Introduction to National Building Code and Steps in a Construction project

1. Why are building codes or standards essential for the modeling/ efficiency of drawings in Revit ?

Solution:-Building codes or standard codes are essential for the modeling/efficiency of drawings in Revit because design codes ensure that the building is safe and serviceable and it does it not cause damage to the structure. It need to be designed within its standards as well as it serves the building functionality.

There are several guidelines to be followed while following the building codes such as:-

a) Accessibility:- It provides the access to buildings such as stairs,ramps etc. which needs to be follow as per design specifications and its standards.

b) Aesthetics:- Building must be aesthetic in nature. It needs to be followed as per location and site features

c) Cost effectiveness:- It must have efficient material that are economical which should not be exceed beyond its preliminary project estimate.

d) Functionality:- The building must be functional in nature and serviceable.

e) Ventilation:-The building contain guidelines for providing proper ventilation as per design standards and its specifications.

f) Safety:- The building must be safe and protective in nature related to fire hazards, design loads etc.

g) Sustainability:- The building must be sustainable in nature 

2. From the National Building Code list the groups that will be essential to you when you begin modeling in Autodesk Revit.

Solution:- List of groups that are essential as per National Building Code perspective point of view which are as given below:-

a) Group 1 For Development,Building Planning and Related Aspects:- 

• Part 0:- Integrated Approach- Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code
• Part 2:- Administration
• Part 3:- Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements
• Part 4: Fire and Life Safety
• Part 5: Building Materials
• Part 6: Landscaping, Signs and Outdoor Display Structures

                   Section 1 Landscape Planning and Design

                   Section 2 Signs and Outdoor Display Structure

 

b) Group 2 For Structural Design and Related Aspects

• Part 0: Integrated Approach- Prerequisite Approach- Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code
• Part 6: Structural Design

                   Section 1 Loads, Forces and Effects

                   Section 2 Soils and Foundations

                   Section3  Timber and Bamboo

                                  3A Timber

                                  3B Bamboo

                    Section 4 Masonry

                    Section 5 Concrete

                                  5A Plain and Reinforced Concete

                                  5B Prestressed Concrete

                    Section 6 Steel

                    Section 7 Prefabrication,Systems , Building and Mixed/Composite Construction

                                  7A Prefabricated Structures

                                  7B Systems Building and Mixed/Composite Construction

  

 

c) Group 3 For Construction Related Aspects Including Safety

• Part 0: Integrated Approach- Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code
• Part 7: Construction Aspects and Safety

d) For Aspects Relating to Building Services

• Part 0: Integrated Approach- Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code
• Part 8: Building Services 

                   Section 1 Lighting and Ventilation

                   Section 2 Electrical and Allied Installation

                   Section 3 Air conditioning, Heating and Mechanical Ventilation

                   Section 4 Acoustics, Sound Insulation and Noise Control

                   Section 5 Installation of Lifts and Escalators

e) For Aspects Relating to Plumbing Service including Solid Waste Management

• Part 0: Integrated Approach- Prerequisite for Applying Provision of the Code
• Part 9: Plumbing Services

                   Section 1 Water Supply,Drainage and Sanitation ( including Solid Waste Management)

                   Section 2 Gas Supply

 

3. List the five major steps that occur in project cycle . The steps should include from conceptualization of project to maintenance and final stage.

Solution:- 

• Steps need to be followed before creating a model:- 

        a) Location/Safety

        b) Conceptulization and planning 

        c) Designing and detailing

        d) Cnstruction execution and

        e) Maintenance and repair

• In building projects various aspects need to be considered at conceptual stage such as 

        a) Space planning

        b) Aesthetics

        c)  Fire and local safety

        d) Structural adequacy

        e) Plumbing service

        f) Lighting and natural ventilation

        g) Electrical and allied installation

        h) Air conditioning

        i) Heating and mechanical ventilation

        j) Sound insulation and noise control

        k) Installation of lifts and escalators

        l) Building automation

        m) Data and voice communication

• The project require such multi-disciplinary inputs need a coordinated approach among the professionals for proper integration of various design inputs. For this and to care of the complexity of multi disciplinary requirements, a design team of professionals from required disciplines shall be constituted at the appropriate stage. The team shall finalize the plan. The composition of the team shall depend on the nature and the magnitude of the project.
• Design is an evolutionary and participatory process where participation of owner constitutes a very important input at all stages and the same shall be ensured by the design team.
• To ensure proper implementation of the design, the design team may be associated during the construction/execution stage.
• The main functions of design team constituted for the planning, designing and development are as under ;-

        a) Formalization of design brief in consultation with the owner.

        b) Site investigation/survey

        c) Preparation of alternative concept designs

        d) Selection of concept in consultation with and with the consent of owner

        e) Sizing the system

        f) Development of design 

        g) Preparation of preliminary designs and drawings and obtaining owner's approval

        h) Preparation of preliminary cost estimates for approval of owner

        i) Preparation of work-breakdown structure aqnd programme for pre-construction activities.

        j) Assisting client to obtain approval of the building

        k) Preparation of detailed specification and construction working drawings with integration of engineering inputs of all concerned disciplines

        l) Preparation of detailed designs of each discipline for various services

       m) Peer review of the drawings/ design in case of important projects depending upon their complexity and sensitivity

        n) Preparation of  detailed cost estimate

        o) Obtaining final approval of client.

        p) Preparation of bill of quantities, specifications and tender documents

 

4. Give examples of different disciplines involved in construction of a project

Solution:-

• Tasks to be involved to start the project and finish it which are as given below:-

        a) Architect

        b) Civil  Engineer

        c) Structural Engineer

        d) Electrical Engineer

        e) Plumbing Engineer

        f) Fire Protection Engineer

        g) HVAC Engineer'

        h) Environmental Specialist

        i) Town planner

        j) Urban designer

        k) Landscape Architect

        l) Security system specialist

        m) Interior Designer

        n) Quantity Surveyor

        o) Project Construction Manager'

        p) Other subject specialist

• All these different specialist come togethet to perform the project in 360 degree manner and to finish the project within a given time constaint i.e. BIM 360

5.  How are buildings classified ? Place the following buildings under each category
             a. Four unit apartments
             b. School with capacity of 1000 students
             c. A single unit shop.
             d. Multi story Shopping complex
             e. Steel machine factory  

Solution:- 

• Buildings are classified based on the following occupancy:-

        a) Residential Buildings:- Residential buildings shall include any building in which sleeping accommodation is provided for normal residential purposes with or without cooking or dining or both facilities 

        b) Educational Buildings:- These shall include any building or part thereof, whichis used for purposes, such as medical or other treatment or care of persons suffering from physical or mental illness, disease  or infirmity; care of infants, convalescents or aged persons and for penal or correctional detention in which the liberty of the inmates is restricted. Institutional buildings ordinarily provide sleeping        ccommodation for the occupants

       c) Assembly Buildings:-  These shall include any building or part of a building, where number of persons not less than 50 congregate or gather for amusement, recreation, social, religious,patriotic, civil, travel and similar purposes, for example, theatres, motion picture houses, assembly halls, auditoria, exhibition halls, museums, skating rinks, gymnasiums, restaurants, places of worship, dance halls etc

       d) Business Buildings:- These shall include any building or part of a building which is used for transaction of business.  City halls, town halls, court houses and libraries shall be classified in this group so far as the principal function of these is transaction of public business and keeping of books and records.

       e) Mercantile Buildings:- These shall include any building or part of a building,which is used as shops, stores, market, for display and sale of merchandise, either wholesale or retail.

       f) Industrial Buildings:- These shall include any building or part of a building or structure, in which products or materials of all kinds and properties are fabricated, assembled, manufactured or processed, for example, assembly plants, industrial laboratories, dry cleaning plants, power plants,generating units, pumping stations, fumigation chambers, laundries, buildings or structures in gas plants, refineries, dairies and saw-mills, etc

       g) Storage Buildings:- These shall include any building or part of a building used primarily for the storage or sheltering (including servicing, processing or repairs incidental to storage) of goods, ware or merchandise (except those that involve highly combustible or explosive products or materials) vehicles or animals, for example, warehouses, cold storage, freight depots, transit sheds,storehouses, truck and marine terminals, garages,hangers, grain elevators, barns and stables. Storage properties are characterized by the presence of relatively small number of persons in proportion to the area.

      h)Hazardous Buildings:- These shall include any building or part of a building which is used for the storage, handling, manufacture or processing of highly combustible or explosive materials or products which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity and or which may produce poisonous fumes or explosions for storage, handling,manufacturing or processing which involve highly corrosive, toxic or noxious alkalis, acids or other liquids or chemicals producing flame, fumes and explosive,poisonous, irritant or corrosive gases; and for the storage, handling or processing of any material producing explosive mixtures of dust which result in the division of matter into fine particles subject to spontaneous ignition.

     a. Four unit apartments:- Residential Buildings

     b. School with capacity of 1000 students:- Educational Buildings

     c. A single unit shop:- Mercantile Buildings

     d. Multi story Shopping Complex:- Mercantile Buildings

     e. Steel machine factory:- Industrial Buildings

6.  Distinguish the roles of Design team and Management team

Solution:- 

Roles of Design team:- 

• Formalization of design brief in consultation with the owner.
• Site investigation/survey
• Preparation of alternative concept designs
• Selection of concept in consultation with and with the consent of owner
• Sizing the system
• Development of design
• Preparation of preliminary designs and drawings and obtaining owner's approval
• Preparation of preliminary cost estimates for approval of owner
• Preparation of work-breakdown structure aqnd programme for pre-construction activities.
• Assisting client to obtain approval of the building
• Preparation of detailed specification and construction working drawings with integration of engineering inputs of all concerned disciplines
• Preparation of detailed designs of each discipline for various services
• Peer review of the drawings/ design in case of important projects depending upon their complexity and sensitivity
• Preparation of  detailed cost estimate
• Obtaining final approval of client.
• Preparation of bill of quantities, specifications and tender documents

Roles of Management team:- 

• Specify criteria for selection of constructors
• Specify quality control, quality audit system and safety system
• Short-list constructors
• Pre-bid meetings with the intending constructors
• Receive and evaluate tenders
• Select constructors
• Execution and supervision
• Monitor for quality, time and cost control and for other project management functions.
• Prepare or certify the completion of as-built drawings
• Assist in getting statutory approvals at various stages
• Ensure availability of operations manuels for field use

7. Refer to NBC, Identify the modeling requirements for the project ( from week 4).
            a. Height Limitations
            b. Area Limitations
            c. Room sizing
            d. Wall height
            e. Thickness based on fire life and safety
            f. Passageway requirements

Solution:-

a) Height limitations:-

• Maximum height of building shall be limited acording to the widh of the street are as follows:-

        a) The maximum height of building shall not exceed 1.5 times the width of the road abutting plus the front open space.

        b) If a building abuts on two or more streets of different widths, the building shall be deemed to face upon the street that has the greater width and the height of nthe building.

According to my revit modelling it satisfies the NBC code

b) Area Limitations:- 

 

According to my Revit model it satisfies the NBC code

c) Room sizing:- 

According to my Revit model it satisfies the NBC code

d) Wall height:-

According to my Revit model it satisfies the NBC code

e) Thickness based on fire life and safety

According to my Revit model it satisfies the NBC code

f) Passageway Requirements

According to my Revit model it satisfies the NBC code

8. We have identified requirements for modeling from question 7, Use these numbers from code book and verify the numbers used in modeling the unit from week 2 to week 4. If the numbers are not reasonable, use the numbers obtained from the code book to create a revision of the mode.

This model resembles the actual modeling requirements for Project 1 of course work

Solution:-

a) Height limitations

b) Area limitations and Room sizing

 

c) Wall Height

d) Thickness of wall