MECH1010 – Engineer in Society http://www.hku.hk/bse/mech1010/ Engineers in the Building Sector Dr. Sam C M Hui Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong E-mail: cmhui@hku.hk Mar 2008 Engineers in the Building Sector • Three main routes in construction career: • Graduate (degree) our BEng graduates • Technical (sub-degree/apprenticeship) • Craft (apprenticeship) • Common types of engineers • • • • • Building Services Engineer Civil Engineer Electrical Engineer Mechanical Engineer Structural Engineer Engineers in the Building Sector • Typical job titles: • • • • • • Building services engineer/coordinator Consulting/design/project engineer Facility or building engineer M/E (mechanical/electrical) engineer Project manager Sales engineer • Web link: http://hk.careers.yahoo.com/ • Search for jobs in Building and Construction Industry Engineers in the Building Sector • Employers: • Private companies, such as • • • • • Consulting and contracting firms Construction companies Equipment manufacturers and suppliers Building developers and owners Facility and property management companies • Government departments • Quasi-government bodies, such as power, utilities, and transport companies Can I work in the building sector? Engineers in the Building Sector • Skills required • • • • • • • Organizational Analytical Technical Problem solving Communication (interpersonal) Creative design Drawing Engineers in the Building Sector • Main aspects of the work • Understanding and using physics • Using mathematics to solve technical or scientific problems • Learning about buildings, roads etc and how they are built • Analytical ability to understand and solve challenging problems Engineers in the Building Sector • Related parties: • • • • • • • • Clients, developer, building owner Architect Builder (main contractor) Interior designer Quantity surveyor Urban designers/planners Sub-contractors Suppliers Organisation structure of building projects Client/Employer Architect Building services engineer Structural engineer Quantity surveyor Supervision sector Clerk of work Contractor Site manager Contract manager Quantity surveyor Site operatives Domestic subcontractors Nominated subcontractors/suppliers Safety officer Production sector Engineers in the Building Sector • Teams: enable people to pool knowledge, understanding, skills and responsibility • Teams within a single organisation • Teams formed by different bodies • Teams in the construction industry: made up of many different companies and people which have competing needs and interests • How to integrate their knowledge & skills? Engineers in the Building Sector • Features of teams in the construction industry • • • • • Temporary Knowledge and skill is fragmented Constituent firms are in different locations They have different cultures and priorities Different people in the firms are involved at different times • Often these firms become involved in the project at different times How can I be successful in the building sector? Engineers in the Building Sector • Five main issues to consider: • • • • • Technology (科技) – technical knowhow Codes (規範) – laws and regulations Safety (安全) – proactive in safety management Environment (環境) – environmental protection Ethics (道德) – to act honestly and with integrity Engineers in the Building Sector • Technology (科技) – technical knowhow • Suitable qualifications, such as • BEng in an appropriate discipline • Corporate membership of professional institutes, e.g. HKIE, ASHRAE, CIBSE, IMechE, IEE or IET • Working experience • Actual project design & management (preferably with some specialist skills) • Upgrade yourself continuously (life-long learning) • Acquire other skills e.g. management & finance Engineers in the Building Sector • Codes (規範) – laws and regulations • Typical government legislative documents • Building Ordinance (Laws of HK, CAP 123) • Related regulations (e.g. electrical, fire, structural) • Code of practice • Industrial standards (e.g. British Standards) • Rules from utilities companies, e.g. electricity & towngas Engineers in the Building Sector • Safety (安全) – proactive in safety management • It is extremely important to prevent or minimise accidents (on you or others) • Occupational health and safety matters • Basic safety training, such as Construction Safety Green Card Industrial accidents in the construction industry (Hong Kong) What is the most important reason for the fatal accidents? (Source: Labour Department, 2005. Accidents in the Construction Industry of Hong Kong (2000-2004)) Fatal industrial accidents resulted from “Fall of Person from Height” in the construction industry (2000-2004) (Source: Labour Department, 2005. Accidents in the Construction Industry of Hong Kong (2000-2004)) Breakdown of fatal industrial accidents resulted from “Fall of Person from Height” in the construction industry (2000-2004) (Source: Labour Department, 2005. Accidents in the Construction Industry of Hong Kong (2000-2004)) Engineers in the Building Sector • Environment (環境) – environmental protection • Green construction and sustainable building design (to reduce environmental impacts) • Enhance the performance and quality of buildings Engineers in the Building Sector • Ethics (道德) – to act honestly and with integrity • Anti-corruption and prevention of bribery, e.g. • Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) • Abuse of official power for personal gain • Consequences of corruption in the construction field are severe • Poor quality of construction would cause accidents and endanger human life • Reputation will be affected too Some knowledge of building design is useful for everybody. Engineers in the Building Sector • Buildings provide the environment and facilities to support our living, working, studying, etc. • Purchase of a flat or house is probably the most expensive single item for a person • Building design can determine many of the operation costs and environmental impacts of a business or an organisation Engineers in the Building Sector • Challenges involved in designing and constructing different types of buildings • • • • • Understand the client’s requirements Work within regulations and site constraints Achieve tasks by budget and time Be cost effective and environmentally sound Care about building users and neighbourhoods Engineers in the Building Sector • Video presentation: Look and Learn: Buildings (16 min.) [av 725 B93 VHS] • Buildings designed for special purposes • • • • • Supermarket Fire station Motorway service station Football stadium Police station • Show how they meet the needs of a varied assortment of people who use them Engineers in the Building Sector • Major design considerations • Purpose, location, building materials, interior arrangement, accessibility, parking, environment, safety, comfort/convenience, storage, security, access for handicapped, building space, and provision for the staff • Could you identify and analyse the key points for the buildings that you live/work in or visited before? Homework Assignment • Can be found on the course website • http://www.hku.hk/bse/mech1010/assign.htm • There are 5 questions for our topics • Forms the in-course assessment • Please submit your answer in MS Word or PDF format to Dr. Sam Hui at email “cmhui@hku.hk” on or before Monday, 14 April 2008.