REPORT 191 PROGRAMMES

SYLLABUS

BUILDING ADMINISTRATION

N4

SUBJECT CODE: 4090034

Implementation: January 2022

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CONTENTS PAGE

1. General aims ..................................................................................................................... 3

2. Specific aims 3

3. Pre-requisite ...................................................................................................................... 3
4. Duration ............................................................................................................................. 3
5. Evaluation.......................................................................................................................... 3
6. Learning content ................................................................................................................ 3
7. Weighting of the different modules............................................................................... 4- 4 -

Module 1: Professional consultants ......................................................................................... 5- 5 -

Module 2: Building firm.................................................................................................................. 5
Module 3: Site organisation ........................................................................................................... 6
Module 4: Planning & Programming .............................................................................................. 7
Module 5: Building materials ......................................................................................................... 7
Module 6: Construction Equipments.............................................................................................. 8
Module 7: Foundations ................................................................................................................. 8
Module 8 : Supervision in Construction 9
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Syllabus: Building Administration N4

1. General Aims

To develop student’s ability to manage construction sites and adhere to safety standards
and procedures.

2 Specific Aims

2.1 The student should obtain a thorough background of administering a construction

site.

3. Pre-requisite
Student must meet at least one of the following requirements.

3.1 National N3 certificate with Civil Engineering subjects.

3.2 Passed grade 12 with Civil Technology or Engineering Graphics Design.
3.3 Completed NC (V) level 4 in Civil Engineering and Building Construction
programme.

4. Duration
Full-time: 7.5 hours per week. This instructional offering may also be offered part-
time.

5. Evaluation
5.1 Evaluation is conducted continuously by means of two formal tests at College level.
Learner must obtain a minimum ICASS mark of at least 40% in order to qualify to
write the final examination and a mark will be calculated together in a ratio of 40:60
to derive the promotion mark. The learner must obtain at least 40% on the final
examination.

The promotion mark will be calculated as follows:

Promotion Mark = 40% of (ICASS mark) + 60% of (Exam mark)

5.2 The examination in Building Administration N4 (Engineering Studies - Report 191)

will be conducted as follows:

Modules 1 to 8 MARKS: 100

DURATION: 3 HOURS

CLOSED BOOK: drawing instruments may be used

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5.3 Weighting:

The following weights are consequently awarded to each category:

Knowledge and understanding Applying Analysing / Syntheses and Evaluating

40 – 50 30 – 40 20 – 25

6. Learning content
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

It is essential that this subject should be illustrated and evaluated within the context of
practical case studies.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

It is essential that this subject should be illustrated and evaluated within the context of
technical skills and simulation of practical environment.

7. Mark allocation in the examination as an indication of the

weighting of the different modules

MODULES WEIGHTING
1. Professional Consultants 10
2. Building Firms 10

3. Site Preparation 15
4. Planning & Programming 10

5. Building Materials 15
6. Construction Equipment 20
7. Foundations 10
8. Organisations 10
Total 100
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Module 1: Professional Consultants

General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to know of various professionals
involved in the construction industry and the role they play

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

1.1 Duties & responsibilities 1.1.1 Explain the duties and the responsibilities of the
following professionals in the construction industry;
• Client/owner/employer
• Architect
• Site Forman
• Quantity surveyor
• Structural engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Land/building surveyor
• Building inspector
• Clerk of works
• Building inspector

Module 2: Building Firms

General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to differentiate between firms and
the functions of the different firms and methods of obtaining business

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

2.1 Types of building firms 2.1.1 Explain the structure and operating functions of the
following types of firms;
• Small
• Medium
• Large
2.2 Acquiring business 2.2.1 Explain the following different methods used to obtain
business opportunities;
• Recommendation
• Business web site
• advertising
• Open & Selective tendering
• Arrangement
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• Competitive bidding
• Reputation
• Negotiation
• Request
• Rotation
2.3 Departments of a 2.3.1 Distinguish between the roles and responsibilities of
building firm the following departments in the construction firms
• Contracts dept.
• Estimating dept.
• Costing dept
• Buying dept.
• Plant & maintenance dept.
• Accounts dept.
• Human resource dept.

Module 3: Site Preparation

General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to understand how to prepare a
construction site before commencing the actual work

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

3.1 Organisational 3.1.1 Describe the roles of the various construction team on
structure on a building a building site;
site • Contracts manager
• Projects manager
• General foreman
• Trades foreman
• Artisans
• Labourers
• Operators
• Subcontractors
• Storekeeper
• Gate watchman
3.2 Site preparation 3.2 List and explain the following preliminaries to be done
in preparing a site;
• Access roads
• Demolition of existing structures
• Entry and exit controls
• Hoardings
• Security
• Site clearance
• drainage
• vegetation
• electricity/water
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• soil testing
• site signage board
3.3 Site lay out 3.3.1 Sketch and label a proper site lay out considering the
location of following areas;
• Storage area
• Site office
• Plant location
• Ablution facilities
• Health and safety
3.4 Regulations 3.4.1 Explain the regulations to be adhered to with reference
to the following
• Covered walkways
• Temporary roads
• Traffic control
• Using of cranes
• Protection orders
• Adjoining property
• Approvals from local authorities

Module: 4 Planning & Programming

General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to understand the importance of
planning and programming in detail for running a construction site

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

4.1 Planning 4.1.1 Explain the types of planning and the factors to be
considered in each of the following
• Steps to program planning
• Financial planning
• Personnel planning
• Organisational planning
• Stage and period planning
• Importance of planning

4.1.2 Draw and incorporate construction activities and time

in a Gannt chart and how to measure progress using
it.
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Module 5: Building Materials

General aim
On completion of this module, the student should be able to handle, store and understand
the documentations involved in building materials for a site.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

5.1 Ordering 5.1.1 Describe the procedure to be followed in;

• Ordering and receiving
• Follow up on orders
• Storage of various materials
• Cost and quality
5.2 Documentation 5.2.1 Differentiate and understand the use of the following
documents;
• Order form
• Requisition form
• Delivery note
• Invoice
• Receipt
5.3 Wastage 5.5.1 Explain wastage management on site related to;
• Control waste
• Improper storage
• Improper handling
• Damage of material on delivery
• Theft

Module: 6 Construction Equipment

General aim

On completion of this module, the student should be able to identify various construction
equipment and their uses

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

6.1 Scaffolding 6.1.1 Describe the following scaffoldings and its parts and
uses.
• Independent scaffolding
• Putlog scaffolding
• Cantilever scaffolding
• Hanging scaffolding
• Mobile scaffolding
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6.1.2 Explain the factors to inspect in establishing the safety
of scaffolding;
• Erection
• Sturdiness
• Anchoring to structures
• platforms
6.2.1 Identify the following various construction equipment
6.2 Equipment &
and their uses
machineries
• Hoisting equipment
• Excavation equipment
• Levelling equipment
• Compacting equipment
• Concrete mixing machineries
• Transporting equipment
• Hand & power tools

Module: 7 Foundations
General aim

On completion of this module, the student should be able to understand the importance
and the types of various foundations

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

7. 1 Functions of 7.1.1 Analyse the use of having a good foundation;

foundation • Importance of having a good foundation
• Transferring of loads
• Differential settlement
• Problems of a weak foundation
7.2 Types of foundation
7.2.1 Draw and choose the kind of foundations suitable for
various soil conditions;
• Raft foundation
• Pile foundation
• Strip foundation
• Buoyed foundations
• Pad foundations
• Cantilevered foundations
7.3 Soil conditions
7.3.1 Describe the use of testing the soil;
• Testing of soil
• Soil types & properties
• Load testing
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Module: 8 Organisations in construction industry

General aim

On completion of this module, the student should be able to understand various types and
kinds of organisation structures and its functions

LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:

8.1 Organisations 8.1.1 Differentiate between various types of organisations

and their structure
• Organisation
• components
• Types of companies
• Organisation charts
• Authority & delegation
• Kinds of organisation
• Disadvantages of various organisation kinds