Construction technology & environmental Flashcards
What are British standards?
Minimum standards for materials, components, design, and construction practices
What are international standards?
ISO - compatible and complement British standards
What are typical components of site investigations?
Boundary hedges and fencing, trees, services location and Beth, existing buildings, groundwater and soil investigations
What are soil investigations?
A sample of the soil to understand the suitability for the proposed works and any necessary design
What are the main considerations for a construction site?
Access, storage, accommodation, temporary services, plant, fencing/hoarding, health and safety risks
What are temporary works?
Works required to enable construction and commonly include structures for access, support, scaffold, hoardings etc
what is shoring?
Temporary support on existing building to prevent damage or collapse
What is a borehole?
A hole used for soil investigation or geothermal heating
What are piles?
A series of columns constructed or inserted into the ground to transmit the load of a structure to a lower level of subsoil where no suitable foundation conditions are present near ground level or where there is a high water table
What different types of piles are you aware of?
Sheet piles where a trench is excavated and concrete is poured in situ, bored piles where an auger is used to excavate the soil and concrete is poured in once complete
What is a raft foundation?
Raft foundations spread the light of the superstructure over a large base. Can be solid raft or beam and slab raft with beams and a suspended floor. Used for lightly loaded buildings where there are poor soils.
What is a strip foundation?
A continuous excavation filled with concrete to support the perimeter and internal walls, suitable for most subsoils and light structural design
What are paid foundations?
Used to provide a base for reinforced concrete or steel columns commonly in the shape of a square or rectangle
What are the main types of excavation for a basement?
- Open excavations with banked soil to provide support
- Perimeter trench - trenches are dug with the Earth supported with sheet piles to form walls, excavated once walls are formed.
What types of basement waterproofing are you aware of?
- tanking using polythene, asphalt or bitumen - better externally to protect the structure
- drained cavity - some water infiltration is allowed then drained away via a sump pump
- dense concrete
What are the technical advantages of a steel frame?
Quicker, recyclable, high strength to weight ratio, not vulnerable to fun guy, minor expansion and contraction with what temperature changes, noncombustible
What are the disadvantages of a steel frame?
Requires fire stopping, fixing components may require replacement over time, price of steel fluctuates
What are the advantages of concrete frames?
Fire protection, low maintenance, good sound and heat insulation
What are the disadvantages of concrete frames?
More time-consuming, affected by weather conditions, larger foundations
Describe a cold flat roof?
Timber joists with insulation in between, allowing an air gap for ventilation to prevent condensation. Cross ventilation is essential. Roof void is cold it’s not insulated above. Covered with plywood or OSB and a waterproof covering.
what is a warm roof?
Insulation placed on top of the roof deck but below the membrane. Vapour control layer is placed under the insulation. Reduces condensation risks.
What is an inverted flat roof?
Insulation is placed on top of the waterproof membrane, no vapour control layer is required. Roof void and deck are at same temperature to the room below, insulation protects the membrane from damage but must be anchored down usually with ballast.
Common steel frame parts?
beams, columns, cross bracing, base plate, fixings
What would you see in concrete foundation/external wall detail?
concrete, rebar, DPC, air bricks, drainage
Different parts of steel beam?
flange - top and bottom
web - vertical part
root - where flange and web meet
what is powder coating?
spray coating on metal for finished decorative purposes
What is RHS vs SHS?
rectangular hollow section vs square hollow section
what is formwork?
something holding concrete in place until cured. Falseeork holds the formwork such as wedges or clips
what is slip forming?
formwork constantly moving to form a shaft
how is a window in a cavity wall supported and water proofed?
cavity trays and closers, draining to weep hole. lintels carry the weight of the wall above
brick size
215 x 102.5 x 65
what factors would affect choice of internal walls?
fire rating, noise, speed, strength
Types of screed?
Bonded - on to concrete
Unbonded - on to bitumen DPC
Floating - on insultation
Resin bonded - laid on concrete resin acts as DPC
Scribe different parts of a pitched roof structure?
Rafters, ridge, wall plate, valley rafters, hip rafters, purlins, sturts, collars, tiles/slates
Are the pros and cons of a single layer felt?
One layer of felt with a base sheet of glass fibre or polyester reinforcement impregnated with bitumen. Coated both sides. Single layer membranes are thin and easily punctured but are cheaper.
What is built up felt?
Three layers of felt laid in a cross direction. Bottom and upper layer align with the falls. Covered with stone chippings.
What is asphalt roofing?
Mastic asphalt is aggregate with a bitumenous binder cast into a block ready for heating on site. Cools quickly and needs to be heated close to the roof, heated up to 200° C and a safety risk but hard wearing. Heavy.
What is an MF ceiling?
Mineral fibre plasterboard suspended
Why is tiled carpet better for commercial areas?
Easier to replace if damaged, how the wearing, access to raised floor systems is.
Is a three-phase electrical supply?
AC supply consisting of 3 x AC voltages out of phase with each other, electricity is cheaper and easier to transmit
How is Power distributed to floor boxes in a raised floor?
Power comes from an LV switch room connected to a distribution board which is connected to a busbar below the floor. Leads connect the floor boxes to Buzzbar sockets.
What is cat 2 lighting?
Lighting suitable for VDU screens to prevent glare
What is Syphonic drainage?
Water is sacked from the guttering into a pipe, pipes are laid level
Name some different types of lifts?
Goods lifts, passenger lifts, platform lifts, dumbwaiter
what fire safety provisions in an office?
maximum occupancy listings, illuminated signage, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, fire alram
What is a UPS?
Uninterruptible power supply to specific equipment i.e. drainage pumps or life safety equipment
What is a busbar?
Conductors inside trunking that distributes heavy duty electrical power
What types of bridges are you aware of?
Suspension bridge, arch bridge, beam bridge with cantilever, movable bridge (swing)
What are the building regulations approved documents?
They provide guidance on performance of materials expected to comply with the building regulations. As it is guidance, alternative solutions can be used providing they meet the requirements of the regulations.
Describe a typical program for a newbuild project?
Site clearance, enabling works, site set up, access roads, setting out, excavations, foundations, frame erection/walls, cladding, roof, floors, services, FF&E, testing/commissioning, landscaping, snagging
