Unit 103-Lessons 9

Unit 3 - The Built Environment Life Cycle

​Understanding the stages of construction and the installation of services 

​Sub Structure

​Super structure

​Building structure 

​Substructure: 

Anything below ground level is classed as been part of the substructure. ​

​Superstructure: 

Everything structural above ground level is classed as been part of the superstructure.​

​Internal components:

Everything that goes into a building that is nonstructural is classed as an internal component.

Open Ended

What makes up a buildings substructure?

Parts of the substructure - Foundations

Multiple Choice

What is the main reason for performing soil tests before construction begins?

• To determine the color of the soil

• To assess the soil's bearing capacity

• To find buried treasure

• To comply with landscaping regs

​Strip Foundation

​Strip foundations are widely used for housing and small commercial

developments. The design specification will state the width and depth of

trench that must be excavated to suit the soil conditions and the weight of the

building.

A strip of concrete is poured into the excavated trench to a minimum thickness of

150mm, according to the design. More commonly the thickness will be increased

to 225mm.

​A brick pier or a structural steel column in a steel-framed building will produce

loadings concentrated on a single point. A pad foundation can be designed with

greater depth and additional reinforcement to support this type of load.

When a pad foundation is used to support a steel-framed building, it can have

bolts cast into the top, allowing steel columns to be fixed to it

​​Pad Foundation

​​Raft Foundation

​A raft foundation is often used where a strip foundation would be unsuitable due

to soft ground conditions or where a pile foundation would be too expensive.

It consists of a reinforced slab of concrete covering the entire base of the

building, spreading the weight over a wide area.

​The edge of the slab is usually

thickened as a support for load bearing walls around the face line of a building.
If any minor movement takes place due to poor ground conditions, the building is protected, since the whole foundation can move slightly as a unit

​​​Cylindrical Pile Foundation

Multiple Choice

What is classed as part of the substructure?

• Anything below ground level

• Everything structural above ground level

• Nonstructural items installed inside a building

• Roof coverings only

Multiple Choice

What type of foundation is shown below?

• Raft

• Pile

• Pad

• Strip

Multiple Choice

For strip foundations, what minimum concrete thickness is stated before any common increase?

• 100 mm

• 150 mm

• 200 mm

• 225 mm

Multiple Choice

Strip foundations are most commonly used for which type of development?

• Housing and small commercial buildings

• Bridges and offshore structures

• Temporary scaffolding bases

• High-rise steel towers

Multiple Choice

Which situation produces concentrated loadings at a single point that a pad foundation is designed to support?

• A brick pier or a structural steel column

• A timber floor joist

• A cavity masonry wall on strip footing

• A glass curtain wall

Multiple Choice

Identify the foundation type shown in the multi-step installation image.

• Strip foundation

• Raft foundation

• Pad foundation

• Cylindrical pile foundation

Multiple Choice

Using the labelled house diagram, which part of a building includes elements above ground level?

• Superstructure

• Substructure

• Internal components

• Ground bearing slab

Multiple Choice

What is classed as part of the superstructure?

• Everything structural above ground level

• Anything below ground level

• Foundations only

• Internal finishes only

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of using rebar in concrete construction?

• To improve thermal insulation

• To increase tensile strength

• To enhance aesthetic appeal

• To reduce construction time

​Any Questions