ross mock interview questions Flashcards
ads and dis of steel frame (steel beams, steel coloumns, purlins & fixings)
steel frame- faster than concrete to erect. recyclable. high strength.
dis-steel price volatile- can corrode-fire protection needed
ads and dis of concrete frame
cf-higher insulating properties. fire protection qualities. high strength
dis-require formwork. slower construct. long curing time
ads and dis of timber
ads- aesthetically pleasing. faster to construct and sustainable.
dis- needs fire protection, skilled workforce needed
whats formwork
concrete is poured into formwork to create the required dimensions and then taken away once hardened
air source heat pump how do it work?
works by taking heat out of the air and pumping to a higher temperature then transfers to heating sysem
how to be green in construction? N
heat pumps//pv panels//green roofs//suds
curtain walling vs rainscreen cladding
curtain walling is a non-load-bearing facade system, often made of glass or metal, that is attached to the building’s structural frame. It provides a sleek, modern aesthetic while acting as a weather barrier. While rainscreen cladding prioritizes ventilation and moisture control and protection against rain for the rest of the building
whats a parapet
upward extension of the wall above the roof, used for ease of maintenance and edge protection
3 types of roofs
mansard- flat roof
gabble- sloping doward in two parts at an angle
hipped-slopes upwards from all sides
key things when designing internal partitons?
fire and accoutic requirements/height of the partitions//internal windows and doors
cat a vs cat b
cat a is a bare bones finish so has all mep flooring down cat b is when you do finishes, it a blank canvas for itnerior designers
what is shoring and hoist
hoist is for vertical transportation of materials and people
shoring is temporary support needed to prevent collapse of trenches
culvert and drainage headwall
culvert is like a tunnell to allow water to flow under a road. the headwall protects the drainage and from erroding.
what surveys do you need to do
existing site survey//drainage survey//asbestos survey
what is cbr test?
california bearing ratio- tests the load bearing capacity of the ground to inform foundation design
different types of water extinguishers
water- wood// cupboards
foam- flammable liquids
dry powder- electrical fires
carbon dioxide- electrical fires
wet chemical- cooking oil fires
mansafe fall arrest system
vertical safety lines designed to keep people safe while working at height. limits consequence of falling
who reviews design and construction for compliance with building regs
building control officer or an approved inspectore
party wall act?
1996- provides framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls and boundary walls
how long to respond to a variation from the client?
Contractpr can object if it’s against cdm regs or if instruction might affect design of cdp
7 days for contractor to object. Client issue notice to comply. after this the client can issue to another contractor, if tthere is non compliance.
What were the change control procedures in place post contract
The Employer agent can issue instructions for variations under Clause 3.9, could be a change to design/quality/quantity. I would then get my quotes from my subcontractors and do my own due diligence on the returned quotes looking at rates and see if there is any impact on programme. then submit this to the client for approval.
timeline of payment
49 days for subcontractor. 21 days for client.
any amendments to the contract?
payment terms so we modified this to align with the clients needs. Introduced bespoke clauses to address unforeseen ground conditions - To clarify the allocation of risk and reduce disputes over who bears the cost of unexpected site conditions.
key issue 1- brickwork- what was the 20k provisional sum for in the original contract?
standardised panels as per specification. alongside elevation 6. showing panel sizes as pcsa was quick the subcontractor didnt have enough time to get a price from his supplier in time.
why was key issue 1 actually an issue?
when sitting in design meetings with the architect they pushed a bespoke heavy duty product which resulted in increase in quantity on smaller panels which are more labour intensive. knowing budget was an issue they sent over the variation.
how did the subcontractor price the panelling and coping? why did the price change to get the 70k what did they measure differently?
we had given them the size of the panels we needed and the area they could measure through the drawing. the second 70k quote showed an increase in rates in which they had chosen another product without being instructed to do so. with more panels meant the labour fees had increased significantly.
what were the contracted rates you used for key issue 1
the rates had increased from £24 per panel to £70 increase.
who is responsible for design? why did you need client sign off on it? key issue 2
contractor us. needed sign off due to local community having design input so we wanted to make sure the aesthetic of it was agreed.
what was your role in getting VE agreed and instructed? what did you do?
Assisting in preparing estimates for the cost and time impact.
Communicating with the subcontractor to and conducting due diligence on returned quotes.
Ensuring the variation is carried out as agreed and documented and the program was updated accordingly.
what were the other items you looked at for VE//how did you ensure value for money for the client?
ff & e//tiling//painting. we liaised with the subcontractor and asked for a similar function products.
whats required to form a legally binding contract
offer/intent/acceptance//consideration
alternative to performance bond and what % of contract sum is it? what provides more security?
pcg 10%. pcg provides more security then a performance bond.
can you get an early start on site with a subcontractor if you couldn’t agree contract.
yes letter of intent.
what are the different options of NEC
all my experience is in JCT and what i am aware of is A-F. NEC 3 is more widely used. NEC 4 is more updated version of NEC 3. different options whether its target price, contract with activity schedule or boq.
when would you use major works/minor/intermediate/standard
major- 10 million
standard- above 1 million
intermediate- upto 1 million
minor- upto 250k
what to have in place for off site material bond
vesting cerification/insurances in place if its of high value/go to site to check them and make sure securely stored and labelled.
whats the different between sectional and partial completion
sectional completion is written into the contract particulars and pre agreed. partial can be agreed under consent from contractor at a later date
what loss and expense claims head
thickening of prelims/labour or additional of materials/claim time/doc controller time// waste//extension of bonds and insurances
how would you calculate head office overheads
hudson forumla- what the % of overhead allowance would be in the contract. head office overheads can be claimed not overheads and profit
diff between defined and undefined prov sum
you can’t make an allowance for an undefined as you dont know the scope so a programme can’t be made for that
what advice have you given on cvr?
in the months coming up to pc we looked at the prelims on site thickening so i advised to remove a site manager as there was no longer need for them to be on site due to not many packages on site.
key differences between nrm and smm7
nrm- Covers pre-construction (NRM1 for estimates), procurement (NRM2 for BoQs), and maintenance (NRM3 for lifecycle costs).
smm7-Primarily used for construction phase measurements and preparation of BoQs.Less integrated with modern industry standards.
what procurement route offers the best cost certainty
traditional- as design needs to be compete before starting on site quality and cost. if time is a priority then db (cost and time) cm/mc time and quality.
how did you manage cost and prioritising value
Establish a clear budget early, ensuring alignment between design, functionality, and financial constraints.
How have you advised on cost and programme implications for different design solutions?
I have advised on cost and programme implications for different design solutions. After looking into the updated design, I realised there was a small canopy on plot 5 which was not factored in. Therefore, I organised a meeting with the structural engineer and figured out if the building could take the weight of the canopy and the different design options I had that would work commercially and functionally. This allowed the client to make an informed decision on if they wanted to proceed with the canopy whilst being aware of any additional costs associated. The solution proposed was to remove the canopy from the metalwork package and place it with the internal buying team and place the install with the carpentry package. This was a lot more cost effective and meant less interface between the subcontractors. My guidance on the design costs allowed the project director to make a well-informed decision based on precise estimates.
What are CDM regulations? Are you familiar with 2015 updates to the CDM?
Yes, I am familiar with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), which govern health, safety, and welfare on construction projects in the UK.
2015- The client now has greater responsibility for project health and safety, ensuring duty holders carry out their roles effectively. & introduced the role of a principal designer
What are the 5 points of PPE?
Hard Hat.
High Visibility Vest.
Steel-capped Boots.
Gloves.
Safety Goggles.
What are the 9 protected characteristics?
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage and civil partnership
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
Please tell me a little about the workshops you attended at Morgan Sindall to help make the construction environment more inclusive
I have conducted several workshops at MS aimed at making the construction environment more inclusive. This includes enforcing a zero- tolerance policy for discrimination and celebrating diversity by organising cultural, religious, and social events. For example, I arranged catering for Vaisakhi and Eid to ensure inclusivity for those celebrating.
What are the % rates for BREEAM?
Pass: For buildings that achieve a score of >30%
Good: For buildings that achieve a score of > 45%
Very Good: For buildings that achieve a score of > 55%
What are the levels of membership at the RICS?
Associate //fellow frics//mrics
What are the penalties for money laundering?
14years and a fine
How would you close an RICS firm?
Agree the closure date (with other partners or directors if necessary).
Inform clients of the firm and seek instructions.
Deal with client money outstanding in your client account.
If you have professional indemnity insurance notify your professional indemnity insurers and arrange run-off cover.
Make arrangements in respect of files and digital records you are holding to keep them safe and confidential for as long as required.
Inform RICS, apply to deregister your firm and ensure your contact details are up to date.
When you have ceased to practise, ensure that anyone trying to contact you will be notified that you have closed.
Consider who else should be contacted about the closure of your practice.
What is value
Value is a measure of worth taking into account the overall usefulness and benefits that are delivered in relation to cost being paid for it. It means different things to different people
what is 2 stage tendering?
stage 1- is competitive where you submit your prelims for the works, overheads and profits and fees.
stage 2- goes into negotiation for lump sum and detail design
who does prov sum lie with in the main contract
lies with the client they carry the risk with the prov sum. contractor carries prov sum risk with subbie
construction act
pay when paid abolished. faster payment terms/suspend contract if not paid
when did you advise a suitable form of procurement
i haven’t specifically advised on this as i work for main contractor and the form of procurement is selected in advance. however if i was a pqs i would recommend they need to consider design risk and time
Can you describe a situation where you provided professional advice on the selection of construction methods and how it impacted the project outcome?
I needed to approve the fabrication drawings for the kitchens promptly to prevent delays. keeping the kitchens with the carpentry would have been time-consuming. To expedite the process, I proposed the solution was to remove the installation from the kitchen contractor’s scope and allocate it to the carpentry package. This would keep programme and ended up being a cheaper route for the client. i advised the client and project director to make informed decisions based on precise estimates.
How have you advised a client on cost planning or cost control, and what were the outcomes?
After looking into the updated design, I realised there was a small canopy on plot 5 which was not factored in. Therefore, I organised a meeting with the structural engineer and figured out if the building could take the weight of the canopy and the different design options I had that would work commercially and functionally. This allowed the client to make an informed decision on if they wanted to proceed with the canopy whilst being aware of any additional costs associated. The solution proposed was to remove the canopy from the metalwork package and place it with the internal buying team and place the install with the carpentry package. This was a lot more cost effective and meant less interface between the subcontractors. My guidance on the design costs allowed the project director to make a well-informed decision based on precise estimates.
How have you advised a client on selecting the most appropriate form of contract for a project?
I advised the client team on the use of JCT Minor Works whilst conducting demolition works to help keep programme as the main contract the t and c’s were not fully agreed on.
Can you explain a time when you advised on risk management strategies for a project?
as the start date for the soft flooring contractor approached, the client became unresponsive in approving the proposed works. This posed a high risk not only for us but also for the subcontractor, who had yet to order materials so close to the start date. I promptly advised the client of our concerns and due to the effects of the lead in times on the project, decided that a meeting would be the best way to communicate. Holding the meeting allowed us to make immediate decisions, resulting in significant savings for the client, which was a considerable commercial benefit.
Can you provide an example of a complex contract administration issue you managed?
I dealt with a contractor that disputed elements to their works so i referred to the contract, the drawings, email records during tender stage and engaged in negotiation to resolve the dispute amicably and to protect programme.
Can you give an example of how you incorporated sustainability principles into your advice on a project?
I incorporated carbonica into the project whereby i submitted materials usage each month, in which this generated the carbon emissions for each month. i liased with the supply chain to use local procured materials and more recycled content. presenting this each month to the client which they enjoyed to look at.
in your opinion why do you think we have cost overruns
in my experience it has come from client changes to scope, global changes i.e. wars, inflation, unrealistic cost estimates.
what is contractors overhead and profit and what allowance would you make
profit is defined as money the contractor makes after accounting for all costs and expenses. % will vary depending on risk/workload and external. overhead is contractors cost of doing business i.e. IT expenses.
allowance depends on project location/risk/project type and value
difference between prime cost and provisional sums
prime cost= is supply only rate excludes ohp
prov sum= defined and includes supply and install all ohp
disad of lump sum?
higher risk to contractor/ if contractor underestimates their costs, profit margin may dissappear. as a result contractors may increase their tender price
ads and dis of pricing options
cost plus- used when scope is unknown. allows clients to make design changes along the way contractor knows he;ll be paid for changes. but no cost certainty
target cost- both savings and cost overruns are shared between client and cont. greater risk. option C and D under NEC
GMP- if contractors cost exceed gmp only gmp is paid. better for client. risk for contractor.
2 types of boq
firm- if no design changes a firm boq would provide a price at tender stage final cost.
boaq-not enough detail to price a firm bq. used for reamsurable contracts . could be rates only.
what are employers obligations if they wish to withold the notified sum but fail to issue a payless ntoice
they must issue a payless notice otherwise they are obliged to pay the entire amount without deduction
3 documents in place needed to get lads off contracto
-non completion cert
-writing to the contractor the client wishes to deduct lads
-payless notice issued by employer to recover lads
what advice have you given when tendering a subcontractor
when procuring the brickwork package I received 3 returns i informed senior management he senior team that although Subcontractor A’s tender submission was more competitive regarding the contract sum alongside there associated VE, an advanced proforma payment would be needed to fund the purchase alongside additional fees for storage of materials. On the other hand, I recommended Subcontractor C, as despite their slightly higher bid, the overall benefits to the project’s cash flow from the subcontract award to the final account would be more favourable.
What to use to waterproof
Tanking- using a polyethylene sheet
Drained cavity- small amount of water infiltration to happen
whats a threshold strip
metal strip that meets between the floor finishes and the door leaf
what is a grid ceiling
ceiling that allows for services to run through allow for greater space, ease of access maintenace
VAVS/FCU/AHU
FAN COIL UNIT//AIR HANDLING UNIT/ VARIABLE AIR VOLUME SYSTEM
typical programme for new build
site enabling works//excavation to required levels//excavate foundations//frame erection//cladding//roof//floors//ffe//testing commissioning//snagging
retention of title clause
Where the sub-contractor or supplier retains ownership of materials until they are paid for them by thecontractor. client could be paying for materials that arent even under the contractors name
what are the different certificates your aware of
interim//making good cert/pc//non completion
common clauses of collateral warranties
Limitation of liability.
Reasonable skill and care or fitness for purpose.
Requirements for PI insurance. Assignment rights.
Novation rights.
how to reduce design liability
do underhand only 6 years of liability
remove fitness for purpose clauses more onerous.
what is the issue after a design team has been novated? how does novation affect employers rights
if the new party can take action against the novated before the novation happened.
employers have no rights after novation so normal to keep cw between them
what is reasonable skill and care. fitness for purpose?
ordinary skill and care expected from a competent man carrying out a service.
service that is suitable for employers intended use.
-what is insurance
-diff between insurance and indemnity
-define subrogation
-transfer of a defined risk to an insurance compnay for a premium.
-indemnity protects against legal responsbility. insurance indemnifies party to make payment.
-3rd party steps in shoes of the insured to take benefit
