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Territorial Authority Compliance

Brace fixings by council and TA

What was meant to happen?

The council was called into our site to complete an inspection on all braces around the house as well as fixings on joist, uplift straps, roof ties, coach bolts and coach screws within the bottom plates.

 

What did happen?

The council inspected the GS1 fixings and the BL’s and noticed the GS’s did not contain the GS continuous fixing pattern along the bottom plates of the exterior and interior wall frames on the concrete foundation. What was meant to happen to the internal bottom plates was that 75 x 3.8mm hilti nails fitted with 16mm disks applied at 150mm and 300mm from end stud, then 600mm centres along the plate. For the external walls, 75 x 3.8 fasteners should be applied 300mm from first brace then 600mm crs along the bottom plate.

 

Why did it happen?

Poor communication with the supervisor to inform all builders on site to ensure the NZS3604 standards is applied to the dwellings bracing fixtures. Council requested the bracings to be applied that day to ensure it is done correctly for a reinspection at the end of the day. The builders did not know about the fixing pattern for GS fixings for internal and external walls on concrete and timber floors. Supervisor had just notified the builders as the council declared a reinspection later on that day for GS fixings to be applied.

 

What did we do to fix it?

The powdered actuated power tool was used to fix the 75 x 3.8mm fasteners with 16mm disks into the bottom plates of the exterior frames which contained GS braces. The late notice was recorded and later discussed to the rest of the team to ensure the problem does not arise again and proper methods of GS brace fixings.

 

The team also referred to the GIB ezybrace systems booklet, which also specifies the fixings for all braces before pre-line inspections. The booklet also showed the fixing pattern for both concrete and timber floors. Timber floors required pairs of 100 x 3.75mm hand driven nails or three 90 x 3.15mm power driven nails at 600mm crs. 

http://www.gib.co.nz/assets/Uploads/4Construction2.pdf

construction documentation and communication 4

Group practical roof plan

What was meant to happen?

The group requirement was to measure a frame and design a plan to scale using a pitch given to design and create a roof structure from measurements from the plan.

 

What did happen?

 The group ended up measuring and marking the frames, timber lengths and angles referring to plan. What was a problem was the deductions and extra addition that was applied to measurements. A few roofing members were either cut to short or to long due to the deductions and additions. Communication was the key to correctly applying and contracting the roof members and to work out problems that was not on the plan.

 

Why did it happen?

Communication was the key to correctly applying roof members together and solving problems if one person did not know how to solve. The reason it happened is because it was the only way the exercise would be completed if the team works together and sort out problems. The group development has grown as a team by doing this exercise, which not enables us to learn how to calculates and apply but to also find different ways of getting measurements and techniques of the trade.

 

What did we do to fix it?

Ensure we knew what each other were doing in the practical stage, ask if we did not understand how to get what or where to find what. Work as a team where we can achieve the exercise better then one man working alone. Use the lecture as a guide to our practical and reading from the plans.

 

calculation of the broken ridge finding the odd angle for rafters running off the major hip rafter

 

construction documentation and communication 3

Schedule for dwelling never goes to plan

What was meant to happen?

Supervisor has provided a schedule plan for the builders, which states steps in production and shows where and what particular stage the builder should be in progress of the new dwelling.

 

What did happen?

A purpose of a schedule plan is to show what needs to be completed at what stage so the building process flows smoothly. Controversy has occurred over the builder, supervisor and sub contractors where the supervisor pushes stages forward without notice. Phone calls from suppliers follow up with the builder confirming delivery for either the next day or two, but with no notice of the builder about these deliveries, the builder puts deliveries’ on hold. The builder then checks his schedule and finds the deliveries are four days ahead of schedule where the supervisor decides to push deliveries a head of schedule to get the house done faster.

 

Why did it happen?

The reason why this happens is because the supervisor wants the house completed before the due date to ensure we are ahead of schedule and not behind. This creates more work for the builder in a single day to ensure work in progress and also jumps the process a few days a head. The schedule is then not taken into consideration as stages is pushed forward and progress is ahead of schedule. This will also occur if subcontractors do not arrive on site when expected which slows the building progress.

 

What did we do to fix it?

Communication between the builder and supervisor was carried out regularly to ensure the building progress was going to plan. Supervisor informed the builder about supplies, sub contractors, and inspections within a few days of construction.

 

Construction documentation and communication 2

Hyne I beam are short on site

What was meant to happen?

Reading from plan provided by supplier to cut and install lengths of Hyne I beam for the second storey floor delivered that day.

 

What did happen?

I beams were located and applied to designated areas referring to plan which had located where tanalised I beams were placed in the wet areas on the second storey floor. Later on the day, we have found the supplier did not supply us with enough I beams to finish the second storey floor construction. We had to stop construction as the builder notified the suppliers about shortage of materials.

 

Why did it happen?

The reason why these problems happen is because the quantity surveyor did not over look his calculations of materials required for the site, which has caused costly for the builders. The quantity surveyor will rather have fewer materials ordered on site then ordering a lot. The problem with having less materials ordered is that the builders will have to wait until the supply arrives which will set them back off schedule. Referring to plan, we were 2 lengths of 4000mm x90mm x 360mm short of I beam material. the issue is also money as many materials will be ordered and not used which will cost a lot.

 

What did we do to fix it?

First we contacted and informed the supplier to ensure we were short of materials and if they can deliver it as soon as possible. The quantity surveyor was also contacted to ensure we do not get the same problem again on the next house we build. The reason is that it slows the building progress and with nothing to do on site, time is wasted or even a whole day.

 

 

 

Construction documentation and communication 1

Suppliers damaged frames and have to repair it.

What was meant to happen?

Erecting new wall frames on a new slab for a new dwelling. Wall frames being applied referring to suppliers specification.

 

What did happen?

After erecting all exterior frames of the new dwelling referring to plan, a new set of frames was being applied to the new slab next to us. As the truck sets into place with extension at rear for stability, the wall frames were ready to be unloaded off the truck. In the middle of the process of lifting the new frames from the truck platform to the new slab, one of the rear support suspension stabiliser gave way, putting the truck on an almost 20 degree angle. This had allowed the crane to malfunction with the weight instability and swing the new frames with no control into our external erected frames. In the process of erecting frames, we stopped and ensured no one was hurt in the event. We notified the suppliers about the problem and supervisor

 

Why did it happen?

The reason why the frames swang into out frames was because one of the rear supports suspension giving way causing the crane to malfunction and not responding to the controls of the staff member. The staff member stated, “It was a mechanical failure relating to the rear support of the truck”.

 

What did we do to fix it?

Two of our new exterior frames were damaged in the process where we notified the suppliers of the frames which came onto site and repaired the frames ensuring it was done to plan and correctly. the truck was then sent for service and mechanical inspection later after the incident report was filled in.