Modern Methods of Construction

Question 1

Features of traditional construction methods (7)

Answer 1

1. Loadbearing walls/onsite construction, 2. Non-framed buildings, 3. Massive materials/labour intensive, 4. Low efficiency, 5. Slow, 6. Quality control issues (In-situ construction), 7. Construction waste

Question 2

Features of MMC (8)

Answer 2

1. Non-loadbearing walls/offsite construction, 2. Saving materials and labour, 3. Fast, 4. Higher efficiency, 5. Quality assurance, 6. Reduced waste, 7. sustainability

Question 3

Off-site construction techniques (7)

Answer 3

1. Volumetric modules (prefab concrete), 2. Panelised systems, 3. Hybrid systems, 4. 3D concrete printing, 5. Light Gauge Steel Framing, 6. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), 7. Smart construction technologies

Question 4

Volumetric modules (prefabricated concrete)

Answer 4

Entire rooms or sections of buildings are manufactured off-site as complete modules. These modules are ready-made rooms transported to the construction site for assembling. (popular for bathrooms and kitchens) (modules - ready made rooms) AKA pods

Question 5

Panelised systems

Answer 5

Walls, floors, roofs are assembled into panels off-site, then transported to the site and connected to form the building’s structure. EG curtain walling, infill walling

Question 6

difference between volumetric modules and panelised systems?

Answer 6

Volumetric is 3d and panels are a 2D plane with a certain thickness

Question 7

Hybrid systems

Answer 7

The concrete in construction is the combination of precast and insitu concrete. Combines various materials and construction techniques to create customised modular solutions. A mix of volumetric modules, panelised systems, and other prefabricated components

Question 8

Concrete 3D printing

Answer 8

Large scale 3D printers are used to print concrete structures layer by layer for constructing walls, bridges, and other structural components.

Question 9

Light Gauge Steel Framing (steel framing systems)

Answer 9

Pre-engineered steel components are manufactured off-site and assembled on-site to create the structural frame of the building. Popular for residential and light commercial construction

Question 10

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)

Answer 10

CLT panels are manufactured off-site by layering and gluing together dimensioned lumber. On site these panels are assembled into the structural elements of a building

Question 11

Smart Construction technologies

Answer 11

BIM (building information modelling), digital twin (a bit like bim but includes real time data and analytics) , industry 4.0 + AI, VR, AR

Question 12

Modular construction

Answer 12

Factory produced building units that are assmebled as large volumetric components of a building. Used in hotels, education, student accomodtion,

Question 13

Pods

Answer 13

Small, complete volumetric rooms. Usually non-structural and used within a loadbearing structure. The enclosure can be of steel frame, timber frame, concrete or composite constructions. Typically bathrooms

Question 14

Panelised systems - open panels

Answer 14

Panels delivered to site where windows, services, linings are fitted. All structural components are visible

Question 15

Panelised systems - closed panels

Answer 15

Like open panels but can have windows and doors. Internal structural components can only be seen around perimiter of panel

Question 16

Panelised systems - concrete panels

Answer 16

Structural wall panels, which can include cladding, insulation materials, windows and doors

Question 17

Panelised systems - Composite panels

Answer 17

Made from a combination of different materials that act together to provide structural support. Structural insulated panels are a specific form of composite panel.

Question 18

Panelised systems - Structural insulated panels (SIPs)

Answer 18

Sandwich construction comprising two layers of sheet material bonded to a foam insulation core. They do not rely on internal studs for their structural performance. Used primarily as wall and roof panels.

Question 19

Sub-assemblies and components (10)

Answer 19

1. prefabricated foundations, 2. Floor cassettes, 3. Roof cassettes, 4. Preassembled roof structure, 5. Prefabricated dormers, 6. Prefabricated chimney stacks, 7. Wiring looms, 8. prefabricated plumbing, 9. Timber I-Beams, 10. Metal web joists

Question 20

sub-assemblies and components - pre-fabricated foundations

Answer 20

A series of prefab ground beams and other components to form foundations quickly and accurately

Question 21

sub-assemblies and components - floor cassettes

Answer 21

prefab panels designed for floor construction. Fewer labour hours are needed per sqm and reduced work at height has potential health and safety benefits

Question 22

sub-assemblies and components - roof cassettes

Answer 22

Pre fab panels designed for pitched roofs. Stiff and designed to leave the loft free of struts and props, allowing easy production of ‘room in the roof’ construction. Allows the roof to become watertight more quickly than conventional constructions

Question 23

sub-assemblies and components - preassembled roof structure

Answer 23

Roofs assmbled on the ground before constructing the shell of the building. Can then be craned into place after the superstructure is in place, creating a weather tight structure more quickly than assembling the roof in situ

Question 24

sub-assemblies and components - prefabricated dormers

Answer 24

Factory made dormers can speed up the process of making the roof watertight. (Dormers are squares/windows petruding from pitched roofs)

Question 25

sub-assemblies and components - prefabricated chimney stacks

Answer 25

factory made lightweight chimney stacks for mounting on the roof structure without the need for masonry work, making them suitable for lightweight construction

Question 26

sub-assemblies and components - wiring looms

Answer 26

cabling systems manufactured so they can be assembled quickly with relatively unskilled labour. Cables are manufactured in various lengths an terminated with easy to use plugs

Question 27

sub-assemblies and components - prefabricated plumbing

Answer 27

Pipework and fittings pre-assembled for use in volumetric units for quick work

Question 28

sub-assemblies and components - Timber I Beams

Answer 28

Lightweight joists, studs or rafters manufactured with a timber sheet material web to make an I beam. Very stiff for their weight and can be used to create structures with larger unsupported spans for increased flexibility

Question 29

sub-assemblies and components - metal web joists

Answer 29

Lightweight joists comprising two timber flanges separated by light gauge steel lattice webs, as with timber I beams, large room spams are possible

Question 30

onsite MMCs - tunnel form in-situ concrete

Answer 30

concrete bays case between L shaped steel shutters. The ends of the bays are infilled with other materials to create a habitable space. More efficient when used for large numbers of repeat units

Question 31

onsite MMCs - Insulating concrete formwork

Answer 31

Insulation in the form of hollow blocks or sheets used as permanent shuttering for concrete to create the external walls of a dwelling. Airtight and thermally efficient dwellings are created using this.

Question 32

onsite MMCs - aircrete

Answer 32

aerated concrete products, used to form the major elements of a structure. Uses conventional skills and is suited to both low and high output volumes

Question 33

MMC - disadvantages (8)

Answer 33

1. Inflexibility for late design change, 2. Higher initial costs, 3. Potential higher overall costs, 4. Less durability, 5. Delays in obtaining planning permission, 6. Regulatory complexities, 7. Training requirements of site and professional staff, 8. Skills shortage in logistics and planning

Question 34

Operational carbon

Answer 34

The co2 and other greenhouse gases emitted from a building's energy use, EG heating, hot water, coolng, blah blah

Question 35

Embodied carbon

Answer 35

The carbon emissions incurred from the manufacture, transport and erection of building materials used in construction as well as disposal

Question 36

Embodied energy of building materials, high to low (4)

Answer 36

1. Aluminium (super high), 2. Steel (high) 3. Concrete (low), 4. Timber (very low)

Question 37

Sustainable building solutions - passive (6)

Answer 37

1. High thermal mass/good insulation, 2. Double/triple glazing windows, 3. Window curtains/blinds, 4. Air tightness, 5. Summer shading devices, 6. Natural ventilation

Question 38

Sustainable building solutions - active (8)

Answer 38

1. Energy efficient lighting, 2. Solar thermal systems, 3. Air-source heat pumps, 4. Geothermal heating systems, 5. Wind energy systems, 6. Hydrogen heating systems, 7. Biomass heating systems, 8. Building energy management systems