Importance Of Location Plans And Site Plans For Building Construction

Determining Positioning and Orientation

1. What is the purpose or advantage of having a location plan in relation to your proposed building development?
2. It is important to read and understand the “Title Block”
a) What information does it contain?
b) Amendments are shown on Title Blocks. Why are these important?
It is important to read and understand the “Site Plan” effectively.
a) Name 3 key features of a site plan.
b) Describe why each one is important?
4. Reference the plans Blue Dog Training have supplied in the project overview.
a) What easements are present on the plans?
b) How might they affect the building design on the land?
5. Reference the plans Blue Dog Training have supplied in the project overview.
a) Calculate the amount of fall between the North-Western corners of the house to the South -
Eastern corner of the house. (Highest to lowest)?
b) How did you determine this?
6. When setting out the location of the house position on the land, boundary off-sets are critical.
a) Explain why and what impact it would have for you as the Builder and the Owner if the house is incorrectly positioned.
b) How could this be avoided?
7. a) What does the abbreviation OMP mean on a site plan?
b) Where would you normally find this on a site plan?
c) What is the OMP for the Northern Boundary?
8. a) What does the abbreviation OMP mean on a site plan?
b) Where would you normally find this on a site plan?
c) What is the OMP for the Northern Boundary?
8. How do you determine the orientation of a house by interpreting the site plan?
9. Existing services are to be located prior to construction.
a) How would you locate these?
b) What would be the impact if they are damaged from construction works? (I.e. fibre optic cable, sewer, gas, water, electrical etc.)
10. If there is a discrepancy on the plan with the dimensions;
a) Who should you seek clarification from in order to get the correct information?
b) In what format should the clarification be given?
c) Who should you notify when this occurs?
11. a) Why is it important to position smoke alarms in the positions shown on the approved plans?
b) What could the impact be if they are not positioned correctly?
12. What is the purpose of the floor plan?
13. Downpipe positions are shown on the plans.
a) Why is it important to position these as per the drawings?
b) Who is responsible for the positioning of them in the design process?
14. a) Explain why it is important to show the positions of any wet area set downs on a slab and foundation plan.
b) What must you consider for a set down to be accurate and compliant?
15. What is the height difference between the finished floor level of the garage slab and the ground level and pad level (PL) out from the garage?
a) 50mm
b) 200mm
c) 75mm
16. a) What are 3 main features of an elevation plan and;
b) Name 3 ways in which they impact the building process?
17. Sectional drawings show us ceiling heights and other features of a building. As per BCA requirements, what is the minimum ceiling height for the following rooms for a Class 1 building?
a) a habitable room?
b) a non-habitable room?
18. a) Can you change the location of a bracing panel in a wall from the position shown on the bracing plan?
b) If so, who should you seek advice from before doing so?
19. What impact does the wind rating have on a buildings construction requirement?
20. a) Why is it important read the specifications on the Engineer’s Foundation and soil report before construction?
b) Identify 3 things associated with preparing and pouring the concrete that you need to consider before commencing works.
c) How would these affect your project if you didn’t read and understand them?
21. What steps would you put in place to facilitate a variation to construction contract?
Example:
The client wishes to change a window size after the contract and specifications are signed off on.
22. How might a variation impact your project schedule?
Provide an example.
23. What section of the NCC BCA should you check to see if the window change is compliant and what should you consider?
24. a) Explain what P.C stands for?
b) Name 3 P.C items
25. a) Explain what P.S. stands for.
b) What does a P.S include?
c) Should these be accurate costs and why?
d) Name 3 P.S. items you might use in residential construction contract.
26. a) Why is it important to make sure the materials used are the same as what is shown in the specifications?
b) How would you make sure this is carried out?

1. Location plans indicate the positioning of a block within the estate or development area.

1. a) What information does it contain?
2. b) Amendments are shown on Title Blocks. Why are these important?

Answer: 2

1. It gives vital information such as: The drawing number, Amendment numbers indicating amendments to the plan, who drew the plans, what date the plans were drawn Lot number, street address and what the scale of the drawing is.
2. They show/ indicate current amendment to the plan.

Answer 3

1. a) Name 3 key features of a site plan.
2. b) Describe why each one is important?

Answer: 4

1. Easements, Contour lines, and Boundary off-sets.
3. Easements: these are sections of the land which are designated for services such as Sewer, Storm water, Common Electrical and Fire breaks.
4. Contour lines: these are generally constructed over the site plan. They are important because they provide information on how much slop or fall is on the land. Contour lines or Integers are separated by even increments of measurement in height.

• Boundary off-sets: these are important because they give us a start point for setting out our building. Encroaching on these will give you and the owner/s a lot of problems with both the local authority (council) and financial problems.

Answer: 5

1. Easements in the plan include; Drainage easement 0.5m from boundary, electricity connection box, and drainage surface inlet pit.
2. Buildings cannot be constructed where they would obstruct such easements since the easements are critical to house planning and building.

Answer:6 

1. Boundary off-setsare important because they give the start point for setting out of a building. Encroaching on these will give you and the owner/s a lot of problems with both the local authority (council) and financial problems. Council can make you either pull down the structure or enforce a Boundary Relaxation (re-aligning of the building and boundary off-sets).
2. By having an understanding of the Boundary Off-sets.

Answer: 7

1. Outer Most Projection
2. At the outer edge of the fascia in relation to the boundary off-set.
3. 288m

Answer: 8

The site plan will have a North point located on it and this will be used to determine the orientation of the house.

Answer:9

1. To locate services, you should identify these through either Dial before you dig, or a qualified services location expert.
3. Damaging any services will delay your progress on the job and may cost you a lot of money.
4. Damaging services may affect neighboring properties and disrupt supply of services to these homes.

Answer: 10

1. Owner and/ or architect.
3. Double check all calculations and measurements to confirm.
4. Notify the owner/s immediately

• Seek clarification form the Building Designer/Architect and owner/s.

1. Get instruction in writing either by email or in letter form from the owner/s and Architect/Draftsperson as to which dimension you need to work off.

Answer: 11

1. To protect the inhabitants of the home.
2. Failure to do so will make you liable if any issue arises from fire and/or death.

Answer: 12

To determine the position of any recesses required.

Answer: 13

1. To ensure water dispersal from the rain water system is done swiftly.
2. The Building Designer.

Answer: 14

1. Because if done incorrectly, the shower areas will not be aligned with the location on the Floor plan.
2. Strengthening to ensure there is no weakness in the join of the set down.

Answer: 15

1. 50mm

Answer: 16

1. Overall height of the building, type of finish for the exterior of the building, angles of the roof and site slope – F.G.L.
3. Elevation plans give a view of each side of the building.
4. They give information such as overall height of the building, type of finish for the exterior of the building, angles of the roof and site slope – F.G.L.

• They may also show window and door sizes, finished floor levels, fixtures and decks or balconies.

Answer: 17

1. Yes
2. Your engineer.

Answer: 19

If you do not have the correct wind rating, the tie downs and bracing can be very different and inadequate. This will cost time and money on the job and affect the progress.

Answer: 20

1. To avoid disputes with the owner/s, loss of money and loss of time in the building period.
3. Material acquisition, availability and adequacy.
4. Labor availability and requirement

• Specification plan for the floor, elevations

1. Weak structure, inefficient work progress.

The client wishes to change a window size after the contract and specifications are signed off on.

Answer: 21

1. Draft a variation document
2. Agree with the client on the stated variation

• Check the NCC/BCA Volume 2 Section 2.4.4 and Section 2.4.5 to ensure that the requested variation/s are still within the guidelines.

1. Have the variation document signed by both parties before commencement of the varied work.
2. Commence the work to change the window size.

Answer: 22

It may lead to extra costs or reduced costs depending on whether the needed variation would need additional resources. Also, it can to delay in the project for example, if the needed variations leads to more work and also considering time taken before approval at times when the stated variation area was due or is already on progress.

Answer: 23

NCC/BCA Volume 2 Section 2.4.4 and Section 2.4.5.

Answer: 24

1. Prime Cost Items
3. tap ware,
4. appliances, and

• door furniture

Answer: 25

1. Provisional Sum items.
2. Include where services are to be located for special items, sizing of windows and doors, finishes and colors required and any joinery aspects the client may wish to have in the home.
3. The costs should be accurate to come up with a practical estimates as per the specifications.
4. Bricks /Blocks, Glass, Wood, Concrete.

Answer: 26

1. To prevent disputes and potential loss of money for the Builder, ensure the success of the construction of your building and the relationship between you and the client as well as minimizing/ avoidingloss of time in the building period.
2. Through correct understanding of the specifications and documentation