scholarly journals Relying on reference cases when evaluating new technical solutions? Evaluation of technical documentation in a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 10007
Author(s):  
Charlotte Svensson Tengberg ◽  
Carl-Eric Hagentoft
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Timber Structures ◽  
Technical Documentation ◽  
High Confidence ◽  
Building Regulations ◽  
Hygrothermal Performance ◽  
Building Physics ◽  
Technical Solutions

Serial failures have occurred when introducing new technical solutions in the Swedish construction industry. In an earlier interview study exploring introduction of new technical solutions, documentation and reference cases provided by the supplier are given as the main sources for evaluation. This paper aims at addressing the questions: 1. What kind of documentation concerning building physics are provided by suppliers? 2. How well does the suppliers’ documentation meet the need for verification? In order to address these questions, the case of hygrothermal performance of cross laminated timber structures in multifamily dwellings was chosen. An inquiry of data was sent out to four suppliers at the Swedish market, asking for documentation and reference cases provided. Based on the documentation given, an assessment was made of to which extend the documentation can support verification of appliance to the relevant requirements of the Swedish building regulations. The case study shows reference cases are scarce and existing documentation is not comprehensive, thus indicating the building industry might have a disproportional high confidence in reference cases. The results will be used to suggest requirements for reference cases to be used for verification.

scholarly journals Interpreting Traditional Cost Contingency Methods in the Construction Industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Donn ◽  
Alexis Dykman ◽  
Nilesh Bakshi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Reliable Method ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Simulation Methods ◽  
Journal Paper

This research investigates how contingency is currently calculated in project budgets within the building industry. This is an important aspect to consider as a large proportion of construction projects are significantly over-budget. The study presents three non-simulation methods and one simulation method for calculating cost contingency following the results of a forthcoming journal paper. These methods are applied against a case study project in attempt to highlight the most reliable method, and to create a methodology that will be useful to the industry. This paper identifies that the traditional fixed percentage approach is not sufficient and suggests that this could be one of the main reasons why construction projects are over budget. While it is unclear which method is the most reliable, this study provides a focus for future research into reliability and utilisation of contingency methods in the building industry. The research demonstrates that current practice needs to change to reduce the large number of construction projects that run over budget.

scholarly journals Interpreting Traditional Cost Contingency Methods in the Construction Industry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Donn ◽  
Alexis Dykman ◽  
Nilesh Bakshi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Reliable Method ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Simulation Method ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Simulation Methods ◽  
Journal Paper

This research investigates how contingency is currently calculated in project budgets within the building industry. This is an important aspect to consider as a large proportion of construction projects are significantly over-budget. The study presents three non-simulation methods and one simulation method for calculating cost contingency following the results of a forthcoming journal paper. These methods are applied against a case study project in attempt to highlight the most reliable method, and to create a methodology that will be useful to the industry. This paper identifies that the traditional fixed percentage approach is not sufficient and suggests that this could be one of the main reasons why construction projects are over budget. While it is unclear which method is the most reliable, this study provides a focus for future research into reliability and utilisation of contingency methods in the building industry. The research demonstrates that current practice needs to change to reduce the large number of construction projects that run over budget.

scholarly journals Identifying Barriers of Sustainable Construction: A Nigerian Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
pp. 04004
Author(s):  
Ohiomah Ifije ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Building Regulations ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Global Trend

Sustainable development has become an important part of the lives and aspect of enterprises operations globally. There is a global trend to enhance sustainable practices in all sectors and most especially the construction sectors, this study discusses the factors that best prevent the implementation of sustainable construction in the Nigeria construction industry. The study further explores and determines the reliability of how sustainability should be measured in the Nigeria construction industry. The study used both primary and secondary data to meet the set objective. The primary data were gathered through the use of a questionnaire distributed to construction professionals, contractors and clients. Indicative findings arising from the study revealed that; Building regulations and financial incentives are found to be the main drivers of sustainable construction in Nigeria and Lack of client demand and awareness and a general perception that adopting sustainable construction is expensive. The research concluded by recommending that government help with building policies to help push construction firms towards sustainable construction and also awareness campaigns should be carried out so that clients would demand and be aware of the benefits of sustainable construction

scholarly journals Understanding the Use of Timber in Semi-Arid Regions: Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11845
Author(s):  
Mohanad Yaseen Abdulwahid ◽  
Isaac Galobardes ◽  
Hassan Radoine
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
Timber Products ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Timber Product

The use of timber in the building industry has expanded in many countries over the last 20 years due mainly to its light weight, low adverse impact to the environment, and fair mechanical properties. Despite the development of the construction industry in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (KRI) in recent years, timber product utilization is still very limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of further utilizing timber-based products in the building industry in semi-arid regions using the KRI as a case study. A review of timber product utilization in the region was conducted first and the general properties of timber products were followed. Based on this, a survey focusing on the current situation and suitability of localized grown timber products was carried out to study the feasibility. This article concludes that the use of timber-based products in the KRI presents different barriers, with the availability in the market and technicality of construction with the material being the strongest ones. The article recommends that it is imperative to further research how to promote timber’s utilization in the KRI to be in line with sustainable development.

scholarly journals Impact on a CLT structure concerning moisture and mould growth using weather protection

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
C Svensson Tengberg ◽  
Å Bolmsvik
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Construction Site ◽  
Timber Structures ◽  
Mould Growth ◽  
Market Shares

Abstract Timber buildings, including cross laminated timber (CLT), are gaining market shares globally, mainly due to anticipated environmental benefits, but a new technical solution also raises new questions. Durability is critical to obtain real sustainable constructions built for the future. There are field studies concerning hygrothermal conditions of timber structures, however, there is a lack of documented experiences combining hygrothermal conditions, mould growth potential and weather protection during construction using CLT. The use of full weather protection is being debated in the building industry as well as in the research community, due to lack of knowledge of the combined effects. How does weather protection during the construction affect hygrothermal conditions and risk of mould growth in a CLT structure? A case study using a weather protected six-storey CLT building was performed. The hygrothermal conditions – indoors and outdoors – were monitored during construction and samples from CLT were analysed with respect to mould. The results were analysed together with simulations of mould growth using actual hygrothermal conditions. Theoretical conclusions show the weather protection gives significantly improved conditions resulting in lower potential of mould growth compared to outdoor conditions. The results also show lessons to be learned concerning planning of the construction site.

scholarly journals Personnel management in the building industry

2014 ◽  
pp. 11-30
Author(s):  
Filip Bušina
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Personnel Management ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Work Systems ◽  
Variable Environment ◽  
Building Technology ◽  
Management Efficiency ◽  
The Difference

The aim of the text is to present various approaches towards personnel management in the building industry. The difference in the analysed approaches is partially caused by the fact that sectors within building industry also differ substantially. The paper is divided into five sections dealing among others with personnel management and its efficiency, tools used to measure and improve personnel management efficiency and characteristics of specific problems of personnel management. The principle methods of inquiry used in the text include literature study and case study. The author stresses the fact that construction industry is demanding in terms of personnel management, as it has to deal with special requirements stemming from employment area, including: the seasonal nature of the building works, spasmodic nature of works on individual projects, required qualification of workers in the building industry, building technology and system operations. The author concludes that due to constantly changing environment the building industry uses flexible personnel work systems and that the challenge is to adapt the personnel management system efficiency to the variable environment and make the building industry personnel management flexible.

scholarly journals Modularization in the Construction Industry Using a Top-Down Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Kudsk ◽  
Lars Hvam ◽  
Christian Thuesen ◽  
Martin O'Brien Gronvold ◽  
Magnus Holo Olsen
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Mass Customization ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Cost Reductions ◽  
Configuration System ◽  
Technical Solutions

Throughout the last centuries, the manufacturing industry has experienced great improvements in efficiency and cost reductions, but the same improvements have not taken place in the construction industry. Based on the principles of mass customization that are known from the manufacturing industry, a case study of one of the largest construction companies in Northern Europe was carried out according to the principles of action research. This approach was used to clarify whether potential exists for using the principles of mass customization to improve efficiency and minimize costs connected with the construction of buildings; and if so, what they are. The main technical solutions used for residential and office buildings were analyzed using a top-down approach. These solutions were identified and their relations mapped using a Product Variant Master (PVM). When a satisfactory overview was achieved of the major technical solutions, a configuration system was made. Such a system is often used to communicate findings from the PVM to the user. Through the work of constructing the PVM and the configuration system, it was found that a great potential exists for implementation. Based on the findings and experiences gathered throughout the process, the conclusion is that the principles of mass customization are best used in the construction industry if used with a top-down perspective.

scholarly journals A Case Study of a Negotiated Tender within a Small-to-Medium Construction Contractor: Modelling Project Cost Variance

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
James Ellis ◽  
David John Edwards ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala ◽  
Obuks Ejohwomu ◽  
Ernest Effah Ameyaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Open Book ◽  
Competitive Tendering ◽  
Construction Contractor ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

This research explores the failure of competitively tendered projects in the UK construction industry to procure the most suited contractor(s) to conduct the works. Such work may have equal relevance for other developed nations globally. This research seeks to teach clients and their representatives that “lowest price” does not mean “best value”, by presenting a case study of a successfully negotiated tender undertaken by a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) contractor; SME studies are relatively scant in academic literature. By applying the “lessons learnt” principle, this study seeks to improve future practice through the development of a novel alternative procurement option (i.e., negotiation). A mixed philosophical stance combining interpretivism and pragmatism was used—interpretivism to critically review literature in order to form the basis of inductive research to discuss negotiation as a viable procurement route, and pragmatism to analyse perceptions of tendering and procurement. The methods used follow a three-stage waterfall process including: (1) literature review and pilot study; (2) quantitative analysis of case study data; and (3) qualitative data collection via a focus group. Our research underscores the need to advise clients and their representatives of the importance of understanding the scope of works allowed within a tender submission before discounting it based solely on price. In addition, we highlight the failings of competitive tendering, which results in increased costs and project duration once the works commence on site. These findings provide new contemporary insight into procurement and tendering in the construction industry, with emphasis on SME contractors, existing relationships, and open-book negotiation. This research illustrates the adverse effects of early cost estimates produced without first securing a true understanding of project buildability and programming. Our work concludes with a novel insight into an alternative procurement option that involves early SME contractor involvement in an open-book environment, without the need for a third-party cost control.

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