Unit 2 Construction Technology, Higher National Certificate Construction and the Built Environment

Assignment - Construction substructure and superstructure

Learning Outcome 1: Explain the terminology used in construction technology.

Learning Outcome 2: Describe the different techniques used to construct a range of substructures and superstructures, including their function and design selection criteria.

Learning Outcome 3: Identify the different types of civil engineering/infrastructure technology used in support of buildings.

Learning Outcome 4: Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of building services and how they are accommodated within the building.

Assignment Brief:

Part 1: You are working as a Construction Design Technician for a large design practice and your boss, Connor Brickhouse has asked you to carry out a Desk Top Review (DTR) of internet sources to try to make sure that the firm is using the most up-to-date technologies available for their construction of substructures and superstructures in the construction of a large commercial building (flexi-industrial office and storage space) which they have just won the contract to design.

Connor has asked you to produce a ‘design consideration' booklet for him to distribute to the design team. The booklet is to consider the functional requirements and design selection criteria for different elements of typical commercial buildings (and you should highlight how these differ to the needs of residential buildings).

Your design consideration booklet should make a single information manual with two sections; Section A for Substructures and Section B for Superstructures. The manual will form a reference to terminology used in construction technology and the different techniques used to construct a range of substructures and superstructures.

Section A: Substructures. This section should consider the pre-design studies to be carried out and the type of information to be collated in order to design the most suitable foundation type for different types of structures. The document should also consider the construction of different types of foundations and their suitability for use with different types of structures. this section should consider the relative requirements and differences between, residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Section B: Superstructures. This section should consider the following elements of the superstructure:
• Walls
• Roofs
• Floors - ground and intermediate
• Windows and doors
• Staircases
• Finishes

Connor suggests that the two sections contain a description of the functional characteristics of each of the above elements and the design selection criteria for their use. Both sections will contain diagrams to illustrate the content. Connor explains that each section is to be indexed with a checklist for use by technicians when carrying out design considerations and should contain particular reference to the sustainability of the proposed design materials.

Part 2: Once you have given the results of your DTR to Connor, he is impressed with the thorough nature of your work and now asks you to add two more pamphlets to complete a more comprehensive document. .
The two further pamphlets he has asked you to consider are as follows:

Section C: Remediation, Frameworks and Design is to look at the range of remedial considerations which may need to be carried out before construction can begin, with a description of what substructure works may need to be carried out. This section will also compare the different types of structural frame used to carry primary and secondary elements of the superstructure. It should also contain an evaluation on how these functional and design selection criteria impact on the final design solution.

Section D: Primary and secondary services is to give a description of how the design team must consider the supply arrangements for primary and secondary services and explain how they can be distributed through a large commercial building. Make a recommendation for an appropriate superstructure, substructure and civil engineering structure for the proposed flexi-industrial building and appraise how the recommended choice will accommodate and facilitate the primary and secondary services suitable for the proposed flexi-industrial building.