STUDENT INDUSTRIALWORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME
REPORTON MY EXPERIENCE ON SITE/@WORK DURING MY THREE(3) MONTHS TRAINING
AT S.K.P. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED,
Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria.
BY
POPOOLA OPEYEMI SAMSON
MATRIC. NO: 2009/1134
DEPT OF ARCHITECTURE
BELLS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Students Industrial Work Experience scheme is a
program designed by the universityto expose students to the practical aspects
of his/her course of study. It involves theattachment of a student to an
organization in line with his/her respective course of study thatcan provide
the training and experience required in the industry, as these experience
andtraining cannot be obtained in the lecture rooms but the theoretical
knowledge taught inlecture rooms shall be applied by the student in real industrial
situations.This training/work experience, is an essential component in the
development of the practical and professional skills required of each student
by their respective course of studyand also stands as an aid to prospective
employment.As a student of architecture, i have been able to obtain
the most relevant and effective practical
industrial training and experience in a duration of three months(3 months)
having beenexposed to practical on-site situations and activities from S.K.P.
international services, a construction company with consultants in
Architecture, Engineering and Quantity surveying. The company’s principal areas
of operations include building design project management and
buildingsupervision.Being
an architectural design and engineering services
company with a vision andcommitment to providing bespoke design and
construction service using a combination of the mostappropriate technology
, S.K.P. international services limited has
undertaken various projects just to mention a few as listed below:
•
Adamawa Plaza, Abuja
•
PTF Housing Scheme, Abuja
•
Pinnacle Plaza, Abuja
•
Coscharis Centre, Abuja
•
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Authority(PPPRA) Head Office,Abuja
•
I was assigned as an industrial training student
by the firm to the on-going PetroleumProducts Pricing Regulatory Authority head
office building project site to learn, observe andreport the weekly
construction activities, procedures and work progress carried out on the
siteand make a weekly presentation to the office on the architectural
experience and knowledgeobtained on the project.This report is therefore an
illustration of the nature of works and activities carried outon the Petroleum
Products Pricing Regulatory Authority head office building project and the
nature of works done during the course of the
industrial programme. It also provides adetailed principle of building
construction and some aspects of engineering in reference to building
technology and how they are applied practically in building construction.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My
deepest appreciation and gratitude goes to God for his gift of life to me and strength
to journey through and to Arc. S.K. Popoola, the C.E.O., skp international
services limited, for giving me this very rare privilege and opportunity to
learn and be trained under him and to the entire staff S.K.P. international
services limited for their tutelage, time, patience and support inspite of all
the ups and downs experienced during my training .Furthermore, my sincere
appreciation also goes to the entire staff of S.K.P. international services
limited, for developing in me an awareness of the general workplace, behaviour
and interpersonal skills development, and giving me the opportunity to get a
feel of the work environment which has exposed me to the architects
responsibilities and ethics.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
•About S.K.P. international services limited
•Introduction to site work
•Site safety precautions
•Site layout considerations
CHAPTER 2
•Construction terms and techniques
•Electrical engineering
•Mechanical engineering
CHAPTER 3
•Site meetings
CHAPTER 4
•Conclusion
CHAPTER 1:
About S.K.P. international
services limited
INTRODUCTION TO SITE WORK
I was introduced by my
supervisor to the construction site, the
contractor, project manager, and site engineers in charge of the on-going project
who further exposed me to proper site work. Site work involves the entire
process involved in the construction of a building and onsite the following
factors must be considered and applied for effectiveness.
SAFETY FACTORS:
Safety is an important consideration at any
construction site, but I was made to understand that on a site with a high rise
building, extra safety is of crucial importance and should be everyone's
primary concern because construction of buildings at great heights such as the
OPIC building in Abeokuta can be a dangerous activity. Safety is based on
knowledge, skill, and an attitude of care and concern .Thus safety factors
includes all the measures carried out to protect both the worker, consultants,
contractors and all persons present on the site at every given time from
fatalities and injuries, and as well as minimize or eliminate all possible
construction hazards. This safety measures can also be applied to the safety of
the building and building materials from damage of any kind.
Safety precaution guide lines for workers and
persons present on a construction site.
1.
Proper
clothing is as essential to safety. Wear clothes that are smart and appropriate
for the site work and weather conditions. Loose
clothing is dangerous for workers around power tools and equipment.
2. Footwear must be safety
boots or work boots that are thick-soled shoes in order to protect the feet from falling objects or from penetration by nails, and
should have non-slip soles. Sandals or other types of inappropriate footwear
are hazardous on construction site.
3. Protective head gear
(helmets or hard hats) must always be worn on a construction site by all persons for protection of the head from
falling objects of any kind.
4. Suspension belts are of
crucial importance for site workers working at very high levels.
5. All exposed areas or
parts of a building must be adequately protected with temporary rail or supports and staircases must be
protected with temporary balustrades.
6. All scaffolding that is
elevated 10 feet or more must be equipped with a safety railing. All scaffolds must be equipped with a toe board to eliminate
the possibility that tools or debris will be kicked or pushed onto people
below. A scaffold must be designed to support four times the weight of the workers
and the materials resting on it.
7. Inspect all scaffolding
each day before using it. Never use damaged or defective equipment and avoid rusted parts since their strength is unknown. When
erecting scaffolding, provide adequate sills for the scaffold posts and use
base plates. Use adjusting screws, not blocks, when on an uneven grade. Make
sure to plumb and level scaffolding and do not force end braces when
constructing the scaffolding.
8. Use only properly graded
and inspected lumber for planking. Inspect planking daily for splits and knots, and remove defective or damaged planking.
9. Be always aware and alert of your surroundings.
10. A clean work place is a safe work place. This
refers to the neatness and good order of the construction site. Keep the site clear
of danger as you work – remove nails from waste wood, move trip hazards and
obstacles, etc. They interfere with work and can constitute a hazard to both
the worker and other persons on the site.
11. Any unsafe conditions or practices that is
observed should IMMEDIATELY be reported to the site project manager.
12. Emergency medical care in form of first aid
assistance (first aid kit) must be provided on the site and must be easily
identifiable and nearby.
SITE LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS
On the construction site, it was observed that
certain site layout considerations were observed so that items such as
temporary structures, stationary plants, stores, toilets(conveniences) and
materials are placed in the most strategic and convenient positions. These
considerations are stated below:
Access to and within the site
Temporary access to the site requiring access
both through and fro the site. Route to and from the site must be checked in
other to select the best suitable for transporting equipment and materials to
the site. Circulation on site for deliveries must be carefully considered.
Site security considerations
The primary aim for security is to protect
against theft, vandals, and trespassers. Security provisions include: Adequate
lighting at night and flood lighting which Lights up the construction site and
the building structure.
CHAPTER 2
CONSTRUCTION TERMS AND TECHNIQUES
The Construction
techniques and terms described in this report involves the various methods of construction
carried out in the course of building construction for both structural and non-structural elements of the building. While
on site, certain terms were used during the
construction. These terms could be referred to as technical terms or site terms
or language being used by the site workers. As an architect, adequate knowledge of these terms must be paid
attention to in order communicate effectively with the workers. Below
are some site terms and definitions..
BLOCKWORK
This is the process of laying concrete masonry
units to form either external walls as in-fills or lock wall which are
load-bearing or non- load bearing or internal walls as partitions. These masonry
units are commonly hollow sand-crete blocks which are much economical per unit
of wall area. The standard sand-crete block wall is explained below;
Sequence of laying of sand-crete block wall:
•A bed of mortar is spread on the footing/floor.
•The first course of blocks for a lead is laid
on the mortar. The mortar for the head joint is applied to the end of each
block with the trowel before the block is laid.
•The lead is built higher. Mortar is normally
applied only to the face shells of the block and not to the webs.
•As each new course is started on the lead, its
height is checked with either a folding rule or a story pole marked with the
height of each course.
•A line is stretched between the leads on line
blocks.
•The course between the leads are laid rapidly
by aligning each block with the stretched line.
•The last block to be installed in each course
of infill blocks, the closer must be inserted between blocks that have already
been laid then the block is lowered carefully into position.
PLASTERING
Plastering is the most common treatment for external and internal walls to help
withstand weather conditions. Plasters are used to render, run an uneven
surface into a smooth level surface. Plaster is a mixture of sand and cement at
a ratio of 4:1 or 3:1(i.e. 8/6 head pans to1 bag of cement). Plastering is also
used to correct mistakes and to provide a smooth surface area for other
finishing types like painting.
FLOATING
Floating is the backing coat that is usually made of plaster such as Plaster
of Paris(P.O.P)
that provides a true or smooth surface for the
final finishing coat on a wall after plastering has been carried out on a wall
surface. Most importantly, floating is carried out on wall surfaces to fill up
all uneven areas on a wall surface and may be applied on the internal or
external surface of walls, and also on ceilings. On majority of the sites I went
to, all the internal walls were floated with P.O.P after cement plastering was
done.
SCAFFOLD
A Scaffold is a temporary framework used to support people and material in the
construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a
modular system of metal pipes, although it can be made out of other materials.
The purpose of a working scaffold is to provide a safe place of work with safe access
suitable for the work being done. All scaffolds must be equipped with a toe
board to eliminate the possibility that tools or debris will be kicked or
pushed onto people below. A scaffold must be designed to support four times the
weight of the workers and the materials resting on it.
Erecting of scaffolds
Back on site, scaffolds were erected round the
structure as seen in the picture to enable works to be carried out at various
parts of the building and at various heights.
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FORMWORK
Concrete must be given form by casting it in a
mould. These moulds are known as ‘’formwork’ or ‘’shuttering’’.
A Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent mould into which concrete
or similar materials are poured.
Shutters are another type of formwork made of steel
metal also known as shutters panels.
They are flat metal panels made of steel which
are assembled together to make the complete formwork and are specially used to
cast concrete columns in high rise reinforced concrete frame structures. They
are usually tight enough to prevent the loss of fine materials. Erection of the
shutters are usually orderly, simple and all the units are of sizes that can be
easily handled. It gives the column a smooth face.
TILING
Tiling
in general terms can be defined as the cladding of a surface. We have floor
tiling and wall tilling (both external and internal walls). For example, the
female hostel porter’s lodge at university of agriculture, abeokuta (UNAAB),the
toilet walls were laid with ceramic tiles. The floor was tiled with vitrified
ceramic tiles.
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Illustrates floor tilling with vitrified tiles.
Tiles come in two forms namely:
•Vitrified
tiles: these are tiles with the same properties all through, i.e. when
wearing occurs, the subsequent layers have the same texture, density and
material. They are mainly used for external walls and floors.
•Ceramic tiles: these tiles are made with
clay and laminated surfaces, they are usually used for toilets and kitchen
tilling. Surface finish for tiles are either glazed or unglazed and the
material used for making the tiles include stones, clay, and plastics, etc.
CURTAIN WALL
Curtain walls are glass walls typically designed to span multiple floors and allow
the penetration of day light into the building envelope, resist air and water
infiltration, and provide an architecturally pleasing façade of a building.
They carry no dead-load the building other than its own dead load, but rather
transfer the horizontal loads applied to it. These loads are transferred to the
main building structure through connections at floors or columns of the
building.
CURTAIN WALL FRAMES
Curtain wall frames are made of extruded
aluminium frames known as aluminium extrusions. They are factory made and
designed in units and assembled unit by unit on site.
FIXING OF CURTAIN WALL FRAMES
When fixing curtain wall frames, the frames are
screwed to the floor slab made of mass concrete with an electrical power drill
and also screwed to the top which is the soffit of the floor slab.
PARAPET WALL
A parapet wall is a protective wall constructed
on the perimeter edge/area of a roof slab to protect rain water accumulation on
the gutter /drainage of the roof slab from draining down the sides of a
building. It is usually of reinforced concrete and cast-in-situ. On site, a
parapet wall was constructed to a height of 1.0m.
ROOF GUTTER
Roof gutter is the drainage path created on a
flat roof slab to channel accumulated rain water for the roofing sheet into the
drainage pipes on the roof slab.
DRAINAGE PIPES
Drainage pipes are pipes installed on the roof
slab to drain rain/storm water on roof slab. They are channelled through the
roof beams and connected to the exterior columns which are then sent down to
the inspection chamber. They are made of PVC plastic pipes and are100mm in
diameter width.
FELTING
Felting of a roof slab involves the protection
of the exposed concrete surface of the roof from water penetration and
infiltration, and all forms of damp and moist actions by laying a thick damp
proof membrane on the roof slab. One of the most common felts applied on roof
slab sis the bituminous felt. It is hot –mopped with asphalt to create a strong
damp proof membrane.
……........................................................
BUILDING SERVICES
In the construction of any building, there are
two main services that must be provided in the building in order to create a
comfortable and habitable internal building environment for the building
occupants. These services are divided into two main branches namely:
•Electrical engineering services
•Mechanical engineering services
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
The involvement of electrical engineering
services is to supply electricity, telephone, data outlets and provide lighting
and power points in the building. They also determine the best suited for generators.
During the 3-months period on site, I was able to learn how all these are
applied.
ELECTRICAL TERMINOLOGIES
Electrical 1st- fix:
This term is used to describe the fixing of PVC
pipes of 13mm diameter called ‘Conduit Pipes’
and circular boxes before casting of the floor
slab is done. The circular boxes are outlets for the lighting points while the
wires are passed through the conduit pipes.
As illustrated here>>>>>
the conduit pipes have already been laid prior
to the floor screeding.
Trunking
This is a term used to denote a protective
casing for wires. There are two common types.
•Cable tray
•Cable basket
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
Ventilation systems/Air conditioning systems:
Central air conditioning is an air conditioning
system which uses ducts to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more
than one room, or uses pipes to distribute chilled water to heat exchangers in
more than one room, and which is not plugged into a standard electrical outlet.
Central air conditioning performs like a regular air conditioner but has several
added benefits. When the air handling unit turns on, room air is drawn in from
various parts of the building through
Return-air ducts: This air is pulled through a filter where airborne particles such as
dust and lint are removed. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic
pollutants as well. The filtered air is routed to air supply ductwork that
carries it back to rooms. Whenever the air conditioner is running, this cycle
repeats continually because the central air conditioning unit is located
outside the office spaces, it offers a lower level of indoor noise than a
free-standing air conditioning unit.
FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM
Basically two fire-fighting systems were used
during my stay on site;
•Wet
system
•Dry system.
WET SYSTEM.
The wet system consists of reducers and
sprinkler heads.
EXPANSION JOINT
Expansion joints are structural joints in a
building that are created to allow for the thermal expansion and contraction of
a building that occurs in concrete when loaded. In the construction of fence
that I witnessed, the expansion joints were created uniquely for this purpose.
The expansion joints were created right from the foundation up to the roof
level of the building. They are created to accommodate structural movements.
CONCRETE
Concrete is a mixture of coarse and fine aggregates, cement and water
which is allowed to harden. Coarse aggregate used on site is normally gravel
and Fine aggregate is sand.
Concrete mixes/ratio:
Concrete ‘’slump
test’’:
On site, before any concrete is cast into the
formwork or mould, a slump test is always carried out on it to test for its
consistency and quality check to determine the desired degree of workability.
Freshly mixed concrete is an unstable mixture of solids and liquids. If it is
vibrated excessively, and dropped from a height, it is likely to segregate,
which means that the coarse aggregate work sits way to the bottom of the form
and the water and cement paste rise to the top. The result is concrete of
non-uniform and with unsatisfactory properties.
‘’Curing of concrete’’
Concrete cures by hydration and not by drying.
Thus, it is essential that the concrete must be moist until its required
strength is achieved. Maximum strength for concrete is attained after 28days(4
weeks) of curing. If it is allowed to dry at any point during this timeframe,
the strength of the cured concrete will be reduced and its surface hardness and
durability are likely to be adversely affected.
REINFORCEMENT BARS
Concrete has no useful tensile strength and is
limited in its structural uses. Steel reinforcement bars are used in concrete
columns beams, and slabs. Reinforcement bars have various diameter sizes. They
come in 12mm,16mm 18mm, 20mm 24mm 30mm and 32mmdiameter sizes.
CASTING
Casting is the process of pouring concrete mix
into a mould or form laid with reinforcement bars to form a solid mass
structure.
Casting a concrete wall
•Vertical reinforcing bars are first wired to
the dowels that project from the foundation footing and horizontal bars are
wired to the vertical bars as seen in the illustration below.
•The formwork is erected. Sheets of plywood form
the face of the concrete and are supported by wooden studs. The studs are
supported against the pressure of the wet concrete by horizontal supports.
•The concrete is then poured, compacted and
cured.
CHAPTER 3
SITE MEETINGS
During my training, site meetings were held
every two weeks on a Tuesday. The essence of the site meetings is dissipating
instructions to the contractors and to assess the progress of the project. The
site meeting is chaired by the project architect who gives out all instructions.
During the meetings, all the consultants are expected to be present in order to
obtain an update of a weekly report on each of their jurisdictions as regards
the building project from the contractors. Issues from what material should be
used to the ordering of materials and expenses made are discussed in full
length and all issues or problems encountered are presented to the architect
for instructions. After a few site meetings, my supervisor handed over the task
of writing the minutes of the meeting to me. This i did until my last site
meeting on the site. During the meeting, everyone is presented with their copy
of the minute and is expected to file them afterwards. The site meeting for the
building project is expected to be held till the project is completed and
handed over to the clients.
CHAPTER 4
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, as a student of architecture, i
have been able to obtain
the most relevant and effective practical
industrial training and experience in a duration of three months(3months)
having been exposed to practical on-site situations and activities. Furthermore,
an awareness of the general workplace has been developed in me and I have
acquired important behaviour and interpersonal skills with the opportunity
giving me to get a feel of the work environment and exposure as a student to
the architects responsibilities and ethics .Finally, I would like to state that
the SIWES programme is a very relevant and necessary programme for all students
that must be taken advantage of by every student for each student’s
professional development prior to graduation.