Design and specification Flashcards
What goes into a specification?
- SoW.
- Prelims.
- Materials and Workmanship.
What guidance do you follow for producing a specification?
- BS 8000.
- RICS Design and Specification Guidance Note.
What are the advantages of using NBS Chorus?
You can select the items you want and it pulls them through into a document with the detail saving you time.
What parts did you do of the specification?
SoW, prelims, Materials and Workmanship.
Would you specify fire stopping?
No this is done by a specialist.
What is the advantage of taking the design to RIBA Stage 4?
- More control over design.
- More certainty over costs.
[- Easier for contractor to price.
- Better understanding of project.]
How did you ensure the durability of products?
- Specify good qulaity products using British Standards.
- Collateral warranties/insurance backed warranties.
- Rectification period.
What protections were in place for the products?
Collateral warranties and manufacturers guarantee.
What is a heritage statement?
Describes the historical significance of a building.
Design and spec - Ferry Lane:
- Details of instruction (service, spec, contract value/claim amount etc)?
- Issues encountered?
- TDD (vendors).
- 20 metres from nearest protected staircase (should be max 18 metres).
- Proposed erecting protected corridor to reduce travel distance.
Ferry Lane - How did erecting a wall reduce the protected stairwell route?
Reduced the travel distance as it created a protected corridor.
Ferry Lane - How did you assess the level of fire protection required from the newly erected wall?
- Checked AD B.
- BS 9999.
- Recommended 30 min fire rated plasterboard and fire doors.
Ferry Lane - Take me through the full specification of the partition wall.
- Plasterboard 12.5mm thick.
- Mineral wool insulation.
- Fire doors 30 minute.
Wembley Arena - You mentioned that you noted numerous items that could be upgraded to improve building’s sustainability. Aside from LED lighting, what did you identify and recommend?
- Solar panels.
- Low-flow taps.
- PIRs.
[- Energy efficient heating and cooling.]
Wembley Arena - How were these works presented to your client in the PPM?
They were included within the recommendations section of the report which summarised the schedule.
Wembley Arena - What was your client’s key driver for the PPM requirement?
They wanted to understand the costs associated with maintaining the property and what years to undertake maintenance.
Wembley Arena - How might the presentation of a PPM differ somewhat to providing your client with a vendor’s TDD?
- PPMs outline the maintenance over a number of years (typically 10 years).
- TDDs report on the condition of the building in its current state in terms of purchasing a building (shorter term costs).
For D&B what RIBA Stage would you take the design to?
RIBA Stage 3 - Spatial Coordination.
What’s the difference between Building Regulations and British Standards?
- Building Regs: minimum standards (mandatory).
- British Standards: best practice (voluntary).
How are provisional sums dealt with post-contract?
You remove them (they are ommitted).
Can you name some headings within the prelims document?
- Description of Work.
- The site.
- The contract.
[INCOMPLETE] Planning questions
When is planning permission required?
Not required for:
- Internal works.
- Permitted development.
- New build.
- Extensions.
- Change of use.
How long does planning permission take?
Typically around 8 weeks.
What information is required when submitting a planning application?
- Location plan.
- Drawings (existing and proposed).
- Design and Access (D&A) statement [conservation areas only].
- Heritage statement [conservation areas only].
[- Application form.]
When is CDM required?
- On all projects.
- Duties placed on contractor for domestic but still applies.
What’s the difference between a guarantee and a warranty?
Guarantee:
- Promise.
- Recourse - repair/replace [typically].
- Can’t sue for damages [no breach of contract as there isn’t one].
[- Can have insurance backed guarantees which offer stronger recourse as there’s a fallback route.]
[- Use - products or work i.e. roof covering.]
Warranty:
- Contract.
- Recourse - sue for damages [breach of contract].
- Use - third-party protection in contracts i.e. collateral warranty.
What are the Approved Documents and their contents for:
- Part A.
- Part B.
- Part C.
- Part D.
- Part E.
- Part F.
- Part G.
- Part H.
- Part J.
- Part K.
- Part L.
- Part M.
- Part O.
- Part P.
- Part S.
- Part T.
- Part A: Structure.
- Part B: Fire safety.
- Part C: Site prep.
- Part D: Toxic substances.
- Part E: [Ear] Sound (resistance to).
- Part F: [Fan] Ventilation.
- Part G: [Germs] Sanitation.
- Part H: Drainage.
- Part J: Combustion appliances.
- Part K: [Kicking K] Protection from falling.
- Part L: Conservation of fuel and power.
- Part M: Access to and use of buildings.
- Part O: Overheating.
- Part P: Electrical safety.
- Part S: Electric vehicle charging.
- Part T: Toilets.
What does PAS stand for?
Public Available Specification.
Design and spec - Campden Hill Towers:
- Details of instruction (service, spec, contract value/claim amount etc)?
- Issues encountered?
- Project.
- £150k.
- Erection of a crash deck was included as performance spec.
- Crash deck spec: sufficient size to prevent people being injured from falling debris, area needed to be covered.
- Designs sent back as fire escape routes weren’t clear [option C].
Campden Hill Towers - Why didn’t you include the crash deck design as part of the contractor’s design portion in the contract?
- This was first phase of works - to resolve safety issues [scaffolder direct appointment to CA (no principal contractor)].
- Second phase was to address cladding options (overclad or replace with new) [PAYE direct appointment to CA (no principal contractor].
Campden Hill Towers - What design considerations did you have to make when writing the specification?
- Size of crash deck.
- Fire escape routes were clear.
- Licences from the council to erect crash deck.
Campden Hill Towers - How did you request that amendments were made to the scaffolding design?
- Returned Contractor’s Design Document marked ‘C’ (resubmit with amendments made).
[- Have 14 days to respond otherwise automatically marked as ‘A’.]
Are there any considerations you have to make if you’re undertaking substantial repairs to a roof?
- If more than 50% of the roof is replaced the thermal performance must be upgraded to comply with AD L.
[U-value requirements provided in AD L for pitched and flat roofs].
Can you talk me through the RIBA Stages?
- 0 - Strategic Definition: Define objectives.
- 1 - Preparation and Brief: Develop brief and budget.
- 2 - Concept Design: Initial designs.
- 3 - Spatial Coordination: Planning and regulation compliance.
- 4 - Technical Design: Detailed design (spec).
- 5 - Manufacturing and Construction: Works on-site.
- 6 - Handover: Completion, handover docs.
- 7 - In Use: Maintenance (if necessary).
