Construction Tech Flashcards
What are the RIBA stages?
0: strategic definition (outline brief, ambition, scope)
1: preparation and brief (project objectives, business case, project team, fix project brief)
2: concept design (visualisations of design, structures and services overview)
3: spatial coordination (design development, further detail on services, structure, specs, planning)
4: technical design (detailed drawing, schedule of works, specs, building regs submission)
5: construction
6: handover and close out (close out of all in line w building contract, defects period)
7: in use
What is an O&M manual?
Operations and Maintenance. Info required to operate, maintain, decommission, deconstruct/demolish a building.
Incl: as builds, commissioning certs, specs, manufacturer details
Key components of a building.
Substructure
Superstructure
Envelope
Roof
Services
Fit out
Types of substructure
Piles
Foundations: strip and raft
What are piles?
Deepest form of foundation - used when load bearing ground is deep or load is concentrated
End bearing or friction pile
Installation:
bored (drilling or auguring with casing in place, removes soil and cast in this hole - continuous flight auger has hollow stem and pumps concrete once hole is bored.
Driven (pre cast pile driving into soil, pushing soil aside/compacting it - increases load bearing capacity but is v disruptive, useful when ground not suitable for boring)
Other types: secant wall
What is a strip foundation?
Continuous strip of support to a linear structure such as a wall or row or columns
Suits soil w good load bearing capacity and light structural loadings - low to medium rise
Can be reinforced if one point has heavy load
Suited to continuous loading
Deep strip where soil is weak or moisture movement - e.g extra 750mm when on clay
What is a pad foundation?
Takes individual load from columns or Stanton’s
Used with a frame structure (steel frame or post & beam system)
Usually standardised to suit biggest pad req.
Can be used w ground beams to transfer load onto pad
What is a raft foundation
RC slab which moves w soil beneath it
Where soil is difficult, differential settlement likely, light loadings
Cheap, less excavation
Can provide for whole building - spread load over total foundation
10mm hardcore, 50mm binding, w’proof membrane, 300mm RC
What counts as superstructure
. Frame
. Core
. Floors
. Walls
. Windows
Steel structural frame?
Steel
. Lengths bolted together on site, then bolted to core
. Painted to prevent corrosion and intumescent for fire
AD:
. Off site manufacturing - accuracy - efficiency
. Recyclable
. Strength : weight ratio
. Allows for greater spans
DISAD
. More expensive
. Longer lead times
. Requires further acoustic treatment
. Less consistent costing (e.g Ukraine)
Concrete structural frame?
Pre-cast or in situ (formwork, steel rebar, concrete poured)
AD:
. Cheaper than steel
. Fire resistant
. Fast assembly
. Weather resistant
. Insulates well (sound, heat, fire)
. Can be moulded into any shape
DISAD:
. Shorter spans
. Labour intensive
. Poor strength : weight ratio
Timber structural frame?
Floor and wall units made off site and bolted together
ad:
. Sustainable
. Prefab
. Lightweight
DISAD:
. Fire
. Requires specialists
. Poor acoustic insulation
Masonry structural frame
Mostly used on resi
Brick internal/external walls are load bearing, timber joists and concrete floors, cavity wall insulation
AD.
. Good thermal and sound insulation
DISAD
. Slow
. Thick walls so more materials
Types of core pour
Slip form
. Continuous pour of concrete within framework
. No joints in the core, suitable to visible concrete finish
Jump form
. Poured in sections, allowed to dry, jump to next section
. Worse finish
Best option depends on project type:
. Slip form is better for taller buildings
. Jump form allows you to build the floors of each building as opposed to just the core.
What is a composite slab?
Uses both steel and concrete
. Pour concrete onto a steel deck, steel acts as formwork during the pour and as reinforcement after it’s set.
Factors when considering a structural frame?
.Use type
. Programme and procurement
. Design complexity
. Floor spans
. Aesthetics
. Market / supply chain
. MEP strat - servicing zones etc
. Site logistics
What is cladding?
Non-load bearing envelope which protects building from weather, also provides fire stopping
Modern cladding doesn’t tend to form part of structural frame where it used to (masonry on houses)
Types of cladding?
Stick system - mullions and transoms, glazing lifted in and fitted
Panel system - pre cast panel fixed back to frame and floors
Curtain walling
. Lightweight aluminium frame w glazing fixed into
. Joints then tie it back to the frame
Sandwich panel
. Typically aluminium on external with insulation between
. Lightweight
Rainscreen
. Lightweight panels on the outside acting as rainscreen, with insulation and vapour control between it and inner wall
Metal profile cladding (industrial)
. Corrugated sheets fitted back to frame
Brick slips
. Gives impression of masonry wall
. Thin layer of bricks
Current relevant legislation
. Building safety act 2023
. CDM 2015
. EIA 2017 (consider environmental impact)
Explain Building Regs
Minimum standards for design, construction and alteration.
A. Structure safety (AKT)
B. Fire safety. (Burning)
Prevention, detection, escape
C. Site prep and resistance to contamination (Contamination)
D. Toxic substance (Deadly substance)
E. Resistance to sound (Ears)
F. Ventilation (Fenestration)
G. Sanitation (Grey water)
H. Drainage and waste disposal (horrible shit)
J. Combustion appliances and fuel storage (jenny (generator))
K. Protection from falling, collision and impact (killing yourself)
L. Conservation of fuel and power (sustainability) (Low sustainable impact)
M. Access and use of buildings (Motorised users)
N. Glazing (Non opaque bits)
P. Electrical safety (Power)
Q. Security (QCIC)
R. Physical infrastructure for high speed networks (Rapid WiFi)
How do buildings regs impact design
Massively, building has to be designed to meet them.
M, allowing for enough space corridors etc (0.8m doorways)
. L. Minimum U values (heat gain and loss)
MEP Considerations
Requirements
. Heating and cooling
. Ventilation (mechanical and natural)
Infrastructure capacity
Risers
. Wet - always wet
. Dry - start dry, until fire brigade chuck water up it
Combined heat and power (CHP)
. Boiler used to generate electricity, excess steam to generate heat
ASHP
GSHP
WSHP
AHU. Air from outside, for whole building
FCU. Internal air, turned into heat or cool
What’s the difference in project processes throughout RIBA stages
More flexibility early on in design process but this is formalised as time goes on and especially once contractor is on board.
