Mock Interview (PK & Doug) - Case Study

Question 1

How long had the defect to the school hall existed?

Answer 1

Around 15 years based off past reports.

Question 2

Do you think the roof coverings are in anyway relevant to the situation?

Answer 2

Possibly, however there is limited information on the building.

Question 3

When you say ties, what ties are you referring to?

Answer 3

Tension rod and tie bar.

Question 4

You spoke about modular construction in your options, you seemed to dismiss the option quite early on due to accessibility, could they not have made it sectional?

Question 5

When you were considering traditional construction, did you consider the current worldwide material shortage we were undergoing?

Question 6

Do you speak with the school regarding the strategic goals as you mentioned the hall was oversized?

Question 7

The foundations, what did you end up with there?

Question 8

Did you get a structural engineer to advise on the foundations?

Question 9

On one of your photos in your case study I noticed you seem to be putting the insulation at ceiling level. Why did you go for that and not insulation at rafter level?

Question 10

How did you introduce ventilation to the roof void?

Question 11

What depth did your insulation need to be?

Question 12

The external canopy, did you specify that?

Question 13

From a structural point of view what do you consider to be the primary risk associated with canopies?

Answer 13

Snow loading and wind up lift.

Question 14

How are the canopy posts fixed; what is the sheeting and how is it fixed?

Answer 14

The installation is down to the manufacturer of the canopy.

Question 15

From a CDM point of view, what advice do you give to the school in terms of maintenance; how do they clean it?

Answer 15

• Do not walk on the roof
• Use a long pole and brush head

Question 16

The external timber cladding, how does that sit from a fire safety point of view; are there any increased types of risks?

Answer 16

• Arson

The site is well secure
No bins stored up against the building

Question 17

In terms of the u-value of the new building, did you work to the minimum level or did you go to an enhanced level?

Answer 17

The wall minimum u-value requirement at the time was 0.28 W/m2K. The wall I installed was 0.17 W/m2K.

Question 18

Why did you advise an enhanced wall u-value?

Answer 18

To improve thermal performance and reducing energy costs.

Question 19

Does the building need an EPC?

Answer 19

The building needs a DEC

Question 20

Why does the building need a DEC?

Answer 20

• Public building
• Frequently used
• Floor space is greater than 250m2

Question 21

How long does a DEC last?

Answer 21

DECs last for 1 year for buildings with a total useful floor area more than 1,000 square metres.

They last for 10 years when the total useful floor area is over 250 square metres and up to 1,000 square metres.

Question 22

What does the school do with the DEC, where is it displayed?

Answer 22

In the school entrance.

Question 23

How did you go about pulling together a list of contractors that you felt were suitable for tendering the work and building it?

Answer 23

• Sourced a pool of local contractors with experience in timber frame
• I contacted them directly, looked on their website at previous case studies