NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

SUBJECT: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

SUBJECT CODE: 575/09/S01

DURATION: 144 hours

AIMS OF THE SUBJECT

1. To equip the student with knowledge and skills in Construction Technology.

TOPICS

A. PRELIMINARIES
B. SUBSTRUCTURE
C. SUPERSTRUCTURE
D. ROOFS
E. CLADDING
F. INTERNAL FINISHES

A. PRELIMINARIES

Understand the need for the control of building activities by a central body or
a government controlled body.

1. State the reasons for building regulations or similar.

2. Identity the need for safe working methods

3. Identity the need for the provision of welfare facilities on site.

4. Identify the facts to be considered when arranging for the following.

(a) Items of plant

(b) Temporary buildings

5. Describe how the following may affect the site layout.

(a) Access to site

(b) Circulation of traffic
(c) Security
(d) Material Storage
(e) Plant
(f) Temporary Buildings
(g) Safety of the public and the workers.

Recognise the provisions which must be made for temporary

accommodation, services, roads, fences, hoarding and safety barriers.
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

6. Identify the provisions required for the protection of materials.

7. List the temporary buildings normally required on site.

8. Discuss alternative methods of enclosing the site and explain the

degree of protection afforded by each.

9. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using temporary roads

instead of permanent roads for site traffic.

10. List the temporary services which may be required on site and describe
the safety measures which should be observed.

B. SUBSTRUCTURE

B.1 SHORING AND UNDERPINNING

1.1 Describe the following systems of shoring stating where each

should be used

(a) dead
(b) racking
(c) flying

1.2 Identify the possible need for temporary strutting to floors and
openings to buildings near large excavations.

1.3 Describe the various methods of under pinning a building

using.

(a) bricks or concrete

(b) piling
(c) stool and beam

Appreciate the need for safe working conditions in foundation works.

1.4 Identify the risks to the safety of people working in, or near the
edges of, excavations.

1.5 Describe workshop methods and safety requirements when

working in excavations.

1.6 Identify the hazards caused by the accumulation of water in

excavations.

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C. SUPERSTRUCTURE

Understand the use of the preformed (i.e. prefabricated members in a

structural frame).

1. Draw typical annotated details of construction steelwork and pre-cast

concrete.

(a) Foot, knee and ridge joints in portal frames.

2. Sketch and describe means to provide continuity between.

(a) floor slabs

(b) floor slabs and beams

3. Understand the methods and material used to protect structural

steelwork against fire.

4. Relate the position of the reinforcement within precast concrete units

in respect of the loads applied and stress induced during the transport,
eraction and use.

5. Understand Construction of Structural frames in timber including

portal frames.

6. State the principle of prestressing.

7. Describe the methods of

(a) pretensioning
(b) post tensioning

8. State the type of works for which each method is used.

9. Describe the benefits resulting from the use of prestressed concrete in

place of reinforced concrete.

10. Appreciate safety precautions necessary when casting, handling,

prestressed units.

11. Appreciate the problems associated with distortion (hogging) of

prestressed concrete floor slabs.

Understand the principles underlaying the technique of modular

coordiantion

12. State the advantages and disadvantages of modular coordination over

conventional construction techniques.

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D. ROOFS

Understand the functional and the constructional aspects of large span roofs.

1. Describe the functional requirement of a large span roof.

2. Identify the following types of roof structure

(a) folded slab

(b) lattice girder
(c) north light
(d) space frame
(e) grid frame
(f) portal

3. State the advantages of the different types of roof structures.

4. Appreciate the properties of the materials used in the construction of

roofs.

5. Sketch and describe the construction of large span roof in concrete,

metal and timber.

6. Appreciate the need to provide for thermal movement.

E. CLADDING

Understanding methods of cladding the superstructure.

1. Identify the following methods of cladding.

(a) In-situ walls in brick, block and concrete

(b) Timber frames
(c) Precast concrete panels with varying finishes
(d) Panels of other metals
(e) Curtain walling

2. Understand the requirements of weather proof joints in cladding panels

and curtain walling.

3. Sketch and describe movement joints including temporary support and

protection.

4. Describe erection techniques including temporary support and

protection.

5. Sketch and describe the methods of fixing cladding panels.

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NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN QUANTITY SURVEYING

6. Understand the need for compression joints for panels on a concrete

frame.

7. State the arrangements that should be made for safe working during
erection, maintenance and repairs.

Understand the need to provide protection against.

(a) Solar gain

(b) Glare
(c) Thermal loss or gain
(d) External noise
(e) Fire protection to steel work and fire resistance of materials
clad, timber and concrete.

8. Identify the methods of controlling solar gain

9. Understand the methods used to reduce direct sunlight and glare within
the building.

10. Understand the means for vapour barriers.

11. Understand the means by which penetration of sound into the building
can be reduced.

12. Understand factors considered in design`

(a) staircases
(b) fire doors
(c) materials qualities of staircases and fire doors.

F. INTERNAL FINISHES

Understand the methods for constructing internal partitions.

1. State the material used for permanent internal partitions.

2. Describe the erection of dry linings and prefinished panels.

3. Understand the methods that are used to exclude vermin.

4. List the material suitable for facing partitions and those having low
spread flame.

5. Describe methods for diminishing sound transmission through the

partitions.

Understand the functions and the constructional details of suspended

ceiling.

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6. Describe the purposes of a suspended ceiling.

7. Identify the various types.

8. Sketch annotated details of systems of suspended ceilings.

9. State the services that may be provided as intergral within the ceiling.

10. Illustrate how services can be accommodated and fixed above the
ceiling including means of access.

SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

TITLE AUTHOR PUBLISHER

Building Construction R Chudleyed Greeno 4th Longman ELBS

Handbook Edition
Construction Technology R Chundley Longman ELBS 1987

Construction Technology J T Grundy Longman 1985

Vol 1-2
Construction Technology R Barry ELBS 1984
Vol 1-5

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