Assessment Criteria

What you need to know

Ac 1.1

The Sector

AC 1.1.1 Buildings and Structures

Main types

Residential and non-residential buildings, bridges and roads

Component parts

Walls, floors and openings.

AC 1.1.2 Infrastructure and Civil Engineering products

Infrastructure:

Roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, water supply, sewerage systems, electrical grids, facilities and systems

AC 1.1.3 Building services  engineering

Mechanical Services

Escalators and lifts, heating, ventilation, air conditioning

Electrical Services

Energy supply, lighting and low voltage (LV) systems, communication lines, telephones and IT networks, fire detection and protection, security and alarm systems

Services that support public health,

Plumbing for water supply, and domestic hot water, drainage of wastewater (sewage) and stormwater drainage.

AC 1.1.4 Professional and

managerial roles and responsibilities associated with the built environment sector

Professional roles

•          designer/architect

•          civil/structural engineering

•          contracts manager and site manager

•          surveyor

•          quantity surveyor

Professional associations

CIOB, RICS, RIBA, benefits of membership.

AC 1.2

The Built Environment Life Cycle

AC 1.2.1 Raw material extraction

Raw materials Industry

oil and gas, forestry, quarrying, mining.

AC 1.2.2 Manufacturing

Timber

Felled logs are cut into ‘boards’ and then seasoned to remove excess water

Engineered wood products (EWP):

To overcome limitations on size of sawn timber, including trussed rafters, structural sections, and manufactured boards such as plywood and oriented strand board.

Steel

Structural steel – made into standard column and beam sections

Stainless steel – made into fixings and fastenings

Lightweight mild steel sections – lintels, purlins and rails

Profiled sheeting – wall and roof cladding

Copper

Manufactured to produce building services products such     as electric cable and water/gas pipes

Plastic

Manufactured to produce building services products such as water pipes

Crushed rock materials

Hardcore and granular fill  material

Clay

Natural clay minerals are crushed, shaped, dried and fired in ovens to produce bricks

Cement

Raw materials such as limestone are crushed, blended  and heated in a kiln to make cement

Mortar

Sand, cement and water are mixed to make a paste used to bind and point building blocks.

Concrete

Cement, water and aggregate (gravel, sand or rock) are mixed together to make concrete

Combined with steel bars or mesh to make reinforced concrete .

AC 1.2.3 Construction

New buildings and structures

The assembly on site     of prefabricated elements

Existing Buildings and Structures

Alteration, conversion, renovation

Civil engineering works

Roads and bridges, Mass concrete foundations and large diameter drainage schemes,  installation of mechanical, electrical, gas and communication services.

AC 1.2.4 Operation and  maintenance

Operations

Controlling and monitoring of heating, cooling and lighting systems

Provision of security, cleaning and other ancillary services, including testing and evacuation procedures

Maintenance

Planned and preventive maintenance: carried out on a regular  basis, in order to keep something in working order or extend its life

Cyclical maintenance: replacing over a cycle of work as an investment in stakeholders’ comfort levels

Emergency maintenance: due to safety reasons for stakeholders.

Building operation and Maintenance Manuel

Given to the client on completion in accordance with the Construction, Design and Management (CDM) Regulations relevant sections

Information regarding the operation, maintenance, decommissioning and subsequent demolition of a building.

AC 1.2.5 Demolition

Pre-demolition

Hazardous materials such as asbestos, foam insulation, MDF, live utilities and disconnections, structures and load bearing party walls, site conditions and constraints, statutory requirements need to be considered

Demolition may involve the use of explosives, hand demolition or machine demolition.

Demolition Procedures

Site security set up, disconnection of utilities, removal of hazardous materials, soft strip of non-structural elements, taking down superstructure, onsite crushing of demolition materials into filling that can be recycled, dust suppression measures, removal of slab and foundations.

AC 1.2.6 Disposal, reuse, recycling

Waste materials

Landfill or salvaged for reuse or for recycling, can be retained on site in embankments and  landscaping

Sustainable construction methods

Benefits to be gained from encouraging more reuse or recycling, including preservation of natural resources, creation of jobs and reduction in pollution and materials that are sustainable and renewable from managed      sources.

AC 1.3

Types of Building and Structure

AC 1.3.1 Different forms of infrastructure construction

Infrastructure Construction

Functions such as roads, motorways, services such as electrical distribution, harbor works, rail cycle paths, bridges and tramways

Benefits and Drawbacks

To quality of life by providing economic, social and environmental benefits on a local or national scale

Controversial projects.

AC 1.3.2 Residential dwellings

Residential

• used as places of habitation
• among the smallest types of building
• vary by location with multi-dwelling structures such as apartment blocks in urban areas and single detached properties in rural areas
• often made of block or timber frame construction
• in demand because there is a shortage of available, affordable homes in the UK.

AC 1.3.3 Commercial buildings

Commercial

• used to provide services or retail products to customers
• accommodate business activities
• usually adapted to fulfil the purpose of the business
• may be purpose-built or converted to enable a change of use
• located in retail centres, in or out of town/city centres

AC 1.3.4 Industrial buildings

Industrial

• usually larger buildings, adapted to specific functions
• used for storing, processing, engineering or manufacturing materials
• may be part of a new development, such as in a modern industrial park, or a refurbished older building or site.

AC 1.3.5 Agricultural buildings

Agricultural

• associated with farming
• maybe older buildings constructed using traditional materials and techniques
• maybe large modern buildings, designed to suit a particular function and the rural landscape/environment in which they are  situated.

AC 1.3.6 Community buildings

Community

• used by members of a community
• usually located in a convenient location for the community
• modern or older buildings

AC 1.3.7 Religious buildings

Religious

• usually serve as places of worship
• vary considerably in terms of age, size and architectural style
• often include elaborate architecture, with towers or domes, the most expressive and influential structures in the local built environment.

AC 1.3.8 Recreational buildings

Recreational

• vary in size and style
• existing buildings extensions to other buildings to enable an existing business to offer recreational activities
• may be designed for a specific function or versatile for a range of functions.

AC 1.4

Technologies and Materials

AC 1.4.1 Main elements and components of low-rise buildings

Super Struture

Walls, upper floors, frame, roof supports, wall cladding, roof finishes.

Substructure

Foundations, DPC and ground floor

AC 1.4.2 Main materials involved in constructing walls, installing building services, fitting roofs and finishing interiors

External walls

• structural element: load bearing masonry (insulating blockwork), structural frame (steel or timber), structural insulated panels (SIP)
• insulation: mineral fibre rolls, sprayed foam, rigid foam slabs
• external cladding: brick or rendered blockwork, steel sheeting, aluminium faced insulated panels, curtain walling.

Internal walls and floors

• block or stud (timber or steel) partitions
• timber, concrete or steel floor joists.

Secondary structures

• steel lintels, joists and timber trussed rafters for masonry walls
• sheeting rails and purlins for steel frames.

Roof finishes

• slate or concrete tiles for timber trussed roofs
• steel sheeting over insulated lining trays for steel framed structures
• rubber based sheeting or fibreglass for flat roofs.

Internal finishes:

• plasterboard for walls and ceilings
• wall plaster and decorations.
• Floor screeds and boards

Building services

• incoming services run through sub-structure walls and then extended for internal distribution
• internal drainage run through external walls for connection to underground systems.

Building services materials

• plastic and copper pipework for plumbing and heating services
• plastic rainwater goods and drainage systems
• copper cable for electricity

AC 1.4.3 Renewable technologies and materials

Fossil Fuels

Oil and coal

Solar Energy

Solar panels: conversion of sunlight into electricity

Solar thermal: conversion of sunlight into heat.

Wind turbines

Power of the wind to generate electricity

Domestic wind turbines pole or building mounted.

Heat pumps

Ground source: uses pipes that are buried underground to transfer heat from the ground into the building

Air source: transfers heat from the air outside of a building into the building

Water source: transfers heat from a source of water outside of a building into the building.

Water

Rainwater harvesting, grey water re-use, hydro-generation of electricity

AC 1.5

Building Structures and Forms

AC 1.5.1 Cellular constructions

Cellular

• load bearing walls provide the main vertical support and lateral stability for floors
• external wall panels, lift shafts or staircases are used to provide stability
• bridging components such as floors, roofs and beams are supported by load bearing walls
• prefabricated modular construction, such as pods, may be used.

AC 1.5.2 Rectangular frame constructions

Rectangular Frame

• weight is carried by a skeleton or framework of columns and  beams, rather than being supported by walls.
• a lightweight timber-frame is a common structure used in the construction of contemporary housing
• steel and reinforced concrete frames are used in larger structures

AC 1.5.3 Portal frame constructions

Portal Frame

• beams or rafters are supported at either end by columns
• columns are secured to pad foundations using holding down bolts
• the joints between the beams and columns are 'rigid' so the beam can be reduced in size and can span large distances.

• often fabricated from structural steel, reinforced pre-cast concrete, or laminated timber and are lightweight and can be fabricated off-site.

AC 1.5.4 Heritage and traditional methods

Importance

Maintain the history and character of a building

Comply with planning regulations within conservation  areas

Preserve our heritage for the benefit of present and  future generations.

Maintenance methods

Regular programme of maintenance

Matching existing materials and methods of construction where possible

Retaining as much of the original fabric as possible in historically significant buildings.

AC 1.6

Sustainable Construction Methods

AC 1.6.1 The environmental, financial, cultural and social benefits of sustainable construction methods

Financial benefits

• • minimising waste
  • reducing energy consumption
  • improving water efficiency
  • reducing operating costs
  • optimising the life cycle of buildings

Cultural and social benefits

• • protection of the environment
  • helps avoid the depletion of natural resources
  • improving environmental quality may:
    • improve occupants’ comfort
    • create an aesthetically pleasing environment
    • improve air quality

AC 1.6.2 Pollution and the preservation of the natural environment and natural habitats

Natural environment and habitats

• limiting the pollution released into water, air or the ground during construction and use of the built environment
• reduce the impact on nature by building tunnels under roads for newts to use, or creating new roosts for bats when their original roosts are lost because of development

AC 1.6.3 Sustainable materials used to build frames, walls, roofs

Materials

Steel: used in construction contains recycled content and steel can be recovered and recycled again

Wood: is a renewable construction material

Recycled bricks may be used to create walls or crushed to be used as hard-core

Straw bales can be used to create walls inside a frame

Wool may be used as insulation instead of fibreglass

Reclaimed slates or tiles

AC 1.6.4 Waste disposal, re-use and  recycling

Waste disposal

Classification of waste materials: hazardous, non- hazardous, origin, properties, the costs of landfill: financial, environmental and social

Re-use

Salvaged construction products are re-used with little or no  reprocessing, typically: bricks, slates, steel section

Recycling

Crushing, smelting, decontamination, sorting

AC 1.6.5 Planning permission, brownfield sites and greenfield sites

Planning permission

Local Planning Authorities (LPA) to control the development of the built environment in their area.

Brownfield sites

• Used before and tend to be disused or derelict land
• existing buildings may have to be demolished and clean-up costs for land decontamination
• redevelopment can clean up environmental health hazards and eyesores
• access roads, drainage and services may already be available onsite, reducing the cost of a new development.

Greenfield sites

•  not been built upon previously
• cheaper to develop, subject to legal and planning constraints.
• infrastructure works, including new roads and utility connections  must be taken into account.

AC 1.7.1 Bricklaying

Works from plans and specifications, constructs structures by spreading layers of mortar, placing bricks/blocks, checking vertical and horizontal alignment, constructs brickwork using traditional bonding patterns.

AC 1.7.2 Stonemasonry

Dresses, carves and lays traditional stonework, including dry- stone walling, repairs and cleans existing traditional stone moldings and other features.

AC 1.7.3 Plastering

Applies wet finishes and protective coverings on external walls, applies plaster to inside walls and ceilings, dry lines internal studs of walls, replicates traditional ornamental plasterwork using plaster, moulds and casts.

AC 1.7.4 Carpentry and Joinery

Joins pieces of wood in a workshop, which are fixed on site, installs floor joists, floorboards, roof trusses, wall partition, fits interior woodwork – staircases, doors, skirting boards, cupboards, kitchen, replicates traditional ornamental mouldings.

AC 1.7.5 Electrical installation

Installs, inspects and tests electrical services and equipment, follows relevant safety regulations.

AC 1.7.6 Plumbing installation

Installs cold water, hot water, sanitation (toilets), boilers, and central heating system, follows relevant safety regulations, installs traditional lead flashings and roof coverings.

AC 1.7.7 Painting and decorating

Prepares and applies paint, wallpaper and other finishes to interior surfaces, prepares and applies paint and other finishes to exterior surface, follows relevant safety regulations.

AC 1.7.8 Flooring and tiling

Prepares and applies levelling compounds, lays carpet and vinyl floor finishes to internal surfaces, installs ceramic wall and floor tiles.

AC 1.8

Health and Safety

AC 1.8.1 Risks for employees, employers and the public  during construction and the built environment projects

Construction Site Hazards

Workers at risk from heavy construction equipment and vehicles, working at height, manual handling and slips, trips and falls

Employers have the responsibility for the safe operation of sites and may be held to account in the case of accidents or incidents

Public at risk when close to a construction site, or if they gain access to the site, from harmful materials and site traffic.

AC1.8.2 Following procedures and  carrying out risk assessments

General assessments of health and safety risks on construction  sites and control measures

Specific assessments for hazards such as working at height, manual handling and noise, and associated control measures.

AC 1.8.3 Relevant legislation, including Health and Safety at Work Act

Site Health and Safety

• risk assessments
• what control measures are necessary
• preventing (or controlling) exposure to hazards
• monitoring the level of exposure to hazards
• preparing procedures to deal with accidents
• training and supervising employees.

AC 1.8.4 Using personal protective  equipment (PPE)

 PPE as a control measure

Preventing exposure to dangerous environments, such as heat, cold, chemicals, biological risks, falls from height and working in enclosed spaces, by the selection of the correct PPE for the task

Training and supervising employees in the correct use, storage and maintenance of PPE.

AC 1.8.5 Safely working with gas, water and electricity

Qualifications and accreditations

Follow appropriate working practices, safety procedures and precautions

Use correct PPE

Cutting off the supply of gas, water or  electricity for isolation prior to carrying out work.

AC 1.8.6 Working at height and in enclosed spaces

WAHR

• • properly planned and use an appropriate method of access
  • take account of weather conditions (if appropriate)
  • equipment which is appropriately inspected
  • control risks of falling objects.

 Enclosed Spaces

• • exposure to fumes
  • reduced oxygen levels
  • flooding/drowning
  • the risk of fire and explosive atmospheres