Task 1
Introduction
The new Kahukura, famously known as K building in Ara Institute of Canterbury Christchurch is currently under construction to give it a completely new and unique look that is totally different from other buildings around town. The style is quite different in terms of materials used in the construction of structure members. For instance instead of concrete or steels, its beams and columns are established and constructed using heavy timber reaching upwards. Though K building is not the only building that displays a special timber construction designs, there other structures within the Ara Institute of Canterbury Christchurch that fuse Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) in making of the structural frame and Cross Laminated Timber (CTL) technology in the structure façade. However, there is also a combination of the commonly known steel and concrete construction technique makes a secondary role thus making the structures and buildings stronger to withstand seismic forces and more elegant. The steps are in line with the most recent transformation of the construction techniques from concrete and steel that has been the norm of construction for over 100 years. This becomes timely a use timber in construction reduces the environmental impact through the elimination of carbon in buildings. And the fact that the timber used is from New Zealand’s sustainable plantation forest.
Detailed site plan
The site establishment will comprise of a solid hoarding will be instituted along boundary walls and in front of site elevation. This shall provide the required site protection and surrounding environment around. All the site details with personnel site entrance and front gate. The front solid hoarding shall be well painted and kept in a tidy condition throughout the construction period. As for maintenance practice, site fencing and hoarding shall be on regular inspection and check to effectively serve its purpose. Signage will be strategically positioned all around in visible locations to serves as a warning to members of the public of any risks air hazards surrounding the construction site. Experts, engineers and other relevant personnel need accommodation while construction is in progress, therefore the site’s accommodation to be located on the ground floor, with adequate passways and pavements to facilitate the movement of construction materials and workers. Good housekeeping is key and essential in proper site management, therefore, the site shall be kept in the good and tidy condition through implementation proper housekeeping measures that shall be regularly assessed by safety and health advisors at least twice a month. The site shall have temporary power, water and drainage throughout the duration of the works. The site’s health and safety officers shall ensure that our construction site is registered and reorganized with the relevant constructors’ scheme and ensure that all operations comply with the scheme’s code of practice.
Temporary Work Site services
The operations and construction activities of various structures are essentially supported by the availability of support systems and structures such as temporary power and water supply systems, wash out areas, toilets sewer water lines, etc.
Power is an essential amenity in almost all construction activities. Since the construction of the K building as it is used for varied reasons such as lighting sites and powering of various equipment and machines. However, electricity and energy regulation authority has guidelines for permeant piping, wiring and installation of electricity in buildings. The contractor has to establish a temporary mechanism of ensuring that every site operations that require electricity I adequately supplied with power to facilities their operations. A temporary powerhouse to be constructed at the furthest corner of the site to host high rated power automatic generators that act as a backup in case of electricity blackout, the powerhouse must have proper and standard electrification systems.
From the plan, the structure has well-designed washrooms inside the building, however, for the welfare of workers, there is a need to have a proper sanitation system such as washout areas and toilets. The temporary wash out areas shall be strategically placed around the site. One washes out the area to be established at the main entrance, at the entrance of every toilet within the site. The site shall be furnished with three toilets that will adequately serve the need of workers within the site and any other individual connected with the construction process.
On drinking water and sewer lines, the site is well equipped with sufficient clean water supply to facilitate construction processes that require water. Accommodation area to be well supplied with taps of clean water supply for domestic and drinking water for the day to day operations. As outlined in health and safety standards, the site shall have a well-laid sewer line and drainage systems right from the toilets to the temporary septic tanks to temporary hold the effluent during construction systems.
The Site’s Scaffolding and hoarding
K building is constructed at the centre of the institution with other structures, therefore, the hoarding and scaffolding of the site shall protect the site operations such as distraction from outside and littering of the surrounding environment coming from construction activities. A temporary scaffolding structure obtained from the gantry and shall be fully clad in plywood and decorated net to match the hoarding for the site folding and protection.
Security details and location
Safeguarding of the institutions’ properties is a priority, therefore site security details are to be well structure and details to ensure that construction site and construction materials are well guarded and protected from burglary or any their form vandalism. The construction company has a defined number of security personnel to provide security for the site. The head of security offices shall be established at the left side of the site’s entrance. The security personnel will make regular and frequent inspections operations around the site boundaries to ensure that there are no suspect packages left unattended or well-kept as thy supposed to be. The policy states that all visitors approaching the site shall be requested to adequately identify themselves revealing the reason for the visit and at least receive confirmation from one operator. Every other entrance to the site shall at all times have at least one security officer safeguarding the site. And most importantly is the role of the construction site manager to conduct a site inspection at the end of each working day to ensure that all tools and items are well stored and put in right places after daily operations.
Vehicle (car park) and plant site access
The site to be organized in a manner that the trucks and vehicles accessing the site have adequate space for turning and parking without interfering or disrupting construction activities. There shall be a different parking location for different automobiles. For instance, heavy trucks carrying construction materials shall have parking and turning point on the furthest corner towards the back entrance point. This is designed so as to allow enough space for turning and proximity to construction storehouse. The off loaders do not have to move a stretch while offloading materials. The heavy truck location is ideal since the plan establishes that the trucks are designated to exit the site through site exit gate B and the location is straight to the exit point.
For personal cars, their parking location shall be on the right of the entrance point. The plan of the personal car parking location is to be situated in this location to facilitate security inspection upon entrance and ease the in and out movement of these cars. The designated site is to accommodate approximately ten personal cars at a time thus providing enough space for car parking.
Main traffic routes and loading areas
Accessibility is key in any construction project hence the site shall have and established routes to be followed by trucks and vehicles within the site to avoid collusion and any other form of disruption in material supply. These locations shall have visible signage indicating what to be one at each designated site and who to be there. By doing this there shall be no confusion and mixed up in traffic routes. And will help solve issues of vehicles parking on loading areas.
Concrete boom pump and mixer trucks
Though the major construction works involve use of a timer in framing but concrete and steel are also used in reinforcing columns and beams. Therefore there is a need to designate locations for concrete mixer trucks. The concrete boom pump to be situated next to the construction to facilitates easy pouring of concrete on the column formworks
Welfare facilities
The constructions consider the health and social welfare of engineers and architects on site by ensuring that the necessary social amenities and facilities are available in the site and are in good state and condition. The welfare facilities shall include mess room, washing facilities, first aid areas and washrooms. Direction to the location of these facilities is explained to any new worker on the site during the induction stage. The contractor shall institute these facilities in line with the health and safety conditions and standards.
With construction, accidents relating to the handling of construction materials or even construction processes are occasionally registered on-site. Therefore it is mandatory for the site to have a first aid centre to nurse the injuries before referring to a medical institution for further treatment. The site shall have a fully equipped first aid box with all the first aid kits such as eye washing solutions. The kit shall be available on-site at all times together with a trained and certified first aid provider. And when any operation is to be undertaken when the first aid provider is not around, the contractor is expected to inform the EFAW of the reason and nature of the operation for approval before commencement. The first aid kit and its facilities shall be regularly assessed by the health and safety official throughout the contract period to verify is it complies with The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations of 1981.
Fire and emergency assembly
The fire has become a common disaster with construction processes, most so that involves the use of gas welding and electricity applications. Since the construction involves welding of joints through gas welding and varied application of electricity on site. Therefore the site shall have aa well-equipped fire and exhauster equipment to help in putting off fire in case of fire 0outbreake. And in addition to the equipment, it shall have a fire emergency assembly point
Task 2
Pre-cast panel construction methodology
Construction of precast concrete panels includes the forming of panels that are used in walls, floor and roof structures that include more than one forming members in a casting bed having an upright surface that defines a regular interior area. To some factors that enhance the success of precast construction process is the proper intergradation construction professionals like contractors, engineers, architects and client. This requires that all these stakeholders are adequately involved in the construction processes right from the initiation stage through to its completion. The construction K building incorporated various stakeholders, each having a distinct role to play towards completion of the building. For panel constructions, the concerned stakeholders were the contractor, engineers, architects and works.
The contractor should ensure that all construction materials are available on-site before the day of operations to avoid work delays due to a lack or shortage of construction materials. He is to coordinate the daily operations and construction activities within the site and ensure that all constructions are as per the building plan, without any form of discrepancy.
The architects and engineers also play a crucial role in panel constructions. Architects design the panels with specification regarding the location and position in the structure and then forward the designs to the site engineer for numerical and functional analysis. Engineers determine the forces subjected to the designed member and advise of the feasibility of the design before actual construction. During the construction process, architect, contractor and engineer conduct an inspection and supervision to ensure that the constructed panels are as per the outlined specifications in the building plan.
The pre-cast panel fabrication process
Pre-cast construction methodology incorporated in Ara institute mainly involves the use of timber that is to be supplemented by concrete and steel. Timber is one of the off-site construction techniques. This means that most of the timber frames are fabricated in the factory then transported to the site for construction purposes, concrete preparation has also advanced, where they are mixed off-site then supplied to site through mixer trucks.
The contractor obtains the design specification from building plans and submits to the fabrication company to manufacture the required members as per the building plan. After fabrication, they are transported to site with trucks ready for construction works. Engineer and architect inspect to verify if the supplied materials are as per the design before they are used in the actual construction process. Concrete is also mixed off-site then transported to site using trucks ready for pouring on the already prepared column and beams formworks.
For pre-cast concrete members, proper curing is to be applied for at least seven days and to be allowed to dry well for structures to achieve the required strength to support the intended weight and forces.
Inter-span flooring construction methodology
The floor construction system is made of wood frames from a horizontal diaphragm at every floor level where they will be able to transfer earthquake lateral loads to braced walls below or directly to the foundation. Construction of subsequent floor to be made using timber ad they typically consist of repetitive trusses or joists at a well-defined spacing and sheathed with either wood structural panels or boards attached to the top surface. The ceiling of the floor on the lower side is to be made of finished products such as gypsum boards to provide a finished surface from below. Blocking between joists is to be used at the end of the floor trusses. In this construction, girders, beams and headers are to be used as the flooring systems. The main design consideration in flooring is the selection of the maximum and minimum span and spacing of the joists and trusses to adequately support both live and dead loads.
Most of the flooring materials are prefabricated, hence the site manager coordinates with the construction engineer to have the correct measurement of the joists and truces needed for flooring and then submit to the fabricating company for supply to the site. Since some of the materials are plywood, they need safe and secure transportation mechanism to site to avoid any form of damage on materials.
Precast erection and safety measures
Raising and placing of fabricated flooring systems involves lifting heavy materials to fit into the required places. The process of lifting to be carried out using crane and lifters therefore safety in handling should be paramount. Forty per cent of construction accidents are from poor handling and lifting of materials. To avoid these accidents, lifting cranes have been in perfect working condition and maximum clearance around machines.
All the handling and lifting operations are well stipulated in the health and safety regulations therefore the operators have to adhere to the outlined rules and regulations.
Task 3
Task 4
The Plant
Most of the construction operations are done through the help of machines and plants since the weight of some materials. In the construction of k building, various machines were used in construction processes with some of these plants being hired for a specific purpose. Some of the plants used are hydraulic clamshell, cranes, hoists, concrete mixture and lifting machines
Cranes were used to lift heavy construction materials to higher levels. The location of the crane was to be erected and installed next to the construction building to help in uplifting heavy construction timbers for upper floors to facilitate the processes of construction. Mobile wheel cranes were used are mounted on wheeled chassis with stabilizers that can be used when lifting to prevent unnecessary movement. The crane used had a capacity of 50 tones maximum and its speed limit depends on the vehicle model used. The concrete mixer was used to facilitate the mixing of concrete in a perfect manner. Mixers helped in lifting concrete to a higher level to facilitate the concrete pouring on the higher columns and beams. Hoisting machine was also used to help in handling and lifting of materials during offloading from trucks and to other relevant locations as instructed by the construction manager.
Task 5
Erosion and sediment control plan
Sediment and erosion control is more than fence and hay bales around the site. A good erosion and sediment control plan entails minimum disturbance by focusing on erosion areas by controlling the amount of soil that can run off and by stabilizing exposed soil. Erosion control measures are far more effective than sediment that has escaped your erosion measures. Erosion and sediment control are to be given primary focus. The location of the site has proximity to surface water bodies, roads and silts. From existing soil location the grading and features as it shows a history of loose soil. Hence proper erosion control is more essential. The plan for erosion and sediments shall involve taking appropriate measures such as delineated areas of operations by denuded areas, plans for construction staging and storage logistics, construction of stabilizers in access points
It is essential to consider all inactive soil-disturbed areas prior to the onset of rain must be protected from erosion. Soil disturbed areas may include relatively flat areas as well as slope and typically steep slopes and large exposed areas require the most robust erosion controls. Sediment control measures include silt fence and check dam. Silt fences to made of a filter fabric that has been entrenched attached to supporting poles and sometimes backed by a plastic or wire mesh support.
Task 6
Risk identification and control plan and Mitigation measures
More than ever, managing construction risks effectively has become essential in achieving effective construction projects. Construction industry nowadays has high risks that need proper management for effective project delivery. Risks associated with construction might include machine failure, machine breakdown, building collapse, uncertainties, and unfavourable weather conditions. In case of the occurrence of these risks, they project potential impacts on the overall construction quality.
Machine occasionally fails during or before operations, more often results to delay on project delivery. Most of the time the failures are mechanical breakdowns that halt machine functionality thus causing downtime in operations. This negatively impacts the delivery of the project as the time schedule. The best way to cushion this is to ensure that there are redundant machines and equipment to supplement when there is machine failure.
Constructions operations largely depend on weather conditions. Unfavourable weather conditions such as heavy rains affect daily construction progresses. Most construction activities are outdoor activities thus rains affect operations. This is a natural occurrence hence managing it might be tricky, however, to some extent it can be controlled by learning the weather patterns of the region and fix the operations according to metrological predictions.
Reference