Construction 101 Exam 1
Building Code Occupancy - answers-Different levels of life-safety hazard in buildings.
Ex. a hospital where patients need special assistance in case of a fire, must be
designed to a higher standard for safety than a hotel with able-bodied residents. The
more people there are in a building, the more safety there needs to be.
Construction Types - answers-Buildings are made within these construction types for
safety and fire resistance. Type 1 is the highest resistance level, and made for large
buildings with many people occupying them. Type 5 is usually made for residences
because less people are in them.
Combination of construction types and occupancies for building codes - answers-the
maximum permitted size for a building of any particular use and type of construction can
be determined based on occupancy and construction types
fire resistance ratings - answers-measured by how long it takes a specific material to
burn . The longer it takes, the better the rating. Structural frames must rate at least a 3,
while nonbearing walls can be less.
Master Format - answers-used as the outline for construction specifications for the vast
majority of large construction projects; used to organize construction cost data, and
cross-reference materials info on drawings
design/bid/build - answers-the owner first hires a team of architects and engineers to
design. next, construction firms are invited to bid on the project and proposes a cost
design/build - answers-owner develops a conceptual design that describes the
functional requirements but doesn’t detail its form. next, a design/build organization is
selected to complete the design and construction. May be based on bid process
Lump Sum / Fixed Fee - answers-the general contractor is paid a fixed amount to
complete the project, regardless of actual costs. Contractor assumes all risk
cost plus a fee - answers-the owner agrees to pay the construction entity for the actual
cost of construction, plus an additional amount to account for overhead and profit.
owner assumes all risk
, Surety Bond - answers-form of legal instrument used to manage financial risks of
construction, usually with very large projects. Protects an owner from the risks of
bankruptcy.
performance bond= assure completion of project
payment bond=assure full payment to suppliers and subcontractors
Fast-track construction/ phased construction - answers-aims to reduce the time required
for a project by overlapping the design and construction of various project parts.
Associated with design/build and construction management project delivery methods.
reduced time=reduced money
critical path and importance - answers-the sequence of activities that determines the
least amount of time in which a project can be completed. If not put into use, there is
more flexibility in their scheduling (float) and delays. *Used to minimize the cost and
duration of a project
sequential construction - answers-each major phase in the design and construction of a
building is completed before the next phase begins, and construction doesn't begin until
all design work is done; associated with design/bid/build construction
Foundation failure - answers-most of this is due to excess differential settlement.
causes are earthquakes, weather loads, soil, etc.
sand - answers-.187 to .003 inches in diameter; coarse-grained soil, high strength when
compact, but when not, can easily slide making it unsafe; wet sand loses all strength;
frictional soil
silt - answers-smaller than .0029 inches in diameter; slippery when wet; water retention;
clay - answers-smaller than .0029 inches in diameter; when wet=putty like, but hard
when dry; extremely small and flatter than other particles, making their surface area
greater than silts; fabric= they arrange themselves into sheetlike or geometrical forms;
sustain a higher moisture content; expansive= prone to expand or contract with
changes in moisture; particles stick together-cohesive soil
well graded soil - answers-a broad, well-distributed range of particle sizes; contain less
empty space between particles; compact more effectively than poorly graded ones, but
drain water less efficiently
poorly graded soil - answers-consists of particles more limited in range of sizes; more
empty spaces between particles, drain more water, don’t compact as well as well
graded soil
test soil boring - answers-performed with portable drilling rigs, where soil conditions are
evaluated at regular intervals and especially as differing soil strata are encountered.
gives info on soil type, depth, and thickness
Building Code Occupancy - answers-Different levels of life-safety hazard in buildings.
Ex. a hospital where patients need special assistance in case of a fire, must be
designed to a higher standard for safety than a hotel with able-bodied residents. The
more people there are in a building, the more safety there needs to be.
Construction Types - answers-Buildings are made within these construction types for
safety and fire resistance. Type 1 is the highest resistance level, and made for large
buildings with many people occupying them. Type 5 is usually made for residences
because less people are in them.
Combination of construction types and occupancies for building codes - answers-the
maximum permitted size for a building of any particular use and type of construction can
be determined based on occupancy and construction types
fire resistance ratings - answers-measured by how long it takes a specific material to
burn . The longer it takes, the better the rating. Structural frames must rate at least a 3,
while nonbearing walls can be less.
Master Format - answers-used as the outline for construction specifications for the vast
majority of large construction projects; used to organize construction cost data, and
cross-reference materials info on drawings
design/bid/build - answers-the owner first hires a team of architects and engineers to
design. next, construction firms are invited to bid on the project and proposes a cost
design/build - answers-owner develops a conceptual design that describes the
functional requirements but doesn’t detail its form. next, a design/build organization is
selected to complete the design and construction. May be based on bid process
Lump Sum / Fixed Fee - answers-the general contractor is paid a fixed amount to
complete the project, regardless of actual costs. Contractor assumes all risk
cost plus a fee - answers-the owner agrees to pay the construction entity for the actual
cost of construction, plus an additional amount to account for overhead and profit.
owner assumes all risk
, Surety Bond - answers-form of legal instrument used to manage financial risks of
construction, usually with very large projects. Protects an owner from the risks of
bankruptcy.
performance bond= assure completion of project
payment bond=assure full payment to suppliers and subcontractors
Fast-track construction/ phased construction - answers-aims to reduce the time required
for a project by overlapping the design and construction of various project parts.
Associated with design/build and construction management project delivery methods.
reduced time=reduced money
critical path and importance - answers-the sequence of activities that determines the
least amount of time in which a project can be completed. If not put into use, there is
more flexibility in their scheduling (float) and delays. *Used to minimize the cost and
duration of a project
sequential construction - answers-each major phase in the design and construction of a
building is completed before the next phase begins, and construction doesn't begin until
all design work is done; associated with design/bid/build construction
Foundation failure - answers-most of this is due to excess differential settlement.
causes are earthquakes, weather loads, soil, etc.
sand - answers-.187 to .003 inches in diameter; coarse-grained soil, high strength when
compact, but when not, can easily slide making it unsafe; wet sand loses all strength;
frictional soil
silt - answers-smaller than .0029 inches in diameter; slippery when wet; water retention;
clay - answers-smaller than .0029 inches in diameter; when wet=putty like, but hard
when dry; extremely small and flatter than other particles, making their surface area
greater than silts; fabric= they arrange themselves into sheetlike or geometrical forms;
sustain a higher moisture content; expansive= prone to expand or contract with
changes in moisture; particles stick together-cohesive soil
well graded soil - answers-a broad, well-distributed range of particle sizes; contain less
empty space between particles; compact more effectively than poorly graded ones, but
drain water less efficiently
poorly graded soil - answers-consists of particles more limited in range of sizes; more
empty spaces between particles, drain more water, don’t compact as well as well
graded soil
test soil boring - answers-performed with portable drilling rigs, where soil conditions are
evaluated at regular intervals and especially as differing soil strata are encountered.
gives info on soil type, depth, and thickness
