Construction Technology Flashcards
What is the substructure?
All elements of work that are undertaken below the damp proof course that provides the basis for the superstructure to be constructed upon
What is the superstructure?
All internal and external elements above the substructure:
Walls (external and structural), stairs, roof, ceilings, floors
What are British Standards?
Publications issued by the British Standards Institution prefixed with ‘BS’
They give recommended minimum standards for materials, components, design and construction practices
What are the Building Regulations?
Statutory instruments that set out the minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings
Supported by the Approved Documents and other codes of practice (including regulation 7 - materials and workmanship)
What is the external envelope?
The materials and components that form the external shell or enclosure of a building
These may be load or non-load bearing
What is a retained façade?
When the facade (usually front wall) of the building is retained whilst everything behind is demolished - this tends to be for historic/conservation requirements
Allowances needs to be made for a temporary support structure and also cleaning & restoration works to the retained façade
Retained facades are often required as a result of listed building requirements
What are temporary works?
Parts of the works that allow or enable the construction by protecting, supporting or providing access to the permanent works - these may or may not remain in place at the completion of the works
Temporary works do not normally appear on construction drawings but may be required depending on the construction methodology being used
Temporary works may also be required as a result of health and safety requirements to ensure a safe method of construction for example temporary propping
What is a scaffold?
What is shoring?
What is a borehole?
What are the different types of piles?
What are retaining walls?
What is a basement and what are the 3 main methods of waterproofing a basement?
A storey constructed below ground level
What is difference between a cold roof and a warm roof?
What is an inverted flat roof construction?
Describe a typical parapet wall – roof abutment detail?
What is powder coating?
What is intumescent paint?
What is an upstand?
What is formwork?
How big is a brick?
Standard bricks are 215mm (length) x 102.5mm (depth) x 65mm (height)
What is the frog and which side does it go on?
The frog is an indentation in one of the bed faces of a brick
Unless specifically stated, bricks should be laid frog (or larger frog) facing up, and with mortar filling the frog
Bricks with two frogs are known as ‘double-frogged’, though these are less common.
This gives a stronger wall and superior sound insulation
How many bricks are in a m2?
Approximately 60 bricks in a square metre of wall
What are the different types of brick bond?
English bond – with alternating courses of headers and stretchers (garden wall bond has 3 stretchers courses and then a header header)
Flemish bond - alternating headers and stretchers to make a cross like patern (typical of 18th century buildings - if newer the headers would need to be half bricks to create a cavity)
Stretcher bond - no headers - just a line of stretchers (common in modern construction as it allows a cavity - wall ties used to tie the two leaves together)
Header bond - no stretchers - just a line of headers (would indicate that the wall has no cavity and is old - typical of 18th century buildings)
What is an air brick?
A perforated brick to allow for ventilation into a room or an underfloor space - seeing an airbrick at low level on an external would point towards a suspended timber floor not a solid concrete floor
What is top down construction?
What is bottom up construction?
Why do we install generators in buildings?
Who ensures the building regulations are complied with?
Building Control services such as the Local Authority or Approved Inspectors (private companies set up to specifically regulate building control)
