Construction Technology and Environmental Services Flashcards
What is substructure?
All elements below dpc that provides the basis for the superstructure
What is the external envelope?
The elements that form the external shell of a building that may be load or non-load bearing
What are the Building Regulations?
Statutory instruments setting out minimum performance standards for design and construction supported by the Approved Documents and other codes of practice
What are the Approved Documents?
A to P (A;S, B;F, C;S, D;T, E;S, F;V, G;H, H;D, J;H, K;P, L;C, M;D, N;G, P;E
What are International Standards?
Published by the ISO and are compatible with and complement the British Standards
What is superstructure?
All elements above dpc and made up of ESRSSR
Purpose of soil investigations?
To determine adequate and economic foundation design
What are the main site set up considerations? (for contractor)
AccStAccTePlFeH&S
What are temporary works?
Works required in association with a construction methodology
What is a tower crane?
A tall crane with a ‘boom’, erected by a smaller crane, high wind sensitive
What is a scaffold?
A temporary working platform to provide safe working 1.5m above ground
What is shoring?
Temporary support to existing buildings in case of collapse
Main components of concrete?
CAW
What is a borehole?
Soil investigation or geothermal types, over 3m deep
What are piles?
Series of columns constructed or inserted into ground to transmit load of structure when no suitable foundation conditions or a high water table
The different types of piles?
ShSeBoPre
The different ways piles transfer loads?
EnFrSeTe
Difference between bored vs pre-cast piles?
Bored for cohesive soils and friction piles or when near existing buildings
Pre-cast for soft soils over firm strata but noisy
Problems for the QS regarding piling?
End depth never certain and depneding on procurement route the risk could be with the contractor (trad; D&B) or client (management contracting)
What is a raft foundation?
Foundations spreading the load over a large base and useful in low bearing soils with lightly loaded buildings
What is a strip foundation?
Shallow continuous excavations supporting perimeter and internal walls, suitable for most soils and a light structure
What are pad foundations?
Bases for reinforced concrete or steel columns, are usually reinforced with meash and spread load to bearing soil or rock below
What are retaining walls?
Earth retaining structures to retain soils laterally
The main types of excavations for basements?
OpPeCo
What is a basement?
A storey constructed below ground level
The 3 different types of basement construction?
ReBoxPi
The 3 main methods of waterproofing a basement?
DenTanDr
What is scabbling?
Process using piston driven carbide tipped heads impacting surface materials at rapid rate pulverising coatings or level out concrete floors
Technical advantages of steel frames?
QuReWeVDiCoFiFo
Technical disadvantages of steel frames?
FiFixFlExp
Describe cold flat roof construction?
Insulation between roof joists and below roof deck (cross ventilation important)
Describe warm flat roof construction?
Insulation above roof deck and joists (vapour control layer under insulation)
Describe inverted flat roof construction?
Insulation above waterproof membrane and ballasted down
Describe parapet wall/roof abutment detail?
A flashing detail along with DPC closer under the coping
Describe a pitched roof detail?
RaRiBaSuBoVe
Describe a cladding rainscreen detail?
A screening function to shield a wall designed to allow some leakage with main functions provided by the wall shielded
Describe a Cladding Stick System?
The frame and panels are installed and constructed piece by piece allowing for integration of other systems eg doors/windows, less specialised but 70% of work on site
Describe a Unitised Cladding System?
Narrow width storey height framework of panels craned into position and fixed to pre-positioned brackets in slab or structural frame
Describe a Panellised system?
As Unitised above however, large bay width panels, frame mayt be concfrete or steel and clad with variety - stone, metal, masonry elements. Least on-site working, rapid installation
Common components of steel frames?
BeCoPuRaEaBaApRaiBraFix
Common components of external wall/foundation detail?
FoBloRebDaAiSusBckaDrain
Different parts of a steel beam (I beam)?
FWR
What is powder coating?
Durable factory applied coating on metals, sprayed on and heat cured with thickness 50-100 microns, many colours
What is RHS and SHS?
Rectangular and Square Hollow Sections
What is intumescent paint?
Fire resistant paint, factory sprayed, working by stopping oxygen reaching surface of material protecting
What is an upstand?
A vertical skirting such as weatherproofing at roof abutments
What is post tensioned concrete?
Carried out on site where concrete is cast around ducts where tendons are to be housed, with stressing by hydraulic jacks after concrete cured
What is formwork?
Anything that holds fresh in-situ concrete in place until hardens
What is slip forming?
Method for repetitive structures such as a core, lift shaft, stairwork, where formwork moves upwards after concrete below has cured (continually moving upwards at a pace)
What is jump forming?
As slip forming above but a height of concrete cured before jumping up to next level
Cavity wall/windows, how water and strucure?
Water: cavity trays above with weepholes; dpc to stop moisture rising up wall
Structure; lintels which carry the wall load above
Size of a brick?
215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm
The ‘frog’ and which side?
Indentation in bed face of brick, facing up, stronger wall and better sound insulation
How many bricks in a m2?
60
Different types of brick bond?
Stretcher (half brick wide); english (alternatives header and stretcher)
Elements affected by type of cladding system used?
Frame; roof; M&E
What is an air brick?
Perforated brick for ventilation into room or underfloor space
Factors that affect choice materials for internal partitions?
FiNoViFixStr
Different types of screed?
Bonded (straight on concrete base)
Unbonded (on to bitumen dpm)
Floated (on to insulating board, but reinforced)
Resin bonded (straight on concrete, but ready installed dpm)
Purpose of a threshold strip?
Metal strip between floor finishes, under door leaf, fraying, aesthetic, fire
Main components of a hipped end pitched roof? (think rafters)
RaJaRiWaHiVaPuBaCo
Elements of a flat roof?
JoFuBoFelCh
Flat roof covering types?
Single layer membranes
Built up felt
Asphalt roofing
What is single layer membranes?
One layer felt
Base sheet impregnated with hot bitumen, coated both sides with bitumen compound, dusted with sand on side and polythene the other, left to cool, cut into strips
Pros and Cons of single layer membranes?
Easily punctured, rarely used commercially, cheapest option
What is built-up felt?
Three layers of felt (as above), laid at right angles to each other, then covered with stone chippings
Pros and Cons of built-up felt?
More common but easily punctured if proper care not taken
What is asphalt roofing?
Mastic asphalt: aggregate with bituminous binder cast into a block ready for reheating on site where heated to 200 degrees and poured, with two coats usually required.
Pros and Cons of asphalt roofing?
Reduce risk of defects; cools quickly so needs to be heated on roof which is dangerous; hard wearing and designed for transit over; 60 year guarantees
Items required for 30 mins fire doors?
3 hinges; intumescent strip; self closing device
If glazed; 6mm thick, wired glass max 1.2m2; 13x13 beads non combustible
What is an MF ceiling?
Mineral Fibre plasterboard suspended ceiling (a grid?)
What is a metal grid ceiling?
A suspended ceiling system formed by a square grid
Benefits of a metal grid ceiling?
Quicker to construct; allow service runs through void and access to repairs; damaged tiles can be replaced rather than entire ceiling
Difference between rolled and tiled carpets?
Rolled better quality, more expensive, common in dwellings
Carpet tiles harder wearing and cheaper, individual replaced, access to services
What is top down construction?
Basement constructed at same time as building above, usually piles used
What is bottom up construction?
Basement constructed first then building above, simpler construction
What is a three phase electrical supply?
An AC supply consisting of three AC voltages 120 degrees out of phase with each other, which is cheaper and easier to transmit than single phase
How power distributed to floor boxes in raised floor?
Incoming supply to low voltage switchboard to distribution board to under floor busbars to floor boxes to plugged in appliances
What is CAT II lighting?
Light fittings suitable for use with VDU screens designed in such a way to limit amount of glare from computer screens
What is syphonic drainage?
An alternative to gravity drainage where water is sucked (by vacuum) in to the drainpipe avoiding requirement for pipes at a gradient and are narrow pipes
Different types of lift?
PaRePlFrDu
Fire safety provisions in an office block?
OcExEx.AlFlaPan
What are automatic fire sprinklers?
Individually heat-activated and tied to network of piping with water pressure, triggered by solder link melt or liquid glass bulb shatter
Main types of air conditioning systems?
Refrigeration Cycle
Evaporative Coolers
Absorptive Chillers
What is Refrigeration Cycle?
The most common type of AC, where heat (at the set level?) is pumped into a higher temperature heat ‘sink’, much like a refrigerator
What are Evaporative Coolers?
Lower cost AC type and easier to maintain where device draws outside air through a ‘wet pad’ measured by a ‘bulb’ thermometer and excess heat removed by evaporation of water in pads
What are Absorptive Chillers?
Used where buildings have gas turbines to generate electricity and where the exhausts drive an absorptive chiller that produces cold water which then runs through air ducts by ‘radiators’ to cool air
Describe a VAV (Variable Air Volume) AC System?
System made up of supply and return ductwork, a ‘VAV box’ and air terminals, where airflow varies to maintain constant temperature utilizing supply ducts which supply cooled air
Describe a VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) AC System?
More efficient to other systems and take up less space, comprising heat pump, compressor, pipework, and can provide simultaneous heating and cooking via independent ‘indoor units’ where energy recovered from one zone can be used to heat a separate zone
How are fire barriers formed in suspended ceilings?
Required if suspended ceiling not fire resistant, and if walls stop at underside. Barriers installed between soffit of above floor and the suspended ceiling resulting in ‘compartmentation’, services through barriers must be sealed (smoke stops also possible)
What is a UPS?
Uninterruptible Power Supply, maintains electrical supply to essential equipment
Why install generator in buildings?
Backup power supply should primary source fail
What is Busbar trunking?
Copper or aluminium conductors (base) fixed inside trunking to distribute ‘heavy duty’ electrical power to ‘tap off’ units
What stand for FCU, AHU, VAV?
Fan Coil Unit
Air Handling Unit
Variable Air Volume system
Types of bridge construction?
BeArSuMo
How ‘cable stayed’ bridge works?
Load from bridge deck transferred through the cables to towers and into ground anchorages
Difference between tower and pier?
Towers through deck and cable support
Piers below and support deck
Type of building work covered by the B Regs?
EreInsAltInsUnd
What are the specific areas covered?
Ref earlier flashcard
Purpose of B Reg Approved Docs?
General guidance on performance to comply with the functional requirements of the B Regs
Practical examples.
Only guidance and other solutions acceptable to meet requirements
Who ensured the B Regs are complied with?
Building Control Services such as the Local Authority or Approved Inspectors (private companies)
Typical programme for a new build structure? (useful to compare with Elemental Cost Plan constituents)
CESRS EEF FCRF SFTC L S
FacEn. EDF FUERI S E
