Historical premises in Southampton City - Book Report/Review Example

? Insert of A construction project in historical premises in Southampton Insert Insert and Insert of submission A construction project in historical premises in Southampton City Introduction Linden Homes are the selected developer for the Lower High street site by Southampton City Council. Linden Homes’ development will be constructed on a Brownfield site. The project is designed to achieve Code Level 5. The main goal of this development is to eliminate carbon (IV) oxide and reduce energy consumption. Additional existing units, three historical buildings on the site are to be retained and completely refurbished for their historical importance. Suitable Forms of Construction for Development Foundation of a building should be proportional to an interface soil at a given stress level, and to acceptable limits of settlements. Settlement analysis is important in building foundation because when neglected can cause failure or collapse in structural members (Bowles, J. E. 1997). Uncontrolled settlement causes distortion and cracking of structures. Another factor that must be considered before designing foundations is the soil parameter. Drilled pile foundation controls settlement at marginal soil site and therefore, an existing ground is utilized to give required pile lengths and minimal settlement. A single pile is a thin and long member used in distribution of applied loads from the top to the ground at lower levels (Fleming, G. K et al 1985). This method of piled foundation will be best for the construction of Linden Homes because: Soil structure that is of soft or poorly compacted will be dealt with well The proposed structures are highly concentrated loads; they are up to four storey’s high According to Whitaker, Piles will carry exerted load through end bearing and shear stress mobilizations. End bearing is the base of the pile where load capacity is bared. Skin friction (sand) and adhesion (clay) are the shear stresses exerted on the surface (shaft) of the pile. There are two methods of designing and construction of piles; Driven and Bored piles (Fleming, G. K et al 1985). The driven (displacement) piles are pre-formed before being grounded. Bored (Replacement) piles require a hole of reinforced steel first, in which the given pile is formed. For Linden Homes, bored or replacement piles can be used because the following advantages: a There is little noise and vibration emitted during construction will not harm the historical building at the construction site. b Large bases will be formed which add stability to the structure c This piles will be able to work under maximum stresses Modular construction is a method by which most of the work done on the site is finished at the factory by producing modular units. These modular units are then transported to the construction site. If this method is employed at Linden Homes construction it is not affected by weather conditions; this fact leads to stable quality control (Hillman, M and Fawcett, T. 2005). Heavy-duty steel structures can be used for solid construction. This also makes the building earth quake-proof. There will be no more noise produced during construction time; there is a school nearby. This house is mobile and can be recycled to. Metsec steel framing system (SFS) has been proposed as the best method of construction for Linden Homes’ structure. This method involves infill or continuous frames as support for exterior cladding materials such as brick work. Infill is fixed between the main frame members and is usually placed at the slab edge for insulation allowance and installation of external veneers on the main structural frame (Gary Et Al. 1995). This method is shares some similarities with modular construction, it consists of pre-fabricated panels of lightweight galvanized steel sections bolted together. The Metsec SFS is made up of joist/studs, channel runners, and bracing. Joists/studs provide the structures’ main support. They are in the form of floor joist and wall studs. Joists/studs and channel runner are combined to make inlets and cills at the door and window openings. Channel runners are horizontal based parts that are intermediately placed for the purpose of capping parts of the stud walls. Bracing is a flat strap and laterally placed part which serves as resistance to racking forces. This system of is construction the best choice for Linden Homes because it combines the given modular construction method merits with the following: It is a fast and dry technique which allows the building to be weather tight by fixation of rigid foam insulation at an early stage. The structure is built to set Code with short time. Metsec and British Gypsum produce Isowool insulation that is fitted into stud cavity for an enhanced thermal, fire and acoustic performance (Evelyn A. and FlorenceY. 2006). Light steel sections eliminate the problems inherent in timber section usage. These Homes will benefit from the manufactures services, underwritten by PI insurance and structures erected or fabricated on site by Metsec approved installers. Historical buildings near these homes, for example the medieval wine bar, will be refurbished using methods that do not lose aesthetic value to them. For instance, water repellent (Elastropel) coating made up of silane/siloxane will be used in repelling mineral building materials (Gary D Et Al 1995). These repellents have a high rate of absorption and due to this; effect of erosion, efflorescence and sapling of the building is reduced. Energy efficiency Figure 1: Code for Sustainable Homes -percentage category scores How Linden Homes will achieve code compliance: • A highly insulated building shell with low air-permeability and passive solutions will be built. • Code design criteria will be integrated from the earliest design phases of a project in order to receive whole design implications. • A Code assessor will be included in the project plans. • The build systems and the design approach will be incorporated from the earliest design phases • Renewable energy will be used in design concept from the earliest design phases This code, Level 5, can be achieved by using A+ material (American Evaluation Association 1995) 1 Roof insulation: 450mm mineral wool 2 External walls: “A+” rated cavity wall construction 3 Facing brick: Walls and reveals 4 Cavity insulation: 200mm full fill polystyrene bead 5 Inner walls: Medium density aggregate block with wet plaster 6 Windows: “A” rated UPVC and doors 7 Lintels: Pre-stressed concrete inner leaf with outer steel ”C” lintels First floor: “B” rated pre-stressed concrete beam and block, 75mm sand cement screed Ceiling to u/s of first floor 8 Metal framed ceiling laths with plasterboard and skim Ground floor: “B” rated, pre-stressed concrete beam and block, 90mm sand cement screed and 200mm polystyrene insulation 9 Internal walls: Medium density concrete block with wet plaster finish 10 Staircase: Timber softwood 11 Heat source: Condensing gas boiler 12 Heat distribution: Wet under floor heating 13 14.Renewables: 27 of photovoltaic panels 14 Ventilation: Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system 15 Foundations: Precast piles and precast beams At the construction site, Carbon will be curbed in the following ways: 1. Efficient use of construction plant, the following strategies will be used for both construction plant and ancillary equipment: Choosing the right machine for the task – avoid inefficiently oversized machines Selecting plant that is more fuel efficient Servicing plant correctly Using sustainable low carbon fuels Operating plant efficiently (e.g. minimizing idling time and using appropriate power) 2. Earlier connection to the grid; connecting the site to the national electricity grid more quickly. This minimizes the amount of diesel used to power generators. 3. Constructionconsolidation,centers handle materials for multiple construction sites. Centers receive materials and products in relative bulk. These are loaded into delivery vehicles to be provided to construction sites ‘just in time’. Consolidation centers can promote the efficient flow of materials by (ASHRAE Transactions 1998): ensuring departing delivery vehicles are fully loaded; maximizing the reuse and recycling of materials and packaging at the centre; checking the quality and condition of goods arriving, thus avoiding the need for re-ordering and redelivery; and providing elements of pre-assembly (e.g. hinges to doors) (Sorell, S., 2006). This method can reduce CO2by 75%. Sustainability approaches that will be incorporated into the scheme include solar thermal water heating, an array of Photovoltaic panels (PVs),rainwater harvesting, low levels of air-permeability, passive solar design strategies, MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) (McQuiston, F., Parker, J. and Spitler, J. 2000), the use of more environmentally benign materials, high levels of insulation, low energy lighting, internal recycling bins and low water use sanitary ware. The windows will have low - e double glazed and the roof construction will be flat so as to accommodate solar panels. All the systems and components will be chosen strictly in order achieve a high Code level. The new building units will have fabricated steel frame for construction preassembled from a factory. Phenolic foam insulation will be injected into the external wall panel void and this supplement with cut block foam(Hillman, M and Fawcett, T 2005). The construction of the floors will involve use of concrete screeds in filled with polystyrene. Solar power will include both solar thermal (heating hot water) and photovoltaic’s (generating electricity). Both systems are placed, externally, on the roof and need to face towards the south. This is in order to experience maximum sunlight. The steel frame with cement particle board sheathing and Phenolic foam insulation –U-value of 0.29W/M^2K (Howard N& Sinclair M. 1998). Doors when fully insulated, that is, in thermal broken timber frames is expected to have U-value of 1.0W/M^2K when unglazed and 1.4W/M^2 K with vision panels (Duffie J & Beckman W. 1991). Double glazed, low - e windows if used then a U-value of about 1.20W/M^2 K is anticipated. Economic Analysis According to Ashrae in 1997,A HVAC Heating System will be placed at a cost of ?4,050 per unit; it will include the gas forced-air heater and programmable thermostat installation.Operations& Maintenance will be conducted on annual, calibration, changing filters, cleaning duct work, draining the hot water heater of sediments, etc. This system maintenance will cost ?156 per year for every unit. Building Window Envelope- Existing aluminum windows will be installed, with double-pane glass and of low-emitting capability. The expected expense of the installment is expected to be?6,115; this includes a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. Insulated curtains will be incorporated in every window, this will effectively use passive solar in the controlling amount of light and heat gain infiltrating the house. Roof Improvements through usage of silver, aluminum fiber coating painted on top of the normal asphalt covering, sealing and prolonging the life of the roofing material below. The coating costs about?60 and it will always be reapplied after every two years. For water efficiency the hot water heater will be installed at a cost of?200 as an energy efficient product. The homeowner’s energy efficient retrofits are expected to reduce an annual electricity and gas expenditures. For ten years period, it is expected that the family will save up to ?3,917. Double pane windows will bring annual average savings of roughly ?295 for fuel and electricity expenses (Milne, G and Boardman B. 2000). On the other hand energy efficient gas heater installation may lead to saving?663. This new heating system lowered natural gas consumption by 51% and electricity consumption by 26% (Sorell, S. 2006). In addition to the economic benefits of the technology placed, the building’s energy reduction measures will hopefully reduce the amount of CO_2being emitted. Energy Saving Investment COST PAYBACK Window(double PVC) ?6115 21 Years Energy Efficient Gas Heater ?4050 8 Years Annual Repair-Commissioning ?156 Energy Efficient Heater ?2000 Fans ?1800 Summary of Savings Electric Bills(Average) 19% Natural Gas(Average) 27% Energy Saving 8 Years ?3917 C 37% Decrease Annual Electricity(kWh) 2144 Table Expected Savings per building acquired from Level 5 Code Implementation (British Standard 2009) This project will able to obtain a standard 10 year building warranty. The build costs, excluding fees and land costs, will range from ?950 to ?1,850 per square meter this can uplift with about 15% over standard build costs. Green mortgages and remortgages are the alternative between low interest loan and government subsidy. Linden Homes has no option but encourage investment in energy efficiency through a lower rate of interest on the mortgage. CONCLUSION Taking all factors into consideration before the construction process begins, Advance analysis of settlement distribution, income of households among others has to be done as clearly evidenced by the study. Linden Homes, the contractor company has in deed developed the criteria to be followed during the entire process and the only remaining work to be done is actualizing the project. As there any challenges left out of the study or other factors apart from ones discussed that are of importance to the construction project? The rest will have to be tackled as the project proceeds. REFERENCES American Evaluation Association, 1995,Guiding Principles for Evaluators. New Directions for Program Evaluation, No. 66. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Architectural Press, 2007, New Metric Handbook – Planning and Design Data,Architectural Press, Oxford. ASHRAE Transactions, 1998, Annual Meeting, Springer, Toronto. ASHRAE, 1997, Handbook – Fundamentals, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating And Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1791 Tullie Circle, N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA, Bowles, J. E. 1997. Foundation analysis and design. McGraw-Hill, New York. British Standard 2009, BS 5266: Emergency Lighting, BSI, London. d British Standard, 2009, BS 8515: Rainwater Harvesting Systems – Code of Practice. BSI, London. Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), 1997, Lighting for Communal Residential Buildings. CIBSE, London. e Duffie, J.A. & Beckman, W.A., 1991, Solar engineering of thermal process, John Wiley & Sons, New York. f Evelyn Ai Lin Teo&Florence Yean Yng Ling, 2006, ‘Developing a model to measure the effectiveness of safety management systems of construction sites’Building and Environment, Vol.41 no.11, pp. 1584-1592. d. Fleming, G. K et al 1985. Piling engineering. Surrey University press d. Hillman, M and Fawcett, T (2005).How we can save the planet. Penguin. London Gary D. Holt, Paul O., Olomolaiye, &Frank C. Harris, 1995, ‘A review of contractor selection practice in the U.K. construction industry’ Building and Environment, Vol. 30, no. 4, pp 553–561. Gary D., Holt, Paul O., Olomolaiye and Frank C. Harris, 1994, ‘Factors influencing U.K. construction clients' choice of contractor’, ‘Building and Environment’, Vol. 29, no. 2, pp 241–248. g Howard N, Shiers D & Sinclair M.,1998, ‘The Green Guide to Specification: An environmental profiling system for building materials and components’. BR 351. Watford, BRE. New York. d. Loughborough University, 2013, ‘Closing the performance gap in the delivery of zero-carbon homes: A collaborative approach’ Available from: . [2013]. d. McQuiston, F.C., Parker, J.D. and Spitler, J.D., 2000, ‘Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning: Analysis and Design,, John Wiley & Sons, New York . d. Milne, G and Boardman B. 2000, ‘Making cold homes warmer’, The effect of energy efficiency improvements in low-income homes, Energy Policy, Vol.28, pp411-24. Poulos H G and Davis, E H, 1980. ‘Pile foundation analysis and design’,John Wiley & Sons, New York. Samuel O. Idowu, Brian A. 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