Construction, Tech and Environmental Service

Question 1

What type of construction was Vigo Street, Mayfair?

Answer 1

The style would be Georgian (1714- 1837). But it was redeveloped in the early 19th Century
Construction
Foundations – Shallow brick footings if any.
Skeletal Steel/ iron frame – clad with stone and rubble infilled
Basements – stone flags
Floors – Suspended timber
Finishes – Lath and plaster
Roof – mansard (combo of king of queen posts)
Roof finish – Slate
Windows – Timber sash.

Question 2

Can you tell me the different construction of a Victorian property (1837-1901)

Answer 2

Foundations – Shallow possible early type DPC (lead, slate, bitumen
Walls - Solid 225mm walls, soft clay bricks with lime mortar
Floor – Timber suspended floors (Airbricks installed to ventilate
Roof – King or queen poste truss
Roof finish – Clay or Slate
Windows timber sash

Question 3

Can you tell me the typical construction of an industrial warehouse?

Answer 3

Foundations – typically pad foundations below structural columns
Structure – Portal steel or concrete frame with bracing and wind posts
Walls – Cavity masonry, built -up or composite cladding.
Roof – Built up cladding system/ composite

Question 4

Can you tell me the different type of substructure available? And when would they be used)

Answer 4

• Strip (Low rise structures, housing)
• Pad (Normally used to support single point loads such as columns)
• Raft (Normally where ground conditions are poor and structural loadings are low)
• Piles (Large structures or situations when the ground/ soil has low bearing capacity.

Question 5

What must you consider when selecting foundations?

Answer 5

Ground conditions and load bearing strata.

Question 6

What are the different types of super structure you are aware of?

Answer 6

• Timber
• Steel
• Concrete

Question 7

What are the advantages of using steel?

Answer 7

• Prefab off site
• Quick to erect on site
• Can be recycled
• Unskilled labour
• High tensile strength

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of using Steel?

Answer 8

• Requires high skilled operative
• Not adaptable as designers are restricted by standardized sizes
• Need corrosion and fire protection
• Long lead times/ expensive

Question 9

In situ concrete advantages?

Answer 9

• Requires formwork
• Slow process due to curing time, erection of formwork
• Weather dependent
• Reinforcement is required.

Question 10

In situ concrete disadvantages?

Answer 10

• Requires formwork
• Slow process due to curing time, erection of formwork
• Weather dependent
• Reinforcement is required.

Question 11

Precast concrete advantages?

Answer 11

• Prefab off site
• Quick to erect
• Low skilled labour
• Fire proofing not required

Question 12

Precast concrete disadvantages?

Answer 12

• Large lifting gear required
• Not weather dependent
• Can be damaged during transportation
• Reinforcement is required

Question 13

Flat roof coverings?

Answer 13

• . Reinforced Bitumen Membrane
• • Polymeric Single-ply roofing
• • Mastic Asphalt
• • Lead, Zinc, Copper, Steel sheet
• • Profiled Sheets
• • Liquid coverings