You have recently gained employment with a contracting firm. The company provides a wide range of services for projects of all sizes. Lately, the firm has been seeing a slow-down in new contracts. To address this, the Board of Directors

LO2 Describe the different techniques used to construct a range of substructures and superstructures, including their function and design selection criteria.

LO3 Identify the different types of civil engineering/infrastructure technology used in support of buildings

LO4 Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of building services and how they are accommodated within the building.

• Construction Terminology – This will provide potential clients with key information about the terminology used in construction and construction technology and how functional characteristics, design selection criteria and sustainability have influenced the design of the building.
• Superstructure & Substructure – This section will assist clients in understanding the particulars of structural and civil engineering work, and should:
• Discuss the role of pre-design studies and the design and functional characteristics of superstructures and substructures. In addition, you should analyse how site conditions impacted on the design of foundations and the ways in which the site for the project was remediated prior to the start of works on site by civil engineering works.
• Explain the characteristics and criteria for primary and secondary elements of superstructures/substructures and detail how component parts of a superstructure or substructure work together to fulfil the required functions of the project.
• Compare different types of structural frames that could have been used to carry the primary and secondary elements of the superstructure
• Building Services – This section of the report will help the client understand the types of work included in building services contracts and should:
• Describe the range of services required within the building and analyse how the supply and distribution of the primary services impacted on the overall design of the selected building.
• Demonstrate how primary services may be facilitated by superstructure elements within the construction process.
• The report should make use of any drawings, diagrams and data that may help to support your explanation of the various aspects. Any material that is taken from other sources, must be suitably cited and referenced.

Note that, the specifics of the final report are outlined in the following pages.

A. Types of structures in the built environment

• Building scale (e.g., low, medium, high-rise)
• Domestic buildings (houses, flats, multi-occupancy)
• Commercial buildings (e.g., offices, shops)
• Industrial buildings (e.g., light industrial, warehouses factories).
• Civil engineering structures (e.g., roads, highways, bridges, tunnels)
• Loadbearing and non-loadbearing
• Structural stability
• Movement and thermal expansion

B. The functional attributes and criteria for design selection are influenced by the intended use of the building

• Domestic buildings (houses, flats, multi-occupancy)
• Commercial buildings (e.g., offices, shops)
• Industrial buildings (e.g., light industrial, warehouses factories).

C. Various strategies to promote sustainability in construction projects

• Definition
• Types of sustainability
• Sustainability in Construction
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Legislation
• Control
• Environmental issues due to construction activities
• Sustainable Design in Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings (5 different strategies)

D. Utilize the specific terminology associated with construction technology in relation to a particular building construction project.

E. Assess the influence of functional attributes and design selection criteria on the final design outcome.

Task 2 Techniques used to construct a range of substructures and superstructures, including their function and design selection criteria

A. Pre-design studies for the given construction site

• Desktop Study
• A Walk Over Survey
• A Physical Exploration & Inspection

B. Substructure and Superstructure design considerations

• Substructure
• Soil type
• Position of trees
• The most suitable foundation type for different types of structures
• Techniques to construct different substructures

• Superstructure
• Material (steel, concrete)
• Height (Low, Medium, High-rise)
• Type of load (Gravity/Lateral load)

C. Examine the influence of site conditions on the foundational design.

D. Demonstrate how the individual components of an element contribute to its overall functionality.

E. Compile a design report that outlines the superstructure, substructure, and civil engineering structures required for a specified building construction project.

Task 3 Different methods of dealing with site conditions to support building and infrastructure construction

A. Methods employed for site remediation before the initiation of construction activities.

• Contamination management
• Soil remediation

B. Types of substructures works 

• De-watering

• Piling (e.g., sheet piling, secant piling)
• Concrete methods (e.g., diaphragm walls, coffer dams, caissons, culverts)
• Grout injection
• Freezing
• Temporary techniques (e.g., pumping, wells, electro-osmosis)

C. An analysis of various structural frame types utilized for supporting the primary and secondary components of a superstructure project is essential.

Task 4  Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of building services and how they are accommodated within the building

Primary service supply

• Cold water
• Gas
• Electricity
• Heating
• Heat generators (boilers, solid fuel burners, combined heat and power plant) heating distribution (hot water, forced air, steam)
• Heat delivery (radiators, fan coil units, air handling)

• Ventilation

• Mechanical (e.g., fans, pressure systems, vacuum systems, exhaust systems)
• Natural (e.g., wind driven, stack ventilation, cross ventilation)

• Air conditioning

• Central air vs split system
• Components (e.g., compressor, evaporator, cassette)

2. Services distribution

• Hot and cold water
• Single-phase and 3-phase electricity
• Ventilation and air conditioning ductwork.

3. Illustrate the components of the superstructure employed to support the essential services.

4. Evaluate the influence of the allocation of essential services on the comprehensive architectural design of the structure.