Design and Specification

Question 1

It says that you have read and understood the RICS Design and Specification Practice note, can you tell me about the document?

Answer 1

The Sections include:
1. Introduction

2. Design and the lead consultant (this establishes the responsibilities of a designer. Which include:
   - Occupational design: this approach will
   focus on the requirements of a specific
   building end user.
   - Pragmatic design: a more creative
   approach that acknowledges existence of
   more than one design solution.
3. Principles behind the role
   - the efficient use of design resources
   - structured decision making based on
   factual evidence; and
   - focus on need and the management of
   expectations.
4. Design process management
5. Establishing the project
6. Outline design and specification
7. Preparing for detailed design
   - The process of detailed design and
   specification involves the anticipation of the
   contract form and the respective duties of the
   surveyor and consultant.
8. Design production

The front cover is books piled on top of one another.

Question 2

What is the RIBA Plan of Work?

Answer 2

• The RIBA Plan of Works 2020 outlines the process of briefing, designing, maintaining, operating and the end use of a building into eight stages:
  Stage 0 - Strategic Definition
  Stage 1 - Preparation and Briefing.
  Stage 2 - Concept Design.
  Stage 3 - Spatial Coordination
  Stage 4 - Technical Design
  Stage 5 - Manufacture and Construction
  Stage 6 - Handover
  Stage 7 - End Use

Question 3

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: What is an SER? and as stated in your summary of experience, how would you specify steelwork?

Answer 3

• An SER (Structural Engineer Registration Ltd.) Certificate of Design confirms that a building meets structural requirements outlined within building regulations and this should be submitted with a Building Warrant Application.
• I would never design steelwork to support loadings but I would note SE drawings within a specification.

Question 4

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: At 5 Westerton Road, Keith what was the Client brief and how did you specify the works accordingly?

Answer 4

• The Client brief included:
  a. Production of Layout Plans which complied with building regulations as close as possible.
  b. Provide an open plan office area, meeting room, shower facilities, WC facilities, changing facilities and various stores.
  c. Provide an outline description of works.
• I also had to understand the occupancy capacity which would be achieved within my layout plans so that I could understand the requirements for the number of WC facilities (as per 3.12 of the non-domestic technical handbook) and the number of fire exits required (2.9 Escape).
• 4 WC’s & WHB
• 2 Escape Routes
• In terms of considering building regulations, I paid particular attention to ensuring the minimum requirements for escape routes were achieved 2 Nr. escape routes with 45m maximum travel distance as per (2.9 Escape) non-domestic technical handbook
• I also had to understand the occupancy capacity which would be achieved within my layout plans so that I could understand the requirements for the number of WC facilities
• I also had to consider the existing location of drainage outlets so I could locate WC, shower and kitchenette facilities within close proximity of these.

Question 5

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: What are the regulations in relation to escape distances and where would you find these?

Answer 5

These are set out in section 2.9 (ESCAPE) of the non-domestic technical handbook.

• The maximum escape distances depends on:
  1. the number of escape routes and;
  2. the type of building the premises is, which determines the evacuation speed.

Very Slow Evacuation (care homes) - 1 DoT = 9 ; 2+ DoT = 18
Slow Evacuation (shops, hotels) - 1 DoT = 15 ; 2+ DoT = 32
Medium Evacuation (offices) - 1 DoT = 18 ; 2+ DoT = 45

Question 6

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: How are travel distances measured?

Answer 6

They must terminate to either:
* a place of safety, or
* another compartment, or
* a protected zone, or
* an external escape stair, or
* a flat roof or access deck, or
* to a door in a sub-compartment wall

Question 7

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: What impact does occupancy capacity have on design and what are these impacts?

Answer 7

As per section 2.9 (ESCAPE)

1. Occupancy capacity Minimum number of room exits
   Not more than 60 = 1
   61-600 = 2
   More than 600 = 3

As per section 3.12
2. It affects the number of WC, WHB and Urinals you are required to provide.

Question 8

What are Preliminaries?

Answer 8

Preliminaries are items and costs needed to complete a project that aren’t tied to a specific aspect of the work
These include the following:
- The Site (access / parking / skip requirements)
- Contract conditions (Insurance etc.)
- Management of the works (supervision requirements)
- H&S (hoarding and other controls in place to manage risk)
- Site setup & welfare

Question 9

What is a CDM designers risk assessment?

Answer 9

Designers risk assessment are used to identify hazards and hazardous activities with the view to designed out such risks at the design stage.

For risk which cannot be removed, these are highlighted for controls to be put in place to mitigate the risk.

HSE published a list of RED, AMBER and GREEN rated risks, depending on the severity, to consider when carrying out risk assessments.

RED ITEMS - To be eliminated
1. Lack of pre-construction information
2. Large quantities of dust generating processes
3. No safe provision of access for maintenance

AMBER ITEMS - To be eliminated or reduced
1. Manholes in circulation areas
2. Use of solvent based products particularly in confined spaces.

GREEN ITEMS - to be introduced or encouraged
1. OFF SITE MANUFACTURE

Question 10

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION: What were the ramp requirements considered for 53 Napier Road, Wardpark?

Answer 10

The requirements for ramps are as follows:
- 1in20 -10m man. length - 500mm max rise
- 1in15 - 5m man length - 333mm max rise
- 1in12 - 2m max length - 166mm max rise
- 1in12> - NOT ADVISED

The ramp was required to achieve a rise of 70mm to provide level access.

In order to comply with regulations in terms of complying with building regulations in achieving the maximum gradient of 1:12 - the length of 840mm was required to provide level access the 70mm rise.

All of the above is in accordance with 4.3.10 of the non-domestic technical handbook.

In accordance with 4.3.11, as the ramp is on an escape route the width was 1.2m, measures between the ramp barriers.

In terms of the barriers on the ramp they were between the height of 840mm and 1000mm in accordance with section 4.3.13 in the non-domestic technical handbook.

Question 11

DESIGN & SPECIFICATION: At 77 High Street, Forres - how did you advise your client in regard to the specification of the works?

Answer 11

• The scope of PMP’s service includes writing a specification of works and obtaining statutory consents.
• The client has a design criteria which they apply to all of their stores. The client is a charity which has charity shops across the UK. This design criteria includes timber panelling throughout the shopfloor area.
• When preparing both the description of works and the building warrant drawings, I reviewed various elements of the clients design criteria and areas of shortcomings in statute.
• I reviewed the non-domestic technical handbook and found that under section 2.5, it states that walls in shops with rooms greater than 30m2 require to achieve Euro Class C fire resistance as tested under BS EN 13501-1.
• Untreated timber was considered to only achieve Euro Class D.
• In order to achieve Euro Class C under BS EN 13501-1, the timber was required to be pre-treated with flame retardant treatment.
• On discovering this, I recommended to the client that a specification of fire treatment was applied to timber panel finishes internally.