EHDE 083: BUILDING SCIENCE AND CONSTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

Amulla W.

Description

The purpose of this course is for the learner to acquire knowledge and skills in the use of public
health principles in building construction. The course introduces basic principles of building
construction including designing, drawing, approval of plans, siting, construction, and
inspection.
Course objectives:
At the end of this course the student should be able to:
1. Understand the role of public health in building construction
2. Demonstrate ability to select and use building materials
3. Acquire skills in interpretation of building plans
4. Participate in building plans approval
5. Acquire basic skills in designing and drawing building plans
6. Articulate the components of building construction process from site selection to
finishing
7. Articulate aspects of built environment that relate to public health
8. Advise on worker safety during construction work
Syllabus
Week Topic Description Remarks
1 Introduction to Building Definition of building
(ii) Classification and
types
(iii) Introduction to
National Building Codes

3 Buildings and public health --Role of public health in

building construction
--Effects of built
environment on public
health

3 Building Construction and Definition, purpose and

Construction Team procedures for
building construction
 (ii) Parties in the
construction team.
(Client’s team,
contractor’s team and
statutory personnel.
(iii) Function of the team
members.
(iv) Relationship of the
parties

4 Safety Practices Definition of safety, rules

and regulation.
(ii) Hazards in the
workshop and
construction site.
(iii) Causes and method
of accident prevention.
(iv) Safety equipment and
measures at construction
site.
(v) First aid equipment,
procedures and safety
wears.
(vi) Safety in working
with dangerous
equipment and materials
(electricity, scaffolding,
formwork, cement, roof,
etc

5 Basic tools, equipment and machines Identification and

functions of basic.
(ii) Tools and equipment.
(iii) Care of tools and
equipment.

6 Site works --Definition

--Site selection
(principles)
--Need for site
investigation
--Operations involved in
site clearing.
--Tools and equipment for
site clearing and levelling.
 --Basic site levelling
operations
-- Hoarding of site
--Termite control

7 Site organization and layout Preliminary operations in

building construction.
(ii) Procedure for site
layout.
(iii) Location, boundary
lines, hoarding, hutments
and access road

8 Setting out (i) Methods of setting-out.

(3:4:5 method, Builders’
square method).
(ii) Tools and equipment
for setting out
(iii) Procedures for setting
out

9 Building Drawing (i) Use of drawing tools

and simple exercise on
plane geometry in relation
to building.
(ii) Building drawing
symbols
(iii) Scales used in
building and their
application on site.
(iv) Production drawings
and interpretations (Plans,
Elevations, sections and
details).
(v) Special details
(Detailing building
elements including doors
and windows schedule).
(vi) Scaling
(Enlargement, pictorial
and perspectives.

10 Excavation and earth-work. (i) Classifications, types

and properties of soil.
 (ii) Definition and
function of excavation.
(iii) Methods of
excavations.
(iv) Tools, equipment and
plant used for excavation.
(v) Solution to excavation
problems (Earthwork
support, timbering
battering and dewatering).
(vi) Safety rules during
excavations

11 Foundation (i) Definition, purpose

and functional
requirement of
foundation.
(ii) Types of foundation.
(iii) Factors that
determine choice of
foundation

12 Floors (i) Types, functions and

functional requirement of
ground floor.
(ii) Methods of
construction ground floor.
(iii) Flooring materials.
.

13 Walls (i) Definition, types and

functions of walls
(ii) Definition, types and
properties of walling
materials. (including
locally sourced materials).
(iii) Manufacturing
processes of walling
materials (clay, brick,
blocks and concrete
blocks).
(iv) Sizes of blocks and
bricks
(v) Mortar mixes for
brick.
 (vi) Methods of wall
construction
(vii) Timber wall
construction.
(viii) Definition and
function of wall openings.
(ix) Methods of
constructing wall
opening.
(x) Functions of lintels
and arches

14 Doors and windows (i) Definition, functions

and types of doors and
windows.
(ii) Methods of mixing
doors and window
frames.

15 Plumbing installations and drainage (i) Types of fitting in

system plumbing and sanitary
works.
(ii) Materials for
plumbing works and
fittings.
(iii) Types of sanitary
appliances.
(iv) Soil and waste
appliances.
(v) Installation of sanitary
appliances.
(vi) Terms used in
drainage works.
(vii) Principles and
functional requirement of
drainage system.
(viii) Types of drainage
system.
(ix) Types of drainage
materials (pipes and
fittings).
(x) Methods of laying and
testing drain lines.
(xi) Description of septic
and soakaway (inspection
chamber, manhole, etc).
16 Roofs (i) Definition, purpose
and types of roof.
(ii) Functional
requirements of roof
(iii) Materials used for
roofs.
(iv) Roof covering
materials.
(v) Protection of roof
from wind, rain,
lightening, etc

17 Finishes A) Floors:
(i) Types and
characteristics of floor
finishes.
(ii) Methods of laying
floor finishes.
(iii) Uses of floor finishes.
(iv) Care and maintenance
of floor finishes.
(B) Walls
(i) Types and
characteristics of wall
finishes
(ii) Plastering and
rendering
(iii) Types of rendering
(iv) Methods of applying
plastering and rendering
mix.
(v) skirting
(C) Ceiling:
(i) Types and function of
ceiling finishes.
(ii) Ceiling finishing
materials.

18 External Work (i) Types of fence,

materials for fencing and
construction of fence.
(ii) Types of gate, fixing
of gates and production of
gate.
 (iii) Types and materials
for construction of access
roads.
(iv) Construction of
access road.
(v) Needs and materials
for landscaping.
(vi) Procedures for
landscaping.

19 Contract work (i) Definition and types of

contract.
(ii) Contract documents.
(iii) Parties to a contract