RILEM TC 248-MMB was established in 2012 with the main aim to improve and distribute knowledge related to moisture measurement in construction materials in various scientific and industrial applications. Properties and performance of building materials and structures are influenced to a large extent by the moisture conditions in the materials. Obvious examples are heat conductivity, shrinkage and creep, transport properties, most types of deterioration, discoloration etc. For research and applications the moisture conditions must be quantified, by measurements in the laboratory or under field conditions. There is much variation in methods being used, even within the same topic, in different countries, both with regard to materials and to applications. No consensus whatsoever does exist. For the construction industry it is important to be able to quantify the moisture conditions in an accurate way in various applications. This state-of-the-art report is divided into two parts, Principles and Applications, with altogether 28 chapters on various moisture measuring principles and a number of applications.

Post-tensioning is the most versatile form of pre-stressing, a technique which enables engineers to make the most effective use of the material properties of concrete, and so to design structural elements which are strong, slender and efficient. Design in post-tensioned concrete is not difficult and, if done properly, can contribute significantly to the economy and the aesthetic qualities of a building. Post-tensioned floors have found widespread use in office buildings and car park structures, and are also frequently employed in warehouses and public buildings. However, in spite of this, most prestressed concrete texts devote comparatively little attention to floors, concentrating instead on beam elements. This book answers the need for a comprehensive treatment of post-tensioned floor design.

Procurement Systems details the whole spectrum of procurement issues in the construction industry, starting with the client /customer and running through managerial, cultural and IT-based issues. The book commences with an overveiw of previous work and a section on selection criteria is provided to enable practitioners to make their choices of procurement form. Importantly, perfromance comparisons of different procurement forms are discussed and the main emphasis of the book is to highlight best practice based on the most up-to-date research. One chapter deals specifically with developmentally orientated procurement issues in NICs (newly industrialised countries), where best practice is assessed from a different set of perspectives. The authors contributing to this book are among the most highly respected and eminent in the field.

This book is the first to bring together academic and practitioner views of Value for Money (VFM). VFM has been used to assess whether or not an organisation has obtained the maximum benefit within the resources available to it. A concept used by the public sector to assess the benefits of major built environment projects, it has become a major tenet of public private partnerships, capital project infrastructure and civil engineering megaprojects. This book presents and discusses the various debates surrounding the concept of Value for Money. It provides an international perspective on VFM by drawing upon the existing and fast developing body of principles and practices for Capital Build Projects. Readers will gain a level of understanding of the issues involved, the challenges, opportunities and the support mechanisms and protocols required for implementation of VFM in capital building development. Ultimately, the book presents a protocol that has been developed to track and monitor the VFM of a capital project from day 1, an Equilibrium Testing Mechanism (ETM) developed by the authors. This testing mechanism allows each of the parties to a project to monitor their VFM position at any given stage of a project from the beginning to the end of the build stage and beyond as necessary. This book is both a useful reference for researchers and a practical guide for the construction and engineering industry.

While there are many historical examples of successful naturally ventilated buildings, standards for indoor climate have tended to emphasise active, mechanical airflow systems rather than passive natural systems. Despite its importance, knowledge about the performance of naturally ventilated buildings has remained comparatively sparse. With ten key research papers this book seeks to address this lack of information.

Almost all buildings erected or altered in England and Wales must satisfy the requirements of the building regulations. This essential reference has been revised in line with new legislation up to January 2004, including important revisions to Parts B, E, H, J, L1, L2, and M and an outline of the proposed Part P. Each chapter explains in clear terms the appropriate regulation and any other legislation, before explaining the approved document. The Appeals and Determinations have been repositioned at the end of each chapter. Publications lists and relevant sources of information are also included, together with annexes devoted to legislation relevant to the construction industry, determinations made by the Secretary of State, and sample check lists. This highly illustrated and practical approach to the subject makes this the indispensable, one-stop reference guide for professionals and students.

There is clearly potential for the industrial production of open buildings, buildings where the parts which are designed to allow a high degree of freedom for layout, construction and adaptation. Industrialized open building has the potential to radically cut building costs and construction time. This book focuses on product and production systematics and information systematics, and begins with an extensive survey of the field by the editor. The second part consists of a series of descriptions of the experience of different countries, and chapters on particular themes. The book presents new material developed from Commission W24 of the CIB (the International Council for Building Research Studies and Documentation).

This work focuses on the application of fundamental cost engineering principles to the capital and operating costs estimation of major projects. It provides detailed coverage of profitability, risk, and sensitivity analysis. This third edition: discusses novel strategies for calculating preliminary estimates using MasterFormat; presents new information on estimating the retrofitting and extension of existing plants; contains current international cost data; and more.;A solutions manual is available to instructors only.

Sprayed concrete lined (SCL) tunnels are growing rapidly in popularity due to their versatility. The design and construction of both hard rock and soft ground tunnels has been revolutionised by the advent of the SCL method and now the use of permanent sprayed concrete linings has unlocked the true potential of the method to minimise construction costs and times. Yet the complex early age behaviour of the sprayed concrete makes the design difficult and requires a robust management system during construction. Consequently the great advantages of the method must be balanced against the risks, as a few high-profile tunnel collapses have illustrated. Practising engineers on site, in the design office or in client organizations will find this book an excellent introduction. It covers all aspects of SCL tunnelling - from the constituents of sprayed concrete to detailed design and management during construction. Although there is a close interdependence between all the facets of sprayed concrete, few engineers have the right breadth of experience and expertise to cover all of them. This urgently needs to be transferred to the wider engineering community as SCL tunnels play an increasingly important role in the delivery of the underground infrastructure which modern urban life demands. In this second edition, beyond a general updating to reflect new developments, the sections on permanent sprayed concrete, the innovative technology of spray applied waterproofing membranes, fibre reinforcement (both steel and macrosynthetic) and composite lining design have been expanded. Sustainability and environmental impact are addressed in a new section.

A growing number of urban inhabitants are aware of pressing environmental concerns. This book aims to provide information about relevant environmental quality criteria in urban construction settings, before methods are proposed for assessing these criteria. These will be extremely helpful to eco-building designs, commencing from the very early stages of a project (site selection, program, architectural designs) to the detailed design, construction and management of buildings. The book covers eco-technologies in the field of energy and water conservation, renewable energy, waste management and environmentally-friendly materials, but does not lose sight of comfort and health aspects.

This new volume, Design and Construction of Laboratory Gas Pipelines: A Practical Reference for Engineers and Professionals, focuses on design and installation of laboratory gas pipelines. It instructs design engineers, laboratory managers, and installation technicians on how to source the information and specifications they require for the design and installation of laboratory gas systems suitable for their intended use. The current use of specifications predominantly taken from medical gas standards for this type of work is not always suitable; these standards are for use with medical grade gases that have a purity level of 99.5%. The purity levels required in laboratories, however, start at 99.9% for general industrial use through to 99.9995% (Ultra High Purity (UHP)) and higher. Regular medical gas standards are also unsuitable for use with the oxidizing, flammable, and, in some instances, toxic gases that are regularly encountered in laboratories. As need for gas purity increases, the methodology used to design a piping system must vary to meet those parameters, and this reference provides the necessary information and resources. There are no comprehensive single sources of technical references currently available in this market, states the author, and the generally supplied specifications provided to the construction industry are usually generic and not specifically targeted for the gases in use. The results provide extremely poor quality designs and, in some instances, unusable systems. With over 40 years of specialization in the industry from project management to systems design, testing, and commissioning of projects with values in excess of $15 million, the author comprehensively fills that gap with this rich resource. Key features * provides information on types of laboratories that use laboratory gases and the equipment needed * explains the various methods of construction and the materials used to ensure that the purity of the gases remains as supplied from the manufacturers * incorporates the design methodology used to meet the various requirements of the laboratory and the information required to ensure that the correct engineering is provided * presents information on the purity levels of the gases and the data on the equipment used for pipelines and compatibility issues * presents an example of a simple laboratory gas specification that provides guidelines on the information necessary to provide a set of design documents

Chloride-induced corrosion is the most important durability issue of reinforced concrete structures, and the prediction and prevention of chloride-induced corrosion has attracted considerable interest all over the world. Given that chloride penetrates through the concrete cover, the issues concerning its transport are crucial. These include testing methods, prediction, and the prevention of ingress. During the transport process, physical and chemical interaction occurs between chloride and cement hydrates, which in turn affects the further transport, so the transport of chloride and these interactions are closely related and underpin our understanding of chloride-induced corrosion in RC structures. This book provides in-depth discussion of chloride transport and its interaction in cement-based materials, and reviews and summarizes the state of the art. The mechanisms and testing methods for chloride transport, chemical interactions of chloride with cement hydrates, chloride binding isotherms, measurement of penetration depths, factors affecting chloride transport, and modeling of chloride transport are discussed in detail. This book serves as a reference for researchers or engineer, and a textbook for graduate students.

Introduction to Building provides a comprehensive introduction to various aspects of development and associated building procedures, from initial planning and design through procurement of building work, contractual arrangements and construction techniques. Now in its Fifth Edition, this popular text continues to present an authoritative overview of the many design and practical considerations associated with the creation and maintenance of modern buildings, including repair of existing buildings and traditional construction procedures. Topics covered include the functional requirements of a building: appearance, durability, dimensional suitability, strength and stability, weather exclusion, sound control, thermal comfort, fire protection, lighting and ventilating, sanitation and drainage, security, cost, sustainability, building processes, the building team, communication and construction methods.

Structures placed on hillsides often present a number of challenges and a limited number of economical choices for site design. An option sometimes employed is to use the building frame as a retaining element, comprising a Rigidly Framed Earth Retaining Structure (RFERS). The relationship between temperature and earth pressure acting on RFERS, is explored in this monograph through a 4.5 year monitoring program of a heavily instrumented in service structure. The data indicated that the coefficient of earth pressure behind the monitored RFERS had a strong linear correlation with temperature. The study also revealed that thermal cycles, rather than lateral earth pressure, were the cause of failure in many structural elements.

The book demonstrates that depending on the relative stiffness of the retained soil mass and that of the structural frame, the developed lateral earth pressure, during thermal expansion, can reach magnitudes several times larger than those determined using classical earth pressure theories. Additionally, a nearly perpetual lateral displacement away from the retained soil mass may occur at the free end of the RFERS leading to unacceptable serviceability problems.These results suggest that reinforced concrete structures designed for the flexural stresses imposed by the backfill soil will be inadequately reinforced to resist stresses produced during the expansion cycles.

Parametric studies of single and multi-story RFERS with varying geometries and properties are also presented to investigate the effects of structural stiffness on the displacement of RFERS and the lateral earth pressure developed in the soil mass. These studies can aid the reader in selecting appropriate values of lateral earth pressure for the design of RFERS. Finally, simplified closed form equations that can be used to predict the lateral drift of RFERS are presented.

KEY WORDS: Earth Pressure; Soil-Structure Interaction; Mechanics; Failure; Distress; Temperature; Thermal Effects; Concrete; Coefficient of Thermal Expansion; Segmental Bridges; Jointless Bridges; Integral Bridges; Geotechnical Instrumentation; Finite Element Modeling; FEM; Numerical Modeling."

Discover sustainable methods for designing crucial building systems for architects. This indispensable companion to Norbert Lechner's landmark volume Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects, Third Edition completes the author's mission to cover all topics in the field of sustainable environmental control. It provides knowledge appropriate for the level of complexity needed at the schematic design stage and presents the most up-to-date information available in a concise, logical, accessible manner and arrangement. Although sustainability deals with many issues, those concerning energy and efficiency are the most critical, making an additional goal of this book one of providing architects with the skills and knowledge needed to create buildings that use electricity and water efficiently. Guidelines and rules-of-thumb are provided to help designers make their buildings use less energy, less water, and less of everything else to achieve their primary objectives. In addition, this book: * Addresses ways to reduce electricity usage through more efficient lighting systems and appliances and by incorporating automatic switches and control systems that turn off systems not in use. * Covers the design of well-planned effluent treatment systems that protect against potential health hazards while also becoming a valuable source of reclaimed water and fertilize.r * Provides coverage of fire protection and conveyance systems, including very efficient types of elevators and escalators and designs that encourage the use of stairs or ramps. Complete with case studies that illustrate how these systems are incorporated into large-project plans, Plumbing, Electricity, Acoustics is an indispensable resource for any architect involved in a sustainable design project.

Essential for any real estate professional or student performing feasibility studies for property development using Microsoft Excel and two of the most commonly used proprietary software systems, Argus Developer and Estate Master DF.

This is the first book to not only review the place of financial feasibility studies in the property development process, but to examine both the theory and mechanics of feasibility studies through the construction of user friendly examples using these software systems. The development process has seen considerable changes in practice in recent years as developers and advisors have adopted modern spread sheets and software models to carry out feasibility studies and appraisals. This has greatly extended their ability to model more complex developments and more sophisticated funding arrangements, saving time and improving accuracy.

Tim Havard brings over 25 years of industry and software experience to guide students and practitioners through the theory of development appraisals and feasibility studies before providing internationally applicable worked examples and potential pitfalls using Excel, Argus Developer and Estates Master DF.

Table of Contents

1. The background to development appraisal

a. Definition of Property Development

b. The property markets

c. The property development process in outline

2. The theory of development financial feasibility studies

a. Purposes of development appraisal and its role in the development process

b. The basic development appraisal equation

c. Market investigations and its role in shaping the scheme and determining demand

d. Financing development schemes

e. Different procurement methods and their influence on the development appraisal

f. The financial appraisal of development schemes

i. Determining Building dimensions

ii. Determining the timing of the development and its stages and phases

iii. Estimating development costs

1. Build costs

a. Estimating approaches – Superficial Area, Elemental and Detailed breakdown

b. Sources of cost information

2. The professional Team

a. The construction professionals

b. Other professionals

3. Estimating other development costs – Marketing, disposal, statutory costs, road works etc.

4. Dealing with intangible or uncertain costs

iv. Estimating development values

1. Residential projects or elements

2. Commercial property – non-specialised

a. Rental value

b. Yield and capital value

3. Commercial property – specialised

a. Hotels

b. Other income producing properties

v. Modelling different financial arrangements

vi. Sensitivity analysis

vii. The development appraisal outcome – assessing the results

3. The practice of development financial feasibility studies

a. An over view of the development of practice – from tables to proprietary software systems

b. Tools available to the practitioner – Excel and other spread sheet models and the main proprietary models ; Argus Developer and Estate Master DF

c. Worked examples

i. Modelling development financial feasibility in Excel

1. Traditional Residual models

2. Cash Flow models

3. Advantages and potential pitfalls of Excel

ii. Modelling development financial feasibility in Argus Developer

1. Simple commercial scheme

a. Land Residual

b. Project profitability

2. Modelling more complex mixed and phased schemes

a. Land residual

b. Project profitability

3. Modelling complex funding in Argus Developer

4. Modelling operated assets

a. Hotel developments

b. Golf courses

5. Overview – advantages and potential pitfalls of Argus Developer

iii. Modelling development financial feasibility in Estate Master DF

1. Simple commercial scheme

a. Land Residual

b. Project profitability

2. Modelling more complex mixed and phased schemes

a. Land residual

b. Project profitability

3. Modelling complex funding in Estate Master DF

4. Overview – advantages and potential pitfalls of Estate Master DF

Conclusions – Potential future developments/

Extending your home? New kitchen or bathroom? Planning to decorate?
If you're taking on a job like this you need to know three things - can you do it on your own; how long is going to take; and most important of all, how much is it going to cost.
This book tells you the answers. With simple-to-follow guidance on all your home improvement projects it tells you:
.the time the job will take
.the costs of the materials
.how difficult it's going to be
.and what a professional is going to charge to do it for you
.Make sure you get value for money
.Budget for your home improvements
.Do It Yourself or use a professional - helps you to decide

An updated and revised edition of the standard work on the use of critical path methods (CPM) in the construction industry. Describes the mechanics and procedures of CPM in construction planning and works control and demonstrates its application to large and small projects alike. Emphasis is not on the mathematics--the stress here is on the solution of problems commonly encountered in construction practice.

This book introduces the latest construction practices and processes for tall buildings from foundation to roof. It attempts to acquaint readers with the methods, materials, equipment and systems used for the construction of tall buildings.The text progresses through the stages of site investigation, excavation and foundations, basement construction, structural systems for the superstructure, site and material handling, wall and floor construction, cladding and roof construction. The construction sequence, merits and limitations of the various proprietary systems commonly used in these respective stages are discussed. This fourth edition also includes several new topics not covered in the previous edition.The target readers are practitioners and students in the related professions including architecture, engineering, building, real estate, construction, project and facilities management, and quantity and land surveying.

This book details some of the most important and interesting questions raised about the NEC4 family of contracts and provides clear, comprehensive answers to those questions. Written by an NEC expert with over 20 years' experience using, advising and training others, the book has several distinctive features: It covers the whole NEC4 family It is written by a very experienced NEC author who explains sometimes complex issues in a simple and accessible style The questions and answers range from beginner level up to a masterclass level The questions are real life questions asked by actual NEC practitioners on real projects. The book includes questions and answers relating to tendering, early warnings, programme issues, quality management, payment provisions, compensation events, liabilities, insurances, adjudication, termination and much more. It is essential reading for anyone working with the NEC4 family of contracts, whether professionals or students in construction, architecture, project management and engineering.

The Client Role in Successful Construction Projects is a practical guide for clients on how to initiate, procure and manage construction projects and developments. This book is written from the perspective of the client initiating a construction project as part of a business venture and differs from most available construction literature which can externalise the client as a risk to be managed by the design team. The book provides a practical framework for new and novice clients undertaking construction, giving them a voice and enabling them to: Understand the challenges that they and the project are likely to face. Communicate and interact effectively with key stakeholders and professionals within the industry. Understand in straightforward terms where they can have a positive impact on the project. Put in place a client-side due diligence process. Reduce their institutional risk and the risk of project failure. Discover how their standard models are able to co-exist and even transfer to a common client-side procedure for managing a construction project. Written by clients, for clients, this book is highly recommended not only for clients, but for construction industry professionals who want to develop their own skills and enhance their working relationship with their clients. A supporting website for the book will be available, which will give practical examples of the points illustrated in the book and practical advice from specialists in the field.

Damping Technologies for Tall Buildings provides practical advice on the selection, design, installation and testing of damping systems. Richly illustrated with images and schematics, this book presents expert commentary on different damping systems, giving readers a way to accurately compare between different device categories and gain and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each. In addition, the book covers their economical and sustainability implications. Case studies are included to provide a direct understanding on the possible applications of each device category.

The Client Role in Successful Construction Projects is a practical guide for clients on how to initiate, procure and manage construction projects and developments. This book is written from the perspective of the client initiating a construction project as part of a business venture and differs from most available construction literature which can externalise the client as a risk to be managed by the design team. The book provides a practical framework for new and novice clients undertaking construction, giving them a voice and enabling them to: Understand the challenges that they and the project are likely to face. Communicate and interact effectively with key stakeholders and professionals within the industry. Understand in straightforward terms where they can have a positive impact on the project. Put in place a client-side due diligence process. Reduce their institutional risk and the risk of project failure. Discover how their standard models are able to co-exist and even transfer to a common client-side procedure for managing a construction project. Written by clients, for clients, this book is highly recommended not only for clients, but for construction industry professionals who want to develop their own skills and enhance their working relationship with their clients. A supporting website for the book will be available, which will give practical examples of the points illustrated in the book and practical advice from specialists in the field.

Much has been written about Building Information Modelling (BIM) driving collaboration and innovation, but how will future quality managers and engineers develop digital capabilities in augmented and video realities, with business intelligence platforms, robots, new materials, artificial intelligence, blockchains, drones, laser scanning, data trusts, 3D printing and many other types of technological advances in construction? These emerging technologies are potential game changers that require new skills and processes. Digital Quality Management in Construction is the first 'how to' book on harnessing novel disruptive technology in construction quality management. The book takes a tour of the new technologies and relates them to the management of quality, but also sets out a road map to build on proven lean construction techniques and embed technologically based processes to raise quality professionals' digital capabilities. With the mountain of data being generated, quality managers need to unlock its value to drive the quality of construction in the twenty-first century, and this book will help them do that and allow those working in construction Quality Management to survive and thrive, creating higher quality levels and less waste. This book is essential reading for quality managers, project managers and all professionals in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry (AEC). Students interested in new and disruptive technologies will also learn a great deal from reading this book, written by a professional quality manager with nearly thirty years' experience in both the public and private sectors.

What do we mean by net zero energy? Zero operating energy? Zero energy costs? Zero emissions? There is no one answer: approaches to net zero building vary widely across the globe and are influenced by different environmental and cultural contexts. Net Zero Energy Building: Predicted and Unintended Consequences presents a comprehensive overview of variations in 'net zero' building practices. Drawing on examples from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, and China, Ming Hu examines diverse approaches to net zero and reveals their intended and unintended consequences. Existing approaches often focus on operating energy: how to make buildings more efficient by reducing the energy consumed by climate control, lighting, and appliances. Hu goes beyond this by analyzing overall energy consumption and environmental impact across the entire life cycle of a building-ranging from the manufacture of building materials to transportation, renovation, and demolition. Is net zero building still achievable once we look at these factors? With clear implications for future practice, this is key reading for professionals in building design, architecture, and construction, as well as students on sustainable and green architecture courses.