1.0 SUBMISSION OF PLAN TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
What should be submitted to the local authority before commencing work. Before you undertake any work, you, or your agent (i.e builder, architect etc.) must advise the Local Authority either by submitting Full Plans for approval or through a Building Notice.
1. A Building Notice application may be submitted for most types of building work. However, a Building Notice may not be used:
· Where the proposed building work is intended to be put to a designated use for the purpose of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, or
· Where the proposed work is within 3 metres of a public sewer, or
· A new building is erected fronting onto a private street
Currently all premises are designated, except single private dwellings.
The approval of building plan is vested with the local authority where the local authority shall ensure that the applicant-developer has complied with all necessary rules and regulations, in particular the UBBL. If the housing development involves construction of low-cost units, the local authority will have to check if the building plans submitted for approval are in compliance with the CIS 1 or CIS 2. It is within the power of the local authority to ascertain that the building plan is submitted by a qualified person. By-Law 5 of the UBBL provides that the responsibility to supervise the construction works until its completion lies on the qualified person who has submitted and certified the plans and specifications for building approval, and issued the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC). Generally in Malaysian context, the qualified person would be an architect. Thus in cases of defective houses, a local authority has the power to act against an architect.
ii) Issuance of Certificate of Completion and Certification
A new method of processing the issuance of Certificate of Fitness (CF) has been introduced and now it is known as the CCC. Prior to the amendment of several statutes governing the housing industry the process of issuance the CF was under the jurisdiction and duty of the respective local authority. Under the CCC, the certificate of fitness is issued by any architect or building draughtsman or engineer upon completion of the construction of a house according to its plan and specifications as approved by the local authority. Under the CCC, the responsibility of the local authority is transferred to the professionals. The main issue here would be on the extent of independency of the professional involved. This CCC seems to be a move towards self-certification, which may remedy the problem of delay in issuance of the CF, but it may not be an answer to the problem of defective houses (Azlinor Sufian, 2007).
(iii) Supervision or inspection of construction work
The SDBA and the UBBL do not impose any specific duty on the local authority to inspect the construction work done by a contractor. As mentioned earlier this duty rests solely on the shoulder of a qualified person who submitted the plan. The local authority will only conduct an inspection if there is a report on failure of building (Section 70B, SDBA). A failure of building refers to defective building which may affect health and safety of occupants, such as failure of the structure.
Therefore mere defect such as sub-standard quality of paint or uneven flooring may not fall within the meaning of building failure. On the other hand it is worthy to note here that Malaysian house-buyers are not allowed to enter the construction site simply because the contractor as the occupier of the site does not want to be liable to the buyers (as a public person) in terms of their safety and health at the site. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA), the contractor of a site is under a duty to ensure (so far as is practicable) that the activities undertaken at the site do not expose any risk to the safety and health of the public (Section 17(1), OSHA). Since the activities at any construction site are generally hazardous that may cause accident and other related injuries to any person being there, the contractor has the right to prohibit the public from entering the site for the purpose of complying with their duties under the safety and health at work law. In practice, the contractor will normally put up danger or warning signs apart from barricading the site that prohibits any unauthorized person or the public member from entering the site without permission. Even though the contractor may allow the public to enter the site (provided the public who may be affected by the construction works at the site has been given a prescribed information on the aspects of their safety or health (Section 17(2), OSHA), usually the contractor is not willing to take responsibility in terms o having to give adequate information and taking necessary precaution and means of prevention of accident, so as to ensure that the public is safe while being presence at the site. Thus house-buyers would be considered as trespassers if they enter the construction site without the permission of the occupier (Rozanah Ab. Rahman, 2007). Even if house-buyers are interested to make inspection (i.e. ignoring the prohibition of the
law), in reality there are many house-buyers who do not know at all the location of their houses while it is under construction.
The foregoing discussions reveal that the provisions of the SDBA and UBBL do not provide the legal framework for the local authority to exercise proper supervision or inspection of the construction works. Hence, the purchasers have to put their trust in a qualified person to supervise the construction of their houses. Nevertheless purchasers may be skeptical as to the credibility of the qualified person as he is engaged by the developer. Therefore house-buyers could expect that besides relying on the developer’s architect to supervise and inspect the construction work, there should be a statutory requirement for this task by the building control authorities which has approved the building plan and specifications. Thus there is a need for a clear provision in the SDBA as well as in the UBBL that provides for a statutory duty of the local authority to inspect the construction of building.
The Building Regulations Application
UBBL 1984 provides for the passing of plans subject to conditions. The conditions may specify modifications to the deposited plans and/or that further plans shall be deposited.
· Persons proposing to carry out building work, or make a material change of use of a building, are reminded that permission may be required under the Town and Country Planning Acts.
· A completion certificate is available following satisfactory completion of the building work.The certificate must be requested, in writing, before the commencement of any works.
· Persons carrying out building work must give written notice of commencement of the work at least 48 hours beforehand.
· A Building Notice/Full Plans application shall cease to have effect from three years after the deposit date to the Local Authority unless the work has commenced before the expiry of that period.
The Full Plans Procedure
Full Plans shall contain relevant detail as listed in a building notice together with all other such plans as are necessary to show that any work to be carried out complies with these Regulation and UBBL 1984.
The council will require that you provide certification of satisfactory testing and inspection for all notifiable electrical work. This should be carried out by a suitable qualified competent electrician, or a member of a certified scheme who must inspect and test the installation prior to the electrics being covered over. They must provide a test report (identified in BS7671:2001 as amended)
-All charges must be paid when the Notice is submitted to the Council. (Plan & Inspection).
2.0 Qualified person state in UBBL 1984
Architech
Once you’ve chosen an architect, you’ll want to know exactly what role they will play in completing your project. Although the role of an architect can differ between projects and architect firms, there are a few general jobs an architect will do to help you design and build your new home or building conversion.
Firstly, an architect will provide advice on the best ways you can achieve your plans within the constraints set by building regulations and planning permission. During this phase, the architect will also produce the plans to be submitted to the local council's planning department.
Once the plans have been submitted, the architect will then deal with all the correspondence with the regulatory bodies, such as local authorities and utilities companies, as well as preparing drawings required to show how the new building will meet UK building regulations. If any extra permission is required, such as conservation area consent, then the architect will also negotiate this on your behalf.
After the planning permission has been granted, many architects will take on the responsibility of preparing details of the cost of the project and getting in touch with builders for quotes. You should check that your architect is willing to do all this on your behalf, and remember it is ultimately up to you to choose a builder you are happy with.
When you have hired a building firm, you are ready to begin building your new home or office and many architects will offer to oversee this process to ensure all the design plans are being adhered to and that progress is being made at the right pace. It is useful to allow the architect to be involved in this part of the project so they are on hand to make decisions about any unforeseen circumstances that will no doubt arise during the building process.
An architect’s role also includes administering the building contract, submitting financial reports, and giving advice on maintenance regimes, which are done at various stages of the project.
http://www.selectanarchitect.co.uk/role_of_an_architect.asp
Engineers
as its name implies, was formed with the object of promoting the advancement of the profession of consulting engineering by associating together for consultation and cooperation those engineers whose work is of a purely consultative character, and of providing facilities for Governments, Public Bodies, Associations representing industry and trade, and others to confer with Consulting Engineers as a body and to ascertain their collective views.
[2.0] One of the primary objects of the Association is to ensure that Consulting Engineers undertaking to advise on engineering matters shall be fully qualified engineers in their respective fields and should act in all professional matters in a strictly fiduciary capacity to their clients.
[3.0] A Consulting Engineer is defined in the Articles of Association as a person possessing the necessary qualifications to practise in one or more of the various branches of Engineering who devotes himself to advising the public on engineering matters or to designing and supervising the construction of engineering works and for such purposes occupies and employs either solely or in conjunction with another Consulting Engineer, his own office and staff or, in the case of a partner or consultant of a firm of Consulting Engineers uses the office and staff of the said firm, and is not directly or indirectly concerned or interested in commercial or manufacturing interests such as would tend to influence his exercise of independent professional judgement in the matters upon which he advises.
Whilst these larger Institutions are thoroughly representative of the profession of Engineering, their province is to deal with the science and problems of Engineering which are of equal interest to all Engineers. The Association strictly confines its attention to matters affecting the status, professional conduct, emolument and the general interests of those Engineers who have adopted consulting work as their profession.
[5.0] Consulting Engineers form only a small proportion of the membership of the larger Institutions, and it is obvious that the rules of professional conduct, as formulated by the Association, would not be applicable to the majority of the members of these Institutions.
[6.0] The Association is a ready medium through which its members can consult with each other on all matters of professional interest, and affords a means by which the procedure of the consulting profession may be coordinated and handed on to those entering its ranks.
[7.0] Experience has shown that matters are constantly arising on which it is an advantage to Consulting Engineers to obtain the opinion of their colleagues in the profession. The Association provides this opportunity through its Council which keeps in touch with all matters affecting the profession, and puts its advice and assistance at the disposal of members in any matters of difficulty arising in the course of their practice.
[8.0] The Association is also a medium through which the public can be informed as to the standing, experience and qualifications of its members. If any person requiring professional advice and assistance is in doubt as to whom to approach, the Association is always to nominate one or more members specially qualified for the purpose.
http://www.acem.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=36&limit=1&limitstart=2
Surveyors
Quantity Surveyor
A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating to building projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures. Surveyors seek to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, while still achieving the required
standards and quality. Many of these are specified by statutory building regulations, which the surveyor needs to understand and adhere to.
A quantity surveyor may work for either the client or the contractor, working in an office or on site. The title of the job may also be referred to as a construction cost consultant or commercial manager.
Building Surveyor
Public policy underpinning this legislative scheme is to facilitate and promote the cost effective construction of buildings, the construction of environmentally and
energy efficient buildings, to enhance the amenity of buildings and to protect the safety and health of people who use buildings and places of public entertainment.
The Building Act 1993 (Act) creates the roles of private and municipal building surveyors. A municipal building surveyor is a person who is employed by a council,
whereas a private building surveyor is a person who operates as a private entity. As building owners generally have limited knowledge as to whether a building design
complies with the Act and Regulations, they are required by the legislative scheme to use the services of a building surveyor (either a private or municipal building surveyor) for which they pay a fee determined by the private building surveyor or, in the case of the municipal building surveyor, the relevant council. Both can be appointed by the owner or the owner’s agent for a specific building project. When a building surveyor is appointed under the Act, he/she becomes the relevant building surveyor.
The functions of a building surveyor are mandated by legislation irrespective of whether the appointment is private or municipal.
The statutory functions of a relevant building surveyor are to issue building permits, conduct mandatory inspections of buildings and building work and issue occupancy
permits or certificate of final inspection (if an occupancy permit is not required for that building work). Building surveyors exercise specific professional skills when they evaluate and assess plans and specifications. They are required to perform their work in a competent manner and to a professional standard.
The Act requires all building surveyors and other major design and construction practitioners to have compulsory professional liability insurance cover as a prerequisite
to practicing. Building surveyors must have tertiary qualifications in building surveying and at least four years’ practical experience to qualify for registration as a building surveyor.
Contractor
A building contractor is an individual who engages in the planning, developing and coordinating of activities which coincide with the building of structures. The building contractor is the individual who oversees the construction and ensures that all necessary measures are taken to result in the completed finished product.
The general responsibilities of a building contractor entail the individual planning and carrying through any and all pertinent activities relating to the construction of a dwelling, building or other structure. The building contractor carries out his/her duties by supervising employees, planning how the project will be carried out and completing the project in a manner which coincides with all laws, rules and regulations which may be in existence and correlate with construction.
There are many duties which a building contractor must complete on a daily basis in order to ensure that the construction project is completed in a timely and correct manner. The first duty of the building contractor is to implement a plan in which to carry out the construction project. This extends anywhere from hiring workers to developing a step-by-step timeline that the project will follow from start to finish.
In addition to implementing the construction plan, the building contractor is responsible for hiring, supervising and, at times, firing employees who work on the specific project with the contractor. Along those same lines of supervising the employees, the building contractor must also take care of payroll with regard to the workers and engage in payroll functions or hire someone to do so for the contractor.
The building contractor is also responsible for obtaining materials for the project. Since construction projects cannot be completed without the necessary building materials, it is up to the contractor to acquire goods to build the structures. This involves various forms of correspondence with necessary material suppliers.
Another specific duty of the building contractor is to acquire all necessary licenses and permits from relevant entities so that the building project can begin. These range anywhere from building licenses to zoning permits and there are many regulations that relate to these documents which each building contractor must follow in order to engage in construction.
The building contractor must also do his/her research regarding relevant regulations and laws akin to the construction process. There are many laws which state when, where and how a building contractor and his crew should build in certain areas. These must be recognized and followed by building contractors in order to complete the project in a law-abiding manner.
Lastly, the building contractor is the individual who deals with all emergencies and surprises which relate to the project and occur on-site and sometimes off-site as well. This individual is the one which many parties go to should they need assistance with an emergency issue that has just arisen.
3.0 Requirements concerning design of residential building.
Ventilation
Designing for natural ventilation must be considered from the beginning. While the standards of ventilation referred to in the Uniform Building By Law 1984 should be complied
with, Section D should also be followed.
While maximum use should be made o natural ventilation, supplementary mechanical ventilation may be required in spaces with high functional heat gains or areas having a high risk of condensation. Where mechanical ventilation is necessary, the benefit of the use of heat recovery should be considered. This can reduce heat losses by up to 50%.
The main method of controlling ventilation in most buildings is by the opening and closing of windows. Controls should be robust and easy to operate. Trickle vents can be a very effective way of providing controlled natural ventilation. Care should be taken in the design of the ventilation system to ensure that air movement at the occupants’ level does not result in discomfort.
In a well insulated building, ventilation heat losses account for a major part of the energy consumed, so it is important to minimise air infiltration through joints in the external envelope, around door and window openings and service penetrations.
Window and door seals should be adequate for the degree of exposure. Appropriately sized draught lobbies should be provided wherever possible.
Minimum area room and residential building
· Habitable Rooms:
ü 1st room - 11 m² minimum
ü 2nd room - 9.5 m² minimum
ü all other rooms - 6.5 m² minimum
· width of all habitable rooms to be 2m minimum
· Kitchen - [by-law 35(3)]
ü area - 4.5 m² minimum
ü width - 1.5m² minimum
5.0 Requirement for structure requirements medium rise commercial, industrial and residential development.
Staircase
Stairways have to be at least 36" clear width above the handrail height. Handrails can't project more than 4.5" into each side.
You need at least 80" of head height throughout the stair.
The maximum height of a riser is 7.75" and the treads have to be at least 10" deep. Treads also need to be a minimum of 4" tall.
If winders can't be shallower than 6" and they have to be at least 10" deep when you're 12" into the winder.
The landings must be at least as deep as the stairs are wide and you can't go up more than 12' without a landing.
Handrails have to be mounted between 34" and 38" above the tread nosing and must run the full length of the stairs. The handrails have to be at least 1.5" off the wall and where they are circular they need to be 1.25" to 2" in diameter. If the handrail isn't circular it needs to have a perimeter between 4" and 6.25" with a maximum cross section of 2.25".
6.0 Requirements concerning passive fire design for medium rise commercial building.
and life safety features are necessary to enable adequate fi re response, and the safe exiting of the occupants of a building in the event of a fire emergency. These include:
• Structural fire protection.
• Compartmentation, with both horizontal and vertical fi re barriers.
• Fire alarm and detection devices.
• Automatic sprinklers.
• Smoke control.
• Egress provisions, including exits, stairs, elevators, and their locations and distances.
• Standpipes for fi re department operations.
The balance of this article will deal exclusively with structural fire protection.
The term passive fire protection generally covers such things as fire-resisting partitions, barriers and ceiling systems which are actually built into the fabric of the building - elements which play a key role in helping to achieve these aims. They help control the spread of a fire, buy time for a building’s occupants to escape, help fire fighters tackle the blaze and also limit the damage wherever possible.
Yet buildings continue to become more complex in their design and this places extra pressure on the designers of fire protection systems. They must implement fire engineering principles and balance the use of passive fire protection against other measures, such as alarms and sprinklers, to create an integrated, effective and reliable solution.
Naturally there is a raft of guidelines, Building Regulations and certification schemes relating to fire protection that specifiers should be aware of and, in some cases, conform to. The increasing depth and complexity of these requirements can easily overwhelm the specification process and make the selection of the most appropriate solution a daunting task.
Fortunately, help is at hand. By selecting a well-established manufacturer who is able to offer a wide range of fire protection products and systems the architect, specifier or contractor can gain a great advantage in the race to comply with all the relevant regulations and best-practice guidelines. The more prominent fire protection manufacturers are ideally placed to provide all the necessary advice and technical guidance on the design of a passive fire protection system and the earlier they become involved, the easier it is to arrive at a cost-effective solution that does not compromise on performance. Those same manufacturers will also be able to provide all the required components needed so that a fully integrated and effective system can be sourced from a single supplier.
There are many passive fire protection options that the manufacturer can help the system designer to consider, including fire compartmentation systems. A robust fire compartmentation system can help to contain the spread of flame and heat, but to be effective it must also be able to withstand other factors such as water pouring from sprinklers or the impact of falling debris or fire-fighting action.
Fire-rated ductwork is another element that has a vital role to play in commercial and public buildings, but again care must be taken. Fire dampers situated where the ductwork passes through a compartment or wall can be very effective in sealing the ductwork should a fire break out, but this system has its drawbacks. Used on dedicated smoke extracts or kitchen extracts, the dampers may impede the ductwork’s ability to safely remove smoke and other combustion products from the building.
Smoke extract ductwork must maintain full fire integrity, provide an appropriate cross-section that will allow smoke removal and also contain the fire without transferring sufficient heat to spread fire to other areas. Choosing the most appropriate fire-rated ductwork will result in a virtually maintenance-free ‘fit-and-forget’ solution that provides the required amount of protection. Again, the manufacturer can provide invaluable advice here.
The characteristics of the fire protection materials themselves are also important. Materials that are easy to handle and which require no additional foundations or other construction work will simplify the installation process. This can pay particular benefits on refurbishment or upgrade projects where the contractor has to work within the existing building framework, and a “dry” installation process will help further by minimizing disruption to other trades working in the same areas, allowing faster project completion.
Fire protection is an area where specifies and building owners simply can’t afford to take any chances. Faced with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, the Building Regulations, increasingly stringent demands of insurers and the devastating effects of an incorrect specification, architects, specifies and contractors should give themselves the significant advantage that guidance from a manufacturer that specializes in passive fire protection is able to provide.
In the event of a fire in a building, the safety of occupants and first responders and the protection of property is accomplished through a combination of passive and active means. A passive fire protection
system is one which is an integral part of the building layout and materials of construction, such as partitions to confine the fire, a stairway to assist rapid evacuation, or spray-on fire proofing to increase th fire resistance of a load-bearing steel structure. Active fire protection systems are designed to come into play only when a fire is present and require activation through a combination of sensors or mechanical means. The active fire protection systems for medium rise commercial building consisted of fire sensors and alarms, notification systems, sprinklers, water supplies, and smoke management systems.
Active and passive fire protection systems work together to control the spread of the fire and maintain the integrity of the structure; however, the fire department is always relied upon to fully extinguish the fire and rescue occupants who may be immobilized.
The heart of the fire detection system was the automatic fire alarm and emergency notification system. Occupants in the building depended on this system to detect fires and provide information for emergency evacuation. Capabilities were also designed for the ventilation system to operate in a way to purge smoke produced by fires from the building. Smoke purge was intended to be used for post-fire clean-up but could be used during a fire event at the discretion.
Major features of the fire suppression systems are documented based on a review of the available information. In addition to describing in detail the sprinkler, standpipe, and preconnected hose systems, special fire suppression systems are briefly discussed. System features documented include riser systems, zone arrangements, water tanks, pumps, fire department connections, control valves, and hose rack arrangements. Additionally, documentation of the sprinkler, standpipe, and preconnected hose system installations was examined for consistency with the applicable installation standards and state-of-the-art engineering practices at the time of system installation.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Major features of the fire alarm systems are described based on a review of the available documentation. Details on the fire command station, fire alarm system functions, fire alarm system installation criteria, control panel configurations, fire alarm devices, and firefighter telephone system are provided. Additionally, the staff emergency response plan that provided direction for emergency response is outlined. The responsibilities of the fire safety director, deputy fire directors, assistant fire safety coordinator, and floor wardens are described.
SMOKE MANAGEMENT
The review of building codes and standards determined. Specifically, the versions of applied and the local laws that were enacted which pertain to smoke management are presented. This review was used as a basis for documenting building designs and evaluating system performance. Descriptions are provided of the basic architecture of each building as it pertains to the establishment of smoke control zones, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) components and layout relevant to smoke management, and sequences of operation of smoke management systems (i.e., activation of fans and positioning of dampers to control airflow during smoke control operations).
Building Cracking
Shear cracking in short columns a. building elevation b. diagonal cracking in column
Damage to a new moment-frame beam-column joint
How to seal a cracked masonry foundation wall or floor slab
To seal a shrinkage crack or a control joint crack in a poured concrete slab, regardless of whether or not it has occurred at an expansion or control joint, it may be appropriate to seal the surface to resist water entry and radon gas entry. Control joints are also sealed to provide a smooth and clean concrete surface which does not collect surface moisture or debris. Keeping surface water from entering at a control joint might in some cases also help avoid uneven soil settlement below the slab and tipped or heaved slab sections.
To seal a control joint or expansion joint crack in a concrete slab use a flexible sealant designed for foundation crack repair or sealing. The radon mitigation industry offers special foundation caulks and sealants for that purpose as well. (If water is coming up through a concrete floor or slab, sealing cracks is probably not going to be enough - you need to address the cause of water below the floor.)
List of materials used to fill poured concrete slab control joints include:
- Pre-fabricated control joint strips of plastic or other material
- Masonry caulks or radon sealant caulks
- Semi rigid epoxy resin crack fillers intended for concrete expansion joints such as
ü Shor D 65-80®
ü Elasta Gel 6170 Epoxy® flexible epoxy and expansion joint sealant, two component, no VOC, flexible expoy resin which is rated for use on parking decks and, according to the manufacturer, Lone Star Epoxies, can also be used to repair concrete spalling on such surfaces.
ü other semi-rigid, epoxy products
- Special polyurea caulks designed as a joint filler
Any sealant that is going to be used to fill a control joint in a slab needs to have the ability to bond to the sides of the cut or opening of the joint, to remain flexible over temperature and moisture changes, and to withstand both compression and expansion as the concrete moves in response to curing and in response to temperature and moisture changes.
Epoxy, for example, is not generally used to fill the expansion joint in newly-poured concrete because the concrete is just too wet and has too much movement for the epoxy to bond and perform acceptably. Similarly, a special product would be needed to fill a control joint in concrete in very cold weather.
Typical concrete crack preparation for sealant with an expoxy product
1. Cleaning a concrete crack for patching and sealing: The crack or expansion joint must be cleaned of all debris; power washing and vacuuming may work but inspect the crack or joint to be sure it is clean along its entire length. Otherwise the sealant may fail to adhere and the crack will leak. Wire-brushing or chipping the crack sides is not normally required when using an epoxy sealant. (Traditional concrete or masonry patching (and plaster repairs), on the other hand, was traditionally applied after cracks were chipped and widened into an inverted "vee" shape to help keep the patch material in the crack.)
2. Mix the epoxy sealant according to the manufacturer's directions. Some low volume expoxy sealants are supplied in a dispenser which mixes the two parts together in the proper ratio automatically during dispensing from a tube (see your dentist for an example.) Other crack sealants such as prepared caulks, may come pre-mixed in a tube.
3. Install the backer rod specified by the sealer manufacturer if you are sealing an expansion joint. Sand (clean, dry) may be used as a filler for cracks - an easier approach if you are repairing an irregular crack in a floor. Sand should stop about 3/4" from the top of the floor surface to give adequate volume of sealer epoxy in the crack. The backer rod provides a flexible filler that keeps the sealant in the joint during curing and also reduces the total volume of concrete crack sealer epoxy needed. We recommend using backer rods also if sealing wide cracks in concrete walls or floors, but first you need to have those cracks evaluated to determine the cause as other important structural reparis could be needed first.
4. Epoxy crack patch cure time: Keep traffic off of the sealed crack until the sealant has cured. Typically a thin film will form on a crack filler epoxy in 8 hours, the sealant will be hard enough to withstand traffic in 24 hours, and it will fully cure in about a week. Use of Polyurea as a control joint filler in concrete slabs
Polyurea joint filler products for concrete control joints have received attention for filling concrete control joints and is increasingly used in that application since this material is resistant to moisture, has high adhesion properties when used with concrete, and will cure in very cold weather. Polyurea sealant products are also reported to be useful in sealing control joints in "green" concrete which has not yet had its full 28 day period of initial curing.
Use of Epoxy-supported Grouts as a control joint or crack filler in concrete slabs or walls
Epoxy grouts are available which can be mixed and trowelled into a concrete crack or joint. These products are less flexible than the control joint fillers described above. In our opinion, an expoxy grout filler may work fine to provide a well-bonded repair to a stable wall or floor crack in an area where there is no anticipated further movement such as from temperature or moisture variations. But read the manufacturer's intended application before buying an expoxy reinforced grout for building crack repair.
On the one hand we like using a rigid material to fix a supposedly stable crack in a residential building since the fact that the patch is inelastic means it will be easy to see if there is ongoing or new building movement.
On the other hand, a small amount of movment in a foundation wall or floor slab due to changes in temperature will leave a flexible crack filler un-damaged and sealed where a rigid material may fail.
Epoxy Grout Product examples include
- Ramset™ Epoxy Grout - a pourable expoxy resin, also can be mixed with sand and applied with trowel.
- Epoxy grouts (ANSI 118.3 1988) for tile applications (watch out for proper tile surface cleaning within the cure time; cleanup is done using water)
- Laticrete™ epoxy grouts
List of the Types of Tile Grouts, their Bonding Agents and other Properties
- Portland cement grout (ANSI 108.10 1985)
- Latex-modified portland cement grouts (we've used these with good success indoors in tile floors for better water resistance)
- Epoxy grouts (described above) usually with a water-dissolved mix
- Modified Exoxy grouts (ANSI 118.8 1988.) combining portland cement and expoxy (some sources say the chemical resistance is similar to straight Portland cement but the result is a harder grout - just what chemicals are resisted may vary among products)
- Furan resin grouts use furfuryl alcohol in their prodcuts - no water is used. These are highly acid-resistant, also difficult to install.
http://www.inspectapedia.com/structure/SlabCracks8.htm
10.0 Describe and evaluate the requirement of primary legislation to control aspect such as provision of drainage, water supply, and building over sewer etc.
The piping network within a structure which conveys sewage, rainwater, or other wastes from their point of origin to a point of disposal, such as a public sewer or a private treatment facility.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
designed to reduce the potential impact of new and existing developments with respect to surface water drainage discharges.
The idea behind SUDS is to try replicate natural systems that use cost effective solutions with low environmental impact to drain away dirty and surface water run-off through collection, storage, and cleaning before allowing it to be released slowly back into the environment, such as into water courses. This is to counter the effects of conventional drainage systems that often allow for flooding, pollution of the environment - with the resultant harm to wildlife - and contamination of groundwater sources used to provide drinking water. The paradigm of SUDS solutions should be that of a system that is easy to manage, requiring little or no energy input (except from environmental sources such as sunlight, etc.), resilient to use, and being environmentally as well as aesthetically attractive. Examples of this type of system are reed beds and other wetland habitats that collect, store, and filter dirty water along with providing a habitat for wildlife.
Originally the term SUDS described the UK approach to sustainable urban drainage systems. These developments may not necessarily be in "urban" areas, and thus the "urban" part of SUDS is now usually dropped to reduce confusion. Other countries have similar approaches in place using a different terminology such as Best Management Practice (BMP) and Low Impact Development..
http://www.answers.com/topic/drainage-system-2
Conclusion
With reference to the modern development and demand of the construction industry, duties and liabilities of the designing group has increased. In performing their duties, the designers has been in the firing line, where many claims were brought against them in cases of defects detected in buildings. In relation to the above, it is necessary to outline the legal duties and obligations of designers, since under the law, both in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, not all defects detected in a building will be referred back as a reason of a defective design and actionable against the designer. As such, this dissertation is targeted to identify the duties and liabilities of a designer, and to understand what sort of action can be taken against them. In addition to this, situations where no action can stand against the designer will also be studied.
In this research, the method of comparative study or analytical research is applied. This method is adopted based on the fact that the English law formed part of Malaysian law. As such, it will enable the understanding of the development of the law with regards to the construction industry in both countries. In addition to this, the comparative approach adopted will reveal the drawbacks of the law, which will open the room for improvement. From this research, it can be concluded that the general law regulating basic duties and obligations of the designing group in Malaysia and the United Kingdom is similar.
Nevertheless, the English institutions are more elaborate in defining the duties and obligations of the designers, in order to confer better protections to the society as well as to provide better mechanism in relation to the rapid development of the industry in the country.
On this point, the difference is only on the initiative that has been taken by the English institutions, to provide better mechanism in ensuring the smooth running of the industry. This matter can be witnessed through the passing of a number of statutes, which related to the duties of designers, the publishing of a number of standard forms of building contract as well as supplementaries to the standard forms, in comparison to the statutes and standard forms available in Malaysia.
