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QS APC > C - Construction technology and environmental services > Flashcards

C - Construction technology and environmental services Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Australian Building Codes Board?

A
  • Part of the Australian Government
  • Formed in 1994
  • Responsible for the Development of the National Construction Code (NCC)
  • 16 Board members
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2
Q

What is the National Construction Code?

A

Provides the minimum necessary requirements for:
- Health & Safety
- Sustainability
in the design, construction, performance and livability of new buildings throughout Australia

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3
Q

What does the National Construction Code comprise?

A
  • The Building Code of Australia (BCA); Volumes One and Two

- The Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA); Volume Three

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4
Q

What are the key changes between NCC 2016 and the latest NCC 2019

A
  • Performance requirements now quantified - Introduction of 20 new Verification Methods (VM’s)
  • Improved readability - easier to understand
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5
Q

What is meant by Cold Shell fit out?

A

A building / rentable area that consists of a bare, unimproved shell.
i.e. no finishes, HVAC, plumbing, lighting etc

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6
Q

What is meant by Warm Shell fit out?

A

A building / rentable area that has been fit out with basic services including; finishes, HVAC, plumbing and lighting etc.
Will still require specialist fittings to be provided by the tenant prior to moving in.

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7
Q

What is meant by Turnkey?

A

Developer takes sole responsibility to design, construct and fit out a building.
The project is handed over at the point it is ready for occupancy.
The building is fully furnished.

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8
Q

What is the Substructure?

A

All structure below the superstructure

i.e. all structure below ground level

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9
Q

What is a foundation?

A
  • Transfers the load of a building / structure into the ground
  • Load comprises dead load / imposed load / wind load
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10
Q

What is a raft foundation?

When is it suitable to be used?

A
  • Spreads the load of a structure over a large base, reduces the load per m2
  • Options include solid raft slab, or beam and slab raft
  • Used for light loads in low load bearing capacity soils

Heavy loads on the raft have the potential to cause the raft to move sideways due to the shallow depth of the raft

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11
Q

When is a strip foundation used?

A

Suitable for most sub-soils and a light structural design, usually reinforced

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12
Q

What are pad foundations?

A

Provides a base for reinforced concrete, or steel columns. Usually reinforced

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13
Q

What are piles?

When are they used?

A
  • A series of columns, constructed or inserted into the ground to transmit the load of a structure through weak soil to load bearing strata
  • Used when there are no suitable foundation conditions near ground level, or there is a high water table
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14
Q

What are bored piles?

A

REPLACEMENT PILES

  • Auger is used to drill the soil
  • Concrete is poured in with a reinforced cage
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15
Q

What are driven piles?

A

DISPLACEMENT PILES

  • Pre-cast, pre-reinforced concrete piles are hammered into the ground
  • Not often favored due to high noise levels, vibration and lack of flexibility in terms of depth required
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16
Q

What are secant piles?

A

PILED RETAINING WALL

  • Interlocking piles (male and female)
  • Bored and provide a combination of foundations and basement walls
  • May provide a waterproof structure
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17
Q

What are sheet piles?

A

PILED RETAINING WALL

  • Deep trench is excavated
  • Concrete is poured in situ
  • Piles can be used to form basement or retaining walls
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18
Q

What considerations need to be given when selecting a foundation type?

A

1) The nature of the load requiring support
2) Ground conditions
3) The presence of water
4) Space availability
5) Accessibility
6) Sensitivity to noise and vibration

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19
Q

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Steel Frame Structure

A

ADVANTAGES

1) Quick to assemble
2) Steel has a consistent material quality
3) Highest strength to weight ratio of any building material
4) Not vulnerable to termites, or any type of fungi or organism
5) 100% recyclable
6) Dimensionally stable - does not expand or contract with moisture or temperature changes
7) Steel is non-combustible, it will not contribute to the spread of fire
8) Lighter in weight - will be preferred in poor soil conditions over concrete

DISADVANTAGES

1) Needs fire protection
2) Parts may need replacing
3) Price of steel is variable
4) Needs experienced builders - additional cost
5) Even though steel components will not burn, they will actually fail before a wood component in a fire

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20
Q

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Concrete Frame Structure

A

ADVANTAGES

1) Whole project costs for concrete framed buildings are marginally less than steel framed buildings (due to steel price rises)
2) Fire protection is part of the structure
3) Slower form of construction - will reduce the ‘cash’ requirements early on
4) Maintenance of an insitu concrete frame is low
5) Cladding can be fixed to it and replaced easily
6) Provides good sound and heat insulation
7) Insitu allows for alteration at late stage of construction
8) Can deal with complex geometry better than steelwork

DISADVANTAGES

1) More time consuming, slower to construct
2) Edges may not be as square and surfaces not as flat as steel
3) The need for steel reinforcement leads to some of the cost issues associated with steel
4) Heavier - requires larger foundations

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21
Q

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Timber Frame Structure

A

ADVANTAGES

1) Light in weight
2) Quick to construct without heavy tools and machinery
3) Able to adapt to any geometric shape
4) Can easily clad with a variety of materials

DISADVANTAGES

1) Needs fire protection
2) Not strong enough to resist major wind events

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22
Q

What is powder coating?

A

A durable, factory applied organic coating to metals - available in many colours

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23
Q

What is intumescent paint?

A

Fire resistant paint, sprayed on in a factory

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24
Q

What is galvanised and why?

A

Coating of zinc to steel

Quite hard and provides good protection against mild or moderate conditions

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25
Q

What is power floated and why?

A

Concrete

In order to maintain a flatter surface of lightweight concrete that has been applied at a faster rate

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26
Q

What is post tensioned concrete?

A

Where stressing is to be carried out on site, after casting an insitu component, or where a series of pre-cast concrete units are joined together

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27
Q

What is formwork?

A

Anything that holds fresh in-situ concrete in place until is hardens

  • Plywood shutters
  • Steel pan forms
  • Fibreglass moulds
  • Profiled decking
28
Q

How is power distributed in domestic situations?

A
  • Electricity is generated by power plants
  • Current is sent through transformers to increase voltage in order to travel long distances
  • Electrical charge travels through high-voltage transmission lines that stretch across the country
  • It reaches a substation where the voltage is lowered so it can pass onto smaller power lines
  • It travels through distribution lines to your neighbourhood. Small pole top transformers reduce the voltage further to make it safe to use in homes
  • Electricity is connected to the house through the service drop and passes through a meter to measure usage
  • The electricity goes to the service panel where breakers or fuses protect the cabling inside the house from being overloaded
  • Electricity travels through cabling inside the walls and ceiling voids to power outlets and switches throughout the house
29
Q

How is power distributed in large / commerical buildings?

A
  • Commercial building owners purchase high voltage electricity (cheaper)
  • Commerical building will have their own step-down transformer to lower voltage to usable levels
  • Electricity is transmitted to switchgear which distributes electricity safely and efficiently to various electrical closets throughout the building
  • Electricity leaves switchgear and travels along primary feeders. Feeders are heavy gauge conductors which are capable of carrying high amerage current through the building safely and efficiently
  • The feeder is tapped as needed and a conductor is run to an electrical closet which serves a zone or floor of a building
  • Each electrical closet has another step-down transformer which will feed a branch panel which controls a series of branch circuits that cover a portion of the building. Each branch circuit covers a subset of electrical needs of the area e.g. lighting, power outlets
30
Q

What is AC?

A

Alternating Current

Form of electricity in which the power flow is constantly changing direction.
It provides peaks and dips in voltage due to changes in direction

31
Q

What is single phase electrical supply?

A
  • Made up of two wires - Active and Neutral
  • Alternating current flows through the active wire, the neutral wire is connected to the earth and the switchboard
  • Provides upto 230V
  • Due to the nature of AC, power peaks and dips in voltage
  • Used in most domestic situations
32
Q

What are the benefits of single phase electrical supply?

A
  • Design is less complex and less expensive
  • Most efficient AC power supply upto 230V
  • Wide range of application uses
33
Q

What is three phase electrical supply?

A
  • Made up of 4 wires - Three Active, One Neutral
  • Each of the active wires are 120 degrees out of phase with each other, this means that once a complete cycle is accomplished, each of the phases have peaked twice
  • This provides a steady stream of power at a constant rate, making it possible to carry more load
  • Provides upto 415V
  • Better suited for powerful appliances, fixed plant. Commonly used in industrial and large commercial buildings
34
Q

What are the benefits of three phase electrical supply?

A
  • Reduction in copper consumption
  • Fewer safety risks for workers
  • Lower labour handling costs
  • Greater conductor efficiency
  • Facility to run high power loads
35
Q

What are the differences between single phase and three phase power supply?

A
  • Primary difference is the consistency of delivery of power (Single phase peaks and dips, Three phase is constant)
  • Single phase required 2 wires, Three phase needs 4 wires
  • Voltage of single phase is 230V, whereas three phase voltage is 415V
  • Connection of sinlge phase is simple, three phase is complex
  • Power failure occurs in single phase but does not in three phase
  • Single phase is inexpensive whereas three phase is expensive
36
Q

When would you select single phase or three phase?

A

Proper care in the design phase can ensure electrical engineers can make appropriate recommendations for maximum efficiency and cost savings for the project

Selection of single or three phase depends on the power needs of a specific application

37
Q

What is UPS and why does a building require one?

A

UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY

Device or system that maintains continuous supply of electric power to certain essential equipment that must not be shut down unexpectedly.

Typically installed in hospitals for life critical equipment and in businesses for business critical equipment

38
Q

Why do we install generators in buildings?

A

Normally installed as back-up power supply, should the primary power supply fairl.

Generators in buildings for this reason are becoming less common as technical advances are made in UPS.

39
Q

What are the different types of ventilation systems available?

A

1) Natural ventilation
2) Mechanical ventilation (extract only)
3) Mechanical ventilation (supply and extract)
4) Mixed mode ventilation

40
Q

What is natural ventilation?

A

The process of air entrering and moving around a building by natural means

  • Opening windows
  • Powered window actuators
  • Stack ventilation - warm air rising and existing through high level openings, causing cold air to enter the building at low level openings

CHEAPEST

41
Q

What is mechanical ventilation (extract only)?

A

These systems are used in environments where the air becomes contaminated by a certain process or activity.

Typically found in toilets, factories and kitchens

Offers consistent and reliable extraction

42
Q

What is mechanical ventilation (supply and extract)?

A

Includes a central Air Handling Unit (AHU) along with separate supply and extract fans

Heating and cooling coils can be added to the AHU to give the system the ability to heat or cool air

Can provide the option of heat recovery to improve energy efficiency. This allows some of the warm extracted air to be re-circulated into the supply, reducing the amount of fresh air to be heated

Ductwork system is required to transport the air around the building

MOST EXPENSIVE VENTILATION OPTION

43
Q

What is mixed mode ventilation?

A

Describes a system that combines both natural and mechanical ventilation.

Mechanical element is normally a supply only system, although can be extract only, or supply and extract

Mechanical system provides adequate airflow when natural ventilation is insufficient

44
Q

What must be considered when ventilation systems are being selected?

A

1) Employer’s requirements - system needs to align with what the client wants to achieve
2) Occupant’s requirements - conditions the occupant is willing to tolerate
3) Cost - budget availability, WLC considerations
4) External conditions - building location, natural ventilation may be infeasible due to noise, pollution levels, weather conditions
5) Control - level of control required
6) Space - amount of plant and services space available
7) Depth of building - In deep buildings atriums can be introduced to get air through, otherwise mechanical systems will be required
8) Security - If high level security is required, natural ventilation may not be feasible
9) Sustainability issues - Depending on level of desired rating, may affect system choice

45
Q

What are the different types of air-conditioning systems?

A

1) Refrigeration cycle
2) Evaporative coolers
3) Absorptive chillers

46
Q

What is a refrigeration cycle air-conditioning system?

A

Most common type of air conditioning

Heat pump transfers heat from a lower temperature source to a higher temperature heat sink
Fridges work in this way, pumping heat out of the interior into the room

47
Q

What is an evaporative cooler air-conditioning system?

A

Draws outside air through a wet pad
Heat of the entering air is affected by the evaporation of water in the wet cooler pads
Costs less and are mechanically simple to understand and maintain

48
Q

What is an absorptive chiller air-conditioning system?

A

Used in conjunction with gas turbines which can be used to generate electricity
Exhausts in the turbines drive an absorptive chiller that produces cold water
Cold water is then ran through radiators in air ducts for cooling
System produces heat, power and cooling in one system - AKA Trigeneration

49
Q

What is the Superstructure?

A

All internal and external structure above the substructure.

Made up of primary (external walls, stairs, roof) and secondary (ceilings, floors, balustrades, doors) elements and finishes.

50
Q

What is the external envelope?

A

The materials and components that form the external shell or enclosure of a building.

May be load or non-load bearing

51
Q

What are the typical components of site investigations?

A

The objective is to systematically collect and record data to help in design and construction.

Should include anything on adjacent sites that may impact including

  • Boundary hedges
  • Fences
  • Existing trees
  • Size and depth of services
  • Existing buildings
  • Ground water conditions
  • Soil investigations
52
Q

Tell me more about soil investigations

A

The purpose is to determine the suitability of the site for the proposed works and to determine adequate and economic foundation design.

Should determine the potential difficulties.

The method chosen will depend on the type of building.

53
Q

What are the main site considerations?

A

1) Access considerations - approach roads etc
2) Storage considerations
3) Accommodation
4) Temporary services
5) Plant
6) Fenching
7) Hoarding
8) Safety and health

54
Q

What is a retained facade?

A

The facade of the building is retained whilst everything behind the front wall is demolished.

Allowance needs to be made for a temporary support structure and also cleaning / restoration works to the retained facade.

Often listed.

55
Q

What are temporary works?

A

Temporary works do not normally appear on construction drawings but demonstrate methods that might be appropriate and resources necessary to ensure safe construction i.e propping

56
Q

What is a tower crane and how do you erect one?

What would stop a tower crane from working?

A

A tower crane is a tall crane used for lifting objects into high places.
The boom allows a longer reach with 360 access.
A longer boom reduces the payload capability.

You would usually use a smaller crane to erect a tower crane.

Weather conditions count prevent it from working, in particular high, strong winds

57
Q

What is scaffold?

A

Temporary working platform erected around the perimeter of a building or structure to provide a safe working platform at a convenient height.

Usually required for work above 1.5m above ground.

58
Q

What is shoring?

A

Form of temporary support given to existing buildings.

Purpose is to provide a precaution against damage or injury from collapse.

59
Q

What are hoists?

A

Designed for the vertical transportation of materials or people.

60
Q

What is a borehole?

A

A borehole can be used for soil investigation or for geothermal heating solutions.

The most suitable method of soil investigation when foundations are over 3m deep.

Geothermal boreholes are permanent boreholes that use the earth’s natural heat to raise the temperature of circulated water. This is a closed system and can be used to heat the building above.

61
Q

What are the problems to the PQS regarding cost control with piling?
Whose risk is the piling?

A

The end depth of the piles are never a certainty and the procurement route used will determine who takes the risk

62
Q

What is slip forming?

A

A method of constructing a repetitive structure such as a core, lift shaft or stairwell.
The formwork constantly moves upwards.
The concrete that becomes exposed must be cured enough to support

63
Q

What is jump forming?

A

Jump forming is where a significant height of concrete is cast and left to cure.
The whole formwork module is then moved up and repeated.
It works in a similar principle to slip forming but is slower and cheaper in process terms

64
Q

What is top down construction?

A

It is used to speed up the construction process of a building with basement levels.
The ground floor slab is cast with an access hatch. The ground below is excavated and another slab is formed. If there is another level, the process is repeated. Piles are usually used as foundations and also act as retaining walls.
It allows the building above and the basement to be constructed as the same time.

65
Q

What is bottom up construction?

A

Forms the basement and then works upwards in a traditional manner.

Simpler, but longer programme

QS APC (18 decks)

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