Design & Specification L2 & L3 Flashcards
What is a specification?
A specification is a group of documents which are concerned with the product and process of the construction.
What is the difference between product and process?
A product is materials and components. A process is workmanship and quality of work.
What forms a specification can you use through National Building Specification (NBS) and
Common Arrangement of Work Sections (CAWS) - Selecting the specific element you wish to include.
Uniclass 2015 - To combine each element under one category and later be linked back in specification.
What is the structure of a specification?
- Preliminaries, providing a method on how works are to be completed and circumstances.
- Work Sections, splits the works into packages (demolition, windows etc.)
- Technical Requirements, defining the purpose, function and behaviour.
- Schedules (assembly or type), specifying what is to be used.
What different types of specification writing types are there?
Prescriptive - Detailed explanation of what needed.
Performance - Specifying operational requirements
Propriety - Prepared by someone else.
When completing specifications, what do you consider?
- Plan ahead through KPI’s post completion.
- Identifying stakeholders.
- Identify risk and mitigate
- Identify market conditions with sourcing materials
- Establish a client brief.
- Monitor compliance and change.
What may a poorly written specification lead too?
- Disproportionate design liability
- Post-tender risks
- Abortive information
- Volatile construction contract.
What considerations to statutory consents do you make during the design and specification of projects?
- Public health consideration through Building Regulations Approved Documents 2010.
- Town and Country Planning Act
- CDM Regulations.
How did you carry out the measured survey?
In accordance with the Gross Internal Area of the floor space, using RICS Code of Measuring.
What tool did you use for measuring the property, how it works, and what are its limitations?
Electric Disto. This fires a laser that returns to the disto and records distance through this with speed. Requires calibration from a known measurement, difficult to use during bright days and depends on the material reflecting from.
Why did you choose 140mm blockwork wall as dividing wall?
I chose 140mm as the structural engineer provided this as an option to construct with following review of the loadings. The other option is two leaf blockwork wall although this was more expensive. Blockwork was more robust then timber.
What did you specify with the 140mm wall?
I specified to install a DPC at base, 140mm wall that is tied into the steels to provide support, 4:1 sand and cement mix. Steels were to be encased in blockwork for fire protection with fire boarding around all exposed elements. 1500mm fire boarding at roof level.
What were the options for the windows to achieve acoustic levels?
- Secondary glazing
- Remove existing and replace with timber triple glazed.
- Retain existing and have acceptance from the council for allowing this due to being a listed property.
Why did you need to change the windows?
As the property was originally offices, the conversion to flats made the requirement of current standards in regards to the Building Regulations.
Under National Planning Policy Framework it is a requirement for those using the property for residential purpose to have specific requirements with acoustics for their amenities. This was 35dB during the day, and 30dB at night. This was recorded by an acoustic specialist with airborne.
What are the internal requirements for buildings in accordance with the Approved Documents?
Approved Documents E has minimum standards for resistance to sound airborne or impact. 45dB airborne, 62 dB impact.
How long is the timeline for listed building consent?
8 Weeks, this includes a 21 day consultation period.
What is a briefing note?
Conveys information with regards to coming together for a decision making process, reviewing options.
What were the Programme implications with regards to the window options to achieve the dB levels?
- Planning period
- New windows lead time as bespoke
- Lead time of secondary glazing.
What were the cost implications with regards to the window options to achieve the dB levels?
- Planning cost submission
- New windows expensive as bespoke timber frame sash.
- Free if windows remain.
- Contractor Preliminaries for variation as it falls under a relevant matter.
What were the programme implications with regards to the window options to achieve the dB levels?
- 8 Weeks consultation period for windows with possible rejection then lead time.
- Cost for secondary glazing being made and installed.
When installing secondary glazing, what did you need to consider with the property?
Ventilation requirements may not be achieved, Part F Approved Documents requires ventilation 25l/s as 2 bedroom. Installed MVHR to extract and input fresh air in the property to achieve this.
How does sound travel?
Flanking - Through weak spots of construction
Impact - Not applicable in this however from sound from walking.
Airborne - through the air.
Why was sound going to be a potential issue on the project at Selby?
Reverberance of sound in the pitch, large open plan space with potential full of people, limited soft surfaces to absorb sound, steel frame
Why did you specify acoustic panels?
These provided sound absorbers which disrupt the sound reflection within an area which previously would cause echo’s.
