Evaluating Possible Building Construction Methods and Materials Used - Assignment Example

University of Central Lancashire School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences FV2003 Report Assignment Student Name Course Lecturer Due Date Question 1 a) Evaluate possible building construction methods and materials used. The design of a building is the first and perhaps the most crucial stage in the life cycle of construction. It is in the design phase that the method of construction and the materials to be used are defined. Whether the other stages of the life cycle, construction and post-construction, will be successful is dependent on how well the design phase is accomplished. This phase of construction must adhere to the British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) standards (Hill and Bowen 2011, 234). To attain the excellent BREEAM rating, the following building methods and materials are to be used for the seven-storey hotel in Preston. To ensure high levels of natural daylight, the design of the hotel incorporates a central atrium that runs to the roof. High-level windows in the atrium will provide ventilation in mid-season conditions. The design further employs a mixed mode ventilation strategy that consists of manually and automatically triggered windows to provide maximum thermal comfort. Mechanical ventilation is to be used for selected ground floor areas. An off-site steel transfer structure will be used for the construction. The design of the hotel will include a restaurant, a lobby and retail outlets housed on the ground floor. Incorporated in the design also is an underground parking with parking capacity for all types of vehicles, small and large. The bedrooms and other upper levels will be constructed on the ground floor podium (Halliday 2008, 125). Fire resistance strategy will involve compartmentalization because of the differences in fire safety measures to be taken at different levels. In addition, the design will adhere to acoustic insulation. The primary source of heating will be ground source heat pumps supplemented by Gas boilers. Fan coal units will be installed in raised floor voids. The units will provide zoned heating. The ground source heat pumps will double as the heat source and the primary cooling source. Roof mounted solar panels will provide hot water while photovoltaic panels will supplement the mains electricity. WC flushing will be achieved through rainwater harvesting and storage. A leak detection system capable of detecting all the main leaks within the building will also be fitted b) Describe possible strategies of design for fire safety, taking into consideration environmental and economic constraints on the building. The first strategy relates to Internal fire spread (linings). In reference to fire spread internally, the building will be fitted with internal linings with a high resistance to ignition. In addition, the linings will have a high rate of heat release and give sufficient resistance to the spread of flames above their surfaces. The provisions of "Code of Practice for Fire Safety of Furnishings and Fittings in Places of Assembly" will guide the design of floors, staircases, furniture and fittings. The building will further be sub-divided with fire resistant construction materials to inhibit the spread of fire. The design will also cater for the inhibition of unseen spread of fire and smoke in concealed spaces (Grace 2012, 233). The hotel will be constructed in such a way that it can remain stable for an adequate period in the event of a fire. The second strategy refers to the means of escape in case of a fire. Under this strategy, the building will have routes of escape that are sufficient and suitably located. First, the escape routes will have a means of smoke control and will be fitted with automated and manual alarm systems with adequate user information, to warn occupants of the existence of fire. Trigger devices for the alarm systems will be installed in all guest rooms as well as passageways throughout the building. Secondly, the routes will have sufficient enclosure from the effects of fire. Specifically, they will be made of fire resistant materials such as steel. Thirdly, these routes of escape will be installed with sufficient lighting. Finally, they will be different from the usual corridors and staircases, and will be left open at all times (Strick 2014, 34). The strategy for firefighting and evacuation will involve installing the building with a sprinkler protection system, operated manually and automatically. It will also encompass fitting the building with adequate fire appliances with clear instructions for use. The management will display evacuation procedure information all over the building. Further, fire assembly points will be established in selected areas outside the building. Also, all members of the staff will undertake training in fire evacuation procedures (Hill and Bowen 2011, 312) c) Make formal a conclusion and recommendations for development of sustainable construction in the UK. The achievement of wholesome development in the UK is the dream of the government and any other stakeholder in the UK economy. The building and construction industry is not exceptional. To achieve such development, development of sustainable construction is a compulsory step. The issue of principal concern in this step is to address the carbon emission arising from energy used in the construction, occupation and operation of buildings in the UK. Half of the country’s carbon emission is accounted for by emission from buildings. Although the government has to a great extent achieved the goal of reduction of carbon emission from buildings through the implementation of BREEAM, sustainable construction goes beyond energy and carbon impacts of construction and design. Dealing with the problem of carbon emission calls for deliberate strategies that deal with the sources of this emission (Chen, Okudan, and Riley 2010, 123). The strategies proposed in the following recommendations would help UK to achieve this quest. The participants in the development process should ensure that materials used for construction are sourced responsibly and minimize waste. They should also reduce resource use for energy and water. Further they should boost and protect green infrastructure and biodiversity. Finally, they ought to see to it that the built environment is resistant to the effect of climatic change. It is also their obligation to see to it that buildings and spaces are healthy and pleasant for occupiers and users. Question 2 Discuss fire safety engineering issues of your case studies with reference to buildings of varying types and levels of occupancy. Provide your opinion on lessons learned from your case studies and your possible recommendations how to prevent possibilities of the similar fires in future. Make formal conclusion for your case studies. 1. Suffolk Food Hall Fire (UK) The fire occurred on the 27thof January 2010 at The Suffolk Food Hall, Ipswich. It took approximately 20-25 minutes. The fire began in the boiler room and covered about 20 meters. The design of the roof prevented the fire from spreading over the 50 metre-long roofs. No casualties were reported, mainly because the fire occurred at night when the businesses had closed down. A number of fire safety engineering issues can be identified from the above case. First, the fire did not penetrate the PIR core. Secondly, the metal clad walls shielded with glass fiber stopped the fire from spreading from mezzanine plant area where it started to the rest of the building. Finally, the roof sandwich panels made of PIR core material did not transmit the fire across walls surrounding the plant area. The importance of adhering to fire safety engineering guidelines particularly regarding building methods and materials is the major lesson learnt from the incident. There was only minimal loss for the Suffolk Food House case above because the building adhered to the guide. The design of the building made it easier for the fire brigade to fight and contain the fire from spreading too far. This is because the building had adequate apertures. Adherence to the guidelines left the management with just a simple cleanup job before resuming business (Hasofer and Thomas 2014, 52). 2. Kiss Night Club Fire (Brazil) The fire lasted for 30 minutes between 2.00 and 2:30 on the 27th of January 2013 and killed 242 people and injured 630 others. It occurred in Santa Maria; Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Most of the casualties of the fire were college students who were holding a fresher’s ball in the hotel. The fire was the second worst in the history of Brazil. The fire was caused by an illegal indoor use of either a flare of firework (pyrotechnics). The pyrotechnic device then ignited flammable acoustic foam in the ceiling. Major fire safety engineering flaws can be identified from the case above. First, the cause of the fire was an illegal indoor use of an outdoor explosive device. The lesson learnt from this is that building administrative authorities must ensure that all fire construction guidelines are implemented to the letter. The investigation into the incident showed that the night club had been licensed by the fire department on false information. The lesson from this is that licensing authorities must conduct frequent appraisals to ascertain the condition of fire prevention and combat meets the specification. The investigation into the case further revealed that most people died as a result of the resultant stampede, lack of emergency exits and the absence of exit signs. Worse still, the fire was spread by the flammable material used for the ceiling. Ceilings ought to be made from materials that are not easily ignited. Thirdly, the investigation revealed that 90% of the victims died as a result of smoke inhalation. They mistook bathrooms for exits. The deaths from smoke inhalation point to flaws in the design (Strick 2014, 231 ). Question 3 Nomenclature of halons and freons Halons and freons are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are nonflammable and nontoxic chemicals that contain Chlorine, Fluorine and Carbon. The two substances fall in a class of compounds known as halocarbons, which are substances made up of one or two carbon atoms joined to one or more halogen atoms by covalent bonds. They are usually used to manufacture blowing agents, aerosol sprays and in refrigerators among others. While halons are known to cause extensive depletion of the ozone layer, freons are less harsh, and some do not deplete the ozone layer at all (Nimitz, Tapscott, and Skaggs 2013, 231). Fluorocarbons containing at least one bromine and no hydrogen are called halons. The nomenclature for naming halons uses i j k l, where i= number of carbon atoms, j = number of fluorine atoms, k= number of chlorine atoms, and l = number of bromine. Halon-2402, for example is C2F4 Br2, and Halon-1211 is CF2ClBr. The nomenclature for naming freons is a bit simpler. To get the molecular formula for CFC/R/Freon compounds, the numbering is added to 90. The first, second and third numerals of the resultant number give the number of carbon, hydrogen and fluorine atoms respectively. Chlorine atoms occupy the unaccounted carbon bonds. For instance, CFC-12 gives 90+12= 102. Hence, CFC-12 has 1 carbon, 0 hydrogen, and 2 fluorine atoms. The formula then becomes CCl2F2. Those freons that contain bromine atoms are signified by four numbers. They are sometimes referred to as halons (Brominated freons) (Nimitz, Tapscott, and Skaggs 2013, 231). Discuss environmental impacts of halons and reasons for halon replacement in fire protection industry under the Montreal Protocol. Halons have destructive effects on the environment. First, halons cause global warming. The continued use of halons causes buildup of their constituent substances in the atmosphere. When halons accumulate in the environment, they limit the free movement of gasses that results in global warming. Secondly, they deplete the ozone layer. Their impact on the ozone layer is severe because they are widely used to manufacture fire extinguishers. Halons are capable of extinguishing a variety of fires such as electronics, inflammable liquids and combustibles. They also derive their extensive use from their nonconductive and noncorrosive features. Due to their long lifetime, they migrate to the upper atmosphere. Upon contact with ultraviolet light, they react chemically and deplete the ozone layer (Nimitz, Tapscott, and Skaggs 2013, 320). In addition, some of these halogens react with other gases in the atmosphere producing destructive chemicals. For example, when chlorine reacts with water vapour in the atmosphere, the product is hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids that later come down as acid rain. Acid rain corrodes plants and contaminates aquatic life. The ozone layer (stratosphere) plays a vital role in the protection of life on earth. It protects human, plant and animal life from the harmful effects of radiation from the sun. Research undertaken in the 1980s by scientists proved that the ozone layer was continuously being depleted by atmospheric emissions of CFCs. Halons (and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are known to deplete the ozone layer. The solution to this was the signing of the Montreal Protocol that identified the major ozone –depleting substances (ODS). It also drew a timetable for their phase-out. One of the major ODS was identified as halons. The features of halons that they are highly effective explosion suppressants and firefighting agents led to their use all over the world. Their wide use explained their potential of depleting the ozone layer. The protocol established two strategies to phase out the use of halons, with 175 countries signing the agreement. The first plan involved enacting limitations in the use of halons, allowing only critical use. Halons use was only allowed for processes without substitutes. The second strategy involved the substitution of halons with non-reactive or fewer reactive substances. The decision adopted by the Montreal Protocol to replace halons was right. The alternate fire protection and control technology approved by this agreement has had an impressive impact on the reduction of the depletion of the ozone layer. It has further opened up many business opportunities. The effectiveness of the replacement, however, has purely been dependent on the ability of the member countries to effect the phasing out. Those countries with operative standards and code of practice have been able to reap the benefits of the phasing out. Member states without such an establishment have, however, been unable to effect the phasing out strategy. The failure of such countries perhaps explains why halons still pose a danger to the ozone layer to date. Governments and non-governmental organizations have not relented in this battle (Penner 2009, 34). Question 4 Explain what different and common issues between the Fahrenheit/Rankine and the Celsius/Kelvin temperature scales. In the US, the scale used for common purposes is the Fahrenheit Scale. The freezing point of water in this scale is 32 °F while the boiling point is 212 °F. The freezing and the boiling temperature of water within this scale are defined under standard atmospheric pressure conditions. A degree on the Fahrenheit scale represents a movement of 1⁄180 steps on the interval between the freezing and the boiling point of water. Kelvin is the SI unit used to measure temperature. The Kelvin scale makes one of the seven base units of the International System of Units. The scale uses the absolute zero as its null point and is, therefore, an absolute temperature scale. The kelvin is defined as the 1⁄273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water (0.008 °C or 32.018 °F). Like the Kelvin scale, the Rankine scale is an absolute temperature scale since also uses the absolute zero as its null point. The difference between the Rankine scale and the Kelvin scale is in the definition of the degree. The Rankine degree is expressed as equal to one degree Fahrenheit, rather than the one degree Celsius used on the Kelvin scale. In fact, a temperature of 0 °R is exactly equal to −459.67 °F. The Celsius scale (°C) is the most widely used temperature measurement scale. The scale is similar to the Kelvin scale in that it also uses incremental scaling. The null point of the Celsius scale is the approximate freezing point of water, 0°C = 273.15K (Georgian 1964, 67). References Chen, Ying, Gül E. Okudan, and David R. Riley. “Sustainable Performance Criteria for Construction Method Selection in Concrete Buildings.” Automation in construction 19.2 (2010): 235–244. Print. Georgian, J. C. “The Temperature Scale.” (1964): n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Grace, M. “BREEAM-a Practical Method for Assessing the Sustainability of Buildings for the New Millennium.” Proceedings: International Conference Sustainable Building 2012. N.p., 2012. 22–25. Print. Halliday, Sandy. Sustainable Construction. Routledge, 2008. Google Scholar. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Hasofer, Abraham Michael, and Isabelle Thomas. “Analysis of Fatalities and Injuries in Building Fire Statistics.” Fire Safety Journal 41.1 (2014): 2–14. Print. Hill, Richard C., and Paul A. Bowen. “Sustainable Construction: Principles and a Framework for Attainment.” Construction Management & Economics 15.3 (2011): 223–239. Print. Nimitz, Jonathan S., Robert E. Tapscott, and Stephanie R. Skaggs. Fire Extinguishing Agents for Flooding Applications. Google Patents, 2013. Google Scholar. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. Strick, Jonathan. “Development of Safety Measures for Nightclubs.” LUTVDG/TVBB (2014): n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Penner, Joyce E. Aviation and the Global Atmosphere: A Special Report of IPCC Working Groups I and III in Collaboration with the Scientific Assessment Panel to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. Cambridge University Press, 2009. Google Scholar. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. Read More