Level 2 Flashcards
How do you utilise your knowledge of current regulations and design standards to ensure compliance with legislation?
Applying Regulations in Surveys and Inspections
- Identify non-compliances (e.g., lack of fire-stopping, poor insulation, inaccessible entrances)
- Assess existing fire safety provisions (e.g. means of escape, compartmentation)
- Spot potential health and safety risks (asbestos, damp, structural concerns)
Report Writing and Advice
-Provide reasoned advice referencing relevant legislation (e.g., Part B for fire safety, Part M for accessibility)
-Clearly explain to clients where regulatory obligations lie (e.g., duty holder responsibilities under CDM or asbestos regulations)
Design and Specification
-I ensure they meet current Building Regulations, such as thermal performance (Part L), structure (Part A), and fire safety (Part B)
-I consider materials and detailing to align with BRE guidance and British Standards (e.g., BS 5250 for condensation)
Project Oversight and Contractor Liaison
-Works are carried out in accordance with approved documents and specs
-Contractors are aware of CDM duties and relevant health & safety measures
Example of this
In a recent refurbishment of a commercial premises:
Identified that the existing fire doors did not meet current BS 476 standards
Recommended replacements that complied with Part B and were certified FD30
Worked with the design team to incorporate Part M accessibility features
Ensured through regular site visits that the contractor used compliant materials and correct detailing around fire-stopping and insulation
How do you prepare annotated sketches and specification detailing how elements interact?
*Understanding the Requirement
*Site Survey and Data Collection
*Producing Annotated Sketches
*Supporting with Specification
*Communicating Interactions
Tell me about what you think in relation to various types of materials affecting the cost and time of the project?
On a flat roof replacement, I advised using liquid-applied membrane rather than traditional felt:
✅ Quicker installation, no hot works, fewer trades required
✅ Better performance in tight detailing
❌ Slightly higher product cost, but reduced time on site and overall labour = cost neutral or positive
Talk me through the various types of materials you’ve used. How did this affect the cost and time of the project?
Talk me through how you’ve quantified how delay and disruption to a construction activity affected follow on activities and trades.
How do you use your knowledge of construction technology to inform the following; estimating of tender and contract documents production of pricing documents, interim valuations and compiling final accounts?
- Estimating of Tender and Contract Documents
*Knowing that a roof has tapered insulation and liquid membrane affects both the cost and the time on site, compared to simple felt layers. - Production of Pricing Documents
*For a window replacement spec, I detail not just the window unit but the internal reveals, trims, mastic sealing, and decoration — all of which affect cost. - Interim Valuations
*A claim for plastering would only be valid if background prep (e.g. bonding coats or boarding) is complete — knowing the process lets me value fairly. - Compiling Final Accounts
*If a contractor claims for a more expensive render due to substrate changes, I can assess whether that change was necessary and what cost uplift is reasonable.
my construction technology knowledge helps ensure:
Pricing documents are accurate and detailed
Valuations are fair, evidence-based, and defensible
Variations and claims are properly scrutinised
Clients receive value for money and clear reporting
What are the contents of your specifications?
- Preliminaries
- Workmanship Standards -Referencing relevant British Standards and Codes of Practice (e.g. BS 8000 series for workmanship)
- Materials and Products - Detailed descriptions and performance requirements
- Work Sections / Elemental Breakdown - NBS (National Building Specification) format
How do you assess your clients brief?
Initial Consultation – Understand the client’s goals, priorities, constraints, and expectations.
Document Review – Look at existing drawings, reports, and permissions to identify gaps.
Site Visit – Inspect the property to verify feasibility, spot risks, and assess conditions.
Define Requirements – Break the brief into functional, technical, budgetary, and legal needs.
Identify Risks & Assumptions – Highlight issues like planning, cost, or technical challenges.
Refine the Brief – Help develop a clear, structured, and realistic brief if needed.
Confirm and Agree – Finalise the brief in writing to ensure a shared understanding.
How do you go about preparing your budget?
For a school roof replacement:
*I broke down costs by removal, insulation upgrade, membrane system, rainwater goods
*Applied rates from a recent similar project
*Included prelims, 10% contingency, and scaffold access
*Total cost aligned with client’s budget and was used for funding application
Millbrook Primary School - What building control regulations did you consult? Which elements of these did you incorporate within your design? Can you talk me through some products you reviewed?
*Part G – Sanitation, Hot Water Safety & Water Efficiency. Ensures that all toilets and wash facilities are safe and hygienic
*Part M – Access to and Use of Buildings
*Part F – Ventilation. Requires adequate ventilation to remove moisture and odours
*Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
Part H – Drainage and Waste Disposal
Knowsley Central - How did you deem this was a structural wall? How did you go about instructing the structure engineer? What was the outcome of their involvement?
I deemed the was a structural wall based on:
*Orientation - It ran perpendicular to floor joists
*Wall thickness – It was notably thicker (e.g. 215mm solid brick)
Contacted a structural engineer from our consultant list and provided:
*Access arrangements for site visit
*Clear timescales (e.g. “report required in 1 week to meet contractor start”)
*Requested specific deliverables: structural calculations, steel size/spec, and layout sketch
The engineer confirmed that the wall was loadbearing
*They specified a steel beam (e.g. UB 203x102x23) with end bearings onto padstones.
*Provided structural calcs for Building Control submission and marked-up drawings for contractor use
