GREENFIELD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Greenfield, MA
SCI 114: Residential Construction
Fundamentals
COURSE (CODE AND TITLE)
X
45
3
ADVISING
CODE
CONTACT
HOURS PER
SEMESTER
CREDITS
COURSE (CATALOG) DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to residential construction techniques with an emphasis on basic construction skills. Students explore the
safe work habits of trades people, construction systems and material handling. Topics include site assessment, material
analysis, safe use of power and hand tools, framing, insulation, thermal control practices, and design process overview.
Green, environmentally-responsive practices are integrated into each component of the course.
Special
Requirements:
Prerequisite(s):
MAT 090
Recommendation(s):
MAT 105
A. SUGGESTED TEXTS AND/OR OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
SCI 114: Residential Construction Fundamentals
COURSE (CODE AND TITLE)
DATE
B. INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
A student who successfully completes this course will be able to…
1. Identify correctly three major types of construction framing: balloon, platform
and post and beam, and identify strength and weaknesses in each in terms of
building efficiency, energy efficiency, and safety.
2. Identify common framing and finish materials.
3. Analyze, compare and rank building materials in terms of sustainability,
environmental impact and cost of use.
4. Explore new products that utilize materials from the construction waste stream
in terms of impact on landfills, new employment opportunities and
educational requirements associated with them.
5. Demonstrate a working knowledge of basic construction skills including but
not limited to squaring, leveling and measurement accurate to 1/8”.
6. Demonstrate ability to design proper foundations for home construction.
7. Demonstrate ability to design, frame, and join load-bearing walls.
8. Demonstrate ability to design and build roof components.
9. Identify gaps in the building envelope typically created by conventional
building processes, and develop strategies to avoid these gaps.
10. Demonstrate competency in basic home design components.
11. Analyze and adjust design components as informed by hands-on construction
experience and energy efficiency issues.
12.Analyze a typical residential unit in terms of orientation and thermal control
practices and develop strategies to reduce energy usage and decrease carbon
footprint.
13.Sequence construction processes to produce an energy efficient product.
14.Analyze a waste product of residential construction and explore means to
reduce and/or recycle it.
15.Perform a cost/benefit analysis and prioritize steps to reduce energy
consumption.
16.Analyze conventional and “green” construction practices for final cost per
square foot versus yearly operating expense over varying conditions of costs
for conventional fuel sources and changing interest rates.
17.Comprehend the roles of management and labor in the building process and
correctly identify the reasons for these divisions.
18.Associate job tasks with the corresponding labor group(s) or management
team(s).
C. COURSE OUTLINE
When preparing the outline consider others who may teach this course in the future.
1. Major types of construction framing; balloon, platform and post and beam.
2. Strengths and weaknesses in construction framing in terms of building
efficiency, energy efficiency, and safety.
3. Common framing and finish materials.
4. Sustainability, environmental impact and cost of building materials.
5. Roles of management and labor in the building process and correctly identify
the reasons for these divisions.
6. Basic construction skills including but not limited to squaring, leveling and
measurement accurate to 1/8”.
7. Safe use of power and hand tools needed for basic construction.
8. Garden shed (or similar) construction: wall and roof framing and joining.
9. Sequencing construction processes to produce an energy efficient product.
10.Building envelopes, including identification of gaps and use of caulking and
insulation product to air seal them.
11.Construction waste products, reducing and recycling.
12.Analysis of typical residential units in terms of orientation and thermal control
practices. Use of solar site assessment devices.
13.Reducing energy usage and decreasing carbon footprint.
14.Cost/benefit analysis. Payback on design and construction changes that affect
energy consumption.
15.Sustainable energy systems.
16.Safe use of ladders and scaffolding.
17.New construction products
18. Analysis
of conventional and “green” construction practices
SCI 114: Residential Construction Fundamentals
1/17/08
COURSE (CODE AND TITLE)
DATE
D. APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES
How will this course address the DRAFT GCC General Education Competencies?
In an effort to obtain wide spread feedback on the General Education
Competencies, please indicate for the categories below how one or more may
apply to your course. CAP also welcomes any comments you have about the
General Education Competencies. You may include your comments at the end of
document. Thank you!
Students will develop and appreciate respect for the environment by understanding the relationship
between resource depletion, global warming and climate change to residential green construction
Students will develop quantitative literacy by squaring, leveling and measuring boards, calculating
heat loads and solar gain, and conducting cost/benefit analysis of construction and energy-use over
the life of the structure
Students will demonstrate the ability to access and evaluate knowledge by gathering information
from mechanical, economic and environmental sources while evaluating construction framing and
new construction techniques