Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Major Project Poster Thumbnails - Ruth Hutchison
The colours have gone a bit strange when these imgaes were placed onto Blogger.com........
Monday, June 2, 2008
Major Project Warehouse Section A & B
Site Plan
5 x 5m Office Floor Plan
Office - Section A. 
Office - Section B. Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Major Project - Footing & Pre-cast (construction) Research
Research -SITE VISIT - steel truss system
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Article 6 - Industry Steels Itself For Rises
Industry Steels Itself For Rises
National Building News
May 2008, Volume 8, Number 4.
The cost of iron ore and metallurgical coal is rising rapidly due to an increase in steel production, combined with the recent disruptions in the supply of steel around the world. Companies like BlueScope Steel and OneSteel have both raised the prices across their product ranges, to cope with the rising costs of raw materials. As global prices for iron ore and coal are sky-rocketing, there is a concern here in Australia that commercial construction costs will surge as costs inevitably will be passed on to the consumer. However, the discontinued use of steel on major projects remains low, this is mostly because steel provides an ease and speed of construction, which helps it to remain competitive in the building industry. It is important to note that rising costs in steel is not directly attributed to the cost of organising structural steel on construction sites.
National Building News
May 2008, Volume 8, Number 4.
The cost of iron ore and metallurgical coal is rising rapidly due to an increase in steel production, combined with the recent disruptions in the supply of steel around the world. Companies like BlueScope Steel and OneSteel have both raised the prices across their product ranges, to cope with the rising costs of raw materials. As global prices for iron ore and coal are sky-rocketing, there is a concern here in Australia that commercial construction costs will surge as costs inevitably will be passed on to the consumer. However, the discontinued use of steel on major projects remains low, this is mostly because steel provides an ease and speed of construction, which helps it to remain competitive in the building industry. It is important to note that rising costs in steel is not directly attributed to the cost of organising structural steel on construction sites.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Article 5 - Sustainable Specification For Building
Environ Magazine - Sustainability - Design - Products
Winter 2008, Pg 10.
Envirospec have developed an equitable product specification which defines a practical system of comparison between competing building products, enabling the consumer to easily identify the products contribution to sustainability. This inclusive life-cycle analysis is slightly contentious however, as many assumptions are made in reference to the manufacture, transport, construction, demolition, and even the products in-service performance. ‘In-service performance’ for example, is the specification of levels of insulation to achieve desired energy minimisation.
The second part of the protocol provides for collection of data for subsequent use in life-cycle analysis. Once all the information is gathered it will, then become part of this new specification and environmental declaration.
The CodeMark Scheme enables Architects, Builders, Engineers to choose building products, that they can be sure meet the expectations of the Building Code of Australia.
The second part of the protocol provides for collection of data for subsequent use in life-cycle analysis. Once all the information is gathered it will, then become part of this new specification and environmental declaration.
The CodeMark Scheme enables Architects, Builders, Engineers to choose building products, that they can be sure meet the expectations of the Building Code of Australia.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Site Visit 6
New Shopping Centre on the corner of Koornang Road and Dandenong Road, Murrumbeena, Melbourne.
Here you can see steel reinforcement being craned onto the 3rd story in preparation for a concrete pour.
You can see a pipe line here. This pipe line goes for miles and is pumping concrete from the basement all the way up onto the 3rd level where the workers have been laying reinforcement.
These columns are close to full strength, almost ready for the next stage of construction. You can see the starter bars above the ligatures and internal column reinforcement, they have been left exposed in readiness for the 3rd level concrete floor slab.
This scissor lift (and the fact that this site is a Union site) is the reason I cannot go up and watch the concrete pour. All workers have to be raised up to the next level by this lift. The site is bustling, and i was very lucky to be allowed on site. 
This, I have been told by one of the consruction workers on site, is a post-tension cable. I thought it an interesting photo for inclusion on my blog.
Here you can see steel reinforcement being craned onto the 3rd story in preparation for a concrete pour.
You can see a pipe line here. This pipe line goes for miles and is pumping concrete from the basement all the way up onto the 3rd level where the workers have been laying reinforcement.
These columns are close to full strength, almost ready for the next stage of construction. You can see the starter bars above the ligatures and internal column reinforcement, they have been left exposed in readiness for the 3rd level concrete floor slab.
Dead loads can be seen here. Steel formwork, having been dismantled from lower levels and now waiting to be re-used as this shopping centre quickly gains height and breadth.
This scissor lift (and the fact that this site is a Union site) is the reason I cannot go up and watch the concrete pour. All workers have to be raised up to the next level by this lift. The site is bustling, and i was very lucky to be allowed on site.
This, I have been told by one of the consruction workers on site, is a post-tension cable. I thought it an interesting photo for inclusion on my blog.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Major Project Research Site Visit
Major Project - Site Visit to Innovation Building - Ashton, Raggat, McDougall
Article 4 - Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400º and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400º and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Major Project - Warehouse & Office Design
Major Project -
Warehouse & Office Complex Design.
We have referenced the Innovation Building at Digital Harbour, Docklands, Melbourne and also the St Kilda Library, Melbourne both designed by Ashton Raggatt McDougall.
Office - 6m H. x 20m W.x 30m L.
Warehouse - 8m H. x 40m W. x 40m L.
The Construction technology for these buildings are a Post and Beam structural system with pre-cast concrete cladding and curtain wall glazing with individual windows.The Northern façade of the office building is articulated by Louvres at 3700mm H. x 800mm W., which function as individual decorative fins, and also as efficient sun shade protection. This solution has been utilised to address sustainability concerns and reduce the operating costs of the complex.
Site Visit 5 - Concrete Pour for Raft Slab (House)
The following photos show the preparation of and concrete pour for a raft slab (house). The site is for a two storey dwelling at the rear of a subdivided property in Parkdale, Melbourne.
Foundations and blinding can be seen in this photo. The blinding, which requires a weaker grade of concrete, has been poured at 600mm deep as the site is at a low point on a flood plain and therefore the slab needs to be raised above flood level. Apparently there is a lot more concrete needed for this job than their would normally be due to the location of the flood plain.
Plumbing lines which have been raised above the top of the floor slab and string guides can be also be seen. Pads which are built ip with soil between the strengthening beams have a 150mm thick layer of sand on top and have been prepared with guides for screeding.
The vapour barrier, bar chairs, and reinforcement have been laid. Square reinforcement has been laid on the top of the pads and rectangular between the pads (on top of the strengthening beams). The site has now been prepared and is ready for pouring (At this point it was 7:05am and we were waiting for the concrete trucks to arrive…)
Polystyrene blocks were put in place for the later application of brickwork and a rebate will be formed underneath the polystyrene blocks for the brickwork to sit on. The blocks have been tied back to rough but very sturdy formwork with pins as indicated in the photo.
There are some site specific issues on this job. A telegraph pole and lines are located very close to the property which can be seen in this photo, therefore a boom cannot be used and the concrete has to be pumped through a horizontal line.
The concrete pour is about to begin....
The external channel has been poured first and so far the concrete truck has been replaced just the once.
As a boom can’t be used the concrete hose line has to be moved manually. As concrete is incredibly heavy when wet, the hose needs to be dragged over pegs with a hook.
Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the whole process, and did not get to witness the screeding and the final finished slab, but I now understand how a slab is prepared and poured.
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