NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

PART II: CONTENT

CODE: 583/02/S01

SUBJECT: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

AIMS OF THE SUBJECT

1. To impact simple methods of Building Construction to enable the students to have a better
understanding of how buildings are put together.

2. To equip the students with knowledge and valuable skills for the Construction Industry.

TOPICS

A. Preliminary Site Works

B. Excavations and Timbering
C. Shoring
D. Foundations
E. Retaining Walls
F. Scaffolding
G. Formwork
H. Floor Construction
I. Roof Structures
J. Walling and Cladding
K. Framed Construction
L. Ceiling
M. Partitions
N. Arch Centers
O. Doors and Windows
P. Staircases
Q. Finishes

1
A. PRELIMINARY SITE WORKS

1. To equip the trainees with basic knowledge on operations to be followed when a building site is
about to begin.

1.1 Know information required for Site Investigation.

1.2 Understand the objectives of Site Investigation and methods of Site Investigation e.g.
Trail pit, Auger hide, Bore hide.

1.3 Know the layout on Site Loading Test, Penetration Test.

1.4 To know who is involved in Site handover.

1.5 Organise Site Accommodation for the workers and other welfare facilities e.g. canteen
facilities, drinking water houses, clinic etc

1.6 Able to store different materials on Site.

1.7 Identify the need for safe working methods.

1.8 Identify factors influencing an:

a) Plant position
b) Temporary buildings
c) Material storage.

1.9 Describe how the following may affect the Site layout:

a) Access to Site
b) Circulation of traffic
c) Security

1.10 Identify the condition of a contract in hand that affect the Site Organisation and
Administration.

1.11 Know issues to be looked at as soon as the contractor moves on to Site e.g. checking
pegs, services – water connections, electricity, fencing of site, cleaning of site etc.

2
HOARDING

2. To eqiup the students with knowledge of different types and uses of hoarding.

2.1 To understand functions of hoarding.

2.2 How different hoardings are constructed:

a) Far hoarding
b) Vertical hoarding

2.3 Understand positions of various members for safety reasons.

B. EXCAVATIONS AND TIMBERING

3. To equip students with knowledge of different types of exactions and different methods of
preventing them from collapse.

3.1 Understand reasons for timbering.

3.2 Able to classify excavations.

3.3 Understand factors affecting method of excavation and timbering.

3.4 List precautions during excavations.

3.5 Know how to support walls of trenches and basements using timber, piles, trench and
perimeter method.

3.6 Know excavation of column bases and plant used in excavation.

3.7 Know methods of controlling and diverting ground water.

3.8 Understand the need to proud and support building near to excavations.

C. SHORING

4. To equip the students with knowledge of the construction and application of shoring in
connection with buildings.

4.1 Understand the need of shoring buildings.

4.2 Identify various types of shoring and where each is applied.

4.3 Describe the construction and assembly of:

a) Dead shores
b) Flying shores
c) Racking shores.

3
D. FOUNDATIONS

5. To equip students with more advanced information on ways of designing and treading foundation
for various situations.

5.1 Define foundation terms and principles.

5.2 Identify various types of foundations and where each is more applicable.

5.3 List functional requirements and purposes of foundations.

5.4 Know factors affecting the choice of a certain type of foundation.

5.5 Know under pinning of building using:

a) Bricks or concrete
b) Piling
c) Stool and beam

E. RETAINING WALLS

6. To equip the students with the knowledge of construction and use of retaining walls and their
principles.

6.1 Understand the basic function and functional characteristics of retaining walls.

6.2 State design factors for retaining walls.

6.3 Understand the effects of water to retaining walls.

6.4 Identify retaining walls such as:

a) Mass concrete
b) Reinforced
c) Cantilevered.

4
F. SCAFFOLDING

7. To equip the student with basic knowledge of construction and use of various scaffolding on site.

7.1 Identify various types of scaffolding and their application on a building.

7.2 Identify various scaffolding members and understand their positions for safety reasons.

7.3 List all safety regulations for scaffolds.

7.4 Understand the construction of various scaffolding:

a) Put-log
b) Suspended
c) Mobile

G. FORMWORK

8. To enable the students to understand the uses and technical aspects of formwork.

8.1 List requirements of a well constructed formwork.

8.2 Define terms and principles of formwork.

8.3 Understand behaviors of different formwork.

8.4 Identify the different types of formwork needed in:

a) R.C. Beams square, round octagonal

b) R.C. Beams with bullnose, changer
c) R.C. Stairs
d) R.C. Beam and Slab
e) Cantilevered slabs
f) R.C. Basement walls.

8.5 Understand need for plumbing and bracing formwork.

8.6 Know the effects of fluid pressure to formwork and factors affecting it.

5
H. FLOOR CONSTRUCTION

9. To enable the student to have an understanding on the composition of suspended timber floors,
and concrete floors.

9.1 Define suspended timber floor basic terms and principles of shutting, trimming, home
comb super wall.

9.2 Explain on factors affecting spacing of forsts.

9.3 Identify flooring materials and functional characteristics of flooring.

9.4 Understand the need for strength, sound and fire resistance.

9.5 Define suspended reinforced concrete floors together with steel detailing.

I. ROOF STRUCTURES

10. To equip students with knowledge of basic principles on the construction of both steel and timber
trusses.

10.1 Define roof terms and principles e.g.

a) Rise
b) Pitch
c) Rafters – common, valley, cripple, hip, Jack.

10.2 State basic functional requirements of a roof.

10.3 Identify various type of trusses and where is each best suitable.

10.4 Know spacing of trusses – (timber) to suit the type of covering materials.

10.5 Identify different roof covering.

10.6 Differentiate between a pitched and a flat roof.

10.7 Identify types of roof structures:

a) Portal frame
b) Lattial guider
c) Folded slab.

6
J. WALLING AND CLADDING

11. To equip the students with knowledge of the properties of walling and cladding materials and
different methods of fixing them.

11.1 List down properties of walls which include:

a) Strength
b) Stability
c) Exclusion of dampness
d) Thermal and ciconstic properties
e) Fire resistance.

12.3 Understand methods and material used to protect structural sketch structures against fire
and moisacre.

12.4 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each system – concrete, steel and timber.

12.5 Define pre-stressing and state its principles.

12.6 Describe pre-tensioning and post tensioning and include the type of work for which each
method can be used.

12.7 Describe advantage(s) of pre-stessed concrete as to reinforced concrete.

12.8 Understand disadvantages of pre-stressed concrete when used for the construction of
floor slabs.

12.9 Appreciate safety precautions necessary when casting, handling pre-stressed units.

L. CEILING

13. To enable students to understand the need for ceiling structures and the properties of various
covering materials.

13.1 State the functions of ceilings.

13.2 Identify various types of ceilings.

13.3 Sketch wall labeled details of different systems of suspended ceilings.

13.4 Illustrate how services can be accommodated above the ceiling including means of
access.

13.5 Identify various type of citing coverings and state where each is most usual that is to say:

i) For Sound Insulation

ii) For Thermal Insulation
iii) Dump Conduction e.g. bathroom
iv) Fire resistance – Kitchen and Laboratory.

7
 13.6 State the spacing of various members to suit various covering materials.

M. PARTITIONS

14. To enable the student to understand the function and methods of constructing internal partitions.

14.1 State various type of permanent internal partition.

14.2 Illustrate the spacing of various members.

14.3 Understand the fixing of coverings.

14.4 List various material suitable for covering partitions.

14.5 Understand methods of sound insulation of both impact and airborne sound.

14.6 Understand methods used to exclude vermin.

N. ARCH CENTRES

15. To enable students to understand the function of construction and erection of each centres.

15.1 Identify different types of each centres.

15.2 Illustrate the construction of:

a) Semi-circled centre
b) Segmental centre
c) Gothic centre.

15.3 Understand on the use of different type of laggings.

15.4 Understand both traditional and modern ways of constructing centres.

15.5 Understand the erection and striking of the centre including easing and the need for easy
of striking.

8
O. DOORS AND WINDOWS

16. To enable students to have an understanding of how timber framed doors are constructed.

16.1 Identify different types of doors and their members i.e.

a) Ledged Braced and battened

b) Framed Ledged braced and battened
c) Flush Door (Hollow and Solid Core)
d) Panelled Door.

16.2 Understand doors methods of operations e.g. swinging, sliding, folding.

16.3 List functions of doors.

16.4 Identify iron monger for doors e.g. hinges, locks.

16.5 Identify the following types of windows

a) Side hang
b) Pivoted

16.6 Identify traditional and modern ways of constructing and their features.

16.7 Identify and define window terms and principles.

16.8 Identify windows iron monger.

P. STAIRCASE

19. To enable the students to have a depth in understanding on the construction of timber pre-cast,
steel and insitu concrete stairs.

19.1 Identify and define open-well, straight flight, dog-leg and Geometrical stairs made of
timber, steel, and concrete.

19.2 State and understand stairs regulations for both the private and common stairs.

19.3 Identify and describe various stair members and principles.

19.4 Outline methods used to protect after fixing.

9
Q. FINISHES

…./pm

10