The Construction Forms in Australia - Essay Example

Running Head: Individual Portfolio Student Name: Institution: Course Code: Date of Submission: Executive Summary This portfolio presents my personal reflection of the core concepts and principles I learnt throughout the semester. In essence, Building Code of Australia Volume 2 & BCA Volume 1 as the main reference point offers a great opportunity of understanding the insights of a range of both High and Low rise in the construction forms in Australia. Two entities were the main concern of teachings throughout the semester and are presented in this portfolio as discussed below. Part 1 This part entailed weekly activities delegated to students through organized lectures, tutorials, and coursework that saw students encountering various challenges that concern high rise and low rise construction. However, students needed to be focussed, determined, and passionate to be able to solve the encountered problems with reference to the volumes of the Building Code of Australia and the MDH guide as well. Part 2 The second part of this portfolio provides a keen reflection on the concepts learnt on weekly basis. These concepts mostly entailed a detailed drawings, sketches, and plans of architectural high-rise constructions of 266-268 Bay Road along Cheltenham. Building Construction of Australia Volume 1 was the major source of reference in this case as it contains the basic requirements for building design standards and codes. Therefore, this portfolio provides a vivid analysis and reflection of the two parts discussed above with the aid of drawings, diagrams, and images extracted from the tasks carried out throughout the semester. Introduction From my own point of view, involving oneself in the field of construction in Australia, owing to the qualifications and what it really takes to perfectly fit in the field, is actually an undermined profession. Viewing it again from the perspective of the learnt on materials, construction, and integrating technology and innovation in construction of residential and commercial buildings brings about the essential requirements and concepts necessary for application in the profession with concern on exterior aspects, aesthetics, framework, cosmetics, and foundations. Additionally, the understanding and internalization of the required construction standards are and building codes are among the main concepts covered in the syllabus. Understanding design and construction standards is a requisite for every individual aspiring to practice in the field of construction. This portfolio therefore covers the knowledge acquired throughout the semester with concern to understanding engineering construction concepts and the required codes and standards of conduct. Finally, the course has been effective in offering concepts of the construction industry regulations and requirements necessary for one to effectively practice as a Building Engineer and avoid entering legal liabilities with the authorities and law enforcers in the dynamic field of Engineering Construction. It is also worth noting that the semester was quite rigours in terms of academic activities that included lecture attendance, tutorials, workshop activities, and other assignments. However, my passion and dedication of the construction field kept me going with the activities, meeting all the requirements of the course. 1) Appreciating the underlying concepts of conventional and innovative forms of construction for multi-unit residential and high-rise commercial buildings The course concepts learnt in the semester enabled me to understand the underlying concepts of conventional and innovative forms of construction for multi-unit residential and high-rise commercial buildings in detail. These concepts enabled me appreciate the conventional and fundamental steps followed in design of buildings. This is even more insightful in the sense that it went deeply in internalizing the concepts of architectural design that were theoretically learnt through a past subject “Architectural History”. The concepts of “Architectural History” were much of a theory than practical and this semester was useful and important in providing insights to the practical part of architectural design. The various course units covered were also vital in providing knowledge on foundation laying, slab erection, how to brace and set up the required materials, steps to mix concrete with more concern on issues such as water cement ratio, and other issues like steps to berate. The understanding of these concepts was useful in determining the viability and strength of buildings to avoid failure and hazards. Tutorials carried out throughout the semester enabled us to understand design steps and build a structure from the foundation all the way up. It was also important to learn the difference between industrial buildings and Multi-unit residential buildings as it turned out during our first project of building approximately 11-storey building. The major difference about the two types buildings majorly rooted in their design briefs with specific constraints of open space, parking bay, executive offices, kitchen, and lavatories. It was also interesting to learn that the structure had to be dissembled then reassembled. This called in for choosing of prefabricated materials to be used at the site. 2) Nature of Buildings in Heavily-Developed Urban Areas I learned throughout the semester that environmental conditions play a key role in the determination of construction of buildings as provided for by the ‘Building Code of Australia. Building constructions in heavily developed urban environments was learnt to consider some factors such as site analysis, density, neighborhood behavior, energy efficiency, and visual and acoustic privacy as discussed below. Site analysis Site analysis in heavily developed urban area involves the primary analysis of geographical mapping to determine the relationship between the proposed building and its alignment with existing structures in the environment. Density Density as a matter of consideration involves the analysis of the relationship between the suburb density and the number of proposed constructions within the suburb. Neighborhood behavior This involves the study of the aesthetics of dwellings in their appearance and size within the urban area. For example, it could not be attractive to build a small building in a street where tall and big buildings already exist. Energy efficiency Energy efficiency in relation to building in urban areas involves the requirement that layout of buildings and their orientation should be in a manner that they are energy efficient with regard to natural ventilation and sunlight energy be utilized to reduce energy needs and costs. Visual and acoustic privacy During the semester, I learnt that the privacy of urban residents is a factor of high priority. Erecting a wall fence for instance between residential building will protect residence exposure to the outside world while at the same time reducing noise pollution from vehicles and other sources of noise that may lead to irritation. Other factors that need engineer’s attention in constructing buildings in heavily-developed urban areas include such factors as sewerage design, car-parking areas, roof and surface drainage system, entry points for buildings, and public recreation areas as outlined in the Appendix section of this portfolio. 3) Structural features and services installations specific to high-rise buildings Throughout the semester, I got to learn that there are specific features and services installations that are key elements in structural analysis of high-rise buildings. It is the duty of a structural engineer to design high-rise buildings in accordance to the requirements and standards of Building Construction Australia. The engineer is required to come up with a design that will enable the structure to stand firm and withstand external forces such as fire breakout, floods, wind, and earthquake among other calamities that may take place in the future. To attain this objective, the engineer must make a good choice for construction materials as provided for by Building Construction Australia. Additionally, Table C1.1 of the BCA was useful in providing us with the necessary required services for the design and construction of high-rise commercial buildings. The table is more necessary in the provision of categories and classification of buildings in order to come up with the required specifications. With the use of the table, it downed to us that commercial buildings fell under Type A category and classified as 5,6,7,8. According to these figures, it indicates that our building had the capacity to resist fires strongly in the event of fire breakout and thus its ability to minimize injuries and loss of property. Finally, other design specifications for high-rise buildings as provided for by the Australian standards of building constructions include fire compartments, emergency exits to stairways, smoke detection system, alarm system, automatic firefighting equipment, fire isolated ramps, emergency lightings, fire safety signs, damp-proofing, artificial lighting, and mechanical ventilations. A summary of these specifications are briefly provided in the Appendix section of this portfolio. 4) Involvement of principal consultants and contractors The units of the semester have made me also learn the importance of principal consultants and contractors in initiating and managing a construction project of both residential and commercial buildings. A successful participation of these individuals ensures a successful project completion with targets met with ease. The principal consultants and contractors are require by the Building Construction Australia standards to design for buildings that meet all the required specifications. However, although there may be cases where the client may need to change the specifications of the building, the contractor and consultant will be judged with the role of defining measures of meeting the proposed changes to satisfy the client needs while at the same time ensuring maintenance of the standards in the building design. A good example of this situation is when a client decides to change the use of a certain floor in the building. In the event where the desired sue need some more space, the client may need the contractor to take out certain column to create the desired space. In this case, the contractor should have to ensure that the roof is modified to ensure that it does not collapse on taking out the column or wall. This is more necessary since the loading provided by the roof was designed to be accommodated by the column and thus removing it means the loading could be distributed unevenly and thus possibility of failure increase. 5) Understanding the nature of site environment and regulatory procedures, codes and standards Through the course units learnt in the semester, I have learnt the knowledge of urban development and building regulatory procedures, codes, and standards. It is evident that all such factors work hand in hand to ensure successful construction of buildings that take care of safety and economic viability. The nature of the site of the construction project is the main area where the knowledge of urban development hinges in. The nature factors commonly found in construction sites include contour lines, wind flow, sunlight, watercourses, and flood. Other issues such as release of oxygen from tress could enhance the quality of air on the site and thus the need for keen consideration. It is also recommendable that the roof drainage system allows residents and commercial building owners to tap rainwater and channel it to water sources or use it for commercial and domestic purposes. Furthermore, buildings should have maximum exposure to sunlight to enable them utilize solar energy. The learnt regulations, procedures, standards, and codes were useful in providing knowledge of restricting space on reticulated system, street foot paths, storm water drainage channels, number of building per lot, length of walls, setbacks, window locations, parking spaces, optimum building heights, fire assembly spaces, and loading bays. Building Construction Australia and MDH provided clear specifications on the above-mentioned standards to ensure individual safety and complete compliance with the required regulations. It also helps in determining the attractiveness of the urban area while at the same time avoiding unnecessary inconvenience resulting from congestion. 6) Assuming a leadership role in space and amenity planning According to the requirements of Building Construction Australia and the MDH guide, I have learnt that residential or commercial building constructions should look very attractive by ensuring adequate space and amenity. For instance, a driveway for a 3-unit development in the case of residential building construction must have adequate spacing for vehicles to easily have a U-turn and 3-point turning. However, it is not as easy as such to implement amenity of unit’s development on streets without considering factors such as roof tiles, fence lines, spacing of streetlights, pavements, wall heights, and nature strip vegetation. All these factors require effective consideration to ensure a successful alignment of all the factors. Finally, a major part of the course demonstrated how to locate the atrium, stairways, elevators, offices, lavatories, and kitchen in the case of commercial buildings to ensure amenity of the buildings while at the same time satisfying the needs and standards provided for by building Construction of Australia. To comply with this reason, it was necessary to have two stairways instead on one and to ensure that location of offices was chosen to be at the ends of the floor. 7) Identifying major plant and equipment, techniques and practices typically employed in high-rise construction work Another very important aspects learned throughout the semester included the concepts of the course ‘building legislation 2’. The course enabled to learn the major practices required by the legislations in constructing a high-rise building. Among such learned plants and practices included column location, structure orientation, lighting and ventilation, damping and weatherproofing, storm water drainage, and sewerage system among other practices and plants summarized in the Appendix section of this portfolio. During tutorials, we had an opportunity of a good example to the concepts of this course. It was a case where we placed the core of a structure at the center of the building where elevators were erected side by side with stairways. Furthermore, to make sure that the requirements of CBA we attained, we ensured that the furthest corner from stairways and exit routes did not exceed 25 meters. Additionally, it was a requirement that the structural engineer design building columns and beams in a separate manner if they were to be placed on different sites of the building. Damp proofing of the high-rise building was another concept provided for by the course. This offered the knowledge of how to prevent rainwater from moisturizing the building. To avoid such scenario, it was necessary to use a waterproof material and other impervious materials laid along the external walls of the building. It was also facilitated through effective design of roof to tap rainwater through roof drainage. Ground water was also driven away by use of pipes and pumps to drain the water into a local drainage to avoid damping the foundation of the building. Conclusion: In conclusion, the ranges of concepts discussed in the portfolio are the most important concepts that construction industry’s standards and codes are based on. My hard work and dedication to attend all the lectures and participate in assignments and practical tutorials enabled me to gain a great insight of the construction principles and standards of residential and commercial building as applied in Australia. Furthermore, constant reference made to the Building Construction of Australia Volume 1: Class 2 – Class 9 Building for high rise buildings and Volume 2: Class 1 & Class 10 Buildings in the same document was so helpful. Overall, building and construction activities and plants in Australia require high level of competence and mastery of the required standards and specification to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of the same and my course has been effective in attaining the same. Read More