Building designs in countries like the United Kingdom are currently checked manually against a frequently changing and increasingly complex set of building regulations. It is a major task for designers and those bodies that are charged with enforcing building regulations. As a result, there can often be ambiguity, inconsistency in assessments and delays in the overall construction process. This scenario indicates the need for automated building regulation compliance checking, which is an easier and valid option. As part of this, a critical review is carried out of the building code compliance checking related efforts undertaken in different countries, including Australia, Singapore, Australia, Norway and USA. Furthermore, it is determined that the use of Building Information Models (BIM) and the Industry Foundation Class (IFC) standard is imperative for automated compliance checking in England and Wales. Most of the initiatives mentioned above focuses on creating object based rules and mapping the entities encapsulated within them to the international building model schema. The schema is designed to support the needs of an international user and takes little consideration of national semantics (e.g. UK practice and culture). Hence, the research focuses on creating UK building regulation specific data model schema. The analysis of Part-B1 through knowledge formalisation has resulted in identification of over 120 semantic entities. Using the output, a Part-B1 data model schema has been developed using EXPRESS-G language. Thus, an England and Wales building regulation specific, semantically rich, object model schema appropriate for the requirements of automated compliance checking has been developed. The data model schema development results into a document modeling method. This method was developed in a manner such that it would be applicable to model any building regulation technical document. The development of a document modeling method acts as a contribution to the knowledge as building experts, rule authors and computer programmers can use it for data modeling. The said methodology was implemented on a sample legislative document to validate its usefulness. Also through the research work, concepts such as knowledge formalisation and a clause filter system were coined and successfully utilised to overcome the issues related to unsuitability of building regulations. This work accounts as a contribution to knowledge due to its novelty. A clause filter system was developed primarily to extract appropriate information suitable for automated compliance checking. On the basis of various key findings, a detailed framework for automated compliance checking of the UK building regulations is delivered through the research work.

Delays are a common feature of construction projects and frequently lead to disputes between the parties. In resolving these disputes it is essential to have a robust methodology for analysing delays. It is argued that current understanding of available delay analysis methodologies is inadequate and hindered by taxonomic confusion. There is a need for guidance on available delay analysis methodologies and an explanation of how these are implemented, and, as a result, models have been proposed that aid practitioners in the selection of a defendable and most appropriate delay analysis method under the specific circumstances of a project. This suggests an element of choice over the method to be selected: for example, the Society of Construction Law recommended the Time Impact Analysis methodology for undertaking a retrospective delay analysis. The question is whether this or any such methodology is necessarily appropriate. There is general confusion over the selection of delay analysis methodologies. Here, it is proposed that this confusion can be reduced and delay analysis improved by an analysis of the latest research on the status of delay analysis in the UK, an analysis of common law guidance on methodology, an assessment of professional and research literature on delay analysis and research into what is being currently undertaken by experts in the field of delay analysis. This has been done using a mixed methods approach that included: (i) analysis of a questionnaire survey by the CIOB to understand the current state of time management in the UK construction industry; (ii) analysis of the industry guidance on delay analysis methodologies; (iii) a comprehensive review of related English Case Law; and (iv) an analysis of 27 case studies comprising programming expert reports that were presented as evidence in arbitrations. These multiple sources enabled the researcher to ascertain, in the case of each delay analysis methodology: (a) the dominant method actually used in disputes; (b) the details of its application; (c) the reasons for its selection; and (d) its level of accuracy and subsequent acceptability. The research demonstrates that when time claims are accompanied by cost claims there is a dichotomy in the choice of appropriate methodology. There is a clear preference for prospective analysis of time issues, but a retrospective approach for claims that involve finance. At the same time, when a claim contains both elements, the courts appear to prefer a single approach, namely, the retrospective approach. This has resulted in the recommended method of undertaking delay analysis by the Society of Construction Law being not supported by English common law and ultimately to an increase in confusion within the Industry. Given the courts’ fundamental opposition to a method that better accords with forensic logic, it is expedient to recommend a ‘best of the rest’ method for delay analysis rather than adopt a formulaic approach to selecting the appropriate delay analysis methodology. Case study reviews have shown the Windows Analysis methodology is widely used and this is also widely accepted as the most accurate and appropriate methodology, although less well known than other less appropriate delay analysis methodologies. Apart from its theoretical significance, the research should improve construction practitioners’ understanding of delay analysis, and provide clarity on the evidence required to support a claim for an extension of time. It has the potential to reduce disputes over selection criteria and promote harmony between the construction and the legal professions over the appropriate method of resolving delay claims.

No description available.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 W37 / Master of Landscape Architecture

The United Kingdom is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 as part of a strategy to mitigate climate change. As housing is responsible for approximately 26 percent of all UK carbon emissions, housing carbon reduction is a key component in meeting this target. Local Authorities are faced with the problem of how to improve the quality of existing housing stock, provide additional social housing to meet increasing demand, and cutting emissions from both new and existing housing stock. The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is being used as a means to deliver new and refurbished social housing using private, rather than public capital, and is expected to enable the delivery of sustainable, rented homes. However there have been concerns about the use of the PFI model to deliver public sector housing which meet sustainability goals. The overall aim of this thesis is to examine whether the UK’s Public Finance Initiative (PFI) can achieve the procurement of sustainable social housing. In order to address this aim, the study considers the technical and contextual issues that affect sustainability in PFI housing projects, focussing specifically on one such project in the North East of England. With regard to the technical issues, the research introduces a methodological tool that has been developed to assess the sustainability of PFI housing projects. It is envisioned that the tool will be useful for assessing the sustainability of other housing projects procured under a public private partnership arrangement. The contextual issues are examined by means of an ethnographic study carried out from within North Tyneside Councils PFI procurement team over a period of 2 years. The results of the study suggest that the PFI procurement model can be used to deliver sustainable housing, but is currently hampered by a lack of skills, knowledge and understanding. These problems are particularly acute at the project management and governance level within the procuring local authority. The study identifies the need for clear guidance on incorporating sustainability into the procurement of PFI projects. It also recommends the use of appropriate tools to assess the sustainability of plans and build capacity within local authority procurement teams.

ABSTRACT The title of this degree project after  three years long education of construction engineering is “Distances to evacuation routes” with the subtitle “A study of walking distances to escape routes and its design possibilities using simplified dimensioning”. The idea for the project came from the company Fire AB in Västerås. They are oriented in fire protection dimensioning. When specifying the fire protection for a building you can choose from two different methods, simplified dimensioning or analytical dimensioning. The simplified dimensioning is an easier way of designing the fire protection, you just follow the rules in BBR given by the swedish national board of housing, bulding and planning. Analytical dimensioning is a more complicated method which places higher demands on the user. In some cases analytical dimensioning is a demand. There has been a problem with the simplified method when you dimension the distance to an emergency exit. The maximum distance to an escape route is given in BBR 19/20 and can’t be exceeded at any time. If you have a distance of 31 meters and the acceptable distance is 30 m you would have to solve it with analytical dimensioning, but if you have a normal ceiling height this is very difficult because the calculation values are very high compared to the values used in simplified dimensioning. The only way to get that extra meter accepted is to install some kind of fire alarm which increases the cost of the building. Before BBR 19/20 you could do a report with a risk analysis of that extra meter. That extra meter is often a corner in a room and doesn’t affect the evacuation. When you calculate that extra meter it will affect the evacuation time considerably but in reality it doesn’t make any major difference. It’s not reasonable to install a fire alarm that increases the cost of the building with an extra hundred thousand SEK. The question that will be answered is: How has the maximum walking distance to escape routes changed over time in the different regulations? The requirements for walking distances to escape routes being used today, how where these created and have they been tested in any way? How do they do in Norway, Finland and New Zealand when they decide the maximum distance to an escape route? What do the calculations say? Would a longer distance to an escape route or a higher ceiling height be better for the people that evacuate? There are differences in the maximum distance to an escape route between the countries that has been compared in this essay. In some cases has Norway and Finland has a longer distance than Sweden but overall they are very simlilar. New Zeeland is the country with the longest walking distance in all scenarios. In some cases New Zeeland has the double amount of meters than Sweeden to an escape route. The capter about walking distances to an escape route in the swedish ordinance “Boverkets byggregler” has looked almost the same since 1975. It is time for that chapter to be revised after todays building techniques and materials.  Keywords: distance, evacuations, routes, fire, dimensioning, housing, building and planning. / SAMMANFATTNING När en byggnad konstrueras är utrymningssäkerheten för byggnaden väldigt viktig. En del inom utrymningssäkerhet är gångavstånden till utrymningsvägar. Det maximalt tillåtna gångavståndet till utrymningsvägarna bestäms med hjälp av tabellvärden genom förenklad dimensionering eller genom att beräkna tiden till kritiska förhållanden och därefter beräkna maximala gångavstånd detta kallas analytisk dimensionering. Det förstnämnda har behandlats i detta arbete. Med hjälp utav förenklad dimensionering bestäms det maximala gångavstånden till utrymningsvägar efter vilken typ av verksamhet samt dess förutsättningar som råder i det tänkta utrymmet. Max tillåtna gångavstånd varierar från 15 m upp till 60 m beroende på verksamhetsklass och förutsättningar. Syftet med detta arbete är att utreda metoden för att ta fram de längsta gångavstånden samt hur relevant denna är i dagsläget, ytterligare ett syfte är att jämföra denna metod mot Norge, Finland och Nya Zeelands metod för att bestämma längsta gångavstånd. Arbetet består av en litteraturstudie som är baserad på lagtext från de olika länderna. Intervjuer har gjorts med människor som jobbar inom det berörda området i de olika länderna. En teoretisk del presenteras i slutet på arbetet i form av beräkningar, där användes datorsimuleringsprogrammet CFast. Från och med 1947 fram tills idag så har det funnits 4 olika regelverk för byggande i Sverige som alla behandlat gångavståndskraven till utrymningsvägar. Dessa regelverk är Byggnadsstyrelsens anvisningar till byggnadsstadgan (BABS) 1947-1967, Svensk byggnorm (SBN) 1968-1989, Boverkets nybyggnadsregler (NR) 1989-1994 och Boverkets byggregler (BBR)1994-. I BABS var kraven näst intill obefintliga, det kom krav om gångavstånd till utrymningsvägar för bostäder 1960 men nämndes ytterst kort. Till BABS 1960 kom de första kraven som var indelade efter verksamhetsklasser och förutsättningar, det hade dock inget krav för verksamheter där det förelåg en hög risk för bränder. I SBN 1975 infördes gångavståndskraven som används än idag med den enda skillnaden att brandbelastningen för 60 meters gångavstånd är 250MJ/m2 golvarea istället för 40 MJ/m2 omslutande area. I NR användes också denna tabell för att bestämma det maximala gångavståndet till utrymningsvägar. När BBR 1 kom gick man över från detaljkrav till funktionskrav, detta gjordes för att främja alternativa lösningar och teknisk utveckling. Gångavståndskraven flyttades från BBR till rapporten 1994:10 Utrymningsdimensionering sedan Utrymningsdimensionering 2004 och sist till Utrymningsdimensionering 2006 innan de togs tillbaka in till BBR 19. Det var alltså till BBR 19 som kraven återinfördes i BBR. Anledningen till detta var att det skulle bli enklare för användaren. Målet med BBR 19 var att öka verifiering utav brandskyddet i byggnaderna. Det rådde tidigare stor variation utav säkerhetsnivån då Boverket inte reglerat detta tillräckligt. Konkurrens mellan företagen kunde uppstå då företagen kunde tolka reglerna olika. En följd utav detta blev att det blev svårare för branschen att kunna göra alternativa lösningar, t.ex. längre gångavstånd då det i BBR 19 var tydligare gränser för vad som var acceptabelt och inte. Detta ledde till irritation inom vissa delar utav branschen då utrymmet för diskussion med kommunerna kring ett för långt gångavstånd blev mindre. I BBR 20 är kraven desamma som i BBR 19 och snart kommer även BBR 21 att släppas och även där är kravnivån densamma. I våra grannländer Finland och Norge används ett liknande system. I Finland använder man inte verksamhetsklasser utan skriver ut exempel på byggnader och vad de har för maximalt gångavstånd. Finland är medlem i EU och det kan därför tyckas att kraven för gångavstånd till utrymningsvägar borde överensstämma med Sverige men så är inte fallet. Det finns inget krav på att byggreglerna ska vara enhetliga inom EU även om det skulle underlätta arbeten utom landets gränser. Gångavstånden är t.ex. längre för samlingslokaler men kortare för industrilokaler. Detta beror på att de två länderna ser olika på olika typer utav risker. Norge delar in sina utrymmen i olika riskklasser där varje riskklass har ett maximalt gångavstånd till utrymningsvägar. Norge är inte medlem i EU och kraven för maximala gångavstånd är hårdare än Sveriges. Norges krav för bostäder är 30 m jämfört med Sveriges 45 m och Norges krav för industrier är 50 m mot Sveriges 60 m. Det sista landet som utreddes i detta arbete är Nya Zeeland. Regelverket i Nya Zeeland skiljer sig mycket mot de övriga. Regelverket delas in i två grenar, verification methods (VM) och acceptable solutions (AS). VM är en analytisk dimensionerings metod där brandskyddet dimensioneras genom att personen som dimensionerar brandskyddet går igenom 10 olika scenarion, när dessa har gåtts igenom och målen har uppfyllts ska byggnaden vara godkänd. AS är förenklad dimensionering, den delas in i AS 1-7, där varje nummer är en byggnadstyp. Gångavstånden skiljer sig kraftigt mot de Svenska då de är mycket längre. I Nya Zeeland kan byggherren välja vilka nivå på brandskyddet ett visst utrymme ska ha och får därefter olika långa gångavstånd. Grundkraven är generellt sett högre än de svenska och används den högsta klassen på brandskydd, t.ex. automatiskt brandlarm och sprinklers med rökdetektorer så är gångavstånden i vissa fall dubbelt så långa som de svenska. Sista delen i arbetet är beräkningar över gångavstånd och takhöjd kontra tid till kritisk nivå. Kritisk nivå kan uppstå på olika sätt i ett rum, t.ex. att brandgaslagrets höjd kommer till en viss nivå, att toxiciteten är för hög eller att värmestrålningen är för stark. Beräkningsexempel utfördes på två olika lokaler med olika gångavstånd, 30 och 45 m. Takhöjden höjdes sedan med en tredjedel i de båda lokalerna och tiden till kritisk nivå jämfördes sedan. Beräkningsexempel avslöjar att takhöjden och gångavstånden (byggnadens storlek) har stor inverkan på tiden till kritisk nivå. När takhöjden höjs eller gångavståndet förlängs så ökar lokalens volym och därmed får röken en större yta att sprida ut sig på. I förenklad dimensionering tar man inte hänsyn till takhöjden och blir ett gångavstånd för långt måste analytisk dimensionering användas. Beräkningarna visar just att en större byggnad som har ett längre gångavstånd eller en högre takhöjd är gynnsamt då tiden för en säker utrymning ökar. Det vore kanske lämpligt att införa en paragraf i förenklad dimensionering att alla utrymmen som har en viss takhöjd eller en takhöjd över standard kan tillgodogöra sig en tredjedels längre gångavstånd precis som man får göra om en sprinklerinstallation görs. Den specifika takhöjdsgränsen bör tas fram genom riktiga försök samt beräkningar. Detta är en av arbetets slutsatser. Nyckelord: gångavstånd, utrymning, branddimensionering, Boverket.

This study observes how the size and type of land development can often be limited by the supply of fresh groundwater sources. Multiple-use recharge basins were found to be effective in diverting pollutants around a potable source of groundwater, thus reducing the chances of that source becoming contaminated. A computer-aided numerical model was used to simulate groundwater flow and its responses to recharge basins in a hypothetical situation.Through a series of trials, artifical recharge was able to abate the problem of groundwater contamination in certain geohydrologic conditions. Optimum rates of recharge and discharge were determined to effectively divert contaminated groundwater around several types of developments. From these findings, land use options and development intensities can be safely recommended for areas which otherwise may have been nearly undevelopable. / Department of Landscape Architecture

No description available.

There has been little comprehensive investigation of secondary office vacancy in the UK, nor its potential management or amelioration. In response, this thesis is a study of the nature, scale and location of this situation and an appraisal of the various strategies for its management and amelioration. There are three strands of research. An investigation into the nature, scale and location of secondary commercial office vacancy in the UK. An appraisal of potential management strategies and the development of policy recommendations in relation to the potential amelioration of this situation. An appraisal of the literature was conducted to develop an initial theoretical interpretation of secondary office vacancy. A multi attribute database of commercial office vacancy was then developed to evidence the stock of secondary office vacancy in the UK. Finally, a Delphi exercise was conducted to understand the underlying conditions of this phenomenon, its management and potential amelioration. Findings indicate that secondary office vacancy is ambiguous and colloquial. Vacant secondary office property exists in abundance while prime office property is in short supply. The institutions of the commercial office market over simplify and potentially disguise its manifestation. The incidence of secondary office vacancy is primarily caused by a structural change in the nature of demand. It can be held in reserve to support prime office supply, however, it can also overhang less buoyant locations. Consequently, the management strategies for secondary office vacancy are stratified, ranging from exploitation, to demand repositioning, to renewal and finally removal and redevelopment. Findings suggest that these management strategies should be predicated upon the demonstration of economic viability and mediated by the relative era of construction and underlying institutional characteristics. Finally, policy recommendations suggest that the amelioration of secondary office vacancy would be assisted by the promotion of more agile ways of working based on functional tolerance, and optionality.

The aim of this research study is to understand the impacts of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on communication patterns of construction projects. This has been investigated through the identification of current communication patterns within the construction sector. A communication framework has been constructed which identifies a set of characteristics and defines benchmarks according to those patterns that can be managed during BIM implementation. This thesis has examined the issues surrounding the use of e-mail and BIM and addresses the potential that BIM has to increase electronic communication caused by traditional and disjointed working practices as well as lack of pre-defined communication protocols. This research finds that today the use of e-mail has become inevitable which promotes the exchange of documents as attachments. However, BIM is introducing new ways of working in which the industry is bound to move from a document-centric environment to a more data-driven environment utilising intelligent and data rich information models. The study continues to discuss that the integration of BIM as a collaboration platform is not as advanced as the industry sector perceives and proposes the necessity of a greater understanding of current communication practices, which can be addressed by the development of a conceptual framework of communication. This study has utilised a mixed method strategy with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and it was divided into two stages. The initial stage employed two research techniques; a pilot study and focus groups. This stage was largely exploratory and set out to understand and observe current trends with regards to construction communication and used an inductive reasoning to generate a hypothesis. The second stage of the study was explanatory to explain the impacts of BIM on communication patterns of construction projects using descriptive analysis as well as using deductive reasoning to achieve a clear demonstration and a validation of the hypothesis. During this stage electronic communication patterns and peoples‘ activities were critically evaluated via data mining techniques on a large dataset provided by a 4Projects, a Software as a Service (SaaS) company. Conclusions of the research highlight the potential for better understanding of the impacts of BIM on communication patterns though the development of a conceptual communication framework and the use of contextualised maturity models. This research has identified opposing views within the industry with regards to the impact of BIM on communication patterns within construction projects. These views are polarised into the belief at one extreme that BIM will lead to improved communication and at the other that BIM will lead to increased unmanaged and unreliable information exchanges during design and construction of projects. The results of this thesis also demonstrate a wide range of concerns around communication practices. These issues are due to the growth of the industry in relation to technology, organisation size, project complexity, cultural changes and innovation. Some of the key cultural barriers include; digital engineering capability and competency, cost-driven culture, shift from document and records management to data and information management, legal and commercial aspects of project contracts, collaborative frameworks, education, training and support and leadership in a digital construction which need to be resolved in order to obtain the most benefit from BIM as a collaboration platform.