Science and Materials in Construction and the Built Environment

SCIENCE AND MATERIALS IN
CONSTRUCTION AND THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Basic factors that influence human comfort in internal environment....................................1
P2 Measurement of analysed factors...........................................................................................2
P3 Acceptable values for analysed factors..................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P4 Underpinning concepts which relates to structure of load.....................................................3
P5 Simple structural behaviour...................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
P6 Performance criteria for relevant construction material........................................................4
P7 Production and manufacturing process for two relevant construction material....................5
P8 Important features and properties of relevant construction material.....................................5
P9 Analysis of construction
materials for decay after use......................................................................................................6
P10 Preventive techniques for deterioration of construction material........................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Science and material in construction are core concepts which helps in analysing different
aspects which are considered by property develop for specific construction. The report will focus
on analysing factors which will be considered by developer for human comfort in internal
environment. It will outline the construction details for turning old warehouse into modern office
premises. Thus, it will determine deterioration of construction material which will be considered
before planning and using material of construction.
TASK 1
P1 Basic factors that influence human comfort in internal environment
When constructing or renovating building, it is important for the developer to ensure
effectiveness in factors of human comfort in internal environment. However, in accordance to
modern office accommodation it is important for the proper development to focus on work
comfort of working environment because it is the key factors which determines resistance of
staff members. The four factors which will considered for internal office environment are as
follows:
Visual Comfort: It is major concern of office places which spaces tare either over-lit or
under-lit. However, to control this factor the developer will focus on colouring of premises,
glares, rendering and lightning. With regard to lightning the constructor will target both the type
of lighting that is day and electric lights (Gulghane and Khandve, 2015). Consideration over
these factor will help in serving human comfort in internal environment.
Thermal Comfort: This factor is related to internal air temperature as per comfort level
of humans. There are two elements which needs to be controlled for managing thermal comfort
that is environmental and person. In accordance to these elements the property developer of
modern office accommodation will be focused on humidity, air velocity, radiant temperature,
metabolic heat and clothing insulation (The six basic factors, 2017).
Sound factors: Sound is office premises is the crucial factor which influence human
comfort and internal environment. It is an energy which is transmitted in pressure of waves and
changes in to audio as per air pressure in room. However, to prevent sources of noises the
developer will aim at soft covering of walls on the basis of sound absorption values.
Physical and personal factors: Personal factors impacting human comfort are, age,
gender, state of health, clothing and the level of activity. Like room temperature is directly
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related to age of a person where older people have less bearibility to low temperature in
comparison to young people. Thus, the appropriate office temperature which will use by property
developer is 140W.
P2 Measurement of analysed factors
Measure of each factors according to velocity and human comfort is the best strategy
which helps in managing changes and effectiveness in construction process. It can be said that
the impact of each factors is linked to other. However, there are tool of measuring factors of
internal environment for human comfort which is described below:
Visual Comfort: It is important for the developer to measure intensity of light with the
helps of light meter. It helps to take prevention measure which secure construction from under-lit
and over-lit. The meter helps in measuring electric current which helps in determining amount of
light hitting the surface.
Sound factors: Level of sound in modern office premises will be measured with the help
of sound level meter. This instrument helps in picking sound by using electricity in order to
convert it into digital scale. It is the tool which is used by person instantly to calculate average
rate of sound in specific area (Werfel, Petersen and Nagpal, 2014).
Physical and Thermal Comfort: Impact of physical factors are measure with human
comfort level with thermal factors. The impact of these factors are measured with the helps of
instruments that is hygrometer, anemometer, thermometer and globe thermometer. In this
hygrometer is a measurement tool which is used to measure that saturation of water vapour in the
air of the surrounding environment.
P3 Acceptable values for analysed factors
Measurement of factors have an appropriate rate according to human resistance. It helps
in setting acceptable values of factors in accordance to human factors and requirement in internal
environment. Apparently, in accordance to construction of office premises, the acceptable range
of temperature in room is 19°C- 21°C. It is important for the property developer to ensure same
digits in globe thermometer. Further, sound is calculated and measured in terms of decibels and
the best range of office place is 135dB-137dB.
However, the intensity of light also plays an important role in setting comfortable office
environment. In accordance to light measurement the range needs to be between 50- 100 Lux.
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On the other hand humidity in office premises is also related to human comfort and it needs to be
managed between range of 40%-60% (Saieg, Sotelino and Caiado, 2018).
Thus, as per analysis of acceptable values it can be said that it is important for the
property developer to ensure proper measure of factors when converting an old warehouse into
modern office accommodation. It is essential of the management team to ensure proper
measurement and plan for temperature and internal environment because client is focused on
making working environment safe and comfortable of employees.
TASK 2
P4 Underpinning concepts which relates to structure of load
Construction of old ware house in modern house premises needs proper structuring for
which it is important for the property developer to use struts, beans, ties, frames, roofs and
columns. In addition, it is important for the developer to consider protection against load.
Structural components: Tie helps in designing structure to carry tensile force and make
high standing structure of building (Alwan, Jones and Holgate, 2017). It helps in establishing
string hold on structure which is done to control the pressure of winds. Further, beams are the
used to build span between walls. It is effective because it has pressure of tension and
compression. Similarly, struts are used at construction site for distributing weight of building in
order create average distribution ion every side. In addition, columns are support to handle
vertical weight of construction. Lastly, frames which are used to connect different part of site.
Thus, it can be said that it helps in managing structural segregation.
Loads: In accordance to building of office premises there are three types of loads that is
imposed, dead and wind. Loads have completely different characteristics like dead loads are
stationery and can be moved through entire life of structure. However, live loads can be changed
at the time of unusual change in building. These are placed in structure of building to enable
unusual support to standing structure of premises (Sev, 2017). Further, imposed loads are
dynamic and can be removed from building if not needed. Thus, live loads are also known as
wind load and their presence is unpredictable in construction business.
Configuration of loads: Load configuration are divided into two that is uniformly
distributed and point loads. The loads are used by property developer to make structure of
building strong and safe. Point load is a weight which is placed at certain point to bock the
movement of heavy items. Beam is used to support point loads, it helps in pushing weight
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upwards with equal strength. Thus, it can be said that the upwards movement helps in blocking
movement. On the other hand., uniformly distributed load is used to make movement simpler
and easy.
P5 Simple structural behaviour
Structural behaviour is related to stress which is segregated in to various components that
is compression, tension, bending, shear etc. Stress is a member of theses components and is an
effective tool of building and construction site. The characteristic and functioning of types of
stresses are as follows:
Bending: It is done to change the structure and positioning of beam. There are two types
of ending that is positive and negative where positive is related to bending beam in downward
direction for creating pressure on ground section of beam area (Armer, Clarke and Garas, 2014).
On the other hand, negative beam is focused on bending beam to upwards direction for creating
pressure on upper section.
Shear: Positive shear is focusing of beam to left and upwards side which can result in
snapping and cracking whereas negative shear is related to creating force on beam on right side
which is done to distort shape and strength of beam on left direction.
Compression: It is a vertical force which is given for giving push to building structure in
downwards direction. It is done for creating force for crushing and compressing material.
TASK 3
P6 Performance criteria for relevant construction material
Choosing best and relevant construction material is the major concern which helps in
promoting effectiveness in construction of modern office premises. The performance criteria to
client for material will be including commonly used construction material which are as follows:
Timber: It is most common construction material and is used for various purposes from
many years. Timber has porous characteristic as it has air pockets which helps in easy absorption
of water which makes its texture rigid and strong (Son, Kim and Kang, 2014). Further, it does
not have electric and thermal conductivity which reflects its high resistance ability. However, it
will be used in construction of modern office because it can stop flow of electricity. Thus, it will
be used for ceiling and floor joists and for rafting roofs.
Metal: It is diverse construction material and is used for various purposes. However, for
construction of office building the property developer will use mild steel as it has strong
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characteristics and helps in coping wit complex construction situation (Gulghane and Khandve,
2015). It will be used because it can bear high amount of stress and do not have air gaps due to
which it does not absorb water. Further, it will assist in passing thermal and electric lines by
creating electrical wiring which will helps in managing safe electricity sources in office
premises.
Plastics: It holds complex characteristics as it produced from polymerisation and is
frequently used at construction sites. It can be shaped according to requirement which is most
generic way of using it at sites. Further, it is frequently used because plastic is easily available
and is cheap. In addition, it helps in stopping flow of water and holds effective characteristics of
insulating wiring.
P7 Production and manufacturing process for two relevant construction material
Timber: It is extracted from tree after cutting them down. In this process of cutting
certain trees are selected and left for drying timber. It is done by air drying method. Thus,
method assist in removing moisture from timber with the helps of which its texture become
string and rigid (Kibert, 2016). It produced when moisture level goes below 20 %. In addition,
there are two type of timber that is softwood and hardwood where hardwoods are, ash, walnut
etc., whereas softwood are Douglas fir.
Steel: Production of steel is based on two process that is strengthening and purifying. UK
steel industry implements the use of two different manufacturing methods that is arc furnace and
oxygen converter. Raw material which are required to make steel are, molten iron, coke and
fluxes. In arc process of manufacturing steel, lots of recycled scrap steel is filled in vessel In
which electric probes are dropped with shut lid. Power is turned on between melts and probes.
The steel is produced and further purified.
P8 Important features and properties of relevant construction material
Important properties and features of relevant construction material which will be
considered by client of modern office are as follows:
 Density: It is the key criteria where the client will aim at analysing density of material in
accordance to its size and mass (Werfel, Petersen and Nagpal, 2014).
 Thermal transmittance: It derives U value of construction material. This value will be
analysed by client because it will help the person in evaluating material ability to stop
flow of heat.
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 Porosity and Water absorption: In this client will be focusing on analysing material
ability to absorb water and air because it is the characteristic which will helps in deriving
strength of building.
 Compatibility: In this focus of client will be on comparing all the construction material
chosen by property developer in which will helps in deriving resistance in accordance to
material when combined together.
P9 Analysis of construction
materials for decay after use
Deterioration: This will be done by client to analyse life pan of construction material a
which will assist in evaluating time of for replacement and renovation (McMullan, 2017). Thus,
it will be based on insect attack, corrosion, electrolytic action, frost attack, chemical fungal and
sulphate attack.
Electrolytic Action: It is related to material which come in contact with water. It is the
situation of metal which may corrode. It is roofing of material in order to prevent corrosion
because of electrolytic action generally in cases of rain.
P10 Preventive techniques for deterioration of construction material
Deterioration can be prevented by considering following facts that is:
 Use of stainless steels
 Adequate painting
 Isolation
 Removal and replacement of infected timber
 Woodworm chemical treatment
CONCLUSION
The report summarized about material in construction which is most common part of
science and environment. It discovered about the process and construction material which will be
used turn old ware house in modern office premises. Further, it outlined about basic factors
which needs to considered at time of construction with regard to human comfort that is visual,
thermal and sound factors. In addition, it determined structural concepts which needs to
considered by property developer for construction of workplace. Hence, it concluded by
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identifying about different types of construction material and their relevant with regards to client
satisfaction.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Alwan, Z., Jones, P. and Holgate, P., 2017. Strategic sustainable development in the UK
construction industry, through the framework for strategic sustainable development,
using Building Information Modelling. Journal of cleaner production. 140. pp.349-358.
Armer, G.S.T., Clarke, J.L. and Garas, F.K., 2014. Building the Future: Innovation in design,
materials and construction. CRC Press.
Gulghane, A.A. and Khandve, P.V., 2015. Management for Construction Materials and Control
of Construction Waste in Construction Industry: A Review. Int. Journal of Engineering
Research and Applications. 5(4). pp.59-64.
Kibert, C.J., 2016. Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. John Wiley &
Sons.
McMullan, R., 2017. Environmental science in building. Palgrave Macmillan Education.
Saieg, P., Sotelino, E.D. and Caiado, R.G.G., 2018. Interactions of building information
modeling, lean and sustainability on the architectural, engineering and construction
industry: a systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 174. pp.788-806.
Sev, A., 2017. How can the construction industry contribute to sustainable development? A
conceptual framework. Sustainable Development. 17(3). pp.161-173.
Son, H., Kim, C., Hwang, N. and Kang, Y., 2014. Classification of major construction materials
in construction environments using ensemble classifiers. Advanced Engineering
Informatics. 28(1). pp.1-10.
Werfel, J., Petersen, K. and Nagpal, R., 2014. Designing collective behavior in a termite-inspired
robot construction team. Science. 343(6172). pp.754-758.
Online
The six basic factors. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/factors.htm>.
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