CPD

Question 1

For the Covid-19 CPD you undertook, please explain in what situations the contractor may be entitled to additional time or money in relation to covid?

Answer 1

• If cannot safely undertake the work then force majuere and additional time
• If client closes site when works could continue then client impediment and additional time and money

Question 2

What is the European standard in innovation management?

Answer 2

It provides businesses with the fundamentals of innovation management principles, describing why and how organisations can engage in innovation activities

Question 3

What is an automist fire supression system? What are the advantages compared to ordinary sprinklers?

Answer 3

The system is automatically triggered by a mounted detector, automist’s sprayheads will scan the room to look for temperature changes indicating a fire, the sprayhead best positioned will tackle its target with automist, watermist removes heat and displaces oxygen from the fire zone.

Minimal water damage, aesthetic design, saves water, activates very quickly.

Question 4

What are NEC contracts? What are the main differences between JCT and NEC contracts?

Answer 4

New Engineering Contract.

Contract Administrator v Project Manager
Programme Reviews
Risk assignment vs proactive and collaborative approach.

Question 5

What are the main types of ventilation system?

Answer 5

Natural - windows, trickle vents, etc
Mechanical - Supply, exhaust and mechanical ventilation heat recovery.

Question 6

What are emergency alert systems? When are they required in buildings?

Answer 6

Evacuation Alert Systems enable Fire & Rescue Services to prioritise evacuation from residential high rise buildings so people at risk in endangered areas e.g. particular floors, or parts of a floor in a building, can be safely evacuated.

It’s law in Scotland to have Emergency Alert System in place in buildings over 18m, in England and Wales its currently recommended.

Question 7

What are GRC facade systems?

Answer 7

Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC), also known as GFRC concrete, is a popular building material for cladding due to the versatility it offers and the fact it is around 80% lighter than pre-cast steel reinforced concrete cladding. There is virtually no limit to the shape or profile that can be created with GFRC concrete and it can be manufactured to provide different coloured or textured finishes.

Question 8

What is contaminated land? How do you determine if there is ground contamination? How can ground contamination be prevented?

Answer 8

• Contaminated land is land where substances (the contamination) in or under the land make it actually (or potentially) hazardous to people’s health, or hazardous to our environment.
• Land affected by contamination will be subject to a risk assessment. This will determine whether there is a significant risk to human health or risk of harm to the environment. Site investigations, including a desktop study and walkover survey, and specialist consultants can be engaged to undertake the risk assessment and investigations.
• Biological treatment/bioremediation uses bacteria to break down substances in the soil
• Chemical oxidation converts contaminated soils into non-hazardous soils
• Soil stabilisation involves the addition of immobilizing agents to reduce a contaminants’ leachability
• Physical methods, like soil washing, use water to separate or remove contaminants

Question 9

Tell me about what you learnt in your acoustic and dust monitoring cpd?

Answer 9

• Why it may be required (e.g. - planning condition or requirement to satisfy residents)
• What it is (equipment that measures and notifies site if the maximum level is exceeded)
• Any limitations (location of the equipment, workman may not realise what it is, it should be reviewed by a specialist if often exceeded)

Question 10

Why was your inclusive environments and diversity, teamworking and inclusion workshop considered to be informal cpd rather than formal cpd?

Answer 10

Informal workshop held with colleagues and was not clearly structured but we developed our knowledge on this competency.

Question 11

What are recent changes regarding the nationally described space standards?

Answer 11

• The nationally described space standard will replace the existing different space standards used by local authorities. It is not a building regulation and remains solely within the planning system as a new form of technical planning standard.
• Built-in storage areas are included within the overall GIAs and include an allowance of 0.5m2 for fixed services or equipment such as a hot water cylinder, boiler or heat exchanger.
• GIAs for one storey dwellings include enough space for 1 bathroom and 1 additional WC (or shower room) in dwellings with 5 or more bed spaces. GIAs for 2 and 3 storey dwellings include enough space for 1 bathroom and 1 additional WC (or shower room). Additional sanitary facilities may be included without increasing the GIA provided that all aspects of the space standard have been met.
• Where a 1 bedroom 1 person (1b1p) dwelling has a shower room instead of a bathroom, the floor area may be reduced from 39m2 to 37m2, as shown bracketed.
• Furnished layouts are not required to demonstrate compliance.

Question 12

What are the origins of the Party Wall Act?

Answer 12

It’s traced back to 1666, when The Great Fire of London gave rise to a radical re-think of party wall construction to restrict the spread of fire between adjacent properties in the future. Until the introduction of the Act, there was no set procedure in England and Wales for dealing with such a frequent occurrence, and this often led to expensive litigation to resolve quite straightforward matters.

Question 13

What are recent changes involving Planning Permission?

Answer 13

Permitted development rights for two additional storeys, office to residential conversion and some extensions.

Question 14

What are recent changes involving Building Regulations?

Answer 14

• Part B Fire Safety
• Part F Ventilation
• Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power
• Part O Overheating
• Part S Infrastructure for the Charging of Electric Vehicles

Question 15

What are the origins of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club?

Answer 15

They were ancient lovers from Roman Mythology whose story is retold in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. According to the various myths Pyramus & Thisbe lived in connected houses but were prevented, by their parents, from marrying. Their romance was conducted through whispered conversations through a crack in a wall between the houses but ended in tragedy.

Question 16

How was covid 19 dealt with by the NEC contract?

Answer 16

Deemed a compensation event where it stops the Contractor completing the whole of the works by the date for planned completion and which neither Party could prevent and predict.