Construction Tech & Environmental Services Level 1

Question 1

How does planning permission impact on design?

Answer 1

• Design will need to comply with the standards set out by planning regulations
• Design may need to be altered in order to comply with planning regulations and to allow permission to be granted so the construction work can go ahead

Question 2

What other legislation impacts on construction?

Answer 2

The Building Regulations for example. They set out how and the standards to which a building should be constructed.

Question 3

How does the age of the building affect construction methods?

Answer 3

Considerations will need be made in relation to the age of the building such as:
- structural stability
- load bearing capacity
- listed building / planning consents

Question 4

What are the RIBA Stages?

Answer 4

0 - Strategic Definition
1 - Preparation & Brief
2 - Concept Design
3 - Spatial Co-ordination
4 - Technical Design
5 - Manufacturing and Construction
6 - Handover
7- In use

Question 5

Can you give me examples of 2 alternative air condition systems?

Answer 5

VRF (Variable refrigerant flow) - can simultaneously heat and cool different parts of a building. It can continuously adjust the flow of refrigerant to each indoor evaporator. Thus, each evaporator has its own set of controls. The indoor units link to the outdoors unit via control wires.

Split AC Systems - are a more conventional HVAC system with a combination of 2 components; a heat pump or conditioner compressor. They work by removing hot air or humidity out of the building and eliminating it via the compressor. The entire system turns on or off via a single thermostat. The system is either always heating or always cooling. To heat one zone and cool another simultaneously, you would need to have 2 dedicated HVAC systems, one for each location.

Question 6

What do you understand by the term busbar?

Answer 6

Busbar is a strip or bar of rigid metal that conducts electricity, either as a single element or within a busbar trunking unit. It’s main purpose of a busbar is to carry electricity and distribute it.

Question 7

Where would you expect to see busbar?

Answer 7

inside switchgear, panel boards and busway enclosures

Question 8

Can you give me some examples of alternative drainage systems?

Answer 8

Underground drainage systems - either combined or separate

Soakaways - where mains drainage cannot be used

Sustainable Drainage Systems - designed to manage storm water as close to the source as possible to mimic natural drainage and encourage infiltration. Helps to reduce the reliance on existing drainage infrastructure.

Question 9

What are the advantages of a steel framed building over concrete frame?

Answer 9

• Faster to erect than concrete frames
• lower load bearing capacity compared to concrete frames
• do not have the same acoustic and thermal properties of a concrete frame

Question 10

What current challenges is Covid and/or Brexit bringing to Construction Technology?

Answer 10

The additional administrative works and checks following Brexit are slowing down the supply of labour and materials. This has subsequently resulted in cost increases and availability issues in particular in the cost of:
- steel
- plastic components
- cement
- plasterboard
- skilled and non-skilled labour