What is a Schedule of Rates?
A SoR is used when the nature of the work is known but cannot be quantified.
The contractor will provide rates against the items that are intended to cover all likely activities that might form part of the works.
What is the third section of a specification?
The third and final section of the specification is known as the pricing schedule and provides an elemental or trade by trade breakdown of the project for the contractor to price. This may take the form of a detailed bill of quantities or contract sum analysis.
Why is a condensation risk analysis important, and how do you interpret the findings?
Condensation risk analysis ensures that building elements are designed to prevent interstitial and surface condensation, which can cause decay, mould, and structural damage.
I request that flat roofing suppliers submit a condensation risk analysis with their report.
How do you balance cost, quality, buildability, and conservation requirements when specifying materials?
I balance these factors by assessing the project context, prioritising compliance and durability, selecting materials that are sympathetic to conservation requirements, and consulting contractors and specialists to ensure practical, cost-effective solutions.
Cameron Crescent cupola example. Aluminium framed, conservation area but not listed, reduced maintenance costs, high quality, pre built and easy to install.
What is the RICS practice information on design?
The design, delivery and management of healthy buildings: a practical guide.
What is a performance specification?
A performance specification sets out design parameters within which contractors are invited to submit proposals.
Gives suppliers scope to innovate and adapt.
What is a Bill of Quantities?
Is a document prepared by a Quantity Surveyor that provides project specific measured quantities of items of work identified by the project drawings and specification and forms a key tender document.
They provide fair and accurate tenders and avoid any misinterpretation of the quantities required.
They take precedent when errors or discrepancies occur between drawings, specifications and the BoQ.
They provide rates for variations and valuations.
They must be prepared in accordance with NRM.
When is a design specification used?
This is when the author wishes to prescribe the project as fully as possible.
What are preambles?
I use preambles to describe how the work should be carried out and to provide an explanation of how the works package documents should be used.
A description of the competence of operatives required.
When preparing design documentation, how do you communicate design intent clearly to contractors?
Annotated drawings, include dimensions and notes.
Specifications provide material, performance, and installation requirements.
For complex elements, I include annotated details or diagrams to clarify critical junctions or sequences.
Schedules for doors, windows, stone replacement reduces ambiguity.
I issue tender return checklists that include questions specifically relating to compliance with the design.
What are Preliminaries?
The Preliminaries will describe the works and allow contractors to assess costs that are required to carry out the works.
And contractual obligations.
These costs may either be ‘one-off’ fixed costs, such as the management of the project, security, services provision or costs associated like the insurances of the project for example.
What are provisional quantities?
Provisional quantities are defined by the NRM as;
An item of work where the quantity can not be accurately determined at the time of tender.
Please explain your understanding of the terms modern methods of construction?
The RICS published ‘Modern Methods of Construction: A forward thinking solution to the housing crisis’ in 2018.
This listed viable options of MMoC to assist.
Cross Laminated Timber - Is a structural, premanufactured panel that can be used to form wall, floor and roof components. It is where wood is glued in longitudinal and horizontal layers offering a more lightweight, sustainable option than concrete or steel.
Modular construction - Constructed off site in a factory and transported to site. Minimises workmanship error, time on site.
How do you write specifications?
I use the NBS Chorus platform to complete the preliminaries bill section where I select the chosen SBCC building contract and complete the required sections specific to that project.
I prepare Outline Specifications under the NRM1 headings where I describe the products to be used and workmanship requirements.
What are the main requirements of CDM 2015 for designers, and how do you apply them when preparing Pre-Construction Information?
As a designer under CDM 2015, my main duties are to eliminate, reduce, or control foreseeable risks during design, to provide information on significant residual risks, and to cooperate and coordinate with the client, principal designer, and other dutyholders.
When preparing Pre-Construction Information, I apply these duties by gathering all relevant project details — such as existing surveys, asbestos registers, service drawings, structural information, and site constraints.
I make sure that any significant risks that cannot be designed out, such as working at height in a tenement roof repair are clearly highlighted with guidance on safe methods of work.
What are the two different types of specification?
Specifications are usually described as either performance or design
How do you manage risk allocation through your specification documents (e.g., preliminaries, preambles, scope definition)?
I manage risk allocation by clearly defining the scope of works, responsibilities, and contract preliminaries in the specification, so that both client and contractor understand who is responsible for each risk and obligation.
Please explain your understanding of statutory effects in design?
Laws, regulations, and mandatory standards.
For example the STS sets out the following sections with relevant guidance.
Structure, Fire, Environment, Safety, Noise, Energy, Sustainability.
Planning - influence design and material limitations and consents required.
H&S@W 1974 and CDM , H&S requirements, risk management designed in.
Equality Act 2010 - inclusive use and access
Energy upgrading standards for example EESH2.
Please explain your understanding of the term schedules of work?
Describes the scope and standard of building works required. Unlike a full bill of quantities, it may not measure every item, but it provides sufficient detail to enable contractors to price the works on a consistent basis.
Aligned with drawings where relevant
I use Excel to format my Schedule of Works.
When reviewing a flat roof specification, what key factors do you check for in terms of compliance?
Compliance with TS - (structural, energy, and fire safety requirements).
Conservation area / LBC - Material consideration, detailing.
Adequate falls, tapered system to resolve.
Insulation and thermal performance, 0.12 w/m2k.
Material durability and compatibility - loadings, people traffic.
Detailing at junctions, penetrations, cupola.
Maintenance access and safety.
Guarantees
Condensation risk analysis
Fire - b roof t4
In your Georgian house refurbishment example, what were the main challenges in achieving compliance with accessibility and energy efficiency standards?
Inverleith Gardens - Compliance demonstrated at the design stage for consent approval. Before commencement of any works.
Accessibility - The period layout of the property meant that the primary bathroom was too narrow for the required use. To enlarge the space, I co ordinated with a SE to design slapping’s and a new partition wall. I designed a compliant accessible WC.
Energy - Slimline double glazing, like for like design, timber astragals matched mouldings. Insulation to pipes (heating system).
Fire safety – Updated to LD2 compliant system. Interlinked heat and smoke detecotrs, mains powered heat in kitchen, ceiling mounted. Principal room and all spaces in circulation area / escape routes.
How do you demonstrate compliance with the Scottish Technical Standards (STS) when preparing Building Warrant (BW) drawings?
- Review TS - list headings. Check other statutory requirements.
- Prepare warrant drawings, Ensure that each element in the drawings is dimensioned and annotated to show compliance.
- Additional information pack - specifications.
- Warrant notes drawing which follows the structure of the TS and repeats related notes on compliance for each relevant section.
Tell us about your understanding of Specifications?
Specifications describe the material and workmanship required for the project.
They do not include costs or quantities and should be read alongside any pricing documents and drawings.
The specification will vary on the project and may be performance or perscriptive.
What is BIM and what are the different levels?
Building Information Modelling. It describes the process of creating and managing digital information of a built asset.
Level 0: Low Collaboration - unmanaged 2D CAD or paper drawings, with no real collaboration.
Level 1: Partial Collaboration - Mix of 2D and 3D CAD, where information is managed but not fully collaborative.
Level 2: Shared project information in the form of 2D and 3D models between the team members, enables better coordination.
Level 3: A single collaborative project model including construction sequencing, cost and lifecycle management.
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