Construction Sub-Structures

Authors Avatar by rkenyon1985 (student)
University Degree Architecture, Building and Planning

Rebecca Kenyon

Construction Technology – BN1101

Assignment 1 – SUB –STRUCTURES

        First it is assumed that houses number 10 and 14 are already built before deciding how to approach the site investigation report. ‘A site is typically characterized by undertaking site investigations (Desk top study, walk over survey and intrusive investigations) in association with a risk assessment, to develop a conceptual site model.

Before purchasing a site a builder must establish whether there are any hazards on or below site, which could result in expensive house foundations. You could end up paying for a site investigation whether you have one or not, meaning the consequences of not having one could end up costing just as much and in some cases a whole lot more.

Site investigations should always begin with a desk study so that consideration can be given to health, safety and environmental hazards prior to fieldwork commencing.’[1]This involves collecting as much information as possible about the site in the form of geological maps, ordinance survey maps, old mining records or even past site investigations. Desk studies can also show anomalies with the ground that we may not be able to see when carrying out field research. These can be found from historical maps of the site aerial photographs, maps and drainage layouts. There may be drainage running right underneath our proposed building so we can’t just go digging holes where we like. Desk study will also involve consultations with the local authority environment agency. The local authority and the environment agency will have a duty to inspect the area for contamination and such like and to make this information readily available. We also need to determine the site boundaries and who will be affected when we start to carry out the development.

It is then important to carry out a field study and visit the site; this is an essential part of a site investigation and should always be carried out.  This will require us to carry out 2 tasks, a walk over survey. This needs to be done in order to establish the access to the site, adjacent buildings and how they will be affected and the compatibility of the site, is it feasible to build the building.

‘Access to the site in which the works are being constructed is necessary to allow transport and delivery of materials, plant and equipment as well as to allow services and the workforce to reach the site. In order to be effective the access must be suitable for the type of transport required and must be available to the contractor at the appropriate time. Even if access is physically available local permissions and custom clearances may be necessary to allow legal use of access’[2]. For the site in question it will be necessary to gain access to the site over a public footpath and therefore will need the councils permission to use this but also temporary signs will be needed to warn pedestrians. A walk over survey is also carried out to check and supplement information gained from the desk top study, i.e. Groundwater and springs, Railway cuttings, Manholes, Existing Dwellings, Trees and Bushes and the like.

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The second field study task that will need to be carried out is a soil investigation to determine the ground type and what we have to work with. The most ideal ground type we would hope to find would be clay. For this type of low housing I would consider that simple trial pits are the most useful and economic way of determining the ground conditions. ‘When excavated they should be deep enough to confirm that the strata below the proposed foundation level remain competent and adequate for at least a further meter below the standard-width footing of at least ...

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Construction Sub-Structures
Document Details
  • Author
    Authors Avatar rkenyon1985
  • Author Type
    Student
  • Word Count
    2764
  • Page Count
    8
  • Level
    University Degree
  • Subject
    Architecture, Building and Planning
  • Type of work
    Coursework
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