Construction Technology

Question 1

Name the pro’s and con’s of Steel vs Concrete

Answer 1

Steel
Pro’s
- Lighter - usually means shallower foundations
- Faster to construct
Cons
- Needs intumescent / boarding for fire protection
- Costs heavily fluctuate

Concrete
Pro’s
- Natural acoustic, thermal and fire qualities
- Faster on design usually
Con’s
- Heavier, deeper foundations
- Slower to construct than Steel

Question 2

What do attenuation tanks do?

Answer 2

are designed to slow discharge of water of site by storing water and releasing it slowly. Typically tanks are buried in ground and can therefore clash with drainage runs and piling if no space to do outside of building footprint

Question 3

What is suds?

Answer 3

Sustainable (urban) drainage system
- SuDS efforts make urban drainage systems more compatible with components of the natural water cycle such as storm surge overflows, soil percolation, and bio-filtration. These efforts hope to mitigate the effect human development has had or may have on the natural water cycle, particularly surface runoff and water pollution trends.

Question 4

When do you get an EPC, and how often?

Answer 4

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of buildings
- Cavity walls floor and loft insulation, domestic boiler, hot water tank, radiators, heating controls windows for double glazing, and so on.
- Carried out by an accredited energy assessor
- Valid for 10 years.

Question 5

What is SAP?

Answer 5

Standard Assessment Procedure
The calculation of the energy rating on the EPC is based on the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)
the methodology used to assess and compare the energy and environmental performance of dwellings
Process
- It calculates the typical annual energy costs for space and water heating, and, from 2005, lighting and CO2.

Question 6

How would you price a concrete retaining wall?

Answer 6

Review drawings and sections
- Concrete
- Reinforcement (dependant on information from Structural Engineer and use of wall)
- Formwork
- does it need a waterproof system?
- Prelims + SC overheads

Question 7

Life Cycle Costing analysis?

Answer 7

Considers costs over the whole life of a project and includes servicing costs and replacement costs

Question 8

RIBA plan of Work Stages 2020

Answer 8

0 - Strategic definition (client team appointed)
1 - Preparation and Brief (design team appointed)
2- Concept Design (Management contract appoint)
3- Spatial Coordination (PCSA)
4- Technical Design (usually appoint contractor)
5- Manufacture and Construction
6- Handover
7- Use

Question 9

MMC & categories of MMC?

Answer 9

Modern Methods of Construction
- there are 7 categories as defined by Gov
1- Pre-Manufacturing (3D primary structural systems)
2- Pre-Manufacturing (2D primary structural systems)
3- Pre-Manufacturing (Non-systemised primary structure)
4- Additive manufacturing (Structural and Non-Structural)
5- Pre-Manufacturing (non structural assembles & self assembles)
6- Traditional building product let site labour reduction / productivity improvements
7- Site process let site labour reduction / productivity assurance improvements

Question 10

What is District Heating?

Answer 10

Energy released as heat from a range of sources and adding it back to the network for other energy users to consume. This is through the method of using highly insulated pipes.

Question 11

What is a VRF?

Answer 11

Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)
Air-Conditioning system configuration where there is one outdoor condensing unit and multiple indoor units.
- Basically Air Conditioning

Question 12

What is MVHR?

Answer 12

Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery
Purpose: an energy recovery ventilation system which works between two sources at different temperatures. Heat recovery is a method which is used to reduce the heating and cooling demands of buildings.

Question 13

What is an FCU?

Answer 13

Fan Coil Unit
Purpose:

Question 14

What is HVAC?

Answer 14

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Question 15

What types of MVHR are there?

Answer 15

• Extract only (just to discharge contaminated air, e.g toilets, kitchens)
• Supply and Extract (heating and cooling) includes a central AHU, containing filters

Question 16

Issues to consider for the design of ventilations in buildings?

Answer 16

• Employers requirements - what the client wants and the functional space requirements of the building.
• Occupants requirements - Conditions which occupants will tolerate
• Cost - Budget available for the project, how much is viable? Whole life also a major consideration.
• External conditions - noise pollution and local weather etc
• Control - level of control required will influence design
• Space - ductwork and air handling units take up space, could impeded floor to ceiling heights
• Environmental issues - BREEAM a consideration.

Question 17

Name some types of ventilation in buildings

Answer 17

• Natural (windows)
• Mixed mode - both natural and mechanical ventilation
• Mechanical Ventilation - extract only
• Mechanical Ventilation - supply and extract

Question 18

What is the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS)

Answer 18

Contractors can register to the scheme. Registered sites are committed to caring out appearance, community respect, protecting the environment, secure everyone’s safety and value their workforce.

Question 19

Give some examples of how having good technical knowledge can assist in the agreement and negotiation of costs and valuations?

Answer 19

Having good knowledge of the construction buildup is important, for instance for foundations it’ll be excavation, concrete, reinforcement, formwork.
Also an example would be lighting, if the light is mounted and looks finished, this cable should be running back to the distribution board which will be mounted.

Question 20

Modern Methods of Construction, do these have a cost premium?

Answer 20

There is typically a clear programme benefit, and usually involves less trades on site based on the pre-cast and off-site manufacturing nature.
In terms of cost usually we have found that the costs are at a 5-10% premium, this could be due to availability of products on the market.

Question 21

In terms of services, what considerations should be discussed when deciding the frame?

Answer 21

• Space for services - e.g steel possible benefit for floor to ceiling heights but need to consider holes in beams etc.
• Risers and builders work

Question 22

What frame types were considered for Horizon 120

Answer 22

• RC Concrete
• Steel
• Timber / CLT wasn’t considered

Question 23

What considerations would you need to take when thinking about CLT / timber frame?

Answer 23

• Sprinklers are required
• Insurance premiums can sometimes be high for clients

Question 24

Detail the mechanical heating and cooling strategy on one of your schemes?

Question 25

The PV’s you have purchased in the past, what rate did you procure these for?

Answer 25

The rate was circa £450-£500/m2, excluding the slabs required for the roof for the PV’s to be mounted on.

Question 26

What are the fire combustible standards for façade materials?

Answer 26

We generally do not comment on design, and our recommendations are based on cost for later review of the design team
But i am aware of the levels set by Euro standards, these are;
A1- Non Combustible materials
A2- Limited combustibility
B, C, D- ranges from very limited to medium contribution to fire
E, F- high contribution to fire

The standards also set smoke levels for smoke emitted in a 10 min period, these are;
S1- little or no smoke
S2- quite a lot of smoke
S3- Substantial / Heavy smoke