SOE Flashcards
What were the additional plant requirements for the unitised facade?
Due to the unitized panels having to be lifted and installed often at height crane use has to be accounted for
What is the difference between stick and unitised?
Stick curtain walling requires more time on site, as each component must be assembled and installed individually. Unitised curtain walling can be installed much more quickly on site, as the pre-made units can be lifted into place and attached to the building structure
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using concrete?
Concrete has very good compressive strength along with mass and accoustic properties along with a well known and effecient construction
disadvantages are it can take time to fully cure, it can be expensive and cumbersome and to have full strengh you need to add reinforcement for tensile strength
-Name me different types of foundations?
pad, raft, strip, pilled
What type of foundation would be used in a high-rise building?
Pilled foundations and large raft slab depending on soil conditions
How can we make concrete more sustainable in construction?
By using more sustainable building materials such as timber, reusing existing structures and materials where possible. renewable energy use on sites. reducing landfill
Can you give me the build up to a brickwork facade?
Brick work, insulation with wall tiles and weep vents concrete or breeze blocks, plaster or plasterboard
What was the cost difference for the foundations between the timber and lightweight concrete?
due to the increased weight of the lightweight concrete the foundations of the building had to be underpinned which had an additional cost of roughly 200k but this was not extensive
What are you seeing currently for the cost of a bolt-on balcony for a resi project?
17k
How can using Bolt-on instead of inset affect the efficiency of the building?
due to the bolt on balconies not requiring change to the external construction and shape of the building the amount of facade required is reduced compared to inset balconies. therefore the internal space of the unit can be larger
On Harrow - what stage of the RIBA plan of work was this?
Stage 3
Can you name the stages of RIBA plan of work?
Stage 0: strategic definition
stage 1: preparing and briefing
stage 2: concept design
stage 3: spatial co-ordination
stage 4: technical design
stage 5: Manufacturing and construction
stage 6: Handover
stage 7: Use
Can you name 4 different design efficiencies?
W:F, N:G, solid to glazed, soft:hard, Units per core.
Can you give me the contents of one of the cost plans you have produced?
What is the risk of using market testing to formulate rates?
the market may have changed since the rates where used, the project specifics are always provided within the rates and therefore their may be hidden costs not included
Can you give me an overview of your process you undertook on harrow on the cost exercise?
What were the items required to produce the portion of design which would meet the budget?
What is the difference between VE and VM?
the modification of designs and systems according to value analysis,
Value management is the discipline of providing value to customers while also ensuring that providing value results in profit
Can you give me the contents of a cost report?
-What is the purpose of producing a cost report for the client?
The purpose of cost reporting is to inform the client in a construction project of the likely outturn cost of the construction project.
-What is the importance of giving the client an accurate cash flow?
affects the project’s ability to meet financial obligations, maintain cash reserves, manage risk, and stay on schedule.
-You mention risk allowances - what are the risk pots under NRM?
Design development risks,
Construction risks,
Employer change risk,
Employer other risks
-What would you typically see for a project at stage 2 in terms of risk allowances?
roughly we would benchmark 10-15% of the contract sum after calculating risk based on the different risk categories
What are the two types of prov sum
defined and undifned
How did the reduction in units lead to an overall saving - what aspects led to cost savings?
with the reduction in units the size of the building reduced therefore a reduction in external walls, and sub and superstructure costs
How did you ensure that this did not impact sales values?
I confirmed with the design team and the sales consultant the reduction in sizes back to the original recomended sizes and they confirmed that reducing the sizes will not affect the sales values nor did increasing the sizes due to the market and planning requirements
For the Courtyard project - can you tell me the valuation rules under the JCT? and what section
Section 5
What would be the reason why a project may be behind cashflow?
it may show that the project is behind programme, this can also show that the contractor is failing to complete the work effeciency
-What may a reason why a project may be ahead of cashflow?
it can mean that the contractor is ahead of the programme, or that they are completing the works in a different order or negativiely it could mean the contractor is over valuing to increase their income when they are not financially stable
On New bond Street - How did you deal with anticipated variations within the cost report?
I reported them on the anticipated change portion of the cost report which the client could be acknowledged
What are the risk strategies under the NRM?
Risk aviodance, Reduction, transfer, sharing, retention
Are you aware of QCRA? What is it?
Quantitative cost risk analysis, it is when you assign percentages to risk which would occur and values agasnt them
Can you give me some examples of what design development risk pot i used for?
An allowance for use during the design process to provide for the risks associated with design development, changes in estimating data, third-party risks (e.g. planning requirements, legal agreements, covenants, environmental issues and pressure groups
What are some risk analysis techniques/theorys?
Probability trees, Central limit therorem, monte carlo
What was your role in the EW meetings?
I attended and started to assign values against identified risks and identified areas which could be affected in my cost report
How do we measure satisfaction?
At my firm we issue client satisfaction questionnaires
What is your companies CHP ?
AECOMS CHP is to acknowledged receipt within 7 days and then have a update or full response with 21 days
What is an asset and what is a liability
an asset is something of value which is owned and a liability is a debt which will need to be paid or transferred
what criteria is BREEAM scored on
Management
Water
Energy
Transport
Health & wellbeing
Resources
Resilience
Land use & ecology
Pollution
Materials
Waste
Innovation
What is in a set of company accounts?
a summary of an organisation’s financial activity over a 12 month period
What is the risk if data is handled incorrectly
if data is not handled correctly then their is risk of exposing sensitive information
How do you price PV panels?
for PV panels, the brackety and connections and then i would benchmark the KW outputted specified using benchmarked data for other projects.
What other sustainable energy saving equipment are you familiar with, what are the drawbacks
Ground source heatpumps, they are expensive and also difficult to maintain regularly
Why did you need informed consent?
it would be best practice to ensure that the client knew that i have identified the connection to show that i am being open and honest but can still act impartially
Is there any British standards regarding QA or Quality management systems?
BS 9001
What is the RICS CHP timeframe
Acknowledge of receipt within 7 days and a update or full response within 28 days
What is your firms CHP time frame, how does it differ from the RICS?
My Firms CHP follows the precedent of the RICS template; however, it expedites the process from 28 days to 21 days
How did you calculate fees for a project?
I aided in calculating fees by looking at the overall deliverables for a project based on the scope and brief, i looked at the programme and total project duration, i would calculate the level of resource for each month based on this programe and calculate out total cost using our FBLR for each level plus expenses and then benchmark the costs against the total estimated contract sum to compare against other projects
Why is it essential to stay in regular contact with your Client?
it is important to stay in regular contact with the client to ensure that they are reassured that the project is being managed effectively
What are some barriers to communication?
Language, technology, writing styles and rapport
What are the different types of communication?
Written, spoken, digital, video call
is there etiquette with virtual communication?
Having the camera on during meetings and conversations so that people know you are both paying attention and present.
how do you formulate a strategy for communication
you need to plan what you want to communicate about and what information you want to gain, also what information you can provide in exchange, what are the facts and what are the points of contention
what are stakeholders, how do you manage them?
stakeholders are anyone with a vested interest in a project
What are meeting minutes, why are they used and are they binding?
n official written record of a meeting, encapsulating discussions, decisions, task assignments, and deadlines, if they have been signed by all parties they can therefore be legally binding
Parties under CDM and what are QS’s
QS are classified as designers, this is due to QS’ being within design workshops and suggesting items which need to be properly considered as required by the regulation
Is COVID-19 training still required?
COVID-19 is no longer a prominent pandemic however the training around spread of disease and training regarding looking after your own health is still relevant
What is a balance sheet?
A balance sheet is a financial statement that summarizes a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific moment in time. It’s also known as a statement of net worth or a statement of financial position
How do you make cashflows?
from and early stage I would take the estimated or agreed contract sum, and the programme and use a S curve calculation in which to base the monthly payments, the S curve is used to indicate the high payment around the mid point of the programme when the most construction and most packages are procured.
What is AECOM’s business plan?
Why do conflicts occur
often when there is simply a matter of poor communication leading to a misunderstanding
What is DPA 2018 and why?
Controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.
What act relates to diversity and what are some of the principles?
The Equality Act, dictates hiring and honest practice and proactive monitoring of unperceived bias
what are some teamworking methods
Belbins theory and tuckmans stages of group development
how do you avoid conflict
communicate and acknowledge differences between parties early
what is the approved document for building inclusive
Approved Document M
what happens if a project doesnt follow an approved document
If a building does not comply with the building regulations or approved documents, the local authority who provided planning
what is a building use study?
a methodology for evaluating occupant satisfaction that was developed in the 1980s for construction clients. The feedback generated is intended to help improve future quality and performance. By benchmarking occupant satisfaction levels against a large database of results for similar buildings
what are sustainable construction methods?
using recyclable and renewable materials in building projects and minimizing energy consumption and waste production
Common sustainable construction methods?
Limiting the materials used to reduce waste. Controlling waste management, such as separating and recycling waste. Constructing green buildings
What are the BREEAM ratings and what are they
Unclassified <30
Pass>30
Good>45
Very good>55
Excellent>70
Outstanding>85
How do you measure pollution / biodiversity?
Urban air quality index, pre and post-construction measures, water conservation techniques
How can sustainability remain cost-effective?
use less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting, leading to reduced energy costs and lower carbon emissions.
3 main goals for clients with procurement
TIME, COST, QUALITY
Why is risk important to manage - procurement
how does the market effect procurement
Risk and uncertainty in the market can make contractors wary of taking on project with high complexity due to increased risk, especially under lump sum contracts, because if the prices of materials change dramatically during the long construction phase then the margins for the contractors may turn negative
how did you tender the works - procurement and tendering
I tendered using a selective framework with single-stage and procured using a design and build
what is alternative 1 and 2
alternative 1: The contractor will either be invited to stand by the tender price or to withdraw
Alternative 2: The contractor should be given the opportunity of confirming their offer or amending it to correct genuine errors
how do you normalise
Analysing data into a common structure for comparison purposes.
what is normalising
Analysing data into a common structure for comparison purposes.
what are qualitative metrics
measurements that provide insights into subjective or interpretive aspects of a business.
what is in a tender recommendation
a clear recommendation for the best value for money offer and compliance and qualitative in a tender report
what was the structural intervention?
from the basic refurbishment, there would have been no additional structural intervention and requirements from the contractors to facilitate the works however with the floor plate alignment this required a high degree of intervention such as facade retention, underpinning and floor plate jacking.
what mitigation did you implement to allow single stage design and build
how does risk affect procurement
what is a pcsa?
Pre-construction service agreement - used to appoint a design and build contractor to carry out services before entering into a formal building contract.
why did you not use a pcsa?
We did not use a PCSA due to the Client wanting cost certainty as early as possible, which singe stage provided and therefore we could avoid a PCSA
what benefits does single stage design and build provide
Single point of responsibility, time efficiency, cost savings, reduced rework, collaboration
what are some negatives of single stage?
higher risk for the contractor, quality, lack of flexibility
Why are drones used at height?
For both safety and cost effective surveying at heights where it would not be appropriate for an operative to climb
what are some new construction technologies?
Utilizing AI, augmented reality
what are the advantages of steel frame
quick to install, longer unsupported spans compared to concrete
what are the disadvantages of steel frame
less thermal and acoustic properties due to reduced mass, requires more design then concrete
what are the advantages of Concrete frame
thermal and acoustic mass and properties, high compressive strength, less experienced operatives required to construct
what are the disadvantages of Concrete frame
Takes a longer time to construct compared to steel, has less long span ability compared to steel
types of foundations
Raft, pile, strip and pad
How do site conditions affect foundation selection?
soil type is a critical factor in foundation selection because it affects the stability, durability, and safety of a building
what are the different types of facade?
stick and unitised
How would you deal with the tender if the contractor excluded the additional plant?
I would normalise the tender based on a compliant bid but also checking against my PTE, and then i would ask for the contractor to price for it if they were to make it to the next stage
Why is the timber structure more expensive than the lightweight flooring structure
due to the increased amount of labour and time it takes to construct a traditional timber framed structure
what is the legislation relating to Hostile vehicle mitigation
Martyn’s Law, also known as the Protect Duty Legislation
why were you providing data sheets?
I had recently completed a HVM CPD in which they presented an all compassed Planter with HVM compliance and as part of the certificate they provided the links to the data sheets which i forwarded on for review by the design team.
can you explain the different RIBA stages?
Stage 0: Strategic Definition
The client’s requirements are evaluated to determine if the project is feasible.
Stage 1: Preparation and Brief
The project brief is developed and feasibility studies are conducted.
Stage 2: Concept Design
The client is likely to receive the first visualisations or drawings of the design ideas.
Stage 4: Technical Design
The final design information is prepared for manufacturing and construction.
Stage 5: Construction
The building work is carried out, including preparation, programming, management, and administration.
Stage 6: Handover
The project is handed over to the client, and the building contract is closed out. A review of project performance is conducted, and any defects are identified and rectified.
whats in a cost plan compared to estimate?
Cost planning involves a comprehensive analysis of all project aspects and their associated costs. The result of cost planning is a detailed overview of the project’s costs at different stages. In contrast, cost estimates are less precise and resemble predictions based on limited available project data
what are some of the different design efficiencies?
Net to gross, Unit to core, wall to floor, solid to glazed, Hard to soft landscape
How do you align to NRM
Create a cost plan which aligns with the different segments of NRM, which allows for proper clarification
How do you reconcile Cost plans or cost estimates?
between cost plans and estimates the level of detail increases and therefore the breaking down of detailed elements are explained and therefore a more in-depth analysis can be undertaken
How did you market test the sheet piling?
how did you benchmark the sheet piling?
What is external benchmarking
using other external sources of cost data such as spons and BCIS
Whats TPI
Tender price index
What is BCI
Building cost index
How did you force a change in design
When there is a budget for an element of the construction and the design is exceeding the budget, I would meet with the design team and provide them a purchase list of items which they could procure with the budget which i have allowed for.
What is green roof
Green roofs can range from roof gardens with raised beds and pots, to rolled-out green carpets, to shed roofs containing planting cells that are filled with soil or compost and planted up with low growing perennials and grasses.
How do you measure benefit of a design change
I would measure the value that a design change provides vs the cost which the increase would cause, this would be completed in conjunction with the sales team
What is value engineering?
an essential construction concept that helps reduce costs and ensure a project is completed within budget
What is Value management
alue management is a service that allows a project team to simultaneously improve the value for money individual projects can realise by helping empower employers to wholly identify, understand and rigidly define their individual strategic demands.
Why was the system a locked system?
this is because the building was fully design to be mechanically ventilated, therefore the windows were not due to be operable
was the design team happy with locked windows
the design team were happy as the mechanical ventilated system was specified
How does the project costs differ between phases?
How did you forecast costs
what was the risk allowances
‘a quantitative allowance set aside as a precaution against risks and future needs to allow for the uncertainty of outcome.
What is risk
any loss exposure encountered throughout the course of a construction project.
What is risk within NRM
Why did you not have a % of risk
due to the early nature of the project and the Client team not knowing a large amounts of the risk for the project the best approach at the time was to use a percentage which would then be developed
What is design development
a crucial phase of the architectural process. In this phase, you will determine materials, systems, and equipment, and the design will begin to represent the completed building.
Why was the size of the units not correct?
due to the size and shape of the building below, the project on the podium slab, the design team took the design decision to fill the this area, however this caused the building to be oversize
£1.4m is a large amount what is the build-up for the cost
This was a reduction in the superstructure and the facade of the building and fit-out allowances
what is a provisional sum
Provisional sums are “used in pricing construction contracts to refer either to work which is truly provisional, in the sense that it may or may not be carried out at all, or to work whose content is undefined, so that the parties decide not to try to price it accurately when they enter into their contract.
Why is questioning Prov sums important
To ensure that the prov sum allowance is correct and also that it is infact a provisional sum, if there is sufficient information to fix the price there should not be a provisional sum
What happened in the Value engineering workshops
The value engineering workshop has five key steps: Information: During the initial phase, the project team seeks to gather information about the project thus far including important details about the owners’ objectives, key criteria, and definition of value.
Why did the contractor not use the CSA rates as agreed
They were of the opinion that the methodology of the works was not the same as that within the CSA rate, and, therefore, it should not be used.
Why would a change in cashflow show
that the progress and timing of the project has changed, also if the overall cost of the project has changed such as a result of a variation the cashflow should be updated
What is the final anticipated costs
the projected final cost of a construction project
What are the different NRMs
NRM 1: NRM 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works
NRM 2: Detailed measurement for building works
NRM 3: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works
What would you use for the different NRM types
NRM 1 : Cost estimation at stage 0-1
NRM 2: at Stage 2-3
NRM 3: for once the project is completed or a section of the building is completed for maintenance
What are some external factors which affect construction
Conflict, high operational expenses such as oil and gas, weather and delay in shipping, holidays and reduced workforce, government change
what are some of the digital measurement tools you use
CostX
Why do you compare areas with the architects schedule?
it is best practice to compare to the architects schedule to both check and verify you are in agreement
how do you start a measurement exercise
start by planning how you are going to measure the project such as with IPMS, and understand the level of information which you have
how do you conduct a structural measure
Review the level of information that is provided and thoroughly review the design clarifications to understand what information may be missing on the drawings but provided within the clarifications, then i would set out the items to be measured and check, Slabs, Columns, Beams, and then the reinforcement and formwork for these elements if insitu concrete
why were you measuring GIA and NIA instead of IPMS?
Only following Explicit client request
How do you market test in a foreign country
If my firm has an office in a foreign country, then i would request local cost data from them; if my firm does not have an office there, i will contact local suppliers and request information from them and use a location factor
Was the asbestos removal a defined or undefined provisional sum
undefined due the unknown amount and severity once identified
