Construction Technology and Environment L1

Question 1

What frame may you use on construction?

Answer 1

• Traditional masonry = standardised, low rise
• In-situ Concrete = requires formwork and reinforcement so expensive, fire rating high, poor for environment, poor under tension but strong with compression
• Pre-cast Concrete = Pre stressed to accommodate tension, poor under tension but strong with compression
• Steel = Quick, expensive, poor fire rating, quality control excellent
• Timber frame (glulam) = Limits on height, environmentally friendly, slower progress on site
• Modern Methods Construction = high quality, only useful typically on bulk order, not weather impacted.

Question 2

What foundations are available and why would you use them?

Answer 2

Pad Foundations - concentrated low rise framed building
Strip Foundations - Loadbearing walls which dependant on depth with substrate consistency.
Pad & strip foundation combination - Cladding with point loads on.
Raft foundation - Continuous level, can be increased in depth where loads are high, good in clay soil
Displacement / driven Piles - carry framed buildings loads into the ground and capped where substrate weak. They can be friction based distributing weight or end bearing.

Question 3

What do you know of basements and requirements?

Answer 3

Basements require walls to be able to be able to manage pressures to the walls.
They need to remove or exclude water altogether using tanking, waterproofing and/or drainage methods. This is graded 1-4.

Question 4

What type of floor construction options do you have? What is the build up?

Answer 4

Suspended or slab floor coverings and can be dependant on loads. I would usually use slab for commercial and build up would be:
Hardcore, sand, DPM, concrete slab, insulation, floor screed.

Question 5

What are the different frame types setting out?

Answer 5

Skeleton frame (squared loadings)
Portal frame (Open expansive frame)
Space frame (Open expansive frame with roofs made up of triangular supporting formations)

Question 6

What type of wall construction can you have?

Answer 6

• Loadbearing (traditional)
• Infill panels (framed - fixed between frames rather than outside)
• Cladding (Framed - fixed to the outside of the frame)
• Curtain Walling

Question 7

What is the purpose of the building envelope?

Answer 7

Provide fire resistance, weather resistance, structural movement support, thermal resistance, provide ventilation and glazing areas to punch through.

Question 8

What options for roof covering is available?

Answer 8

Pitched roof - tiled (concrete, slate, clay)
Industrial - Profiled metal roof sheets (built up or composite panels), asbestos covering
Flat roof - EPDM (Rubber), GRP, liquid applied, bitumen built up (modified to not always require flame), single ply membrane

Question 9

Name some of the Approved Documents you deal with?

Answer 9

B - Fire Safety
E - Resistance to Sound
F - Ventilation
K - Fall Protection
L2B - Conservation of Fuel and Power
M - Access to Buildings

Question 10

What is the purpose of the Building Regulations?

Answer 10

Enforce the Building Act 1984 as the Building Regulation 2010. Guidance is provided through Approved Documents although not enforced.

Question 11

Are you aware of any changes to the Approved Documents?

Answer 11

O - Overheating (improvements to ventilation and glazing requirements)
L2B - Reviews the efficiency of the heating systems as primary energy
Part F - Requirement of tickle vents and offices have air supply.