Design and Specification Flashcards

1
Q

What is the RIBA Plan of Work?

A
  • It is produced by the Royal Institute of British Architects and describes the stages necessary to complete the briefing, design, construction and operation of a building.
  • The plan of work outlines the stages, core tasks and information required at each stage.
    0 - Strategic Definition
    1 - Preparation and Brief
    2 - Concept Design
    3 - Spatial Coordination
    4 - Technical Design
    5 - Manufacturing and Construction
    6 - Handover
    7 - Use
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2
Q

What are Preliminaries?

A
  • Preliminaries provide a description of the project that allows a contractor to assess costs which, whilst they do not form part of any package of works, are required by the method and circumstances of the works.
  • Their purpose is to describe the works as a whole and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution.
  • They include the following:-
    o The site (description, access and parking).
    o The works.
    o Contract conditions (rectification, payments, insurance and collateral warranties).
    o Management of the works (working hours and supervision requirements).
    o Security, health and safety.
    o Site setup and welfare requirements.
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3
Q

Tell us about your understanding of specifications?

A
  • Specifications describe the materials and workmanship required for the project.
  • They do not include cost, quantities or drawn information and need to be read alongside other information such as:-
    o Bill of Quantities.
    o Schedules.
    o Drawings.
  • Specifications vary dependent on the project.
  • Performance Specifications gives suppliers more scope to innovate and adapt cost effective solutions.
  • Prescriptive Specifications provide suppliers with a full design resulting in improved client certainty but create less opportunity for contractor innovation.
  • Proprietary Specifications give reference to a single type of product to be used resulting in complete client certainty whilst sacrificing contractor innovation.
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4
Q

What Specification Software are you aware of?

A
  • The National Building Specification (NBS) - Describes materials, standards and workmanship for construction projects.
  • The NBS also contains preliminaries documents.
  • It is regarded as the UK industry Standard and provides all the latest legislation and British standards relevant to the works.
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5
Q

What are Preambles?

A
  • Preambles are there to provide an explanation of how a document is to be used in order to help with its interpretation.
  • Preambles do not form part of the cost of the project and may include:-
    o A description of the parties to the contract.
    o A description of the competence of the parties.
    o A background of the project.
    o Summaries of any negotiations that have taken place.
    o The tendering procedure that has been adopted.
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6
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term schedules of work?

A
  • A schedule of works provides an instructional list of the works required.
  • The schedule should allow the contractor to identify any significant work and materials that will be required.
  • References to requirements around quality criteria are provided through supporting specifications.
  • The location and size of the project is provided on accompanying drawings.
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7
Q

What are Provisional Quantities?

A
  • Provision quantities are defined by the New Rules of Measurement (NRM) as:-
    o An item of work where the quantity cannot be accurately determined at the time of agreeing the contract sum.
    o Where the work can be described and given in terms in accordance with the tabulated rules of measurement, an estimate of the quantity shall be given and identified as a `provisional quantity’.
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8
Q

What is a Schedule of Rates?

A
  • A schedule of rates is used when the nature of the work is known but cannot be quantified.
  • In the absence of an estimate, the contractor will provide unit rates against the items that are intended to cover all likely activities that might form part of the works.
  • As the extent of the works is unknown, the rates are used to provide for overheads, profit and general prelims such as scaffold, power, supervision and welfare etc.
  • On projects longer than 18 months, escalation provisions may apply which are based on annual percentage increases or stipulated indices.
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9
Q

What is a Bill of Quantities?

A
  • A document prepared by the cost consultant (Quantity Surveyor) that provides project specific measured quantities of items of work identified by the drawings and specifications in the tender document.
  • They are typically used on larger projects and new builds.
  • They provide fair and accurate tenders and avoid any misinterpretation of the quantities required.
  • Bill of Quantities takes precedent when errors or discrepancies occur between drawings, specifications and the Bill of Quantities.
  • They provides rates for variations and valuations.
  • They must be prepared in accordance with NRM or recognised methods of measurement to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding.
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10
Q

Please explain the British Standards BS 7000 Guide to Managing Design in Construction different stages?

A
  • The guide was published by the British Standards Institute.
  • The guide provides guidance on the Construction Design process at all levels for all organisations and all types of construction projects.
  • It also establishes principles to ensure the design management process is more efficient and provides principles and a common reference for project protocols.
  • BS 7000 applies to purpose-built constructions, equipment and components and is recommended for use by those who work in and with the construction industry, particularly designers and those managing design throughout the life-cycle of a construction project.
  • Its contents are:-
    o Framework for Design Management.
    o Design Resource Management.
    o Design Process Management.
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11
Q

Please explain your understanding of Statutory Effects on Design?

A
  • Building regulations in the United Kingdom are statutory regulations that seek to ensure that new buildings, conversions, renovations and extensions are safe for the people in or around those buildings.
  • The approved documents that form part of the Building Regulations specify different criteria for the following aspects of buildings all of which affect their design:-
    o Approved Document A – Structure.
    o Approved Document B – Fire Safety.
    o Approved Document C – Site Preparation and resistance to contaminates and moisture.
    o Approved Document D – Toxic Substances.
    o Approved Document E – Resistance to Sound.
    o Approved Document F – Ventilation.
    o Approved Document G – Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency.
    o Approved Document H – Drainage and waste disposal.
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12
Q

What is Building Information Modelling (BIM)?

A
  • Building information modelling describes the process of creating and managing the digital information of a built asset.
  • The different BIM Maturity Levels are:-
    o Level 0: Low Collaboration – This is the information gathering process and doesn’t involve any level of cooperation. It is essentially using computer aided design to create drawings using IT software.
    o Level 1: Partial Collaboration – Involves the use of CAD to generate suites of 2D information and non federated 3D models.
    o Level 2: Full Collaboration – Requires the sharing of project information generated within the 2D and 3D models to be shared across the project disciplines and team members.
    o Level 3: Full Integration – Includes a single collaborative project model including construction sequencing, cost and lifecycle management information.
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13
Q

What is a Designers Risk Assessment?

A
  • Designers Risk Assessments are used by designers to identify hazards or any hazardous activities in order to eliminate or reduce them.
  • Through their use, the risks identified are aimed to be designed out at the design stage and those that cannot be omitted are highlighted for mitigation where possible.
  • The HSE publish a red, amber, green list to assist designers in ascertaining what should be encouraged or eliminated for example:-
  • Red items to be eliminated include:-
    o Lack of preconstruction information.
    o Large quantities of dust generating processes.
    o No safe provision of access for maintenance.
  • Amber items to be eliminated or reduced:-
    o Manholes in circulation areas.
    o Use of Solvent based products particularly in confined spaces.
  • Green items to be introduced or encouraged:-
    o Permanent means of access.
    o Edge protection.
    o Off site fabrication.
    Designers Risk Assessment Example
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14
Q

What are the Building Control Performance Standards?

A

The Building regulations set the standards to be achieved within the construction of Buildings.
* The Building Control performance standards are produced by the Building Control Performance Advisory Group which help ensure uniformity between local authorities and approved inspectors to adopt a consistent approach when assessing compliance with the standards.
* The performance standards are made up of:-
o Policy Performance and Management Systems.
o Resources.
o Consultation.
o Pre-application contact and provision of advice.
o Assessment of plans.
o Site Inspection.
o Communications and Records.
o Business and professional Ethics.
o Complaints Procedure.

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15
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term Dead Load?

A
  • A constant load contained within a structure such as a building or bridge that is made up of the weight of its members, superstructure, substructure, permanent attachments and accessories.
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16
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term Live Load?

A
  • Applied or imposed loads that can vary over time and are due to the occupancy of a structure. Live loads may include people, furniture, vehicles and stored materials.
17
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term Environmental Load?

A
  • Environmental loads are typically caused by changes in the weather and any changes to a buildings natural surroundings. For example these can take the form of wind speed changes against the external elevation of a building, waves impacting against the structure of a bridge, coastal erosion and earth quakes.
18
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term Point Load?

A
  • A point load refers to the loading on a specific point. This term is normally used in reference to the loading of a specific element of the building such as a column placing its associated load on the supporting structure below.
  • Point loads are calculated by the total load over the objects surface or length attributing the entire load to its centre point.
19
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term Uniformly Distributed Load?

A
  • The term Uniformly Distributed Load refers to the distribution of a load over an entire area such as a concrete slab.
  • The total load is spread across the entire element in question and remains uniform throughout.
  • From example if a 20kn/m load is acting on a beam length of 10m, then the uniformly distributed load is 200 kN.
20
Q

Please explain your understanding of the terms modern methods of construction?

A

The RICS published ‘Modern Methods of Construction: A Forward thinking solution to the housing crisis?’ in 2018.
* This listed the following as modern methods of construction that are also viable options to assist with solving the housing shortage crisis in the UK:-
o Cross Laminated Timber – Is a structural, premanufactured panel that can be used to form walls, roofs and flooring components. It is also a sustainable building method where the wood is glued in longitudinal and transverse layers offering a much more light weight option than concrete and steel.
o Modular Construction – Modules constructed off site in a factory environment are transported to site and connected together to form a complete building.
o Design for Manufacture & Assembly – These are manufacture and assembly methods that have been adopted in the automotive and consumer products industries. It is thought that these methods can be adopted in the construction industry to increase consistency and quality.