Effective Communication Skills in Construction Industry

Effective communication skills are crucial when consulting with clients and sub-contractors in the construction industry. These skills can be verbal or non-verbal, including speaking and listening, as well as body language, tone, and gesture. Good listeners are essential for effective communication, and confidence, respect, and friendliness are also important qualities to convey during interactions. Communication should be clear and concise, without unnecessary words or sentences. Additionally, avoiding distractions and maintaining eye contact can help build trust with clients.

Answer: 1
The national construction code present about minimum technical requirement for new
building as well as existing building in Australia. The Australian building codes board is
established by agreement between commonwealth government, every states and territory.
That present about groups of building by present their function and use. The NCC group are
highlighted and classified about how the building should referred. This kind of information
is difficult for all groups and users of all NCC. The following are representation about
building classification through NCC. It depends on the national perspective and also present
about state and territory variation. The building has been classified according to classes. All
classes have different meaning and different objective.
The NCC comprise the building code of Australia with different volume. The volume one
and two consist plumbing code of Australia. Also national construction code is the uniform
set of technical provisions for the design and construction of building and other structure
throughout Australia.
Answer: 2
The building are classified as per the classes as defined in NCC (national construction code).
The classification have labelled in form of class1 to class 10. That also include classification
with sub classification. The sub classification have mention through alphabetical order from
a, b, c etc. the class 2 to class 9 building are mostly cover the entire volume of two of the
NCC. The volume three of the national construction code contain plumbing code of
Australia. The building have been classified as per user and public associate with that
building and construction requirement. The construction of building have more than one
users and classification done according to users, therefore classification assigned more than
one classification.
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There are total ten classes of structure have been classified within the NCC as commercial
low rise building. The classes brief explanation discuss as following:
1. Class 1 are contain building of houses. That are typically single dwell of domestic
nature. They are attachment such as horizontally and building and houses consisting
terrace houses, townhouses and row houses. The class 1a contain single dwelling
with detached house. Class 1b contain boarding house and guest house.
Answer: 3
2. Class 2 are the building construction like apartment. That contain multi story or
mutli-unit residential building.
3. The class 3 contain residential building apart from class 1 and class 2 they have
common land or place e.g. included boarding house and guest house.
4. Class 4 building is dwelling or residence inside the building or non-residential
nature. E.g. caretaker residence in a storage facility.
5. Class 5 types building are the professional type and commercial type. The class 5
also include class 6, 7, 8 and 9 building.
6. Class 6 types building are the shops, cafes and restaurants type building. They are
built for sales and service for public relationship.
7. The class 7 building are carparks building. That typically warehouses, storage
building for present goods.
8. The class 8 building consist construction used for production, assembly, repair,
packaging, food manufacturing or any other manufacturing. That contain sale also.
9. Class 9 classified in class 9a, 9b and 9c. The class 9a refer for hospitals and health
care building. Class 9b consist construction for public and social activity that include
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schools, universities, children care centre etc. the class 9c construction induce age
care buildings. That include residential accommodation for old peoples.
10. Class 10a buildings are shades, carpets and private premises, class 10b building
construction for swimming pool or lakes. Class 10c buildings are private bushfire
shelter.
Answer: 4
 Structural performance of a structure is described in terms of the effect of section
properties on various materials.
 Structural performance characteristics of slabs, floors, beams, columns and retaining
walls are explained and applied to the planning of the construction work.
 Demolition of existing structures is coordinated in accordance with legislative and
planning requirements, environmental standards, and safe work practices.
Answer: 5
Unit of stress : N
m2 ∨MPa
Pressure unit: Pascal
Answer: 6
Unit of force: Newton or Kilo-Newton
Unit of pressure: Newton or Kilo-Newton
Answer: 7
Structural member: it is support which is part of any structure or building or structure
member is a component used to build or develop entire construction.
The structural member is the principal component of any building or structure. E.g. beam,
plate, riser, support, tread, sill and bracing are the example of structural member.
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Beam is the long thick component or piece of metal, concreate used for construction, a beam
provide strength of the entire construction. Entire construction loaded and load distributed
over the entire span of beam. Plate is a structural member used to consist horizontal beam
which provide bearing and anchorage. Similarly, riser consist vertical part of stair or step.
Support is a device that bears the weight of something else, that have no place to attachment
supports for a shelf.
Answer: 8
Primary loads are classified into main two categories and as per they behaviour on the
structure and structural elements. The classification done as live loads and dead loads. The
loading of the construction structure can be put into different form. At different case the
loading may not manage exactly as per individual category still it can classified as primary
or secondary loading. Primary loading are depends on the structural material, occupants etc.
the primary loading also affected by surrounding medium and weather conditions as well.
Also that affect by the external different loading condition which are apart from primary
loading. The primary loading also affect through extreme weather also. whereas secondary
loading are those loading which affect other properties such as change in temperature,
construction eccentricities, shrinkage of structural member, foundation and other external
loading except primary loading.
Live load: as define name of the loading, that loading are those loads which are transient
and can be varies it magnitude as per external condition. The live load include all
component and part which consist ordinary building structure such as furniture, books, TV,
sofas, machinery, stored materials etc. The live load also affect through external
environment such as loading due to sun, earth and change in weather. The natural disaster
and natural activity which cannot control by human being such as earthquakes load and
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Tsunami put into special category called lateral live loads due to its action and reaction.
They are potential to cause of failure and disaster.
Answer: 9
Dead load on a structure is the total weight of the permanent components such as beams,
floor slabs, walls and columns. These kind of components produce similar loading affect
over the lifespan of the building. Dead loads are the loading exerted in the vertical plane. In
mathematical terms dead loads is equal to volume of member multiply by unit weight of
material.
Dead loads are those loads which affect permanently and they are stationary for long life. It
cannot movable, also unable to remove. The self-weight of the structural members are
usually consider as the portion of dead load of building. The permanent non-structural
elements such roof, water pipe, gas –pipe, environmental control system and related
machinery such as solar penal, lift and all other construction system which may be place as
rigid and may not move for long life called dead load.
Dead load:
Table.1 Dead load with different material and unit weight
Material Unit weight kN /m3
Glass 27.5
Hardwood 12
Mild steel 78
Plain concrete 25
Reinforced concreate 23
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Answer: 10
Force: a force is any interaction that will change the motion of object. The basic properties
of all kind of forces are direction and magnitude. The force represent body with direction
and magnitude of the objective.
The force also classified as per fundamental properties of nature.
1. Gravitation
2. Electromagnetic
3. Fundamental and residual force of body.
Answer: 11
Section modulus is the property of beam section. The section modulus is important
properties while designing or selection beams. The section modulus directly affect the
strength of beam cross section. If the beam has large section modulus then it will
stronger than other beam and capable to withstand at greatest loads.
That section modulus react and work in bending is being done by the extreme fibre of
the beam i.e. top and bottom fibre of the beam. The both section (top and bottom fibre)
impact for strength of beam and used in calculation of section modulus. It denoted by Z.
the calculation of section modulus consider distance to the extreme fibres from the
centroid or neutral axis must be observe as that point where maximum stress induce and
cause failure of beam section.
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Section modulus
Section modulus Z= I
Y
I =moment of inertia
Y =distance ¿ centre of gravity ¿ top most extreme position of beam
Answer: 12
Vertical compression member:
A structural elements which are subjected to axial compression force at vertical direction
(positive or negative) called columns, the columns are subjected to axial load at the centroid.
The columns can be represent as other terms of vertical compression member.
The buckling is other properties represent as vertical compression member and its effect
considerably, it cannot neglected. If length of beam is considerably large compare to the
width of the beam and vertical axial force applied then buckling occur. The buckling occur
when straight column subjected to axial compression load and beam undergoes bending as
shown in figure. Buckling is axial compression load members.
Answer: 13
Following professional persons are consult during planning and construction.
1. Architecture: the architecture play important role in construction, the new design
and development of construction assist by architecture. The architecture decide the
layout of building, facility in building, aesthetic appearance with unitization of all
space and all assign area of construction. The architecture provide human life, and
provide suggestion about the different way of construction and possible outcome as
given location and site. That provide guidance about the different suitable material
for construction and suitable structure as per construction. They provide infinity
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variety of design about the construction which must be sensible toward the nature.
The cost of the construction also depends on the construction design, so design
prepare cost effectively also decide by architecture.
2. Engineers :
The engineer or groups of engineer must needed for construction. Without help of
them consultancies, it was difficult to construct building or structure. All physical
activities of construction have been done with the guidance of that engineering team.
The profession and well experience team of mechanical, civil and electrical
engineering team play important role for construction project. A smart and well
experience engineer reduce human effort, time, and resource and save total cost of
construction project. During planning and construction process, there was unique
place for engineer in construction. The quality control, material selection and
construction maintenance have been monitor and perform by engineering team.
3. Draftsman or design engineer :
The design engineer is also play important role in construction. The building design was
the prime requirement for construction project. The project planning, task allocation and
time line will be decide as per design of construction project. The work break down
structure have been decide through building design. The construction material selection
also decide through design engineer and suitability of specific material decide through
design and design engineer. The geometry location and construction possible decided
through design engineer. Apart from physical work, all construction work have been
prepare draftsman or design engineer. the project planning and quantity of material
require for particular construction project have been decide by design engineer. There
are many task have to perform by draftsman or design engineer. So it is essential to
consult design engineer for construction project.
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4. Land surveyors: the physical construction requirement and planning have been
perform by land surveyors. The land surveyors make exact measurements and obtain
property boundaries. That provide information and data about shape, count,
gravitation, dimension, elevation, location and land feature on or near the earth’s
surface for engineering. They also decide mapmaking, evaluation, construction and
land evaluation. These are the work profile for land surveyors and professional
industrial take consultancies for planning and construction.
5. Quantity surveyors :
The quantity surveyors manages all costs which are related directly or indirectly to
the building construction and related sub project. They provide initial calculation
about the necessary for construction. They are planned or try to manage as low cost
as possible for project. Also make sure about to maintain standard and quality of
construction. They ensure statutory building regulation have met with criteria.
Answer: 14
In order to construct commercial low rise building following material and different method
obtain for construction.
Timber: timber is the prime material used for construction of low rise building. The timbers
are vastly used where it easy available. The different types of timber have used to construct
commercial low rise building. With the help of timber it is easy to construct frame type
structure. The standard size and shapes are available for construction of commercial low rise
building.
Steel: in case construction require more strength and more story then steel material is most
suitable for construction. The steel is strong and stiff material, also considerable less
expensive compare to other material. it is non-combustible and can be withstand at around
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400 degree temperature without change shape. The steel also fireproof which is mostly used
in multi-story building. For small and medium hazardous building, the fireproof is not
essential. All types of structural steel have used in construction whether it pure or inform of
alloy. The standard parts of structural steel have available such as square bars, angles, tubes,
channels, I-beam, different shape of flanges are used as per requirement of building
construction. The steel can formed in to different shape through hot-rolling process.
Apart from fundamental material bricks, stones, rocks sand, woods, cements, ceramics,
metal, plastics, glass fibre, composite material, glass material are used for construction of
commercial low rise building and that are the essential material for construction.
There are different method used for construct commercial low rise building, following are
discuss about different method used for construct method.
Precast flat panel system:
The floor and wall are construct off- site in the building campus and erected done at on-site
to for robust structure, this method is ideal for all types of repetitive projects. That also
include services, doors, windows and construction finishes. The penal with building fitted
with insulation and external cladding can be used as load-bearing elements. This types of
construction called cross wall construction and this can be improve with advance design.
3D Volumetric Construction
The 3D volumetric construction consist the preparation of three –dimensional unit with
control construction. The modules can be arrange to the site in a variety of forms, the
construction range would be basic structure to concern one with all external and internal
finishes and usual service installed. The casting of modules uses the advantages of building
situation and require for quick assembly at the location which make it mostly desirable.
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Hybrid concreate construction:
The hybrid concreate construction conduct all advantages of the pre-casting with the benefit
of cast in suit construction. Merge two as hybrid frame. That results in still good for
construction speed, quality and economy. The hybrid concrete construction can be satisfied
client requirement for economic cost and great quality of construction work. This kind of
construction can be manageable, achievable and competitive structures which offer
performance and quality output.
Answer: 15
Following documentation need to obtained and analysed to assist planning and construction
process:
 Building approval plan
 contract plans
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 designs and specifications
 engineer footing designs and specifications
 original contour survey plan
 registered plans
 retaining walls
 site plans
 soil investigation reports
 structural floor systems, wall systems and roof systems
 tanking designs and specifications
 Underpinning, rock anchors and shoring designs and specifications.
Answer: 16
Footing are the important part of the construction of foundation. The footing is usually made
form concreate with rebar reinforcement which need to pour in side an excavated trench.
The footings are construct in order to support the foundation and prevent settling. The
footings are important at the place of troublesome soils. The construction of footing are
the best leave to the pros which can check the soil situation and obtain on the specific
depth and width for the footing and also proper placement. The dimensions of footings
are also depends on the different size and types of construction structure which will be
built. The placement of the footings are critical that require the proper support for the
foundation and structure also.
The concrete footing may also require for project such as pergola, deck, retaining wall and
different types of construction.
Answer: 17
The following are explain different types of footing:
1. Isolated footing:
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The footing in which are provided under each column individually are known as
isolated footings. The shape of isolated footings are usually square, rectangular or
circular cross section. The isolated footing is laid down on the PCC. These footing
are considerable less price compare to other types of footing. These types of footing
are used where soil bearing capacity is usually high.
Isolated footing have following advantages:
1. This types of footing are economical when columns are placed at the long distances.
2. No special knowledge or guidance require to place or used isolated footing
3. Excavation, form work and reinforcement placement is easy through isolated footing.
2. Flat or pad or plain footing:
These kind of footing are usually square, rectangular and circular cross section which
are usually under individual column. Flat or plain footing is one of the shallow
foundation. That is circular, square or rectangular slab with uniform thickness.
Stepped footing:-
3. Stepped footing:
As suggest name, it resembling that footings are stacked upon one another as steps.
These types of footing are made from concrete cross section and stacked upon each
other. These types of footing are usually used residential building construction.
4. Sloped footing:
Sloped footing are trapezoidal footings. This types of footing prepare with great care and
can be observed that top slop of 45 degree is maintain around all sides. If compare
trapezoidal footing with flat footing then it require less concreate compare to flat footing.
Therefore it reduces the cost of footing in concreate.
5. Shoe or eccentric footing
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Shoe or eccentric footing is the half footing slid from the original shape of footing and it
shape was shoe type. That provided at the corner of the plot that will be no provision of
setback area. That require proper boundary for construction. The column is provided and
loaded at the boundary of the footing. The shoe bearing are constructed when soil bearing
capacity is normal to 24 kN/m2.
Answer: 18
Types of footing system:
 Stump pad footings :
The stump is the basic and simplest footing which is most familiar that used to kept vertical
support and keep withstand from transferring of building loads to the foundations. The
function of stump is to keep support of timber framed and this types of footing is most
cost effective. Mainly three types of material have used for stumps such as timber,
concrete and steel.
Stump pad footing
The stumps must have timber or concrete put inside the base of stump. That will to spread
the load transferred to the stump from the construction building. The support underneath the
stump is called a soleplate or pad. Generally concrete stumps are providing with the concrete
pad and timber stumps are provided with the timber soleplates.
Strip footing:
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Substantial footing supports of reinforced concreate require for construction of building that
contain external and internal masonry walls which are solid brick, brick veneer, cavity wall
or concrete block and stonewall. The reinforced concrete footings are usually known as strip
footings and continuous surrounded to the entire perimeter of the building. The strip footing
requires a minimum particular depth of the concrete that make sure about footings have
adequate strength. The depth called the overall depth of the strip footing and its symbol as
Df.
Another foot system such as stepped footing, concrete footing, pier and beam footing used in
commercial low rise constructions.
Answer: 19:
 Brick bases.
 Engineered timber products
 Panel system of concrete and AAC
 Suspended and slab on ground concrete slab floors.
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Timber and steel floor construction.
Answer: 20
The basic requirement of the wall system is to cover surrounding medium and limited are
with different material such concrete, cement and other construction material, however as
technology developed then requirement of wall system may also change with the wall
system. sometimes that use for protection, sometimes developed from keep separate
distance from social people, sometime it used for protect against heat, air, temperature,
humidity, cold and other natural climate change which difficult to sustain by human being
at all time. Different terms and definitions are selected for wall system such as exterior
cladding, wet zone, and dry zone. Drainage plane, air retarder, vapour retarder, insulation
element, structural elements, interface condition, flashing, wetting, drying, storage
capacity etc. affected to wall system.
Answer: 21
 Composite wall featuring tilt-slab, post and beam, pole and truss and portal frame.
 Earth walls, including rammed earth and mud brick.
 Framed walls incorporating timber, engineered timber products and lightweight
section steel.
 Masonry walls incorporating cavity brick, single-leaf masonry and lightweight
concrete (AAC).
Answer: 22
 boarding
 coatings over base materials
 sheeting
 tilt-slab
 Unfired, fired and autoclaved masonry.
Answer: 23
Relevant service include for wall cladding system:
 ducting for heating and cooling
 electrical, electronic and communication systems
 extractive vacuum and exhaust systems
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 passive and active fire detection and prevention systems
 plumbing and drainage powered systems for operating doors and windows
 Smoke control and containment systems.
Answer: 24
 gable including dual pitch
 hip
 north light
 rafter and purlin
 skillion
 prefabricated and site fabricated trussed roof
 Framing.
Answer: 25
Width of the opening and combine load.
Answer: 26
As shown in figure below, the timber windows frames are needed for flashing under the sill
which require to stop water traveling to the inside wall lining. The side flashing also
essential in order to prevent water travelling to the back of the stiles. Usually developer
provides a groove in the stile in which to tuck the flashing.
Installation of flashing
In case head of the windows may be express to weather, the head of the windows require to
be flashed to terminate any water pouring inside.
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Answer: 27
 concrete, clay and metal tiles
 shakes and shingles
 Short and long run metal sheeting.
Answer: 28
The following are the examples for effective communication skills used when consulting
with other such as client and sub-contractor.
The communication skill are two types, it could be verbal and non-verbal. Verbal
communication skills are deliver to other person such as client with speaking and listening
with them. Whereas non-verbal skills are the include expression and gesture from body
language deliver to client without speak.
important things in communication skills is listening properly when deliver by someone
especially client. Good listeners are always good communicator. No one likes
communication with someone who did not care about listen to other person. So good
communication skill have essential quality such as listening.
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The communication also consider through non-verbal communication through body
language, eye contact, tone, gesture with help of massage try to convey to listener or client.
A relaxed and open arms will encourage to allow speak openly with communicator.
Concision and clarity:
Good communication means did not means talk too much and too little. The good
communicator try to convey message in few words as possible as receiver person can
understand. Always focus on what you want to deliver clearly and directly without added
additional words and sentences. Think about what you are trying to say before deliver. That
helps you to express your though and boost confident.
Confidence:
It is essential to be confidence while interaction with client. The confidence shows your
truth and sincerity about the project or any work which you trying to deliver. The confidence
can be simple as making eye contact with client and express your though friendly and freely.
It is also important voice and sound quality that means it did not present with loud voice
which sounds arrogant.
Respect:
People will more comfortable if your provide respect with special communication word and
behave more friendly with you. In case communication through cell phone then avoid
disturbance and focus on conversion.
Friendliness:
The friendliness tones means personal question, simple smile, casual gesture, without
arrogance that will encourage your confidence and helps to deliver easy way to convey your
talk to listener.
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