Construction Technologies
MTEL Technology and Engineering
Sub-Area III
Careers to consider
• Civil/Structural Engineers – Design, locate, and
plan for construction jobs. Site tests, structural
inspections, and selecting suitable building
materials
• Building Inspectors – Ensure complience with all
applicable zoning and construction codes
• Contractors – Supervise the entire construction
process
• Safety Specialist – Maintain safe work
environments on large scale job sites
Classes of Construction
• Light Construction – Mostly residential, limited to floor
and ceiling joists with wood framed walls.
• Heavy Construction – Any construction which must use
heavy equipment such as cranes, or excavators.
• Civil Construction – The building of social infrastructure
such as road, bridges, water lines, sidewalks, and other
public projects
• Industrial Construction – Constructing, factories, power
plants, and or processing plants. Often requires very
careful and time consuming planning and design
layout.
Building Codes
• A set of construction standards that
determine the manner in which structures are
to be built.
• Established and enforced at the municipal
level.
• City officials conduct building inspection
throughout the construction process.
• If all standards are met, the city will issue a
certificate of occupancy
Permitting
• Many construction activities require a permit
from a government agency.
• Types
– Conditional-use permits authorize land use in areas
which it would otherwise be forbidden. Usually the
permit must prove the “greater good” of the project
– Nonconforming permits are granted to structure
which do not fit the current zoning codes
– A Variance is a permit which allows the owner to
change its land use in direct conflict with the zoning
laws.
Zoning
• To determine the manner in which land can be
used in a particular community.
• Established and enforced by local governments
they seek to divide up land into distinct districts
to best meet the need of the city or town
• The zoning laws describe the kinds of building
which can be built in an area, the density of those
structures, and if and what kinds of commercial
or industrial use can be permitted
Environmental Regulations
Environmental Regulations
Terminology - Arch
• An arch is a structure
that supports weight
atop an open space, such
as the top of a window.
Normally semi-circular in
shape but also can
appear flat or pointed.
• Arches remove tensile
stress and support the
load as compressive
stress
Terminology - Cantilever
• A projecting structure only supported at one
end. Think of a diving board or a balcony on a
building.
• They must carry the entire load from the free
end to the supported end.
Terminology - Suspension
• A structure which is comprised of cables
strung from central columns supporting a
horizontal beam.
• The structure is supported by tension in the
cables and compression in the columns
Terminology - Truss
• A system of interlocking structural member
which gain strength from their geometry.
Most commonly seen in triangular patterns.
Building Materials - Steel
• Steel has a greater compressive strength and far
superior tensile strength then that of concrete or
wood.
• It is a top choice for large scale construction
project
• However it is also far more expensive
• Steel alloys come in a variety of material
properties and density.
– An engineer must calculate and recommend specific
steel alloys for a particular project
Building Materials - Concrete
• Concrete is made from cement, cementitous
materials, water and additives.
• Inexpensive when compared to similar
construction materials
• Has a very high compressive strength
• A very low resistance to tension or torsion
– Brittle in nature and prone to cracking
• Often reinforced with steel
Building Materials - Wood
• A very common building material, found in its
natural state as well as engineered products.
• Products such as LVL (Laminated Veneered
Lumber) and plywood are glued together
layers of timber which increase their strength
• A brittle material by nature, is prone to
sudden failure
• Is easily damaged due to weather conditions
or undue stress
Light Construction Anatomy of a House
Great Source for Easy to Understand
Structure Terminology and Meaning
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/in
dex.html