SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGNCentre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia

Bachelor of Quantity Surveyor [QSB 60104]Construction Technology I [BLD 60104]Building Materials [BLD 62003]

Title: Technical Site Visit to Andes Construction Site

Assignment Date: 26 June 2015

Submission Date: 3 July 2015

Name: Ng Wai Khong

Student ID: 0317980

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Contents...................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 3

Objective.................................................................................................................................................. 4

Construction Technology (Types of Foundation)..................................................................5

Building Materials................................................................................................................................7

Appendix.................................................................................................................................................. 7

Conclusion............................................................................................................................................ 13

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IntroductionAs a quantity surveyor, we are required to not only estimate the pricing and quantity of the building materials needed for a construction, but also get to discover the attempts of changes of the sites in daily routine. Hence, for this assignment, which is a mixture of 3 main subjects, Measurement, Construction Technology and Building Materials which are compactible to each other, the lecturers had planned to bring us to a site visit to obtained the knowledge itself practically rather than just on papers and books.

As a report introduction, the site is around 15km far from our departure destinations. It takes us around 15minutes to reach that site. We are required to wear a safety helmet in case that accidents happened can help to reduce the injuries to as low as possible. The weather of that day is very humid and yet we need to adapt to this kind of often-changed weather on site. Instantly, a brief talk is given to all of us regarding the current progress of the site and the safety measures that should be taken.

Based on the Project Manager of the site, the site is separate to 3 zones, which is A, B and C. Furthermore, the foundation of Zone A is done and the foundation of Zone B is progressing. The whole project estimated pricing is around MYR 12.5M, and the starting date of the construction is on July/2014. In addition, we are separated to 3 groups each guided by one of the supervisor of the site. Basically, without any rest, we approached quickly to the site which is full of sand and mud.

We went up and down the construction site to experience how the workers work to build and construct a building itself from the ground. From Zone A to Zone B, it takes us around 45 minutes to explore the hidden knowledge in the site. For Zone A, the foundation is completely constructed and we get to discover how does a Mesh Fabric Reinforcement looks like and the details steel rods placement inside a column before applying the concrete in it.

For Zone B, we get to discover in details of the work below ground floor level. We are lucky enough to get a view of the work underground like piling and how they drained out the water from the site. Although the journey is short, we get to rest after an adventure throughout the site. We have our small meal there and visits the working place of the supervisor which is a small cabin where they located their drawings and stuffs.

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Objective

To understand the basics of the construction process.

To understand the pratical aspect of construction techniques in

comparison to the theory aspect in books and its application on site.

Exposure to actual working environment on site including uncertainty

circumstances.

Ability to communicate with the construction team members on site and

to see the importance of teamwork in the building team.

Witness the usage of construction equipment on site including mechanical

plants.

Explore and identify various types of building materials and technology

on site.

Awareness of the importance of safety on site and understanding of safety

problems and site conditions.

Recognize the items measurable for sub-structure and reinforced

concrete frame works.

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Construction Technology (Types of Foundation)

The types of foundation involve majorly in the construction site is Pile cap. Pile cap foundation is basically more suitable to our site because for our building is supposed to be a 25 level apartment. Yet, this is the only foundation which is suitable for this type of high rise building compare to strip foundation and pad footing foundation. While, the foundation for Zone A is finish constructed, but for Zone B, they just started their piling work.

The image shown above is one the pile that is completely piled to the underground and this is the biggest pilecap on-site. Due to the condition of the soil which is unstable, this is quite a difficult task for them to figure how the size of the pile cap should be. Hence, this is the largest volume of pile cap they done in their recent project.

Furthermore, there will be a table showing the advantages and disadvantages of pilecap foundation.

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Advantages of Pile Cap Foundation

Disadvantages of Pile Cap Foundation

Piles can precast to the required specifications.

Precast or pre-stressed concrete piles must be properly reinforced to withstand handling stresses during the transportation and driving.

Piles of any soil, length and shape can be made in advance and used at the site. The progress of the work will be rapid.

Advance planning is required for handling and driving.

A pile driven into granular soil compacts the adjacent soil mass and as a result the bearing capacity of the pile is increased.

Requires heavy equipment for handling and driving.

The work is neat and clean. The supervision of work at the site can be reduced to a minimum. The storage space required is very much less.

Since the exact lengths required at the site cannot be determined in advance, the method involves cutting off extra lengths or adding more lengths. Increases the cost of the project.

Driven piles may conveniently be used in places where it is advisable not to drill holes for fear of meeting ground water under pressure.

Driven piles are not suitable in soils of poor drainage qualities. If the driving of piles is not properly phased and arranged, there is every possibility of heaving of the soil or the lifting of the driven piles during the driving of the new pile.

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Building Materials

Most of the beam, column, slab and even foundation is cast with concrete and in the market there is lot of types of concrete grades where each different grade of concrete bring different effects which is either good or bad and the suitability of the grade of concrete to the beam, column, slab and foundation itself.

The grade of concrete identifies the content of the concrete and there are mainly two types of grade of concrete which is light weight grade concrete and heavy weight grade concrete. The concrete grade which is used in the site is Grade 25 which is the usual grade used in concrete casting for buildings. Grade 25 is considered as light moderate grade of concrete.

The advantage and disadvantages of light weight concrete is shown in the table:

Advantages Disadvantages

It helps to reduce the dead load, increase the progress of building and lowers the hauling and handling cost.

Very sensitive with water content in the mixtures.

The weight of building on foundation is an important factor in the design, particularly in case of weak soil and tall structures, In framed structured, the beam and column have to carry load of wall and floor, If these wall and floor made of light weight concrete it will result in considerable economy.

Mixing time is longer than conventional concrete to assure proper mixing.

Low Thermal Conductivity.

Structural lightweight aggregate’s cellular structure provides internal curing through water entrainment which is especially beneficial for high-performance concrete.

Difficult to place and finish because the porosity and angularity of the aggregate. In some mixes the cement mortar may separate the aggregate and float towards the surface.

Appendix

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Zone B, where they are starting to cast the concrete on the foundation.

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The Project Manager Office.

The project manager itself showing the stirrups that will be used in the site.

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More Steel rods that will be used for the site.

Labeling for the steel rod.

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Excavator

Mesh Fabric Reinforcement

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the whole site visit is a valuable experience for me because I get to

learn all of these in practical than studying. I get to discover the plants and

different building materials obtained on site. Yet, this is crucial part for my life by

gaining experience of how a building is constructed from a drawing to a real

construction experience.

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Crane.

Instantly, this site visit tells me that how important it is for the mixture of the

main 3 core subject we learn in our first semester and this report brings to the

end of the overall modules that we learnt in classes. Of course, when we went to

the site, we get to be able to easily analyze all the types of materials and

construction technology involve in the site.

Thank You.

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