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Unit 3: LO2 - Discuss the environmental and sustainability factors which impact on and influence the material choices for a construction project

BTEC Level 4 Higher Nationals Construction and the Built Environment

UNIT: Unit 3: Science & Materials

Higher National Certificate Construction & the Built Environment/Civil Engineering

Assignment Brief Number: 1

Issue 1

Higher National Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment/Civil Engineering

Assignment Brief

Student Name/ID Number

 

Unit Number and Title

Unit 3: Science & Materials for Construction & the Built Environment

Academic Year

2020/21

Unit Tutor

 

Assignment Title

Human Comfort and Structure

Issue Date

 

Submission Date

 

IV Name & Date

 

 

 

Unit 3: Science & Materials for Construction & the Built Environment

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO2 - Discuss the environmental and sustainability factors which impact on and influence the material choices for a construction project

LO3 - Present material choices for a given building using performance properties, experimental data, sustainability and environmental consideration

LO4 - Evaluate the performance of a given building in respect of its human comfort requirements.

Assignment Brief and Guidance

Scenario:

Mankind’s primary aim has always been to shelter and protect, to provide some form of comfort within their surroundings. Human comfort and specifically the energy performance of the building has been improving consistently during the last two decades, and although the improvements in recent technologies have delivered simple solutions for new builds, the existing stock of buildings presents a more complex problem.

The ambition for greater energy efficiency has resulted in increased levels of insulation and efficient methods of generating energy for light and thermal comfort, and whilst this has demanded innovative envelope and glazing solutions, the problem is magnified when navigating the numerous physical constraints of existing building stock. Constraints such as façade retention, listed building status, unknown envelope properties, decaying finishes and inadequate structures present the designer with numerous compromises to find a best-fit solution.

The need for ‘houses now’ also presents problems, the Government are eager to see 300,000 dwellings built annually, and historically the industry has fallen significantly far of that mark.

Innovation in private homes, temporary accommodation and parasitic architecture is growing, and is being popularized through television and social media as ad-hoc solutions to the housing shortage.

As the cost of houses continues to increase, homeowners assess the feasibility of upgrading their properties through conversion and adaptation schemes against moving home. These conversions have to meet current building regulation standards irrespective of the standard of the existing stock.

As a Design Consultant, you have been approached to provide a material and services strategy for a design project issued by Mr T Hillier of Archibuild

Your design strategy must include the possible structural options for the building and environmental strategies for construction and comfort.

Develop a visual design strategy including sketches, drawings and a commentary on the specifications. Calculations should be used where possible to reinforce the decisions made. Your strategy will need to be justified to the client, including policies for disposing of waste.

Your design strategy and commentary should include the following details:

An evaluation of how your chosen strategy takes the following sustainable principles into consideration

  • Environmental Profiling
  • Lifecycle Assessment
  • Cradle to Grave/Cradle to Cradle
  • Product Declaration
  • Environmental Certification

Your design strategy should consider a range of perspectives to inform your discussion, for instance, how has the small scale tradesperson been impacted, in comparison with the national contractor/merchant with regard to those above?

For the chosen material strategy which should be informed by minimising resources and waste, Create a sketch graphical section illustrating the choice of materials used to produce your design including a waste management plan for the disposal of material used on the project.

Using the data provided, illustrate the results for compressional strength of concrete, including averages

Using these results, discuss appropriate solutions for materials that could be used in the design referring to material properties such as compressional strength, ductility, and thermal conductivity. Also assess the choices of structural materials that could perform functions such as lintels, beams and columns

Describe the material choices in terms of enhancing the balance of the indoor environment and human comfort. Your choices should take into consideration:

  • Thermal Comfort, ventilation and condensation
  • Natural and Artificial lighting

Calculate the thermal transmittance through the section of wall, floor and roof you have designed. Assume a U-value for glazing of 1.0W/m2K

Calculate the heat loss through both fabric and ventilation for one room of the completed proposal.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning aim 2:

Pass

Merit

Distinction

P2 Explain material environmental profiling and lifecycle assessment. Use a relevant material to exemplify your explanation

M2 Produce a waste management plan for a given project, taking into account a typical range of relevant waste materials.

 

P3 Discuss the benefits of product declaration and environmental certification

Learning aim 3:

P4 Present the results of relevant testing procedures to identify performance characteristics of selected construction materials.

M3 Assess the effects of loading structural materials and compare the behaviours and performance of materials which could be used for the same function.

 

P5 Discuss the results in terms of the material properties and regulatory requirements, highlighting any unexpected results and why these may occur.

 

 

P6 Select construction materials for a given building based upon their performance properties in use.

Learning aim 4:

P7 Define a material selection strategy with regard to human comfort requirements.

M4 Perform calculations which relate to a selected area (lux levels, u- values, acoustic and ventilation).

D2 Illustrate how the use of sustainable practices and considerations for material choice can improve the environmental rating of the completed building.

P8 Identify materials for a selected area within a building and explain how these contribute to a balanced indoor environment.

D3

Evaluate how the use of passive or active strategies can minimise energy, materials, water, and land use.

 

 

Learner Feedback on Completing Assignment

 

Learner Declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.

Learner signature:                                                                        Date:

Assessment Results

Grading Criteria

Achieved? (Y/N)

P2 Explain material environmental profiling and lifecycle assessment. Use a relevant material to exemplify your explanation

 

P3 Discuss the benefits of product declaration and environmental certification

 

P4 Present the results of relevant testing procedures to identify performance characteristics of selected construction materials.

 

P5 Discuss the results in terms of the material properties and regulatory requirements, highlighting any unexpected results and why these may occur.

 

P6 Select construction materials for a given building based upon their performance properties in use.

 

P7 Define a material selection strategy with regard to human comfort requirements.

 

P8 Identify materials for a selected area within a building and explain how these contribute to a balanced indoor environment.

 

M2 Produce a waste management plan for a given project, taking into account a typical range of relevant waste materials.

 

M3 Assess the effects of loading structural materials and compare the behaviours and performance of materials which could be used for the same function.

 

M4 Perform calculations which relate to a selected area (lux levels, u-values, acoustic and ventilation).

 

D2 Illustrate how the use of sustainable practices and considerations for material choice can improve the environmental rating of the completed building.

 

D3 Evaluate how the use of passive or active strategies can minimise energy, materials, water, and land use.

 

Assessor Comments

 

Assessor Declaration

I certify that the evidence provided is authentic and is the learner’s own work and has been assessed in line with BTEC and Coleg Gwent assessment policies and procedures.

Assessor signature:                                                                       Date:

 Unit 3: Science & Materials for Construction & the Built Environment


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