Z Ze THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2014 SESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS JANUARY 2015 ESA 251- INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING ECONOMICS AND ESB 250 - BUILDING ECONOMICS | TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Be eo ’y a . THERE ARE SEVEN (7) QUESTIONS IN THIS PAPER. . ALL QUESTIONS CARRY EQUAL MARKS (20 MARKS). . ANSWER ANY FIVE (5) QUESTIONS 5 |. NO ANY OTHER MATERIAL EXCEPT FOR THE ANSWER BOOKLET IS NEEDED |. WRITE CLEARLY IN READABLE HANDWRITING AND ENGLISH . BULLETED ANSWERS ARE ENCOURAGED DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO So.QUESTION 1 The construction industry interacts with many other sectors in the market and it has been known to contribute greatly to the development of any national economy. @) Outline by giving 5 examples how the construction industry contributes to the development of the Zambian Economy (5 Marks) 5) Give 5 different sectors that interact with Zambian Construction Industry (ZCl) and outline the services offered to the construction industry (ZCI) (15 Marks) QUESTION 2 ~ Standards are important for the performance of any industry. a) What are the two types of standards in the construction industry? (5 Marks) b) Give 5 reasons and explain briefly why standa construction industry. (15 Marks) f .QUESTION3 @ Building economics as noted by Ashworth (2004) is a study that emerged just over 50 years ago. . a) List and briefly discuss four (4) factors that influenced the earliest studies in a ; ~ due for Money building economics. (10 Marks) uy b) In the initial stages of Building economics, the focus was on, time, cost and quality. List and explain other four (4) features/factors that are also areas of interest in the study of Building Economics presently. (10 Marks). QUESTION 4 The construction industry, including the ZCI is considered to be highly competitive. Se a) List five reasons that have made it difficult for the local contractors to compete favourably with the foreign firms coming in the ZCI (5 marks) i ional it ion i \d based on Porters a professional in the construction industry an yan give five competitive strategies that can be used by the ZCI in order to be competitive (15 Marks) b) theory and any other, giv local construction firms inQUESTION 5 The construction industry needs the Human Resource in order to function a) What are the two types of labour needed by the construction industry (4 marks) — <=" i b) List and discuss four (4) challenges in providing the labour force in the Zambian Construction Industry (6 marks) ~*~ c) List and explain four (4) points on how the supply of labour in the ZCI can be improved (8 marks). QUESTION6 — In the construction industry, projects are awarded through tendering. a) List four documents used in the tendering process (4 Marks) eee b) Outline and explain the major steps in the construction tendering process (16 Marks) QUESTION 7 Realizing that finance is important in the construction industry to both the client and the contractor, give any 2 (two) sources of finance a construction firm can use giving four advantages and four (4) disadvantages for each. (20 marks) BEST WISHES AND GOOD LUCK! lew ebve [bs Coders Airs oatsTHE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2016/17 SESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS 15™ MAY 2017 ESA 251- INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING ECONOMICS AND ESB 250 - BUILDING ECONOMICS | TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1. SS. = THERE ARE SEVEN (7) QUESTIONS IN THIS PAPER AND YOU ARE TO ANSWER FIVE QUESTIONS. ‘ QUESTION ONE IS COMPULSORY ANSWER ANY OTHER FOUR (4) QUESTIONS ALL QUESTIONS CARRY EQUAL MARKS (20 MARKS). NO ANY OTHER MATERIAL EXCEPT FOR THE ANSWER BOOKLET IS NEEDED | WRITE CLEARLY IN READABLE HANDWRITING AND ENGLISH |. BULLETED AND BRIEF ANSWERS ARE ENCOURAGED DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO So.QUESTION 1 COMPULSORY The construction industry's projects are largely affected by a number of factors. Supply and demand have since been identified as such. By considering the supply and demand of building materials and the demand and supply of construction products/services discuss how the value and cost of construction projects is affected by the: i) Supply of construction materials and products/services (10 Marks) ii) Demand of construction materials and products/services (10 Marks) QUESTION 2 The heavy rains that Zambia as a country experienced had left a number of health centres on the Copperbelt damaged with most of them having their roofs blown off. The Ministry of Health, realizing the importance of health services, urgently need to have them repaired. As an expert in contractor selection and procurement methods; a) Name and define one type of contractor selection method to be used and justify your answer/selection by giving its four advantages (10 Marks) . Jxval atm b) Explain four sources of long term finance that the government can use to fund the project (10 Marks) Fe Pte QUESTION 3 Sen sieriehie The Copperbelt University has recently opened the Kapasa Makasa Campus in Chinsali. However one of the envisaged challenges in Chinsali district is that with more members of staff moving/relocating to Kapasa Makasa Campus, staff housing will be a challenge. Hence Makali Manga Property Developers has come up with a multi million project to construct housing for lease in Chinsali. a) List 6 challenges the company constructing the housing facility in relation with the supply of labour (6 Marks). b) Using the RIBA plan of works, explain the main stages that the construction process will have to undergo for the housing project (6 Marks). c) List and explain the four factors of production with 2 examples for each that will be required by the developer (8 Marks). QUESTION 4 Pet a) In relation to the construction industry differentiate between fundamental standards and applied standards, giving 2 examples for each, (4 Marks) b) Give 6 points, with an example for each, why standards are important in the construction industry (16 Marks).QUESTION 5 | Building economics is a study that has evolved over the years. Since its infancy, in the early 1950s, it has become a major theme in many countries. a) From the 1950s to date, discus 6 (six) major factors that have forced construction professionals to study/consider building economics (20 marks) QUESTION 6 In construction, a Bill of Quantities or a schedule of rates can be used ) Highlight three major differences between a Bill of Quantities and a Schedule of Rates (6 Marks) b) List and explain four factors that are considered when deciding either to use a Bill of Quantities or a schedule of rates (14 Marks) QUESTION 7 ') The construction process involves many participants. Give five specific Toles of each of the following; a) Client (2.5 Marks) b) Contractor ( 2.5 Marks) ¢) Professional Quantity Surveyor (2.5 Marks) ~T | >» . d) Architect (2.5 Marks) ii) Highlight with examples at least 5 main features that make the construction industry unique from other industries (10 marks) ie ee BEST WISHES AND GOOD LUCK!THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT 2015 SESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS JUNE 2016 ESA 251- INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING ECONOMICS AND ESB 250 - BUILDING ECONOMICS | TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 4. THERE ARE SEVEN (7) QUESTIONS IN THIS PAPER AND YOU ARE TO. ANSWER FIVE QUESTIONS. |. QUESTION ONE IS COMPULSORY | ANSWER ANY OTHER FOUR (4) QUESTIONS | ALL QUESTIONS CARRY EQUAL MARKS (20 MARKS). a PF YN . NO ANY OTHER MATERIAL EXCEPT FOR THE ANSWER BOOKLET IS NEEDED 6. WRITE CLEARLY IN READABLE HANDWRITING AND ENGLISH 7. BULLETED AND BRIEF ANSWERS ARE ENCOURAGED DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.QUESTION 1 COMPULSORY In the recent past, the construction industry in Zambia has been faced with a number of challenges. One major challenge has been the changes/fluctuation of building materials prices by the supply side of the construction industry a) Discuss the following in relation to the above; (i) List five factors that lead to the changes/fluctuating of building < materials prices (2.5 marks). (ii) List five challenges faced by suppliers of building materials in the Zambian Construction industry (2.5 marks). (iii) List and explain briefly five factors that influence the cost of a Construction project (5 marks). ») In an effort to balance the eco-environment performance of the construction sf industry, there has been a call for a circular economy in the construction a industry, + Gren economy, Kher ¢ i) Whatis a circular economy? (2 marks) %& chev ote ii) Give four factors that have lead to the call for a-circular economy with a brief explanation (8 marks). ~ Teaprved Aochosloys ene }\ QUESTION 2 vs = a ar. = Green hae 2. % The construction industry contributes a large percentage to the GDP of our country. However, among key stakeholders, fear is mounting that the construction industry's contribution will reduce. sp urth=c-* a) List and explain briefly 5 factors that may lead to a reduction of the sector's (AQ contribution to the GDP (10 marks). Ane ‘our Skike’) List and explain briefly five ways in which the construction industry b contributes tothe egngtueion sector (10 marks). eer, Aakorel\ ¢. Wy Gree a4 : a (ab XC Question 3 3) “athatees oh eka NN % Tose The construction industy uses the tendering procedure as a means of selecting’ °} ( | contractors. The tendering process usually starts with the prequalification meeting; °°" who unfortunately this is rarely practiced in the ZCI a) Explain the importance of the prequalification meeting (5 marks) b) Give two examples of relevant information given to the contractor during the prequalification meeting (5 marks). ) List and explain briefly four factors that you would consider when selecting a tendering er procurement process (10 marks), footy ack + Cop ON od Frans ces) Ren (enle nctele eb ler cons an dangyclantQUESTION 4 Local contractors in Zambia are known to be very poor in terms of competitiveness when compared with the foreign firms. a) List and explain briefly 6 factors that hinders local firms’ competitiveness Geneneeg (12 marks). b) List and explain four ways in which local contractors can become competitive (8 marks). QUESTION 5 Value and cost of a construction project on many occasions are used loosely and interchanged without realizing that they have different meanings. What has also been acknowledged is that similar buildings built in different locations will have a different value. > Eigqeeienss, a) Define the following terms» C\pepu® eS. gC ¥ Sey si Value (2.5 marks). Faps\ oppor Res ii. Cost (2.5 marks). cogey ae More kiN leek b) Give four factors that may lead to the cost of a similar building coed in a different location having a different value (15 marks). sot & og “Los wall bey QUESTION 6 Construction firms always incur costs in trying to meet their daily demands and needs. With examples; —* Gn “iba oe a) List and briefly explain § major sources of costs for a construction firth | associated with the construction site. (10 marks) ON ( eds b) List and explain briefly 5 major sources of costs for a construction firm associated with the head office. (10 marks) QUESTION 7 Construction projects require huge capital in order for them to be executed. Hence there are various sources of funding available for the clients to use in order to finance their operations.i electing a) Give the four main factors to be considered when S a financing method for a construction project 4 for i 5 of finance b) Give two examples under each of the following source: h given t tages for eacl construction highlighting 3 advantages and 3 disadvantag method: i. ii it n (8 marks) Two (2) types of short term financing for construction ( tion giving Two (2) types of long term financing for construc advantages and disadvantages for each (8 marks) bes ry m fail de Horse han Arorby fel oy Cent bd a fay . Commarcig | fanks fe nog eee cart & fine ekn ne dea mere Spo fo oa, OJ ney OPT AL rapa ae paper Hor SOLS PREIS SE oe