Module No.

01
BASICS OF CONSTRUCTION
Course Outcome 01:
Identify the various codes, rules, and regulation that affect building design and
construction as well as understand the different building parts, its types, function,
and relation to other building parts.

Lesson No. 1.1

INTRODUCTION TO
CONSTRUCTION
Lesson Summary:
This lesson includes the different personnel involved in the construction of a
building, what their roles are, and how they interact with each other.

Learning Outcome:
By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to discuss the various
personnel involved in the design and construction of a building.

Lesson Content:
• Construction Practitioners
• Construction Materials
• General Properties of Construction Materials
CEng 112n Building Technologies

CONSTRUCTION PRACTITIONERS
Construction is defined as the process of making the physical manifestation of a building
project. Before and during this process, a lot of people are involved which are collectively
called Construction Practitioners whether they own the project (Owner/Client), design the
project (Design Professionals), implement or execute the project (Construction Team), or
they produce or provide the materials or products to be used (Suppliers or Manufacturers).

A. Owner or Client

a. Owner
A person or group of persons who has the legal right or title to a piece of property and has
the capability of financing a project.

b. Client
The person requiring the services of various professional.

B. Design Professional

Refers to the person who provides quality services with regards to building and
development designs in exchange for a fair remuneration.

a. Architect
A person professionally and academically qualified, registered and licensed under R.A.
No. 9266 with a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card issued
by the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture and the Professional Regulation
Commission, and who is responsible for advocating the fair and sustainable
development, welfare and cultural expression of society’s habitat in terms of space,
forms and historical context

b. Civil/Structural Engineer (CE)

A civil engineer is trained in the design of static structures such as buildings, roads,
tunnels, and bridges and the control of water and its contaminant while a structural
engineer is trained in a branch of engineering concerned with the design and
construction of structures to withstand physical forces or displacements without danger
of collapse or without loss of serviceability or function.

2|Page
 Lesson 1.1 Introduction to Construction

c. Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE)

A person trained and experienced in the design of electrical system for buildings and
coordination and supervision of all aspects of its construction.

d. Professional Mechanical Engineer (PME)

A person trained and experienced in the design of mechanical system for buildings
and coordination and supervision of all aspects of its construction.

e. Sanitary Engineer (SE)

A person trained and experienced in the design of control of environmental conditions
related to public health, such as water supply, sewage, and industrial waste.

f. Master Plumber (RLMP)

A person technically and legally qualified and licensed to practice the profession of
Master Plumbing without limitations on accordance with Republic Act 1378, having
passed the examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission, has
received a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Master Plumbing and
possesses the current license to practice.

g. Professional Electronics and Communications Engineer (PECE)

A person trained and experienced in the design of electronics and communication
system for buildings and coordination and supervision of all aspects of its construction.

h. Interior Designer (IDr)

A person who designs the interior spaces of the structure which includes the finishes,
cabinetry, counters, and fabrics to be used.

i. Geodetic Engineer (GE)

A person trained to conduct surveys on lands, either flat or with varying slopes, and
locate global positions of points.

C. Construction Team

Refers to the various personnel involved in the

implementation of the design of the project.

a. Professional In-Charge of Construction

The professional in-charge of maintaining
the quality of the work done by the
contractor. Also, the professional
responsible for the compliance to the
standards and drawings set by the design
professionals.

3|Page
CEng 112n Building Technologies

b. Contractor
One who undertakes responsibility for the
performance of construction work, including
the provision of labor and materials, in
accordance with plans and specifications and
under a contract specifying cost and
schedule for completion of the work.

1. Project In-Charge
The person leading the workers for the
completion of the project.

2. Foreman
The head of the work team responsible
for a section of the project.

3. Skilled Workers
Workers with unique skills or who has undergone training from known training
centers. These includes Carpenters, Masons, Steelmen, and Welders.

4. Labor/Helpers
Workers who do not have sufficient skills to lead a work. Usually, workers that aids
the work of the various skilled workers.

c. Subcontractor
A person or organization who has a direct contract with a prime contractor to perform
a portion of the work at the site.

D. Suppliers and Manufacturers

They are those offices or stores that provide the

market for material purchase, rentals for
construction equipment, and even training
facilities for specialized workers.

a. Manufacturer
These are stores, companies, individuals, or
shops that produces a product, whether
generic or special purpose, to be used in the
construction. These are sometimes called
Producers.

b. Supplier
These are stores, companies, or individuals that provide finished products purchased
from various Manufacturers to be sold to the Contractor. These are sometimes called
Distributors.
4|Page
 Lesson 1.1 Introduction to Construction

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
In order to execute a design of a Building, various materials are to be used. Regardless of
how they are used in the construction, it is important to understand the commonly available
materials that can be used for the project. In general, construction materials can be
categorized into four (4) which are presented below.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Ceramics Metals Polymers Composite

any of various hard, elementary substance which a compound of high a combination
brittle, non-corrosive are crystalline when solid molecular weight formed of two or more
and non-conductive and many of which are by polymerization and materials to
material formed by characterized by opacity, consisting essentially of form a better
ionic bond of metal ductility, conductivity, and repeating structural material.
and non-metal unique luster when freshly units.
material. fractured.

Concrete, Masonry, Ferrous, Non- Ferrous Wood, Plastics and

Glass Rubber, Coats

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
A. Mechanical Properties

A physical property of a material that exhibit a response to applied forces, such as tensile
and compression forces, whether axial, eccentric, or torsional. The figure below, called the
Stress-Strain Diagram, best explains the mechanical property of a material.

Stress
Elastic
Range Plastic Range Strain-Hardening Range

Ultimate
Strength

Brittleness

Yield Point

Fracture/
Rupture Point
Proportional
Limit
Elastic Limit Ductility

Stiffness
Modulus of Elasticity Strain

5|Page
CEng 112n Building Technologies

a. Elastic range
Range of unit stresses for which a material exhibits elastic deformation

1. Proportional Limit
The stress beyond which the ratio of stress to strain for a material no longer
remains constant

2. Stiffness
A measure of a material’s resistance to deformation when stressed within its elastic
range

3. Brittleness
A material property which causes it to rupture suddenly under stress with little
evident deformation

4. Modulus of Elasticity
Ratio between a unit stress and the corresponding unit strain caused by the stress

b. Plastic range
Range of unit stresses for which a material exhibits plastic deformation

1. Elastic Limit
Maximum stress that can be applied to a material without causing permanent
deformation

2. Yield Point
The stress beyond which a marked increase in strain occurs in a material without
a concurrent increase in stress

3. Ductility
Material property which enables it to undergo plastic deformation after being
stressed beyond the elastic limit and before rupturing

c. Strain-Hardening Range
Range of unit stresses for which a material exhibits increased strength with some loss
of ductility.

1. Ultimate Strength/Stress
Maximum tensile, compressive or shearing stress a material can be expected to
bear without rupturing or fracturing

2. Fracturing/Rupture
Breaking of a material resulting from the rupturing of its atomic bonds when
stressed beyond its ultimate strength

6|Page
 Lesson 1.1 Introduction to Construction

B. Dimensional Stability

A property of a material that enables it to maintain its original shape and dimensions when
subjected to changes in temperature or humidity. Usually changes are measured from its
thickness, length, or general shape.

a. Moisture Expansion
Increase in the bulk of a material caused by the absorption of water or water vapor

b. Thermal Expansion
Increase in length, are or volume of a material caused by a rise/fall in temperature

C. Weatherability

A property of a material that enables it to retain its appearance and integrity when exposed
to the effects of sun, wind, moisture, and change in temperature.

D. Abrasion Resistance

A material property that enables it to resist being worn away by friction when rubbed with
another object.

E. Hardness

A material property that enables it to resist deformation by compression, indentation, or

penetration.

- End of Lesson -

7|Page