NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

AAR 5104: ASSIGNMENT FOUR

LECTURER: Architect I. Ahmed

INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

COMPILED BY:

DLELO VELEMPINI: N01413547Y

An Assignment Submitted to

The Department of Architecture

In Partial Fulfilment

For the Degree of

Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours)

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe 15 NOVEMBER 2019

Sustainable or “green” building design is a method of wisely using resources to create and design high-
quality, healthier and more energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings. It involves incorporation of
innovative passive green design techniques for cooling and heating systems in building s to control room
temperatures.

It promotes use of green energy in powering buildings through solar harvesting and other green methods.
Green buildings seek to maximize sustainability through measures of water harvesting, recycling grey
water & minimal water usage.

One example is the East gate mall in Harare Zimbabwe which is a world Icon for achieving sustainable
cooling and heating systems passively. It is cost efficient to run and maintain for the developers, Old
Mutual.

Green Building features are:

• Minimal disturbance to landscapes and site condition

• Use of non-toxic and recycled / recyclable material

• Efficient use of water and water recycling

• Use of energy efficient and eco-friendly equipment

• Use of renewable energy

• Quality of indoor air quality for human safety and comfort

• Effective controls and building management systems

Risk is a part of construction. Without proper risk mitigation, the construction firm will face project
delays, incur costs, and may even face litigation. Risk mitigation should be a top priority among all
construction trade contractors.

Every step of the way, something could go wrong causing the whole project to fail. Part of working on
large construction projects, like warehouses, residential housing developments, and office buildings,
means understanding how to plan and fund a project while mitigating risk.

Common mitigation measures in construction sites to reduce risk on workers are:

1. Start with safety training

All workers must hold a current white card before they commence work on-site. Site-specific induction
training should also be completed by each worker, to point out any high-risk areas and provide
instructions for emergency management.

2. Minimize and manage risk

Due to the nature of construction work, it's impossible to eliminate all safety risks. However, many
common safety issues can be avoided by conducting regular safety audits and having procedures in
place to report, assess and address potential risks.

3. Site security

Restricted site access should not only be put in place to simply protect equipment from damage or theft.
Security in and outside of work hours is integral to protect pedestrians from potential construction
hazards. This includes supervision or authorized site visitors.

Strict security and safety protocols will also protect contractors from liability and negligence in the case
of a safety incident or security breach.

4. Safe work method assessment

A safe work method statement (SWMS) must be prepared for all high-risk construction projects, before
work commences. The SWMS should outline the scope of work involved, any potential safety issues, and
how risks will be prevented and managed. By law, construction work must not commence until SWMS
standards are met.

5. Use clear signage throughout the site

The site SWMS should be clearly displayed at the construction site, so that all safety protocols are
readily available - including a 24-hour emergency contact number and a map or directions to the site
office. Visible signage should also indicate site amenities (such as toilets), entry and exit points, and first
aid or emergency fire equipment.

6. Entry and exit points

Separate entry and exit points should be established for heavy machinery/vehicle access, to strengthen
pedestrian safety at high traffic points.
7. Compliant chemical storage

Chemicals need to be stored very carefully to minimize fires, explosions, asphyxiation, chemical injury
and pollution on worksites. Use high quality, compliant outdoor storage solutions such as explosive
storage cabinets to segregate chemicals and reduce spillage.

8. Environmental conditions

Extreme weather conditions can cause serious safety hazards. Your on-site emergency plan should
provide clear guidelines for workers who need to stop work in the event of natural disaster, severe
environmental conditions or other emergency circumstances.

9. First aid

For the construction industry, it's best practice to provide one first aid officer per 25 workers. First aid
kits and equipment must be placed in an easily accessible area on site.

10. Provide personal protective (PPS) equipment

In many situations an employer is obligated to provide PPS such as high vis vests, safety goggles and
safety harnesses to construction site workers. To find what PPS you are required to provide for a specific
project, contact Safe Work Australia.

11. Dropped objects

It is the site managers responsibility to secure objects onsite and minimize the risk of them falling.
Construction safety doesn't end once the project is completed, and your workers have gone home. All
parties involved in the construction process have a responsibility in ensuring that the right equipment
and quality materials are used, so that safety risks are avoided long into the future

Question 3: You are familiar with the environmental management act; how do you relate the profession
of Architecture to the act?

The environmental management act serves to prevent the natural environment from new construction
projects. It also serves to safeguard the Human safety in these newly constructed sites. Hence for large
project it is required for an Environmental Impact Assessment to be made and a certificate be awarded
for the project construction to be started.

The EIA helps with information the guide the Architect in his /Her design to make sure their design
proposal complies with Authority regulations of the project site. It also helps the Project manager and
client to negotiate with the regulators to relax their regulations where mitigation measures can be
applied in a safe way to innovate new solutions in the built environment.

Once the Architects drawings are compliant and approved, the Environmental agency will monitor the
compliance of the regulations of act until the close out of the project.