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RICS APC - QS > Construction technology and environmental services (L1) > Flashcards

Construction technology and environmental services (L1) Flashcards

1
Q

What is a foundation?

A
  • It is a base on which a building rests
  • Its purpose is to transfer the combined dead, imposed and wind loads to the subsoil beneath the foundation
  • Without causing settlement or movement in any part of the building
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2
Q

What are the different types of foundation?

A
  • Pad (Shallow)
  • Piles (Deep)
  • Raft (Shallow)
  • Strip footings (Shallow)
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3
Q

How are foundation types categorised?

A
  • Shallow
  • Deep
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4
Q

When are shallow foundation types used?

A

When the loads imposed by a structure are low relative to the bearing capacity of top surface soils

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5
Q

When are deep foundation types used?

A

When the bearing capacity of the top surface soils are not adequate to support the loads imposed by the structure and so those loads need to be transferred to deeper layers of soil with higher bearing capacity

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6
Q

What factors can impact the choice of a foundation type?

A
  • Nature of the load requiring support
  • Ground conditions
  • Presence of water
  • Sensitivity to noise and vibration
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7
Q

What is a pad foundation?

A

-It is a shallow foundation type
- They are rectangular, square or circular pads’
- They support concentrated point loads from framed buildings

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8
Q

When would you use a Pad foundation?

A
  • To support concentrated point loads from framed structures (a pad foundation is used directly under the column)
  • It is a shallow foundation type and so
  • Requires surface soils that have sufficient bearing capacity to support the loads imposed and a
  • Low water table (otherwise a pile foundation maybe used as an alternative to support the concentrated point loads)
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9
Q

What is a pile foundation?

A

-It is a deep foundation type
- They are long, slender sections made from steel, concrete or timber
- They can be classified based on thier
- Basic design function e.g. end-bearing or friction or
- Thier installation method e.g. displacement/ driven or replacement/ bored

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10
Q

When would you use a Pile foundation?

A
  • For framed buildings where concentrated point loads from the columns are exerted upon the foundations
  • It is a deep foundation type so are used where the surface soils are insufficient to support the loads imposed and a higher water table (otherwise a pad foundation maybe used as an alternative to support the concentrated point loads)
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11
Q

How are pile types classified?

A

They can be classified by their
- Basic design function (end-bearing or friction) or
- Method of construction (Displacement/ Driven) or (Replacement/ Bored)

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12
Q

How would you characterise end-bearing piles?

A
  • They transmit load directly to firm strata
  • They develop most of its friction at the toe of the pile, bearing on a hard layer
  • Suitable when harder layers are NOT too deep
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13
Q

How would you characterise friction piles?

A
  • The pile transmits the loads to surrounding soil by friction between the surface of the pile and the soil
  • They develop most of the pile-bearing capacity by shear stress along the sides of the piles
  • Suitable when harder layers are TOO deep
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14
Q

How would you characterise Displacement/ Driven piles?

A
  • They are set into the ground by force
  • This can be by driving, vibrating or jacking the pile into the ground
  • They displace the surrounding earth
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15
Q

What are the different types of displacement/ driven piles?

A
  • Pre-cast concrete
  • Steel (inc sheets and cast in place with a hollow tube/ casing and wet concrete if borehole needs support before concrete is poured)
  • Timber
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16
Q

What are the advantages of displacement/ driven piles?

A
  • Not effected by high water table
  • Pre-fabricated (made to measure and quality benefits)
  • Can connect piles together achieving required depth
  • Install produces limited soil for removal and disposal
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17
Q

What are the disadvantages of displacement/ driven piles?

A
  • Noise produced is loud
  • Vibration may cause problems to adjacent structures
    -Pile diameter is limited as the larger they are the harder they are to drive in
  • Slower than CFA replacement piling
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18
Q

When would you use displacement/ driven piles?

A
  • When noise is not of concern and
  • When the site is not congested, where adjacent building maybe structurally impacted from vibrations
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19
Q

How would you characterise replacement/bored piles?

A
  • They are formed by removing a volume of soil and replacing it with in-situ concrete
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20
Q

What are the different types of replacement/ bored piles?

A
  • Bored (concrete poured after the hole is bored)
  • CFA (Continuous Flight Auger - concrete poured at same the time as the hole is bored)
  • Large diameter rotary bored (for piles in excess of 600mm diameter)
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21
Q

What are the advantages of replacement/ bored piles?

A
  • Does not cause vibration
  • Does not cause noise
  • Quicker compared to driven piles
  • Does not cause ground heave as ground is not displaced
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22
Q

What are the disadvantages of replacement/ bored piles?

A
  • Limited depth can be achieve compared to driven piles (which can be connected)
  • Need to export of material off site
  • In-situ concrete maybe affected and weakened in ground of high water table
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23
Q

When would you use replacement/ bored piles?

A
  • Where noise is a significant issue
  • Where other structures are in close proximity
24
Q

What are raft foundations?

A
  • It is a shallow foundation type
  • It is reinforced concrete slabs that covers the entire footprint of a building
  • Can be considered to float on the ground like a raft does on water and hence the name
25
Q

When would you use raft foundations?

A
  • Floor areas are small and structural loading are low
  • Settlement or, differential settlement is likely
26
Q

What are strip foundations?

A
  • It is a shallow foundation type
  • They are a continuous strip of support for linear structures such as walls
27
Q

When would you use strip foundations?

A
  • To support linear and light loads such as walls (which could include masonry walls cladding a framed building)
  • Where subsoil is of relatively good bearing capacity
28
Q

What are ground beams?

A
  • They span between pad and pile foundations
  • They transfer a linear load such as a missionary wall that maybe used to clad framed building to the pad and piles
  • Used where ground is weak or subject to heave and so a strip cannot be used
29
Q

What are the different types of frame?

A
  • Steel
  • Concrete
  • Timber
  • Masonry cavity
30
Q

What are the advantages of a steel frame?

A
  • Can span over long distances (due to high strength to weight ratio)
  • Strong and ductile (making it resistant to accidental damage and can be repaired easily without impacting its strength)
  • High quality due to off-site fabrication eliminating risk of on-site variability
  • Ease and speed of installation
  • Can be multi recycled without losing strength
31
Q

What are the disadvantages of a steel frame?

A
  • Requires fire proofing by intumescent paint or fire rated plasterboard
  • Prone to corrosion and may need coating in a bitumen paint
  • Steel prices can be volatile
  • Although it can be multi recycled without losing its strength, it is a finite source and production is environmentally damaging due to amount of fossil fuel used in the manufacturing process and the amount of waste produced
32
Q

What are the advantages of concrete frames?

A
  • Good thermal mass improving energy efficiency
  • High compressive strength making it ideal for large structures
  • Resistant to weather and fire without needing additional treatment
33
Q

What are the disadvantages of concrete frames?

A
  • Heavy weight requiring stronger foundations and reduces spanning distance
  • Limited tensile strength so requires steel reinforcement
  • Slower to install compared to steel frames
  • Has high carbon footprint due to cement production
34
Q

What is a detention tank?

A

It is a structure that temporarily stores storm or wastewater to prevent flooding and reduce pressure on the drainage systems

35
Q

What is a retaining wall?

A
  • It is a structure designed to hold or retain soil behind it
  • Commonly used to prevent soil erosion, manage water runoff or create level areas on sloped terrain
36
Q

If piles are used to construct a retaining wall what is the pile type called?

A

Pile walls

37
Q

What are pile walls?

A
  • Pile walls are used to create permanent or temporary retaining walls
  • They can be formed by placing piles directly adjacent to one another or interlocking
38
Q

What are pile walls used for?

A

To construct retaining walls for structures such as:
- Detention tanks
- Unground structures such as basement
- Seawalls
- Cofferdams

39
Q

What are the different types of pile walls?

A
  • Secant pile wall
  • Contiguous pile wall
  • Tangent pile wall
  • Sheet pile wall
40
Q

What is a secant pile wall?

A
  • They are formed by constructing concrete piles that interlock
  • Used where water ingress or loss of soil between the piles is of concern
  • Primary/ Female piles are cast in-situ with a space between them
  • This is followed by Secondary/ Male piles being cut into the Primary/ Female piles to form a continuous wall
41
Q

What is a contiguous pile wall?

A
  • They are formed by constructing piles that are closely spaced together
42
Q

What is tangent pile wall?

A
  • These are formed by constructing piles that are flush to one another but there is no overlap
43
Q

What is a sheet pile wall?

A
  • These are formed from sections of sheet materials with interlocking edges which is most cases are made of steel
44
Q

What regulations can impact on the design of construction works?

A
  • Building Regulations
  • CDM Regulation 2015
  • The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016
45
Q

Can you give me an example of a regulation that impacts on the design of construction works and how?

A
  • Part M of the building regulations
  • Impacts design consideration such as provisions of ramps, handrails to ensure no barriers are faced by disabled individuals when try to access premises
46
Q

What is Regulation 31 of The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 (as amended)?

A
  • In summary, it is a vital part of the UK’s water quality regulations
  • It ensures that construction products and materials used in the supply of drinking water do not compromise its safety or quality
47
Q

What is the Eels Regulations 2009?

A
  • European eels are currently outside safe biological limits
  • The EU adopted regulations to deal with this which were transposed into UK law through the Eels Regulations
  • The Eels Regulations give powers to the regulators (the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales) to implement recovery measures in all freshwater and estuarine water in England and Wales
48
Q

What is The water industry strategic environmental requirements (WISER)?

A
  • It is a framework developed by the UK’s environmental regulators such as the Environment Agency
  • It outlines the environmental priorities and expectations for water companies
  • There are 3 main objectives water companies are expected to achieved:
  • A thriving natural environment
  • Expected performance and compliance
  • Resilience for the environment and customers
49
Q

What is a start-up-to-waste solution?

A

o When a water treatment facility is shut down and started up again the water is usually discharged to the environment
o However, the water is recirculated back to the head of the works to be treated such that it can be used reducing water waste
o Due to this, components of the latter part of treatment facility were the water would be discharged does not need to be Regulation 31 complaint
o However, due to water recirculating back to the head of the works they now do need to be regulation 31 complaint

50
Q

What sustainable construction or technologies are used in your sector?

A

o Hydro turbines – converts energy from water flow into electricity to power the treatment works
o Biogas generation – digestion of sewage sludge produced biogas which can be used to generate energy for the treatment plant
o Variable Frequency Drivers (VFDs) adjust speed of pumps to match demand reducing energy consumption
o Gravity systems – such as MECIA bypass arrangement minimises energy consumption used during pumping operations

51
Q

What legislation might be appropriate to consider other than Building regulations/ codes on a project?

A

o Environmental legislation
 Habitats Regulations 2017
o Health and Safety legislation
 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
o Planning legislation
 Town and Country Planning Act 1990

52
Q

How does the choice of a building component affect operational and maintenance processes post contract?

A

o The choice of a building component impacts operational and maintenance processes in several ways, for example:
 Easily accessible components simplify repairs and reduce downtime
 High-quality durable components require fewer repairs and replacements
 Components that integrate well with existing systems or allow for future upgrades ensure smoother operations
 Components with strong manufacturer support and training resources simplify maintenance and support operations
 Components that meet safety standards ensures safe operations

53
Q

Can you provide an example of what this might be from one of your projects?

A

o On the MEICA, the contractor had constructed a number of chambers
o Within these chambers was a valve suitable for a dry environment
o However, due to water ingress into the chambers the valves were no longer suitable for the environment and if not changed would increase operational and maintenance activities required on these valves
o As such, a new submersible valve had to be used reducing maintenance activities in addition to pumps to pump out the chamber

54
Q

How might ground conditions affect the type of foundation used on a project?

A

o Soil bearing capacity – weak or compressible soils may require deep foundations
o Ground water level – high water tables may require deep foundations
o Settlement risk – design will need to mitigate ground movement i.e. raft foundation
o Underground obstructions - such as rock may require specialist excavation
o Contamination or made-up ground - may require deep foundations

55
Q

What benefits are you aware of from off site, modular construction?

A

o Speed – allows for overlapping of off-site module fabrication with on-site groundwork
o Cost efficiency – Lowers labour and materials costs due to reduced construction time
o Enhanced quality – due to controlled factory environment
o Less site disruption – minimises noise and dust
o Increased safety – minimises the need for working at height
o Flexibility – allows for easy expansion and reconfiguration
o Improved sustainability – reduces waste
o Predictable costs – due to constructing happening in a controlled environment and less susceptible to weather

RICS APC - QS (33 decks)

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