensure the building complies with part L, providing a payback of 15 years can be achieved.
TG - How did you specify the strip out?
- Removal of all fixtures and fittings, including cubicles, soap dispensers, WC pans, basins, waste pipework and dead legs, existing doors, flooring, etc.
- Hand dryers are on hire so advised to set aside re installation
- Cap all pipework and take all cabling back to supply
TG - How did you specify the sanitaryware installation?
- Sanitaryware to be connected to fresh and foul water supplied to effectively supply and discharge as necessary
- Waste pipework to MUPVC to BS 5255 or PVC-C to BS EN 1566-1
- 2no. standard WC pans with 4.5litre dual flush valve
- 2no. urinals waterless in vitreous china w/ concealed cistern
- 1200mm solid surface wash trough with 12mm compact grade laminated access panels
TG - How did you specify the installation of cubicles?
- 12.5mm compact grade laminate with black core and radiused edges and anti-trap hinges
- 18mm melamine faced chipboard, satin anodised aluminium fittings
- Colours to be chosen by the school
- Cubicles to be plugged and screwed into the concrete flooring
TG - How did you specify the flooring installation? Why?
- Break out existing floor tiles, back to floor slab (concrete)
- Prepare existing floor screed and apply 3mm latex finish
- Install 2.0mm PUR floor covering, bonded to screeded floor using approved adhesive and laid in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions
o Provide guarantee of 10 years defective materials - Why – long-lasting, waterproof, and non-slip materials for wet room such as WC and comes with guarantee
