UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

FACULTY FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

B. SC. (HONS.) IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT STUDIES
YEAR I
MAY/JUNE 2015 EXAMINATION SESSION
Unit Code: CNM1412

Unit Title: Building Elements I

Date: Monday 8th June 2015

Reading Time: 10:00 10:05

Examination Time: 10:05 11:35

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SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
ANSWER QUESTION 1 AND ANY OTHER 4 QUESTIONS
ALL QUESTIONS CARRY A TOTAL OF 20 MARKS.
CALCULATORS ARE ALLOWED.
SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS ARE TO BE DRAWN IN PENCIL USING CONVENTIONAL
SYMBOLS AND PROPERLY LABELLED.

Figure 1

1.

Figure 1 above shows a section through a building which is to be built on a site

which consists of bare rock. The building is to include a basement as shown. The
proposed level of the finished floor level of the ground floor with reference to the
basement floor (assumed as 100.00m) is 103.50m. The level of the rock surface is
approximately 101.00m. The building is to be constructed of concrete block
masonry. Draw the detail enclosed by the dashed line and marked A to show how

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this element can be constructed to ensure a dry basement. External walls are to be
cavity walls with two leaves each 150mm thick with 100mm insulation in the cavity.
(20 marks)
You may make reasonable assumptions as to as to materials and system of
construction which are not described above.
2.

(a) The basic principle of foundation design is that at any point the load imposed by
the building does not exceed the permissible stress of the soil. Discuss how this can
be achieved in practice where the average stress imposed by the building is less than
the permissible stress of the soil.
(10 marks)
(b) A single-storey building is to be erected on a flat site which consists of a stiff
clay with about 1m of overlying top soil. Describe with a suitable sketch an
appropriate foundation for this building.
(10 marks)

3.

(a) By means of a suitable sketch drawn approximately to scale show how the
external wall of house to be built in timber is constructed. You may assume that the
site consists of topsoil on a stiff clay. Your sketch is to consist of a section through
this wall starting from foundation level to a level of about 1 m above internal floor
finish. The wall is to be finished externally with a half-brick wall and internally with
plasterboard.
(15 marks)
(b) What is the function of the half-brick wall in this type of construction?
(5 marks)

4.

(a) You have been approached by a manufacturing firm which would like to built a
factory complex on a site it has acquired. Describe briefly the steps you would
follow in the preparation of all the necessary documentation for carrying out this
project.
(13 marks)
(b) Working drawings aim at answering the questions: what, where and how.
Discuss.
(7 marks)

5.

(a) Distinguish between a solid floor and a suspended floor and indicate where each
type of floor would be most appropriate.
(7 marks)
(b) A building is to be constructed with concrete block masonry and reinforced
concrete roofs and floors. The building is erected on a site which consists of rock
covered with about 1m topsoil. By means of a suitable sketch show how the ground
floor may be detailed. The sketch is to include a section through the wall from
foundation level to a height of about 1 metre above internal floor level. You may
make any reasonable assumption as to the type of flooring.
(13 marks)

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6.

(a) Describe the basic principle used in the construction of a masonry cavity wall to
prevent water penetration to the interior, indicating the various constituent parts of
the wall and the function of each part.
(13 marks)
(b) Permeable walls were a common feature of local building construction. They
performed reasonably well for two reasons. Discuss.
(7 marks)

7.

(a) The structural stability of a masonry wall depends to a great extent on the proper
bonding of the individual elements. Show how proper bonding can be achieved in the
construction of a two-leaf masonry wall built of stone blocks or concrete blocks.
(13 marks)
(b) What are the performance requirements for a good mortar for use in the
construction of a masonry wall?
(7 marks)

8.

(a) A stone masonry wall consists of two leaves, each 150mm thick with a cavity,
125mm wide, partly filled with 100mm of semi-rigid insulation. Show how the
jambs of window within this wall may be constructed so that there is no thermal or
damp bridging between the two leaves.
(12 marks)
(b) The jambs of openings may be square (with flat reveals) or rebated (with
recessed reveals). Distinguish between these two forms of construction indicating
why a rebated reveal may be preferable.
(8 marks)

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