Construction: The process of building, erecting or constructing buildings, roads, or other structures Construction is divided into four major types. These are residential, industrial, commercial, and public works.
1. Residential-buildings are dwellings that people live in. These
buildings can be single-family or multifamily dwellings such as mobile homes, apartments, condominiums, or personal homes. Multifamily units include duplexes and townhouses. A duplex is two apartments together under one roof. A townhouse is a two story single unit but usually is arranged beside other similar units. Townhouses are also referred to as row houses.
2. Industrial – structures are designed and constructed to specifications that
meet the requirements of the processes conducted by the particular industry. For example, a foundry must have a large open space for gantry cranes and extremely huge exhaust systems. Concrete floors must be poured much thicker than in residential or standard commercial structures.
3. Commercial-structures that are used for business or government purposes.
Materials and techniques used in commercial construction are different from those used in residential construction. For example, building codes may require steel framing for public-use buildings to reduce fire risks. However, single family dwellings may only require wood frames due to the reduced wear and tear on the structure and the cost effectiveness. Architects, structural engineers, and sometimes civil engineers work on the design and construction of these sorts of structures.
4. Public Works-consist of structures intended for public use such as roadways, bridges,
utilities, water, sewage, etc. These are the sorts of projects that civil engineers and structural engineers will work on .The following are examples of how to view building construction as a system or as subsystems.
The following are examples of how to view building construction as a system or as subsystems.
Fundamentals of Technology
The figures above organize construction systems into subsystems and provide examples of inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback for various subsystems. For example, for a foundation wall subsystem, the contractor is a human input, concrete is a material input, and a power screed is an example of a tool as an input. People are the most important input in a construction process. A variety of trades and occupations come together to complete the process successfully. The processes involved in the construction of a foundation wall include estimating its costs, forming, pouring, and screeding or masonry if it is made with concrete block. The outputs include a footing and a foundation wall that support the load of the structure. Among the feedback one can gain from the system, performing a slump test to make sure the concrete is of the right consistency is a common approach.
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Subsystems foundation floor walls roofing plumbing electricity HVAC interior finishing exterior finishing landscape
“Structural materials – those materials used to support heavy loads or to hold the structure rigid.
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Engineered wood materials - have been developed to help make the best use of our wood supply. For example, plywood, particle board, wafer board, and oriented strand board (OSB) are engineered wood panels made by mixing woods from small, crooked trees that would otherwise be unprofitable to harvest.”
Related VoCATS Test Items
1. The systematic act or process of building erecting, or constructing buildings, roads, or other structures:
A. construction
B. structural planning
C. commercial designing
D. public works projects
2. Construction that consists of building structures for business, grocery stores, shopping malls, restaurants, and office buildings:
A. residential
B. industrial
C. public works
D. commercial
3. Projects that consist of structures intended for public use such as roadways and bridges:
A. public works
B. systems
C. commercial
D. residential
4. The type of construction that builds dwellings in which people live:
A. public works
B. systems
C. commercial
D. residential
5. An example of input in the building construction systems approach:
A. concrete block
B. wall
C. slump test
D. screeding
6. A blueprint for a house is what part of a construction system?
A. feedback
B. input
C. process
D. residential output
undamentals of Technology
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7. This type of construction includes the building and remodeling of factories and other industrial structures:
A. public works
B. systems
C. industrial
D. residential
8. Many kinds of information are needed for construction systems. Information is what part of the system?
A. input
B. process
C. output
D. feedback
9. Materials that are used to support heavy loads or to hold a structure rigid:
A. conventional material
B. dimensional lumber
C. nominal lumber
D. structural materials
10. Plywood, particleboard, wafer board, and oriented strand board (OSB) are:
A. natural resources
B. engineered wood materials
C. synthetics
D. renewable resources.
11. Engineered wood products have been developed to help make the best use of our wood supply. Which one of the following is an example of these products:
A. redwood
B. pine
C. wafer board
D. dimensional lumber
12. Town homes and condominiums are examples of:
A. public works
B. systems
C. commercial
D. residential
13. Which of the following is a form of feedback in a construction system?
A. concrete block
B. forming
C. building inspection
D. floor plan
14. Which of the following is a form of input in a construction system?
A. concrete block
B. forming
C. building inspection
D. floor plan