Unit 2: Construction Technology
Unit code Y/615/1388
Unit type Core
Unit level 4
Credit value 15
Introduction
The basic principles of construction technology have not changed for hundreds of
years. However, the materials and techniques used to achieve these basic principles
are constantly evolving; to enable the construction industry to deliver better quality
buildings. Scarcity of resources and the continuing demand of more sophisticated
clients, end users and other stakeholder interests, are driving the construction
industry to provide buildings which facilitate enhanced environmental and energy
performance, and greater flexibility, in response to ever increasing financial,
environmental, legal and economic constraints.
This unit will introduce the different technological concepts used to enable the
construction of building elements; from substructure to completion, by understanding
the different functional characteristics and design considerations to be borne in mind
when selecting the most suitable technological solution.
Topics included in this unit are: substructure, superstructure, finishes, building
services and infrastructure components. On successful completion of this unit a
student will be able to analyse scenarios and select the most appropriate construction
technology solution.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, a student will be able to:
1 Explain the terminology used in construction technology
2 Describe the different techniques used to construct a range of substructures and
superstructures, including their function and design selection criteria
3 Identify the different types of civil engineering/infrastructure technology used in
support of buildings
4 Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of building services and how they
are accommodated within the building.
Essential Content
LO1 Explain the terminology used in construction technology
Types of construction activity:
Low, medium and high-rise buildings, domestic buildings, for example house,
flats and other multi-occupancy buildings, commercial buildings, for example
offices and shops, industrial buildings, for example, light industrial and
warehouses.
Construction technology terminology:
Loadbearing and non-loadbearing, structural stability, movement and thermal
expansion, durability, weather and moisture resistance, aesthetics, fire
resistance, sound insulation, resistance to heat loss and thermal transmission,
dimensional co-ordination and standardisation, sustainability and scarcity of
availability, on-site and off-site construction, legal requirements, buildability,
health & safety.
Construction information:
Drawings, specification, schedules, CAD, Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Sustainability:
Supply chain
Lifecycle
‘Cradle-to-grave’
‘Cradle-to-cradle’
Circular economies.
Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
Specification – Issue 7 – July 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 100
LO2 Describe the different techniques used to construct a range of
substructures and superstructures, including their function and design
selection criteria
Pre-design studies:
Desk-top, Site Reconnaissance, Direct Soil Investigation techniques.
Substructure functions and design considerations:
Different methods for gathering disturbed and undisturbed samples, influence
of soil type on foundation design, including water and chemical content,
potential loads, position of trees and the impact on foundations, economic
considerations, legal considerations (health & safety work in excavations),
building regulations, plant requirements.
Types of foundations:
Shallow and deep foundations, strip and deep strip foundations, pad
foundations, raft foundations, piled foundations (replacement and displacement
piles).
Types of superstructure:
Traditional construction, framed construction: steel, composite concrete and
steel, timber.
Walls; roofs; structural frames; claddings; finishes; services.
Walls:
External walls: traditional cavity, timber frame, lightweight steel.
Cladding: panel systems, infill systems, composite panel systems, internal
partition walls.
Roofs:
Pitched and flat roof systems, roof coverings.
Floors:
Ground floors, intermediate floors, floor finishes.
Staircases:
Timber, concrete, metal staircases, means of escape.
Finishes:
Ceiling, wall and floor finishes.
Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
Specification – Issue 7 – July 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 101
LO3 Identify the different types of civil engineering/infrastructure technology
used in support of buildings
Site remediation and de-watering:
Contamination management: cut-off techniques, encapsulation.
Soil remediation: stone piling, vibro-compaction.
De-watering: permanent sheet piling, secant piling, grout injection freezing,
temporary techniques, such as pumping, wells, electro-osmosis.
Substructure works:
Basement construction: steel sheet piling, concrete diaphragm walls, coffer
dams, caissons, culverts.
Superstructure works:
Reinforced concrete work: formwork, reinforcement, fabrication, concrete, steel.
LO4 Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of building services and
how they are accommodated within the building
Primary service supply
Cold water
Gas
Electricity.
Services distribution
Hot and cold water
Single-phase and 3-phase electricity
Air conditioning ductwork.
Services accommodation:
Raised access flooring
Suspended ceilings
Partitioning
Rising ducts.
Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
Specification – Issue 7 – July 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 102
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
Pass Merit Distinction
LO1 Explain the terminology used in construction
technology
P1 Describe the M1 Apply the terminology D1 Evaluate how the functional
differences between used in construction characteristics and design
residential, commercial technology to a given selection criteria impact on the
and industrial buildings building construction eventual design solution
project
P2 Explain how the
functional characteristics
and design selection
criteria are informed by
proposed building use
P3 Discuss the ways in
which sustainability can be
promoted in building
projects
LO2 Describe the different techniques used to construct
a range of substructures and superstructures, including
their function and design selection criteria
P4 Describe the pre-design M2 Analyse how site LO2 and LO3
studies carried out and conditions impact on the
D2 Prepare a design report
types of information design of foundations
identifying superstructure,
collected for a given
M3 Illustrate how the substructure and civil
construction site
component parts of an engineering structures
P5 Explain the functional element allow it to fulfil its necessary for a given building
characteristics and design function construction project
criteria for primary and
secondary elements of a
building substructure and
superstructure
LO3 Identify the different types of civil
engineering/infrastructure technology used in support
of buildings
P6 Describe techniques M4 Compare different
used for remediating the types of structural frame
site prior to construction used to carry the primary
commencing and secondary elements of
the superstructure
P7 Describe the types of
substructure works carried
out by civil engineers
Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
Specification – Issue 7 – July 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 103
Pass Merit Distinction
LO4 Illustrate the supply and distribution of a range of
building services and how they are accommodated
within the building.
P8 Describe the supply M5 Demonstrate the D3 Appraise how the
arrangements for primary elements of the distribution of the primary
services superstructure used to services impact on the overall
facilitate the primary design of the building
P9 Explain the distribution
services
arrangements for primary
services
Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Construction and the Built Environment
Specification – Issue 7 – July 2019 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 104
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
BRYAN, T. (2010) Construction Technology: Analysis and Choice, Oxford: Blackwell.
CHARTLETT, A. and MAYBERY-THOMAS, C. (2013) Fundamental Building Technology.
3rd ed. Abingdon: Routledge.
CHUDLEY, R. et al. (2012) Advanced Construction Technology. 5th ed.
Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
CHUDLEY, R. and GRENNO, R. (2016) Building Construction Handbook.
Abingdon: Routledge.
FLEMING, E. (2005) Construction Technology: An Illustrated
Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 3: Science & Materials
Unit 6: Construction Information (Drawings, Detailing,
Specification) Unit 7: Surveying, Measuring & Setting-out
Unit 14: Building Information
Modelling Unit 15: Principles of
Refurbishment Unit 18: Civil
Engineering Technology
Unit 25: Management for Complex Building Projects
Unit 27: Construction Technology for Complex Building
Projects Unit 35: Alternative Methods of Construction
Unit 46: Advanced Materials
