ASSIGNMENT 3

Assignment 3



Assignment 3

Answer 1A)

All buildings will start with the substructure - that is, all of the structure below ground and up to and including the damp proof course (DPC). The purpose of the substructure is to receive the loads from the main building (superstructure) and transfer them safely down to a suitable load-bearing layer of ground. The main part of the substructure is the foundations. When a building is at the planning stage, the entire area - including the soil - will be surveyed to check what depth, width and size of foundation will be required. This is vital: the wrong foundation could lead to the building subsiding or even collapsing (Heister, 1993).

The main type of foundation is a strip foundation. Depending on the survey reports and the type of building, one of four types of foundation will usually be used.

Narrow strip foundation - the most common foundation used for most domestic dwellings and low-rise structures. (See figure 1)

Wide strip foundation - used for heavier structures or where weak soil is found (See figure 2)

Raft foundation - used where very poor soil is found. This is basically a slab of concrete that is thicker around the edges. (See figure 3)

Pad foundation - where pads are placed at strategic points, with concrete beams placed across the pad to spread the load. (See figure 4)

Once the substructure is in place, the building is then built on top of it.

Figure 1: Narrow Strip FoundationFigure 2: Wide Strip Foundation

Figure 3: Raft FoundationFigure 4: Pad Foundation

Answer 1B)

SMM7 reference manual

Be able to apply standard measurement techniques

Measurement techniques: initial and/or approximate estimating techniques; production of client's budgets or scheme comparisons; production of contract documentation; measurement of variations; sub-contract and supply chain packages; final account procedures; term maintenance; refurbishment works

Know about the standard methods of measurement

Standard methods of measurement: SMM7 (building; building services engineering); CESMM (civil engineering); bill format (bills of quantities, codes, National Schedule of Rates)

Be able to undertake measurement tasks, applying mathematical calculations to the measurement process

Measurement tasks: taking off measurements and production of quantities for building (sections of a simple construction project, foundations and substructures, superstructure including external and internal walls, flat and pitched roof construction and coverings, internal and external finishes, internal components such as doors, windows, staircases and floors); taking off measurements and production of quantities for civil engineering (earthworks, cut and fill, drainage, manholes, roadways, simple concrete works, reinforcement)

Be able to produce quantity abstracts and bills of quantities pages of measured works using manual techniques

Final summaries: word processed bill of quantities pages; abstracted quantities using spreadsheets Quantity abstracts and bills of quantities: abstraction; working up; production of bills of quantities; production of final summaries. Production of bill of quantities: abstraction of dimensioned quantities; working up processes involved with these methods, production of a bill of quantities for a simple work section or trade section of a construction or civil engineering project

Answer 1D)

Figure 5 below provides a common basis of understanding for load location and orientations for substructure ...