INTEGRATED STRUCTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL FACADE LEVEL-BY-LEVEL CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

Provided is a level-by level construction methodology integrating architectural and structural work for use in the construction of a multi-level building utilizing a movable protection system that can be mounted to a multi-level building during its construction.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a multi-level building having a predetermined number of levels, the method including the steps of: a) setting and monitoring time periods and work cycles for completion of construction and installation tasks on a level-by-level basis; b) selecting sub-contractors and, for each selected contractor, performing the following steps to comply with the time periods and work cycles set in step (a): i. setting and monitoring time periods for obtaining measurements, plans and specifications of deliverables; and ii. setting and monitoring sub-contractor timetables for selecting and sourcing materials, fabrication, delivery and installation; iii. assignment of worker duties to coordinate with the sub-contractor timetables; c) installing formwork for a set of two or more levels of the building; d) releasably mounting a moveable protection system to the building, thereby to enclose at least part of the periphery of the set of two or more levels; e) completing all critical internal and external construction and installation tasks of the lowest enclosed level of the set within the time period set in step (a); f) thereafter raising the moveable protection system by a height substantially corresponding to one level of the building to enclose the next level above the previous set of levels, thereby defining a new set of enclosed levels. g) installing formwork for the next enclosed level above the highest level of the lower set of levels; h) repeating steps (e), (f), and (g) until step (g) is completed for the predetermined number of levels; i) completing construction and installation tasks in regard to at least the external faade of the remaining enclosed levels.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the set of two or more levels in step (c) includes four levels.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the movable protection system encloses the whole of the periphery of the building.

4. (canceled)

5. A method of construction according to claim 1 wherein step (e) includes one or more the sub-steps of completing: i. external doors and windows; ii. balcony railings; iii. air-ledge railings; iv. external plastering; v. external trellis; vi. external electrical works; vii. external plumbing works; and viii. aluminium formwork.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein step (i) includes the completion of all internal and external construction and installation tasks of the remaining enclosed levels.

7. The method of constructing a multi-level building having a predetermined number of levels, the method including the steps of: a) releasably mounting a moveable protection system to the building thereby to enclose at least part of the periphery of two or more levels of the building and then accessing a materials delivery system from an enclosed level of the building through the movable protection system; b) installing formwork on the uppermost enclosed level; c) completing a fixed external barrier substantially around the lowest enclosed level, wherein the barrier includes an externally facing facade; d) thereafter raising the moveable protection system by a height substantially corresponding to one level of the building; and e) repeating steps (b), (c) and (d) until step (b) has been completed for the predetermined number of levels.

8. (canceled)

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the materials delivery system is isolated from the protection system prior to step (c) to facilitate raising of the protection system.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein step (a) includes connecting the materials delivery system to the moveable protection system.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein step (d) includes raising the moveable protection system with the materials delivery system connected thereto.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the materials delivery system is a materials platform.

13. The method according to claim 7 wherein step (d) utilises a hydraulic device for raising the moveable protection system.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein step (a) includes enclosing three or more levels of the building, and wherein the method includes an additional step (c1) performed between steps (a) and (d), step (c1) including performing intermediate construction activities on the at least one middle level of the at least three levels.

15. The method according to any one of claim 7, wherein the time required to installing formwork to completion of a level is within the range of 8 to 15 days.

16. A moveable protection system for use in constructing a multi-level building including: means for releasably mounting the protection system to the building; at least one protective screen for enclosing at least part of the periphery of two or more levels of the building that are under construction; a supporting surface for bearing the weight of at least one worker; shoes opearable to rest on a level of the building that is under construction in order to substantially close a gap between the protective screen and the building at an access location between the supporting surface and the level of the building that is under construction; means for raising the protection system with respect to the building.

17. (canceled)

18. The moveable protection system according to claim 17 wherein the materials delivery system is insertable through the openable section.

19. The moveable protection system according to claim 17 wherein the materials delivery system is connectable to the moveable protection system.

20. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 wherein the openable section is a hinged screen.

21. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 wherein the means for raising the protection system is a hydraulic device.

22. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 wherein the at least one protective screen is multi-perforate.

23. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 including a plurality of screens connected together to form a safety barrier.

24. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 including an aperture for accommodating a passenger lift.

25. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 wherein the shoes are in the form of flip-down panels.

26. A method of constructing a multi-level building having a pre-determined number of levels, the method including the steps of: j) releasably mounting a moveable protection system according to claim 16 to the building thereby to enclose at least part of the periphery of two or more levels of the building; k) installing formwork on the uppermost enclosed level; l) completing a fixed external barrier substantially around the lowest enclosed level, wherein the barrier includes an externally facing facade; m) thereafter raising the moveable protection system by a height substantially corresponding to one level of the building; and n) repeating steps (b), (c) and (d) until step (b) has been completed for the predetermined number of levels.

27. A construction planning method, including the steps of setting dates associated with: a) selecting sub-contractors including: i. setting time periods for obtaining measurements, plans and specifications of deliverables; and ii. setting sub-contractor timetables for selecting and sourcing materials, fabrication, delivery and installation; b) starting and completing each cycle of construction; c) assignment of worker duties to coordinate with the sub-contractor timetables; d) sequencing construction steps to coordinate sub-contractor activities; and e) carrying out the method according to claim 1.

28. The moveable protection system according to claim 16 for use in the method.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0090] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0091] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a multi-level building under construction according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0092] Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-level building having a pre-determined number of levels is under construction using a level-by-level construction method. At the stage of construction illustrated, the building includes a first level 1, a second level 2, a third level 3, a fourth level 4, a fifth level 5 and a sixth level 6. The first and second levels have been completed. Construction activities are taking place on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth levels.

[0093] As shown, a moveable protection system 7 has been mounted to the exterior of the building, thereby to enclose at least part of the periphery of the four levels 3, 4, 5, 6 of the building on which construction is taking place. The protection system 7 includes a connected plurality of perforated aluminium protective screens 8, and supporting surfaces 9 aligned with each level of the building for supporting the weight of two to three men 10 simultaneously. The protection system also includes an aperture for accommodating passage of a passenger lift.

[0094] A materials delivery platform 11 can be inserted through the protection system 7 through an openable panel. The platform may be connected to the protection system or, alternatively, to the building. Construction materials 12 are delivered to the materials platform 11, via a crane on the building site or via another suitable method. One option may be to use a crane mounted on the building which has a moveable arm having sufficient length to reach all sides of the building. This allows construction materials 12 to be lifted from the ground to the level currently being worked on from any side of the building.

[0095] With the protection system is place to enclose levels three to six inclusive, formwork 13 is installed on the uppermost enclosed level, level six 6. Simultaneously, a fixed external barrier forming an external wall system is installed around the lowest enclosed level, level three 3. Dependent upon the construction method followed, this external wall system may include an infill wall, curtain wall, external faade or the like. It may also be in the form of a window frame 14, balcony railing 15, air-conditioning ledge and screens. This external wall provides a sufficient safety barrier to allow work to continue on the level without the protection system 7 enclosing that level.

[0096] Intermediate construction activities, such as housekeeping 16 in preparation for finishing activities and installing support props 17 are simultaneously carried out on levels four 4 and five 5, respectively.

[0097] Once all activities requiring external access to the facade of the lowest enclosed level 3 are completed, the materials platform 11 may be withdrawn from the protection system 7 to facilitate raising of the protection system. Where the material platform is connected to the protection system, it may not be necessary to detach the platform. The moveable protection system 7 is raised by a height corresponding to one level of the building using an hydraulic system. Level four 4 then becomes the lowest level. A new uppermost level is defined on which construction of formwork can now begin.

[0098] The construction steps above are then repeated until formwork 13 has been installed for the pre-determined number of levels. All levels are then brought to completion in order to finish construction of the building.

[0099] The building construction is planned using a project task schedule. An example project task schedule is shown in the table below, in which W refers to project week and M refers to project month.

TABLE-US-00001 Project: XYZ SITE POSSESSION = dd.mm.yyyy W1 = DD.MM.YYYYY Title: Project Task Schedule QS's reply Action By Target Award Date Item Description Office Site Date (QS) Awarded Remarks A PRELIMINARIES 1.1 Project QS W1 AWARD 1.2 QS W WEEKS FROM 1.3 Performance QS W WEEKS FROM 1.4 Pre & Post Condition QS W 1.5 Land QS W 1.6 QS W 1.7 QS W 1.8 PURCHASER W 1.9 Electrical qs W Temporary Power Supply Connection 2.0 Plumbing & QS W Work and Temporary Water Supply Connection 2.1 Design & Temporary Work QS W PC Services 2.2 Toilet Purchaser W 2.3 W 2.4 Ground And QS W Works 2.5 Pest Control QS W 2.6 Material Testing QS M8 2.7 Scaffolding PM/QS M5 2.8 Tower Crane Rental Purchaser M3 2.9 CCTV Monitoring System QS M for Construction Activities 3.0 QS W 3.1 Safety Safety M 3.2 Purchaser W1 3.3 3.4 Safety/Purchaser/QS W2 3.5 Site Office PM/Purchaser W2 FROM 3.6 Workers Dormitory PM/Purchaser W4 3.7 ERSS Temporary Works 3.8 Continuous PM/QS W4 3.9 Eart Soil PM/QS W4 System Sheet Piling & 4.0 4.1 Earth Control Measure 4.2 Earth Control Measure Safety W2 Tank ( to design to suit site requirement) 4.3 & CCTV QS W2 Monitoring System B CRITICAL TASK SCHEDULE 1.0 Screen QS W10 2.0 QS W10 3.0 Design Supply and delivery QS W10 4.0 Wet Trade- QS W10 Masonry, Plastering, 5.0 wall QS W 6.0 /Window shelves QS W 7.0 Glass Railing QS W 8.0 Alum Railing QS W 9.0 Steel Railing QS W 10.0 Structual works QS W6 system 11.0 Air- QS W5 C MAIN BUILDING WORKS 2 Anti-termite/ QS W8 3.0 Earth Works Structural Works QS W10 3.1 QS W 3.2 QS W 3.3 W 3.4 In house W 3.5 In house W 3.6 Framework In house W 3.7 Power Purchaser W 3.8 Supply-Reinforcement Purchaser W 3.9 Supply-Reinforcement Purchaser W 4.0 Supply-Concrete Purchaser W 4.1 Supply-Concrete Purchaser W 4.2 Supply- Purchaser W 1.3 Material supply-Metal Purchaser W2 Framework 1.4 Material supply- QS W10 cement 1.3 QS W10 1.5 D ARCHITECTURAL WORKS 1.0 Wet Trade- Purchaser W2 1.1 Wet Trade-Material Purchaser W2 Supply- 1.2 Wet Trade- Material Supply- QS W2 Prepacked 1.3 Wet Trade-Material Supply- QS W2 1.4 Wet Trade-Material Supply- QS W2 2.0 Wet Trade-Material QS W2 Supply-Lightweight 2.1 QS W2 2.2 QS M8 3.8 QS M8 Works QS M8 3.5 Playslide Equipment QS M8 2.6 Gymnasium Equipment QS M8 3.7 Outdoor Furniture QS M9 2.8 Letter Box, Black door, QS M9 2. Cabinet & Install QS M9 vanity top Fire Doors, Metal, QS M9 Timber Doors 3.1 Door System QS M9 3.2 Bicycle Rack QS W11 Shower Screen QS W11 3.4 Mirror QS W11 3.5 Painting/Road Marking QS W11 Ceiling work QS M10 & Drywall QS M8 8.8 Timber Works Timber QS M8 deck & timber flooring 3.8 Stutter QS M10 4.0 Lightweight panel QS M10 4.1 Wrought Iron QS M11 4. Column Guard & Speed QS M11 Breaker Hump 4.3 Metal works QS M11 4.4 E MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL WORKS 1.0 QS M3 2.0 Works QS M3 3.0 Electrical & QS M3 Works 4.0 Automatic QS M3 Alarm System 5.0 AIR Conditioning and QS M3 Mechanical Ventilation System 6.0 Swimming Pool QS M3 7.0 Lift Installation System M3 EXTERNAL WORKS 1.0 Drainage & Work QS M12 1.1 External Road-Premix, QS M10 Road Marking Traffic 1.2 QS M10 1.3 Metal QS M10 1.4 Works QS M12 Playground indicates data missing or illegible when filed