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Technical Comps > D&S Questions > Flashcards

D&S Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations?

A

Split into five sections:
B1 - Means of Warning and Escape
B2 - Internal Fire Spread (Linings)
B3 - Internal Fire Spread (Structure)
B4 - External Fire Spread
B5 - Access and Facilities for the Fire Service

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2
Q

What is FENSA and why is it required?

A

FENSA is a government backed scheme that monitors building regulations compliance for replacement windows and doors

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3
Q

What are the required U values for walls, floors and roofs of a commercial building that is being renovated?

A

Walls (cavity insulation) - 0.55
Walls - (external or internal insulation) - 0.30
Floors - 0.25
Pitched roof (insulation at ceiling level) - 0.16
Pitched roof (insulation at rafter level) - 0.18
Flat roof - 0.18

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4
Q

What are consequential improvements and when are they triggered?

A

Triggered where a building has a total usable floor area of over 1000m2 and works include adding an extension, installing a fixed building service or increasing capacity of a fixed building service. Improvement actions are listed in Table 6 of Part L2B

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5
Q

What is the difference between a Building Notice and a Full Plans Application?

A

A Building Notice - a written notice that you intend to carry out building work and does not normally mean that you have to submit detailed drawings. More information may sometimes be requested by the Building Control Surveyor to ensure that your work is in line with the regulations.

A Building Regulation Full Plans application - where plans, detailed specifications, and if appropriate, structural calculations are submitted to the council. These are checked to make sure that they meet the regulation requirements and if necessary you will be asked to give more information or to alter the plans.

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6
Q

How would you define sustainability?

A

As defined in the Brundtland report 1987, sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without comprimising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.

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7
Q

What is the maximum riser and tread recommended for stairs?

A

Maximum Rise: 220mm., Minimum Going: 220mm.

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8
Q

Give two examples each of an active and a passive fire protection system?

A

Active = Fire alarm systems, suppression systems
Passive = Fire doors, fire stopping

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9
Q

What is the BCIS and when would you use it?

A

Building Cost Information Service. This is run by the RICS and provides cost data for use in preparing cost estimates and budget planning for construction projects

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10
Q

Outline the importance of cost planning and feasibility reports?

A

Feasibility reporting and cost planning allows for a project concept to be tested to determine if it would be financially viable. Typically risk allowances are included at feasibility stage to cover potential unknowns.

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11
Q

Outline the differences between Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas?

A

Listed buildings are those determined by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to be significant enough to be included on ‘The List’ maintained by Historic England.
Conservation Areas are those designated by local authorities to protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place

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12
Q

Detail the application for planning approval process, including timescales?

A

Planning applications are validated usually within 2 weeks of receipt and a decision is required in 8 weeks by delegated approval, unless the application includes works which are ‘unsually large or complex’ in which the deadline can be extended to 13 weeks

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13
Q

What is a Section 106 agreement?

A

Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows a local planning authority to enter into a legally-binding agreement or planning obligation with a landowner as part of the granting of planning permission. The obligation is termed a section 106 agreement

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14
Q

What is a Section 278 agreement?

A

A section 278 agreement (or s278) is a section of the Highways Act 1980 that allows developers to enter into a legal agreement with the council (in their capacity as the Highway Authority) to make permanent alterations or improvements to a public highway, as part of a planning approval.

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15
Q

What are development plans and how is development controlled by local authorities?

A

The development plan must include strategic policies to address each local planning authority’s priorities for the development and use of land in its area. Local authorities must produce this in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

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16
Q

How would you go about calculating heat loss through the fabric of a building under Approved document L of the Building Regulations?

A

This is calculated by taking the u-values of all of the elements of the external fabric of the building, along with the volume and its average ventilation rate

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17
Q

What do you consider when designing a fire escape route, including a staircase?

A

Consider fire compartmentation and fire stopping, in accordance with Parts B2-B4 in order to ensure that evacuation routes are protected. Means of escape should be designed in accordance with Part B1.

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18
Q

What do you understand by the term change control and how does it affect you as a designer during the pre and post contract stages of a project?

A

Change control relates to the management procedures implemented during design and construction to ensure that changes to the brief, design or built solutions are monitored and appropriately controlled.

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19
Q

When you undertake a project on a specification and drawing basis, what are the sections you would include within the specification document and what would each section contain?

A

When compiling a specification, I follow the Common Arrangement of Works Sections format by using NBS specification software.

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20
Q

If you were to design an office fit-out of one floor of a high-rise office block, in terms of fire safety, what would you have to think about?

A

Compartmentation, fire doors, drywall partions, intumescent paint on exposed steelwork

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21
Q

What is the National Planning Policy Framework?

A

First published in 2012 and updated most recently in July 2021.

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22
Q

How does the NPPF relate to planning approval?

A

Planning law requires that applications for planning permission be determined in, accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate, otherwise.

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23
Q

What sorts of development require planning permission?

A

Section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 directs that all operations or work falling within the statutory definition of ‘development’ require planning permission.

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24
Q

What are permitted development rights?

A

These are rights granted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Schedule 2 sets out the general classes of development for which a grant of planning permission is automatically given.

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25
Q

What is the difference between an outline planning application and a full planning application?

A

An outline planning application is submitted at an earlier stage than a full planning application, where insufficient information is available but planning permission in principle is required. This is common for developers of new housing estates.

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26
Q

What recourse can be sought if a planning application is rejected?

A

A planning decision can be appealed within 6 months.

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27
Q

What recourse can be sought if an enforcement notice is issued?

A

This can be appealed within 28 days of the notice.

28
Q

What planning enforcement action can be taken?

A

A planning contravention notice requires the owner to provide more information where there is a suspected breach of the planning process.

29
Q

What is an Article 4 Direction?

A

This is made by the local planning authority and restricts the scope of pemitted development rights either in relation to a particular area of site, or a particular type of development anywhere in the authority’s area.

30
Q

What is the timescale for approval of a planning application following validation?

A

Delegated decision - 8 weeks
Committee - 12 weeks

31
Q

What are the costs for listed building consent and planning approval?

A

Listed building consent is free of charge whilst the planning fee is decided by the size and scale of the development

32
Q

What is a listed building?

A

A listed building is one that has been placed on the National Heritage List for England. The authority for the Secretary of State to grant listing is done under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

33
Q

How is a building listed?

A

The process is to be submit an application form online to English Heritage. The Secretary of State, who make seek advice from others, then decides to list or de-list the building.

34
Q

What classes of listed buildings are there?

A

Grade I - buildings of exceptional interest
Grade II* - particularly important buildings of more than special interest
Grade II - buildings that are of special interest

35
Q

Are there any other categories of listing apart from Grades I, II* and II?

A

Scheduled monument

36
Q

What impact does the category of listing have on the statutory consultees?

A

The category of listing determines which statutory consultees are engaged with during the listed building consent process. For example, works to a Grade I listed building will trigger consultation with English Heritage.

37
Q

What is the legislation governing listed buildings?

A

Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

38
Q

What enforcement action can be taken if a listed building is falling into disrepair?

A

Urgent works under Section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

39
Q

What is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?

A

A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity.

40
Q

How can you check if a particular tree has a tree preservation order?

A

By looking at the council website or by contacting the local council (usually the planning department)

41
Q

What is covered in the RICS Design and Specification Guidance Note 2013?

A

− Roles of the lead consultant
− Management
− Common Considerations (compliance, sustainability, safety)
− Design Process Management (documents, NBS, standardisation)
− Design Process (RIBA stages)
− Detailed Design
− Specification preparation
− Legislative compliance
− Construction stage
− Commissioning / occupation

42
Q

How are specifications organised into works sections?

A

Organised into CAWS (Common Arrangement of Works Sections) which was developed by the Construction Project Information Committee

43
Q

What are preambles and why/ how are they used?

A

A preamble is an explanation of a document, commonly found in contracts, specifications and bills of quantities. It can help with the interpretation of the document and might include, a description of the parties to the contract, the background to the document, the objectives of the project, and so on.

44
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of MMC?

A

Advantages:
- Better quality control
- Can be quicker to produce
Disadvantages:
- Factory construc. Can impact social value
- Higher upfront cost

45
Q

What are a couple of key changes introduced in the 2020 RIBA plan of work?

A

Digitisation, MMC, ethics, sustainability and aftercare

46
Q

What are the types of specification? Which was used for The Senate?

A

PPP
Prescriptive - Detailed (Used on Senate reception refurb)
Propietry - Single product
Performance - Contractor scope for sepcifying

47
Q

What was the purpose of the design risk register? How often was it reviewed, who by and who was it shared with?

A

Identify hazards and to eliminate / reduce risk. Risks should be designed out at design stages and those that can’ should be highlighted. Regularly reviewed with deign team, PD and contractor.

48
Q

Where does the legal requirement for a Design Risk Register come from?

A

Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015

49
Q

Talk me through the specification of the desk in terms of materials, fixings and how it met the users requirements?

A

Complied with Regulation 7 as well as the approved documents. Specification was agreed with client in line with CGI. Design agreed with Building control as part of full plans application.

50
Q

Talk me through the process of preparing a sketch proposal? How did you do this and what did you produce?

A

Prepared usig a scale ruler and clearly marked. Detailed as ‘sketch proposal’ an caveated that it was to be fully designed. Checked in line with Approved Document K

51
Q

What were the heigh requirements for the handrails?

A

1.1m

52
Q

When is building regulation approval required?

A

All work covered by the building regulations will require approval, except works carried out by someone registered with a competent person scheme.

53
Q

On the Senate, how was Approved Document Part M relevant to the reception area project?

A
  • Lowered section for wheelechair users
  • Level thresholds
  • Powered entrance / accessible entrance
54
Q

What other guiance were you required to follow for accessibility?

A
  • BS 8300 - Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment
  • Centre for Accessibility - ‘CAE Designing for Accessibility’ guidance
  • Access audit?
55
Q

Are you suitably experienced to be designing edge protection?

A

No, this is outside of my competence. Sketch design was used for discussions with planning and buiding control. Manufacturer prepared detailed designs.

56
Q

Why was edge protection a potential planning issue/what were the planning constraints?

A

Install of a fixed handrail required planning permission. Foldable handrail was a way around this.

57
Q

What is the difference between preliminaries and a Schedule of Works?

A

Prelims are what is req to complete the works for example requirements for O&Ms, works scheduling etc. SoW are the actual works being carried out on site.

58
Q

What are the travel distances set out in Part B?

A

To storey exit (Final exit or doorway to protected/fire escape stair):

One direction (Single escape) - 18m
Two directiosn (Two means of escape) - 45m

59
Q

187 High Street – You were lead designer through ALL RIBA Stages, what design elements were you specifically responsible for?

A
  • Preperation of design risk register
  • Decorations
  • Co-ordinating consultant designs
  • Repairs to the shopfront in line with Historic England guidance
60
Q

How did the Performance Specification differ to your Detailed Design for the works?

A

Performance specification only details the outline requirements the contractor must comply with, however, a full design details the products, materials and detail the contractor must meet.

61
Q

How did a single means of escape restrict your design?

A

I advised my Client that it meant a maximum occupancy of 60 people with the furthest distance to the fire escape needing to be 18 metres.

62
Q

What were the specifics of the partition installed at The Senate?

A

Metsec wall installed in line with British Gypsum white book:
- Deflection head detail to allow deflection of the floor slab above.
- 600mm stud centres
- 2 sheets of 15mm plasterboard either side of studs at 600mm
- Sound insulation (Based on BS 8233 - Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction and British council for office BCO) - req to be 48db, spec was 50db.

63
Q

What db rating was the partition at The Senate required to meet?

A

48db - In line with BS 8233 and British Council for Offices guidance (Best practice). Building regs don’t define sound levels for offices.

64
Q

What is the minimum entrance door widths shown in Approved doc M and BS8300?

A

Approved Doc M - 750mm
BS8300 - 1m

65
Q

What requirements are there for a reception desk to meet part M?

A
  • Atleast 1.5m wide in one area
  • Height of 760mm
  • Knee recess of not less than 700mm
  • Hearing loop
  • Clear manoeuvering space in front of the desk
66
Q

What requirements are there for a entrance door to meet part M?

A

Must have a clear opening of 750mm for refurb (BS8300 says 1m)

Technical Comps (9 decks)

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