1
Q
What is substructure?
A
All elements of work that are undertaken below the damp proof course that provides the basis for the superstructure to be constructed upon.
2
Q
What is the external envelope?
A
- The materials and components that form the external shell or enclosure of a building.
3
Q
What are the Building Regulations?
A
- Statutory regulations that set out the minimum performance standards for the design and construction of buildings.
- Supported by the Approved Documents and other codes of practice.
4
Q
What are British Standards?
A
- They give recommended minimum standards for materials, components, design and construction practices.
5
Q
What are international standards?
A
- Publications issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation.
- They are compatible with and complement the British Standards.
6
Q
What is superstructure?
A
All internal and external works items above the damp proof course.
o External walls.
o Stairs.
o Roof.
o Structural walls.
7
Q
What are the main site considerations?
A
Access.
Storage
Accommodation.
Temporary services.
Plant.
Fencing & hoarding.
Health & Safety risks.
8
Q
What is a tower crane and what are some considerations during its erection and operation?
A
- A tower crane is a tall crane used for lifting objects into high places.
- The boom allows a longer reach with 360’ access.
- Weather conditions could prevent it from working, in particular high, strong winds.
9
Q
What is a scaffold?
A
- Scaffold is a temporary working platform erected around the perimeter of a building to provide a safe working place at a convenient height.
- Scaffold is usually required for work 1.5m above ground level.
10
Q
What are the main components of concrete?
A
- Cement.
- Aggregate (natural rock, crushed stone, gravel).
- Water.
11
Q
What are piles?
A
- A series of columns constructed into the ground to transmit the load of a structure to a lower level of subsoil.
12
Q
What are the different types of piles?
A
Bored Piling - Which is installed by auguring into the ground forming a hole into which concrete can be poured to cast the pile in position.
Driven Piling - Driven piles are driven or hammered into the ground with the use of vibration.
Sheet Piling - A type of driven pile, are constructed with a series of interlocking steel sheets. They can be used to create permanent or temporary retaining walls.
13
Q
What is a raft foundation?
A
- Raft foundations spread the load of the superstructure over a large base and reduce the load per m2 of the area.
14
Q
Under what conditions would you expect a raft foundation to be used for a substructure?
A
- A raft can be used for lightly loaded buildings on sites with poor soils.
- Heavy loads to the raft have the potential to cause the raft to move sideways as a result of raft foundations not being very deep.
15
Q
What is a strip foundation?
A
- Strip foundations are formed by creating a shallow continuous excavation to support the perimeter and internal walls.
16
Q
What are pad foundations?
A
- Pad foundations provide a base for reinforced concrete or steel columns.
17
Q
What are retaining walls?
A
- A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind it.
18
Q
What is a basement?
A
- A storey constructed below ground level.
19
Q
What are the types of basement construction?
A
- Retaining wall and raft which consists of a slab raft foundation to serve as the basement floor that distributes the building load. The basement walls serve as the retaining walls.
- Piled solution where the main superstructure loads are carried to the basement floor by columns and transmitted to the ground via pile caps and bearing piles. In this example the basement has numerous columns passing through it.
20
Q
What are the technical advantages of steel frames?
A
- Steel frames are often quicker to assemble in comparison to alternative methods.
- They they will not warp, split, crack or creep.
- They offer the highest strength to weight ratio of any building material.
21
Q
What are the technical disadvantages of steel frames?
A
- Steel frames require fire protection to be retrospectively installed.
- Fixing components may require replacement over time.
- The price of steel often fluctuates and can result in a lack of cost certainty
22
Q
What are the technical advantages of concrete frames?
A
- Concrete frames often provide good sound and heat insulation properties.
- Maintenance requirements associated with concrete frames are relatively low
- In most cases fire protection is not required.
23
Q
What are the technical disadvantages of concrete frames?
A
- In comparison to steel frames, they are more time consuming to install.
- Concrete frames are often heavier and require larger foundations.
24
Q
Describe a typical Cold Flat Roof Construction?
A
- A cold roof system sees the insulation placed immediately above the ceiling between the joists, with ventilation space above the insulation.
- This roof system is rarely used nowadays due to the difficulties in ventilation, thermal bridging and risk of condensation and failure.
25
Describe a typical Warm Flat Roof Construction?
- Warm roof systems benefit from the insulation sitting above the deck.
- This enables the temperature of the structure and the deck to be kept close to the temperature of the inside of the building
26
Describe a typical Inverted Flat Roof Construction?
- A roof in which the insulation is placed on top of the waterproof membrane.
- The roof void and deck are maintained at similar temperature to the room.
- The insulation protects the membrane from damage but must be anchored down, ballast or paving.
27
Describe a pitched roof detail?
- Pitched roofs typically are made up of rafters which span from the apex of the roof and are fixed to the top of the external wall by a wall plate.
- The roof covering whether slate or concrete tiles are typically fixed to roof battens.
28
What are the different parts of a steel beam?
A simple steel Beam is made up of:
o Flange - top and bottom of the vertical steel.
o Web - which is the vertical steel part of the I beam.
o Root - where the flange and the web join.
29
How many bricks are in a m2?
There are about 60 bricks per m2.
30
What are the different types of brick bond?
Stretcher – Bricks are laid with only their stretchers showing, overlapping midway
English – with alternating courses of headers and stretchers.
31
What are the factors that might affect the choice materials for internal partitions?
- Fire rating requirements.
- Restriction for noise (Db ratings).
- Visuals – Opacity vs. transparency.
- Fixed or movable.
- Strength requirements.
32
What is the purpose of a threshold strip?
- A lightly rounded metal strip over the joint between the floor finishes or coverings that meet under the door leaf.
- They prevent fraying and provide an aesthetic finish.
33
What is a metal grid ceiling and what are the benefits?
- This is a suspended ceiling system formed by a square grid.
- These are normally quicker to construct than alternative options and allow for service runs through the void above.
- They also offer easy access for service repairs.
34
What is the difference between rolled and tiled carpet tiles and why do we use each type?
- Rolled carpets generally offer better quality and are more expensive. Commonly used in dwellings.
- Carpet tiles are harder wearing and are often cheaper. Individual tiles can be replaced therefore they are easier to maintain. Carpet tiles are commonly used in offices and hospitals.
35
What is bottom up construction?
- “Bottom up” construction forms the basement and then works upwards in a traditional manner.
- This offers a simpler construction than top down methods of construction but will often carry a longer programme duration.
36
What is top down construction?
- “Top down” is used to speed up the construction process of a building with basement levels. The ground floor slab is cast with an access hatch.
- The ground below is excavated and another slab is formed. If there is another level, the process is repeated.
- Piles are usually used as foundations and also act as retaining walls. It allows the building above to be constructed at the same time as the basement.
37
Explain how power is distributed to floor boxes in a raised floor?
- The incoming power supply connects to a low voltage switchboard, which in turn connects to a distribution board.
- The distribution board will have an under floor busbar connected to it. The busbar has a number of sockets to which the floor box plugs into via a flexible lead.
- The floor box has sockets to which the appliances can plug into.
38
What fire safety provisions would you expect to find in an office block?
- Maximum occupancy listings.
- Fire exits with signage.
- Restricted use of flammable materials.
- Installing fire alarm control panels for quick detection
39
What is Cat II lighting?
- Cat II Lighting are light fittings suitable for use with VDU screens.
- The light fittings should be designed in such a way so as to limit the amount of glare from computer screens.
40
Describe a VAV (Variable Air Volume) AC System?
- VAV systems vary the airflow at a constant temperature.
- This allows the temperature of the room to remain constant.
41
How are fire barriers formed in suspended ceilings and what happens when services pass through the barriers?
- If a suspended ceiling is not fire resistant, fire barriers will be required within the ceiling void if the walls stop at the underside of the ceiling.
- When services run through the barriers it is important that they are sealed to prevent fire spreading through the service gap.
42
What is a UPS and why does a building require one?
- A UPS is a device that maintains a continuous supply of electric power to certain essential equipment that must not be shut down unexpectedly.
- Typically, it is installed in hospitals for life critical equipment and in businesses for business critical equipment.
43
Why do we install generators in buildings?
Generators are normally installed in buildings to act as a backup power supply should the primary power supply fail.
Generators in buildings for this reason are becoming less common as technical advances are made in UPS.
44
What is Busbar trunking?
Bare copper or aluminium conductors fixed inside trunking that distribute heavy-duty electrical power to tap-off units.
45
What do the abbreviations FCU, AHU & VAV stand for?
Fan Coil Unit (FCU).
Air Handling Unit (AHU).
Variable Air Volume System (VAV).
46
What are the Building Regulations Approved
Documents?
They provide general guidance on performance of materials expected in order to comply with the functional requirements of the building regulations & provide practical examples.
APC Technical Competencies
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