Design and specification Flashcards
Tell me about the various stages of the design process?
Tell me about your understanding of the functional requirements and
performance of building materials and components?
Tell me about your understanding of the Health and Safety regulations including the implications on design.
Tell me about your knowledge of the effect of technical standards and statutory regulations such as planning
Tell me about your understanding of the structural implications of design to the load bearing components of building fabric.
What is the Green Guide to Specification?
How have you interpreted the requirements of a client’s brief in order to satisfy their requirements?
Tell me about the general issues surrounding sustainability in design such as materials sources
What do you understand by the concepts of Modern Methods of Construction?
What low or zero carbon technologies are you aware of that may help to meet Part L requirements?
How could a house builder improve the sustainability performance of the houses they build and how could this be proven by them?
What regulations and codes of practice govern the construction industry’s approach to sustainability?
What is sustainable development?
Tell me about your knowledge and understanding of preambles to contract documentation.
What would you describe as modern services?
What are the stages of the RIBA plan of work?
When was the RIBA plan of work last updated?
2020
Why is the RIBA plan of work considered to be good practice?
At what stage do you produce a sketch design?
What RICS guidance relating to design and specification are you aware of?
Tell me about the key principles of this guidance.
Name 3 different approaches of communicating requirements in a specification.
Under what circumstances would you improve the thermal rating of a building?
How do you ensure that constructed works satisfies your specification?
Could you give examples of some manufacturing and quality standards?
Give examples of modern methods of construction.
How would you go about setting out a specification for a new build from start to finish?
Explain what a Designer’s Risk Assessment is.
What would a Designer’s Risk Assessment include?
How is risk categorised?
What different design philosophies are you aware of?
What is occupational / use centred / KISS / pragmatic / critical design?
How can you build compliance sustainability and safety into design?
How does ISO 9004 relate to design and specification?
What is project definition defined as?
What are the three component parts of project definition?
How do you establish project objectives?
What legacy issues might you need to consider in design work?
How would you set KPIs for a project?
Explain how resourcing and risk relate to your design work.
What issues can a shortfall in design resource lead to?
How can risk be managed during the design and specification stages?
What is a design risk register?
A responsibility to review design stems from what four project
characteristics?
What issues can stem from a poor brief?
How can you effectively manage the design process?
Why is effective project communication key?
How can you ensure standardisation in design and specification?
How can you incorporate BIM in projects?
How would you manage an initial briefing session with a client?
What areas of a brief may be subject to confidentiality?
How would you carry out a feasibility analysis or study?
What would a briefing report include?
How would you manage change control?
What is a design gap and when might they arise?
What is contingency management?
What compliance issues do you need to manage during the design stage?
How would you present a design effectively to a client?
How would you prepare a detailed design?
What is a performance based specification?
How do prescription and performance specifications differ?
How would you deal with an incomplete design?
How can you express quality in design?
What are internal and external authority?
Why would you nominate materials and product quality?
What third party testing or certification would you specify is carried out?
What is a supplier warranty or guarantee used for?
What is a design method review?
What is a workmanship clause?
How would you schedule works?
What issues do you encounter when scheduling works?
What is a Bill of Quantities used for?
Explain your understanding of the New Rules of Measurement.
What are working (or production) drawings used for?
Explain what happens during the commissioning stage of a project.
What uncertainty can be encountered in the post-design phase?
What are the benefits of using CAD over hand drawn sketches?
When may a hand drawn sketch be more appropriate?
What is the National Building Specification?
Tell me about your understanding and application of spatial parameters
and requirements.
Tell me about your preparation of sketch designs to demonstrate
compliance with a client’s brief
while satisfying statutory requirements.
How do you detail how components are installed connected and performing?
How do you develop initial proposals to a detailed stage (including sections and details) and obtaining statutory consents?
Talk me through preparation of a Design Risk Assessments (DRA) of the proposed design to satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety regulations.
How can you express recognised performance standards and guidance?
How have you investigated suitable sustainable features and incorporate them within a design?
19 Hamilton – Water ingress
I developed a specification to address issues related to water ingress and condensation in the communal areas of the building. My proposal included the replacement of the leaking skylight located within the loft space, as well as necessary repairs to the valley gutter. Additionally, the loft space was found to be inadequately insulated, with open water tanks contributing to elevated levels of condensation. I consulted the Building Regulations and recommended enhancements to the insulation, installing lids on the water tanks and implemented ventilation measures
What was the contents of your specification?
What replacement did you specify?
What section of building regulations did you consult?
How did you go about reviewing insulation specification?
Was there any consideration to additional loadings?
Fareham Road – Internal alterations
The client wanted to alter the ground floor layout to include a utility
room. I attended site to establish the client’s brief. I took detailed notes, measurements and sketches and produced two design options for an alternative kitchen, utility and bathroom layout based on the existing service and drainage and without the need for structural alterations. I researched spacial parameters to ensure my designs would be a functional, usable space
How did you go about producing a sketches?
What were your two design options?
What service is consideration? Did you have?
What design guidance did you review?
What was the outcome?
Tell me about your preparation of the design and specification of a building project from outline proposals to completion of the design and
building project from outline proposals to completion of the design and specification process.
Talk me through your experience of the specification process including detailed knowledge of the main methods of specification.
How have you dealt with the design and specification process and its relevance and importance to the procurement and execution of the contract selected for the building works?
and its
What advice have you provided to clients regarding sustainability issues surrounding the proposals for their building?
How have you managed the design process to incorporate design works by others in the specification?
Marine Parade - Feasibility study
The client wanted to understand whether the application of render
would resolve water ingress around window and door openings of a
1960s block and whether the initial high outlay would reduce future
maintenance. I inspected the building and investigated budget costs for render versus redecoration, including the maintenance requirements. I prepared a report and graphs showing initial outlay and maintenance forecast versus redecoration. I advised that whilst the application of a silicone-based render would be more aesthetically pleasing and reduce the need of regular redecoration, it would need planning permission and not resolve the water ingress. I advised that other remedial works should be specified as part of the project, and designed and specified the installation of cavity trays and alterations to the flat roof drip.
What form of render did you consider?
How did you prepare your budget cost?
How was the information presented to the client?
Why was planning permission required?
What was the cause of the water ingress?
What was the other remedial works?
How would a cavity tray have been retrospectively installed?
Seaview Court – Concrete repairs
Prior to providing a specification for concrete repairs to the rear balcony walkways, I advised my client that concrete testing should be undertaken to establish the extent of the carbonation and reduce the potential for scope creep during the works. I reviewed the phenolphthalein testing results and confirmed that only the leading edges required breaking out, treating of the reinforcing bars and concrete repairs. I produced a full specification for a Flexcrete repair and included an application of Monodex anti carbonation paint to the remaining surface to protect the exposed concrete from the coastal location. I advised that as I could provide a full specification, a traditional procurement route could be utilised. The client would obtain a competitive tender and retain control of the quality of works.
What was the form of concrete disrepair?
What form of concrete testing did you advise and why?
How did you go about treating the corrosion of the reinforcement?
Why did you consider Flexcrete repair?
Why did you advise on a traditional procurement route?
