THE BUILDING TEAM
Building is a essentially a team process in witch each member has an important role to play.
The function of each member is outlined below:
Building owner- The client; the person or organization who finances and commission the work.The directly employ all other personnel,with particular responsibility for appointing the planning supervisor (usually the architect) and he principal contractor-see construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.
Architect- Engaged by the building owner as agent,advise and ensure that the project is kept within cost and complies with the design.
Clerk of works- Employed by on large contracts as the architect´s on-site representative.The main function is to liaise between architect and main contractor and to ensure that construction proceeds in accordance with the design.They can offer advice,but directives must be through the architect.
Quantity surveyor-Engaged to prepare cost evaluations and bills of quantities,check tender,prepare interim valuations,effect cost controls,and advise the architect on the cost of variations.
Consulting enginners- Engeged to advise and design on a variety of specialist installations, e.g. structural,services,security.They are employed to develop that particular aspect of the design within the cost and physical parameters of the architect΄s brief.
Principal or main contractor- Employed by the client on the advice of the architect,by nomination or competitive tendering.They are required to administer the construction programme within the architect΄s direction.
Contract΄smanager or site agent- On large projects,the main contractor΄s representative on site,with overall responsibility for ensuring that work proseeds effectively,i.e. in accordance with the design specification and to time.Sometime known as the general foreman, but this title is more appropriate on small to modest-size contracts.
Surveyor- Employed by the main contractor to check work progress and assist the quantity surveyor in the preparation of int erim valuations for starge payments and final accounts.May also be required to measure work done for bones and subcontractor payments.
Estimator-Prepares unit rates for the pricing of tenders,and carries out pre-tander,investigation into the cost of the proposed contract.
Buyer-Orders meterials,obtains quotations for the supply of materials and services.
Accountant- Prepares and submits accounts to clients and makes payments to suppliers and subcontractors.May also have a costing department that would allocate the labour and material costs to each contract to assist with the preparation of accounts.
Administrator-Organises the general clerical duties of the contractor΄s office for preparation of contract documents and payment of salaries,subcontractors΄ and suppliers΄ invoices,insurances and all necessary correcespondence.
Assistant contract manager- Often a trainee,in the process of completing professional examinations.Assists with the general responsibility for administering site proceedings.
Nominated subcontractor- Engaged by the client or architect for specialist construction or installation work,e.g lifts,air conditioning.
Domestic subcontractor- Employed by the principal contractor to assist with the general construction,e.g. ground workers,bricklayers.
Operatives- the main workforce on-site;includes craftsmen,apprentices and labourers.
The size of the building firm or the contract will determine the composition of the construction team.For medium-sized contrcts some of the above functions may be combined,e.g.that of the surveyor and estimator.
Furthermore,many design-and-build practices have been created by conbining the professional expertise of architect,builder and consultants.The objective is to improve communications and create better working relationships to provide the client with a more efficient and cost-effective service.
SITE AND TEMPORARY WORKS.
CLEARING THE SITE
This may involve the demolition of existing buildings, the grubbing out of bushes and trees, and the removal of soil to reduce levels. Demolition is a skilled occupation and should be tackled only by an experienced demolition contractor. The remoral of trees can be carried out by manual or mechanical means. The removal of large trees should be left to the specialist contractors.
Building Regulation CI The ground to be convered by the building shall all reasonably free from vegetable matter; this is in effect to sterilise the ground because the top 300mm or so will contain plant life and decaying vegetation.This means that the topsoil is easily compressed and would be unsuitable for foundations.Topsoil is valuable as a dressing for gardens, and will be retained for reinstatement when the site is landscaped. The method chosen for conducting the site clearance work will be determined by the scale of development, and by consideration for any adjacent building.
SETTING OUT SITE
- The first task is to establish a baseline from which the whole of the building can be set out.
- The position of this line must be clearly marked on-site measuring a steel tape should be used (30m would be a suitable length )
- Linen and plastic-coated tapes are also available, the disadvantage with linen tapes is that they are liable to stretch.
- After the baseline has been set out, marked and checked, the main lines of the building can be set out, each corner being marked with a stout peg.
SLOPING SITES
Very few sites are level, and therefore before any building work can be commenced the area covered by the building must be leveled. In building terms this operation is called reducing levels. Three methods can be used, and it is the most economical that is usually employed.
Cut and Fill : The usual method because, if properly carried out , the amount of cut will equal the amount of fill.
Cut : This method has the advantage of giving undisturbed soil over the whole of the site, but has the disadvantage of the cost of removing the spoil from the site.
Fill : A method not to be recommended because, if the building is sited on the filled area, either deep foundations would be needed or the risk of settlement at a later stage would have to be accepted. The amount of fill should never exceed a depth of 600 mm.
ACCOMMODATION
The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulation 1996 is a statutory instrument that establishes objectives for accommodation and facilities for staff to be provided on site throughout the construction industry. Requirements will vary with regard to the number of personnel on site and in some cases the anticipated duration of the contract. An extract from the forerunner to the current regulations.
Unit of staff accommodation usually come in one of two forms :
Semi-portable units
Mobile caravans or cabins
Preliminary planning is necessary to anticipate the amount and type of temporary accommodation, site space / location and facilities required for material storage and used by site personnel. Offices need to be weatherproof, heated, insulated, lit and furnished with desks, work-surfaces, plan chest and chairs to suit the office activity. The same basic units can be used for all accommodation including meal rooms and toilets equipped. Where site space is limited, most semi-portable units are designed to be staked.
Semi-mobile cabins are available in a wide variety of sizes, styles and application. The outer construction is generally of galvanized sheet steel over a structural steel frame, suitably insulated and finished internally with plasterboard walls and ceiling. Floor finishes vary from chequerplate to carpeted boards. To prevent over-heating, the roof is covered with a solar reflective material on profiled galvanized steel. Units may be hired or purchased, usually pre-wide and plumbed as appropriate for connection to mains supplies and drain. Inclusion of furniture is also an option. Cabins are transported to site by flat bed lorry.
Subject to the limitation below, mobile caravans can be used as offices on small sites. Timber sectional huts are of very limited use and prohibited where reference to the "joint fire code" is include in the building contract. Most contract now incorporate this code and quote clause 12 for fire rated temporary buildings and temporary accommodation.
STORAGE
The type of storage facilities required of any particular material will depend upon the following factor:
Durability- will it need protection from the element.
Vulnerably to damage
Vulnerability to theft
Cement, plaster and lime supplied in bag from require a dry store free from draughts, which can bring in moist air and may cause an air set of material. These materials should not be stored for long period on site: therefore provision should be made for rotation use so that the material being used comes from the older stock.
Aggregated such as sand ballast require a clean firm base to ensure that foreign matter is not included when extracting materials from the base of the stockpile.
REFERENCE
BOOK OF TECHNOLOGY OF CONSTRUCTION
CHUDLEY
