Building Administration

N4
 Module 1: Professional consultants

INTRODUCTION
Infrastructure is the product of one of the largest industries in the world: the
construction industry. The construction industry can be divided into three
main categories: general construction, speciality trade construction and civil
engineering construction. In these categories, various professionals are
responsible for a specific segment construction project.

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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – CLIENTS

Clients are people for whom construction work is done. They take full
financial responsibility for the project’s success. The main responsibilities of
the client include the following:
• Providing site surveys, and any additional knowledge,
• Working with the relevant authorities and governing bodies,
• Financing the project and authorising payments, and
• Selecting the required professionals and collaborating with contractors.
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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – ARCHITECTS

Architects work for the construction industry and plan, design and oversee
the construction of buildings and structures. Their main function is to design
new buildings or extensions and alterations to existing buildings and other
structures for an individual client or property developer, where they may also
be responsible for the design of the surrounding landscape and space.
Architects also provide advice on the restoration and conservation of old
properties.
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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – SITE FOREMAN

The site foreman, also called the construction foreman, is typically an
experienced construction worker that fulfils the role of construction team
leader on site. The main responsibility of the site foreman is to organise the
construction works.

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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – QUANTITY SURVEYOR

Once the design has been finalised and all the plans have been drawn up,
the total cost of the project must be calculated. The architect appoints a
quantity surveyor, who is responsible for the calculations that range from the
initial estimates to the final purchase of the materials needed. The main
purpose of the quantity surveyor is not only to calculate the cost of the
project, but also to provide the client with value for money and play the role
of negotiator, project coordinator and expense manager.
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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Structural engineering is a subgroup of civil engineering. The structural
engineer is appointed by the client and is responsible for the structural
integrity of a construction project. This means that he/she gives advice on
materials and structural members used to ensure that the structure can
handle the loads that will be imposed on it.

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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – MECHANICAL ENGINEER

The mechanical engineer is a ‘jack of all trades’ and covers every aspect of
the construction project, from the design phase right through to the selection
of the material. Typically, any machinery used on the construction site falls
under the mechanical engineer’s responsibility.

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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

On the construction site, it is the electrical engineer’s responsibility to
manage and supervise all electrical work. Electrical engineers are
responsible for the design, testing and installation of electrical systems for
commercial, residential and industrial construction projects.

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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – BUILDING INSPECTOR

Building inspectors are employed by the city council and conduct periodic
site visits to ensure that contractors comply with:
• National building regulations,
• Zoning regulations, and
• Plan specifications.
These inspections play a vital role in ensuring the safety of the contractors as
well as the future occupants or users of the structure.
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 Module 1: Professional consultants (continued)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – CLERK OF WORKS

The clerk of works is directly employed by the client or the architect and
works between an office and construction sites. In instances where the clerk
of works is employed by the client, he/she may monitor the architect during
the design phase of a project. The main role of the clerk of works is to
represent the interests of the client. This is accomplished through regular site
visits.

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 Module 2: Building firm

TYPES OF BUILDING FIRMS

As each construction project is relatively unique, the type of approach and
therefore the firm responsible for the work will differ. Projects can be divided
into the following three groups based on their size:
• Small,
• Medium, and
• Large.

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 Module 2: Building firm (continued)

DEPARTMENTS OF A BUILDING FIRM

Each department in a building firm has its own set of responsibilities that
contribute to the success of each project and, ultimately, the success and
longevity of the construction firm itself. The organisational structure of each
firm is different but common departments are the Contracts Department, the
Costing Department, the Buying Department, Plant and Maintenance, and
Human Resources.

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 Module 2: Building firm (continued)

ACQUIRING BUSINESS
The bigger a project, the more complicated it can be. The goal of each
business owner is to grow his or her company. To do this, the company must
complete project after project, slowly taking on larger and larger projects. The
most common methods used to get business include:
• Recommendations and reputation,
• Advertising and digital media for marketing, and
• Tendering.
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 Module 3: Site preparation

INTRODUCTION
Planning and scheduling form a large and important part of managing a
construction project. Planning and scheduling all the construction activities
and possible pitfalls will lead to completing the project on time and within
budget. A proper planning process includes site organisation, which covers
site rules, traffic management, safety aspects and storage and waste
management.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE –

CONTRACT MANAGER
As the title suggests, the responsibility of the contracts manager is to
manage all the contracts related to the specific construction project. Contract
managers are responsible for every phase of a contract’s life cycle, when it is
drafted, negotiated and signed. This also includes all other legal documents
that are required for the respective project. This means that they must be
highly detail-oriented and organised.
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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – GENERAL

FOREMAN
The general foreman or site foreman is the person that is directly in charge of
the construction site. This person performs similar duties to that of the project
manager when it comes to the project site but follows a more hands-on
approach. Where the project manager might work from an office or on-site,
the general foreman is always on site. From here the project progress can be
directly monitored and problems solved as they arise.
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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – TRADES

FOREMAN
The trades foreman is responsible for managing workers, usually artisans, in
their specific trade. The trades foreman is usually a very experienced worker
in a specific trade and is responsible for the smooth running of the relevant
trade activities. The trades foreman reports to the general foreman on work
progress and any problems that may arise.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – ARTISANS

Artisans are workers that are trained in a specific trade, such as plumbing,
welding and carpentry. They are normally subcontractors or form part of the
subcontractor’s team. Although artisans only focus on a specific job at hand,
they contribute to the overall project progress.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – LABOURERS

Labourers on a construction site are normally people that are responsible for
the supportive tasks. These tasks ensure that the construction process runs
smoothly.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – OPERATORS

Heavy machinery is often use on large construction sites. The staff
responsible for operating the machinery are called operators. They normally
form part of a larger construction team.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE –

SUBCONTRACTORS
The subcontractor usually comes in the form of a company hired to conduct
specific works, which normally requires specialised knowledge or tools.
Subcontractors may include electricians, plumbers, structural engineers,
glazing companies or any other discipline that the main contractor has to
outsource. The subcontractors work with the general foreman and project
manager.
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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE –

STOREKEEPER
A storekeeper is the person working in the storage facility on large
construction sites.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES ON A BUILDING SITE – GATE

WATCHMAN
The gate watchman is responsible for guarding the construction site. This is
accomplished by monitoring the people entering and leaving the site. In
addition to looking out for trespassers during construction and after hours,
they also keep a look out for any potential dangers such as fire or water that
may damage the construction site.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

SITE PREPARATION
Site preparation consists of multiple activities to transform an unfriendly site
into an acceptable state for construction to start. This includes road access,
security, site clearance, drainage, supplying utilities, and soil testing.

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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

SITE LAYOUT
Construction sites are inherently extremely busy, which makes the proper
management thereof very important. One of the tools used by construction
management to manage the layout of a site is a site layout plan. A site layout
plan is a scaled graphic representation of the site that shows all
the existing structures and landscaping. This plan is used to determine the
best possible placement locations for materials and equipment and the
movement routes of the workers on site.
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 Module 3: Site preparation (continued)

REGULATIONS
The National Building Regulations are standards that act as practical
guidelines for anyone who wants to build a structure. They are put in place to
ensure the health and safety of everyone working on, in and around the
structure.

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 Module 4: Planning and programming

PLANNING
A construction project can be defined as a series of related tasks that are
completed in a certain order. Any project can therefore be broken down into
small, related tasks with small projects having less tasks to complete. To limit
problems and work as efficiently as possible, you need to do proper planning.
As the saying goes, “Fail to plan, plan to fail”.

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 Module 4: Planning and programming (continued)

GANTT CHARTS
A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that provides a project overview to the
stakeholders. Project information conveyed by the Gantt chart includes the
following:
• Task list, and task start and finish dates,
• Duration of the tasks,
• Project milestone dates, and
• Project start and finish dates.
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 Module 5: Building materials

ORDERING
Without building materials, the act of construction is not possible. So, if the
required material runs out during the project, it may cause a major delay and
drive up costs. The material flow process from the supplier to where it will be
used on site consists of the following main steps:
• Procurement,
• Storage, and
• Use.
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 Module 5: Building materials (continued)

DOCUMENTATION
the procurement of building materials is an important process. Keeping track
of the building materials as they move through the process is equally
important. The support system for the procurement process is
documentation. From the point where material is requested until it is
received, there is a document recording the transaction.

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 Module 5: Building materials (continued)

WASTAGE
One of the biggest problems facing the construction industry today is
material wastage. As building materials tend to be relatively expensive,
limiting the waste thereof would be considered good management. Doing this
may not only lead to an increase in profits, but may also make the firm more
competitive in obtaining business contracts. To effectively limit the materials
wasted on a construction site, you need a proper waste management plan.

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 Module 6: Construction equipment

SCAFFOLDING
Scaffolding or a scaffold is a temporary structure that is erected to provide
workers with a platform when working at heights. A scaffolding structure
consists of various piping parts that each fulfil a specific role. The three main
parts that make up the frame of the scaffold structure are the following:
• Standards,
• Ledgers, and
• Transoms.
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 Module 6: Construction equipment (continued)

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

Equipment and machinery play an important role in project efficiency, work
safety and the quality of the end product. The different machines and
equipment used on construction projects includes:
• Hoisting equipment, such as pulleys and sheaves,
• Excavation equipment, such as excavators and backhoes,
• Levelling equipment, such as graders and bulldozers, and
• Compacting equipment, such as rammers, and smooth wheel rollers.
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 Module 7: Foundations

FUNCTIONS OF A FOUNDATION
Foundations are the legs of a building and without strong foundations, a
building is sure to crack or even collapse at some point. Any mistake made in
the construction of the foundation is amplified as you progress with the
building of the structure.

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 Module 7: Foundations (continued)

TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS
Foundations can be divided into the following two main groups:
• Shallow foundations which have a relatively shallow depth that is usually
no more than 3 m deep, and
• Deep foundations which have a depth of more than 3 m and are more
complex and therefore more expensive than shallow foundations.

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 Module 7: Foundations (continued)

SOIL CONDITIONS
Soil conditions play an important role in the choice and construction of
foundations. The soil layers consist of a mixture of tiny grains of rock,
minerals, water, air and organic matter. Soils can be divided into the following
three groups:
• Expansive soils,
• Collapsible soils, and
• Erodible soils.
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 Module 8 : Organisations in the construction
industry
ORGANISATIONS
There are various professionals and companies involved in construction
projects responsible for taking what is designed on paper and making it a
reality. These companies consist of various people and professionals with the
necessary skills and knowledge that enable them to realise their goals.
Although construction companies might differ based on their size or the type
of work they do, they are all some form of legal entity.

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