CE1CCS: Construction Science

Module code: CE1CCS

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Mehdi Shahrestani, email: m.shahrestani@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to introduce the fundamental concepts of Construction Science through the examination of the physical properties and mechanics of construction materials and the physical principles of heat transfer and heat loss, fluids flow, light, sound, acoustics, and electricity. Students can apply some of these concepts in the module of Construction Technology (CE1CCT) and develop a deep understanding of the concepts through their experimental studies in the module of Empirical Studies and Site Engineering (CE1ESE). In addition, students can enhance and apply their knowledge and understanding gained in this module further and design systems including artificial lighting, in the module of Building Environment Systems and Technologies (CE2EST) in part 2. This integrated approach provides an opportunity for students to reinforce and apply the knowledge gained in this module. 

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Dr Sivaraman Kuppusamy (s.kuppusamy@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand the way electricity is supplied and distributed for power and light, 
2. Determine the level of sound and illuminance,   
3. Estimate the heat losses from buildings,  
4. Calculate tensile and compression forces in simple structures and trusses.  

Module content

This module is structured to be delivered in a series of lectures and tutorials. Contents of this module include:  

• Structure, composition, properties, and performance of building materials (concrete, masonry, metals, timber, plastics, glass, bituminous, and paints),  
• Testing and regulations of building materials,  
• Basic concepts of stresses and strains of simple structures,  
• Calculation of shear forces, bending moments, and deflection of fabrics,  
• Moisture, its sources, movement, and control in buildings,  
• Basic principles of human comfort requirements,  
• Principles of fluid flow in pipes and ducts and pressure losses,  
• Physical principles of sound, its transmission in rooms and noise levels,  
• Physics of light, its measurement, and methods of calculating lighting levels in buildings,  
• Principles and basic calculations of drainage and discharge systems for foul and surface water,  
• Water supply and cold-water distribution systems, 
• Basics principles of electricity, its generation, distribution, and types of power supply. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is to be delivered through a series of lectures, tutorials, and seminars.  Both in-person sessions and digital methods are used in this module to introduce the principal concepts relevant to Construction Science as well as to demonstrate their applications. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 15 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Practice questions will be provided in the tutorial sessions in order to provide students with an opportunity to test their understanding of the topics discussed in lectures and prepare students for the final exam.  

Reassessment

Additional costs