Introduction to National Building Code and Steps in a Construction project

                             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 ?

ANSWER:-

BUILDING CODES:-

• Building codes or standards provide guidelines that have been developed to ensure that a building is designed according to its standard provisions. It helps ensure that the structure is strong and stable enough to sustain all the loads acting on it. The codes contain regulations that ascertain the serviceability, safety and functionality of the building. Building codes set down the administrative provisions; material specifications; fire safety requirements; rules for electrical and HVAC works; provisions for assessibility, acoustic and plumbing services; and measures to ensure safety of workers and public during construction. 

Building codes are essential for the modelling and efficiency of drawing because of the following reasons;

• Codes furnish architectural and structural specifications to economically and efficiently design and construct the various types of building structures, including residential, educational, institutional, business, assembly and mercantile buildings.  
• To avoid time and cost overruns for the project by eliminating the risk of rework that may be required if the sturcture is not designed according to the standard norm thereby being unable to attain necessary approvals from the concerned authorities.  
• To design buildings efficiently and model projects that serve the intended purpose. 
• The Codes help reduce potential hazards by eleminating the threats associated with poorly designed and constructed structures. 

Some other purposes of using Building codes include;

1. Accessibility:-

• The Building code provides the statndard detailed specifications to model accessibility components such as stairs, ramps etc.

2. Asthetics:-

•  The Building code provides the statndard detailed specifications for the outdoor display/view of the model depending on the location and type of buildong. It also provides guidelines for the landscaping to be followed. 

3. Cost Effectiveness:- 

• The Building code gives choice of efficient and easily available material that are approved by the concerned authorities based on the location of the project. 

4. Functionality:-

• The functionalities of different types of buildings are provided in a detailed mannner under certain provisions of the building code to ensure that the structure is functionall and serviceable. 

5. Ventilation:-

• The Building code contains guidelines for designing and placing ventilation.    

6. Safety:-

• The code lays down minimum provisions to ensure safety of human beings in relation to structural sufficiency fire hazards and health aspects of buildings. 

7. Sustainability:-

• The Building includes chapter focusing on the aspects of sustainable development that should be taken into consideration from an environmental, social and economic point of view.     

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

ANSWER:-

The Groups in National Building Code that are essential when modelling a building are: 

A. Group 1 for Development, BUilding Plannning 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 ife Safety. 
• Part 5 : Building Materials.
• Part 10 : Landscaping, Signs and Outdoor Display Structures. 

1. Section 1 Landscape Planning and Design
2. Section 2 Signs and Outdoor Display Structures.    

• Part 11 : Approach to Sustainability. 

 

 

 

B. Group 2 For Structural Design and Related Aspects

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

1. Section 1 Loads, Forces and Effects
2. Section 2 Soils and Foundations
3. Section 3 Timber and Bamboo - 3A Timber; 3B Bamboo
4. Section 4 Masonry
5. Section 5 Concrete - 5A Plain and Reinforced Concrete; 5B Prestressed Concrete
6. Section 6 Steel 
7. Section 7 Prefabrication, Systems Building and Mixed/Composite Construction- 7A Prefabricated Concrete; 7B  Systems Building and Mixed/Composite Construction
8. Section 8 Glass and Glazing

• Part 11 : Approach to Sustainability. 

                

 

C. Group 3 For Aspects Relating to Construction, and Asset/Facility Management

• Part 0: Integrated Approach - Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code.
• Part 7: Construction Management, Practices and Safety.
• Part 11 : Approach to Sustainability. 
• Part 12 : Asset and Facility Management. 

 

D. Group 4 For Aspects Relating to Building Services

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

1. Section 1 Lighting and Natural ventilation
2. Section 2 Electrical and Allied Installations
3. Section 3 Air Conditioning, Heating and Mechanical Ventilation
4. Section 4 Acoustics, Sound Insulation and Noise Control
5. Section 5 Installation of Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks - 5A Lifts ; 5B Escalators and Moving Walks
6. Section 6 Information and Communication Enabled Installations

• Part 11 : Approach to Sustainability. 

 

 

E. Group 5 For Aspects Relating to Plumbing Services

• Part 0: Integrated Approach - Prerequisite for Applying Provisions of the Code.
• Part9: Plumbing Services (including Solid Waste MAnagement)

1. Section 1 Water Supply
2. Section 2 Drainage and Sanitation
3. Section 3 Solid Waste Management
4. Section 4 Gas Supply

• Part 11 : Approach to Sustainability. 

 

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

ANSWER:-

The five major steps that occur in project cycle :-

1. Initiation
2. Planning 
3. Execution
4. Monitoring and Controling
5. Project Final Stage OR closure

 EXPLANATION:-

 1. Initiation :-

• Like with all things, the first step to the construction life cycle is merely to begin. It is usually not that simple as it
  sounds. It is easy to come to a project with an idea but translating that idea into actionable items requires a
        dedicated project team. The project will require input from each side.
• We must create and evaluate the project inorder to determine if it is feasible and if it should be undertaken, at
  the beginning of the project.
• Here the project objective or need is identified, this can be a business problem or opportunity.
• A suitable response to the need is documented in a business case with recommended solution options.
• A feasibility study is conducted to examine whether each option clearly identifies the project objective and a
  final recommended solution is determined.
• Many questions related to the issues of feasibility i.e. can we do the project?" and justification like "should we do
  the project?' are mentioned and faced.
• When a solution is approved, a project is initiated to implement the approved solution.
• For this, a project manager is appointed.
• At this stage, the major deliverables and the participating work groups are identified.
• This is the time when the project team begins to take shape.
• Approval is then required by the project manager to move onto the detailed planning phase.

 

 2.Planning :-

 

• The planning phase involves further development of the project in detail to meet the projects objective.
• The team identifies all of the work to be done.
• The projects tasks and resource requirements are identified, along with the strategy for producing them.
• In a broader sense identification of each activity as well as their resource allocation is also carried out.
• A project plan outlining the activities, tasks, dependencies, and timeframes is created.
• The project manager is the one who coordinates the preparation of a project budget by providing cost
  estimates for the labor, equipment and materials costs. 
• This scheduling charts would help us to track the stages of the project as time passes.
• This is also referred to as "scope management'.
• The budget of the project already estimated is used to monitor and control cost expenditures during project
  implementation.
• Finaly, we require a document to show the quality plan, providing quality targets, assurance, and control
  measures, along with an acceptance plan, listing the criteria to be met to gain customer acceptance.
• At this point, the project would have been planned in detailand is ready to be executed.

 

 3. Execution :-

• This is the implementation phase, where the project plan is put into motion and the work of the project is
  performed practically on site.
• It is essential to maintain control and communicate as needed during each implementation stages.
• Progress should be continuously monitored and appropriate adjustments are made and recorded as variances
  from the original plan.
• A project manager is the one who spends most of the time in this step.
• Throughout the project implementation, people carry out the tasks and progress information is being reported
  through regular project team meetings.
• The project manager uses this information to preserve control over the direction of the project by comparing
  the progress reports with the project plan to measure the performance of the project activities.
• If any deviation is found from the already defined plan then corrective measures are made.
• The first option of action should always be to bring the project back to the original plan.
• If that cannot happen then the team should record variations from the original plan and record that and
  publish modifications to the plan.
• Through this step, project sponsors and other key stakeholders are kept informed about the project's status as
  per the agreed rate and format of communication.
• The plan should be updated and avaiable on a regular basis.
• Status reports should always highlight the probable end point in terms of cost, schedule and quality of
  deliverables.
• Each project deliverable produced should be reviewed for quality and measured against the acceptance
  criteria.
• When deliverables have been produced and the customer has agreed on the final solution, the project is said
  to be ready for closure.

 

4..Monitoring and control-

• Some project management methodologies have a different phase here for monitoring and control.
•  The construction manager monitors the budget, risk, insurance management, and scope using various project management techniques.
• One of the best tools for this stage is the KPI (Key Performance Indicator).
• Examples of KPIs are effort and cost tracking, project objectives, and deliverables.
• monitoring and control are sometimes combined with execution because they often occur at the sam time.
• As teams execute their project plan, they must constantly monitor their own progress.

5. Closure:-

• That is the last step in the long process of designing and completing a construction project.
• the project team has to overall contractual agreements and make sure that the project is free from any type of legal burden.
• Teams close a project when they deliver the finished project to the customer, communicating completion to stakeholders and releasing resources to other projects.
• This vital step in the project management life cycle allows the team to evaluate and document the
• project and move on to the next one, using previous project mistakes and successes to build stronger processes and more successful teams.

 

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

ANSWER:-

Different disciplines involved in the construction projects are following

1. Construction
2. Finance and estimating
3. Contracts and Bid
4. Geotechnical
5. Management 
6. Structural
7. Surveying

EXPLANATION:-

1. Construction: 

• It is managing the building of the civil engineering system from beginning to end, which includes the coordination between both the owners, contractors and the designers as well.

2. Finance and estimating: 

• this discipline involves operating in the business world including accounting for financial contracts and estimating the cost of activities.

3. Contracts and Bid:

•  Demonstrating strong bidding practices and effective contract administration is integral to acquitting the next job or project as a construction manager.

4. Geotechnical: 

• This involves designing foundations, and earthquake systems to support the soil itself and transfer load from structures into the year while limiting settlements.

5. Management:

•  Management helps to manage equipment, personnel, and supply to build more effectively also efficiently, as well as economically.

6. Structural:

•  Structural team designs a system of structural members used to support loads for a specified public function such as bridges, buildings dams, and some towers also.

7. Surveying: 

• Survey team measures physical features including horizontal distance and elevation differences to determine the property lines and layouts of the building and produce the maps.

 

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

ANSWER:-

Buildings are classified as: 

1. Residential Buildings
2. Educational Buildings
3. Institutional Buildings
4. Assembly Buildings
5. Business Buildings
6. Mercantile Buildings
7. Industrial Buildings
8. Storage Buildings
9. Hazardous Buildings

 

1. Residential Buildings:-

• When more than half of the floor area is used for dwelling purposes than the building is considered as residential building. They facilitate purposes such as living, sleeping, cooking and washing. This type of buildings include bunglows, apartment flats, storey houses, hotels, hostels, boarding houses, dormitories and lodging houses.

 

2. Educational Buildings:- 

• Buildings which house educational institues such as schools, colleges or day-care centre are categirised as educational buildings. These buildings promote the aggregation of instructional, educational and recreational activities relating to educational purposes. Such buildings should have all adequate facilities for the students, teachers and other staff members. Additionally, such buildings may include hostels exclusive to the institute either within or outside the premises.

 

3. Institutional Buildings:- 

• Buildings that are constructed by the government, semi-government, private organisations or registered trusts for specific purposes are categorised as institutional buildings. Such buildings include hospitals, orphanages, old age homes, facilities for cultural activities or religious accomodation, sanitoria, jails, correction facilities, detention centres, etc.

 

4. Assembly Buildings:-

•  Buildings or parts of buildings that house puclic gatherings or congregations for amusement, recreation, social, religious, civil, patriotic, travel or other similar purposes are known as assembly buildings. This type of buildings include mone halls, drama theatrs, assembly halls, clubhouses, town halls, auditoriums, museums, places of worship, sport complexes, gymnasiums, restaurants, bus stops, railway stations, airports, etc. 

 

5. Business Buildings:-

• When a building or part of it is mainly used for keeping records of business transactions, maintaining accounts, bookkeeping, managing other types of record or other similar purposes then such building is classified as a business building. this type of buildings include offices, banks, courthouses and other similar professional establishment.

 

6. Mercantile Buildings:-

•  Buildings or parts of buildings that are used for housing shops, stores, showrooms or markets where display and sale of wholesale goods, retail goods or merchandise is carried out. This buildings can also include office, storage and service facilities, necessary for the sale of merchandise, located within the same building.  

 

7. Industrial Buildings:-

•  Buildings or parts of buildings where products or materials of all kinds and properties are fabricated, assembled, manufactured or processed are known as industrial buildings. Examples of such buildings include, assembly plants, industrial laboratories, dry cleaning plants, power plants, generating units, pumping stations, refineries, dairies, mills etc. 

 

8. Storage Buildings:-

 Any building or part of a building used primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, ware or merchandise (except hazardous products or materials), vehicles or animals are known a storage buildings. This type of buildings include warehouses, cold storages, freight depots, transit sheds, storehouses, etc. Such storage properties are characterised by the presence of relatively small number of people in relation to the area. 

 

9. Hazardous Buildings:-

 Any building or part of a building used for the storage, handling, manufacture or processing of highly radioactive, combustible or explosive materials or products which are liable to burn with extreme rapidity and which may produce poisonous fumes or cause explosions are categorised as hazardous buildings. These buildings are also used for the storage and processing of any material which produce explosive mixtures of dust that result in the division of matter into finer particles which are subjected to spontaneous ignition. Example, storage and handling of LPG, rocket propellants, etc. 

 

 Placing of  following buildings under each categories;

• Four unit apartments :-  Residential building
• School with capacity of 1000 students :-  Educational building
• A single unit shop:- Mercantile building
• Multi story Shopping complex:- Mercantile/Assembly building
• Steel machine factory:- Industrial building

 

 

6) Distinguish the roles of Design team and Management team

ANSWER:-

The roles of Design team are as follows: 

1. structural adequacy, plumbing services, lighting and natural ventilation, electrical and allied installations, air conditioning,heating and mechanical ventilation,acoustics, sound insulation and noise control all aspects inspect brifly by the design team
2. also, Formalization of the design brief in consultation with the owner. 
3. Site survey and soil investigation. 
4. Preparation of alternative concept designs, highlighting both their positive and neagative aspects.
5. Selection of a concept in consultation with and with the consent of the owner. 
6. Sizing the system. 
7. Development of design, involving: a) Integration of architecture,structure and services; b) Synthesis of requirements of each discipline; c) Interaction with each other within the design team and with the owner. 
8. Preparation of preliminary designs and drawings and obtaining the owner's approval.
9. Preparation of preliminary cost estimates for approval of owner.
10. Preparation of workbreakdown structure and programme for pre-construction activities.
11. Assisting client to obtain approvals of the authority/authorities.
12. Preparation of detailed specifications and construction working drawings with integration of engineering inputs of all concerned disciplines. 
13. Preparation of detailed design of each discipline for various services.
14. Proof checking of drawings.
15. Preparation of detailed cost estimate.
16. Obtaining final approval of the client.
17. To ensure proper implementation of the design, the design team, may be associated during the construction/
    execution stage.

 

 The roles/functions of Management team are as follows: 

1. Specify criteria for selection of constructors; 
2. Specify quality control, quality audit system and safety system;
3. Short-list constructors;
4. Have pre-bid meetings with the intending constructors;
5. Receive and evaluate tenders;
6. Select constructors;
7. Execution and supervision;
8. Monitor for quality, time and cost control, and for other project management functions;
9. Prepare/certfiy the completion of (as-built) drawings; 
10. Assist in getting statutory approvals at various stages; and
11. Ensure avilability of operations manuals for field use.  

NOTE:- Some members of the design team may also be included in the project management team and/or associated actively during the project execution stage.

 

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

ANSWER:-

a) Height Limitations

• The height of the building shall not exceed 15m
• The minimum height of the basement should be 2.5 meters and the maximum height 4.5 meters.
• The ceiling height should be a minimum of 0.9 meters and a maximum of 1.2 meters above the road surface.
• The height between the loft and ceiling should not be less than 1.75 meters.
• The height limitation of the building shall not exceed 15m.
• Housing for the low- A income group shall preferably be up to a maximum of two stories.
• Lifts shall be provided in buildings more than six stories or 20 m in height. Installation of lifts shall be carried out in conformity with the "Lift Act" and rules thereunder, wherever they are in force.

• The height of my model in Week 4/ Project 1 is 7.62m < 15, Hence Ok

 

b) Area Limitations

• According to NBC 2005, the minimum plot size with ground coverage not exceeding 75%, shall not be less than 40m² in small and medium towns and not less than 30m² in metropolitan cities.
• Plot size below 30m² and not less than 15m² may be permitted in case of cluster planning

Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R) or Floor Space Index (F.S. I) or Total built-up area: Total Built-up area = Total Site area- All Open spaces area

Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R) = Sum of All floors area/Plot area

Floor Area = Built-up Area-Area of wall thickness.

• The local authority or the secondary authority is responsible for governing the value of F.A.R, which is different for different zones and types of buildings in the locality. The F.S.I can be utilized for checking the density of the population. E.g. if the plot area is 1200 Sqft and if the allowable F.S.I am 0.8, then the maximum built-up area allowed for the plot is 960 Sqft. As per the National Building Code (NBC-2016) for clear understanding, the built-up area versus plot area is as follows.

• The area of my model is 1980sqft(184m²), 75%of the area is 1485 sqft(138m²) >40m², Hence Ok.

c) Room sizing

• Every dwelling unit provided should have at least two habitable rooms, Even if the one-room house is provided initially it should be capable of adding a new second room in the future. However, in case single room tenements are required to be provided where future additions are not possible, the carpet area of a multipurpose single room should be at least 12.5m². Such one-room dwelling units with a 12.5 m² carpet area of habitable space are permitted only in case of onsite rehabilitation of slum dwellers.
• In a house of two rooms, the first room shall not be less than 9.0 m² with a minimum width of 2.5m and the second room shall not be less than 6.5 m with a minimum width of 2.1m provided the total area of both the rooms is not less than 15.5 m². In incremental housing, the bigger room shall always be the first room.

My model rooms;

• Master bedroom is 4.5m(>2.6)X4.6m= 23m² >12.5m²5m²
• Living Room is 8.9(>6.5m)X4.5= 42m² > 15.5m²

Both conditions are satisfied Hence Ok

 

d)  Wall height

According to NBC 2005; Clause F-3.4, the minimum height of rooms and spaces should be:

• Habitable room - 2.75m
• Kitchen - 2.6m
• Bath/Water closet - 2.2m
• Corridors - 2.1m

In the case of the sloping roof, the average height of roofs for habitable rooms shall be 2.75m and the minimum height at eaves shall be 2.1m.

• All the walls in my model are 3m height> 2.75, Hence Ok

e) Thickness based on fire life and safety

The thickness of masonry walls is given by Table 2 of the fire and life safety section of NBC 2005.

• In the model thickness of the Main Wall is 9” (i.e. 230mm) and Inner Wall 4.5”(110mm) > 100 for Brick of concrete NBC Value,  Hence Ok

f) Passageway requirements

• The approach to the buildings from road/street/internal means of access shall be through the paved pathway of a width not less than 1.5 m, provided its length is not more than 30 m.
• In the case of special housing schemes for the low-income group and economically weaker section of society developed up to two-storeyed row/cluster housing scheme, the pedestrian pathway width shall be 3 m. The pedestrian pathway shall not serve more than 8 plots on each side of the pathway; the length of the pathway shall be not more than 50 m.
• The length of the main means of access shall be determined by the distance from the farthest plot (building) to the public street. The length of the subsidiary accessway shall be measured from the point of its origin to the next wider road on which it meets.
• In existing built-up areas in the case of plots facing street/means of access less than 4.5 m in width, the plot boundary shall be shifted to be away by 2.25 m from the central line of the street/means of accessway to give rise to a new street/means of accessway of 4.5 m width.

For my model, Approach Road is 6” (2m approx.)>1.5m, Hence Ok.

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

 ANSWER:-

My residential building model, created in week 4, complies with the guidelines provided in the National Building Code of India. 

RESULTS:-

AFTER COMAPARING ALL VALUES FROM THE NBC , THE PROJECT FROM WEEK 4 HAS VALUES WITHIN LIMITS , AND THEY ARE  AS BELOW;

• Height  limitation

 

• Wall Height

• Area and ROOM Size Limitations

• Thickness of wall 

• PASSAGEWAY:-