Building Construction Waec Syllabus

1. Introduction to Building
   • Definition of building
   • Classification and types
   • Introduction to National Building Codes. (Building regulations and Byelaw requirements)
2. Building Construction and Construction Team
   • Definition, purpose and procedures for building construction
   • Parties in the construction team.  (Client’s team, contractor’s team and statutory personnel).
   • Function of the team members.
   • Relationship of the parties
3. Safety Practices
   • Definition of safety, rules and regulation.
   • Hazards in the workshop and construction site.
   • Causes and method of accident prevention.
   • Safety equipment and measures at the construction site.
   • First aid equipment, procedures, and safety wear.
   • Safety in working with dangerous equipment and materials (electricity, scaffolding, formwork, cement, roof, etc.).
4. Basic tools, equipment and machines
   • Identification and functions of basic.
   • Tools and equipment.
   • Care of tools and equipment.
5. Site clearing and levelling
   • Operations involved in site clearing.
   • Tools and equipment for site clearing and levelling.
   • Basic site levelling operations
6. Site organization and layout
   • Preliminary operations in building construction.
   • Procedure for site layout.
   • Location, boundary lines, hoarding, hutments and access road.
7. Setting out
   • Methods of setting out.  (3:4:5 method, Builders’ square method).
   • Tools and equipment for setting out.
   • Procedures for setting out
8. Building Drawing
   • Use of drawing tools and simple exercises on plane geometry in relation to building.
   • Building drawing symbols
   • Scales used in building and their application on site.
   • Production drawings and interpretations (Plans, Elevations, sections and details).
   • Special details (Detailing building elements including doors and windows schedule).
   • Scaling (Enlargement, pictorial and perspectives).
   • Definitions and use of Auto-CADD.
9. Excavation and earthwork
   • Classifications, types and properties of soil.
   • Definition and function of excavation.
   • Methods of excavations.
   • Tools, equipment and plant used for excavation.
   • Solution to excavation problems (Earthwork support, timbering battering and dewatering).
   • Safety rules during excavations.
10. Foundation
    • Definition, purpose and functional requirement of the foundation.
    • Types of foundation.
    • Factors that determine the choice of foundation
11. Ground Floors
    • Types, functions and functional requirements of the ground floor.
    • Methods of construction ground floor.
    • Definition of the basement.
    • Explain the differences between a building with a basement and one without a basement.
    • Problems relating basement in a building.
12. Suspended floors
    • Definition and functions of the upper floor
    • Methods of construction of concrete floors and timber upper floors.
13. Concrete
    • Definition and types of concrete.
    • Materials for concrete.
    • Definitions, types, components and manufacture of cement. Properties and uses of cement, including other alternatives to cement products, e.g., Pozzolana, Pulverize fuel Ash (P.F.A.), Rice husk ash (R.H.A), etc
    • Types and uses of aggregates (other aggregates such as palm kernel shell) and periwinkle, etc.
    • Types and uses of reinforcements.
    • Properties and characteristics of concrete
    • Process of concrete production.
    • Types of concrete tests
14. Walls
    • Definition, types and functions of walls
    • Definition, types and properties of walling materials. (including locally sourced materials).
    • Manufacturing processes of walling materials (clay, brick, blocks and concrete blocks).
    • Sizes of blocks and bricks.
    • Mortar mixes for brick.
    • Methods of wall construction
    • Timber wall construction.
    • Definition and function of wall openings.
    • Methods of constructing wall opening.
    • Functions of lintels and arches.
15. Doors and windows
    • Definition, functions and types of doors and windows.
    • Methods of mixing doors and window frames
16. Staircases
    • Definition, classification, types and uses of stairs.
    • Materials used for the construction of stairs.
    • Materials used for finishing staircases.
17. Plumbing installations and drainage system
    • Types of fitting in plumbing and sanitary works.
    • Materials for plumbing works and fittings.
    • Types of sanitary appliances.
    • Soil and waste appliances.
    • Installation of sanitary appliances.
    • Terms used in drainage works.
    • Principles and functional requirements of a drainage system.
    • Types of a drainage system.
    • Types of drainage materials (pipes and fittings).
    • Methods of laying and testing drain lines.
    • Description of septic and soakaway (inspection chamber, manhole, etc.).
18. Electrical installation and solar energy system
    • Electrical symbols, installation terms and materials.
    • Identification and uses of electrical wiring materials.
    • Types of electrical wiring.
    • Definition, functions and components of solar energy systems.
19. Roofs
    • Definition, purpose, and types of roofs.
    • Functional requirements of the roof.
    • Materials used for roofs.
    • Roof covering materials.
    • Protection of roof from wind, rain, lightning, etc.
20. Finishes
    • Floors
      • Types and characteristics of floor finishes.
      • Methods of laying floor finishes.
      • Uses of floor finishes.
      • Care and maintenance of floor finishes
    • Walls
      • Types and characteristics of wall finishes
      • Plastering and rendering
      • Types of rendering
      • Methods of applying plastering and rendering mix.
    • Ceiling
      • Types and functions of ceiling finishes.
      • Ceiling finishing materials
    • External Work
      • Types of fence, materials for fencing and construction of a fence.
      • Types of gates, fixing of gates and production of gates.
      • Types and materials for construction of access roads.
      • Construction of access road.
      • Needs and materials for landscaping.
      • Procedures for landscaping.
21. Types of Business Organization and Ways of Raising Capital
    • Principles and Management of Business Organization in the building industry.
    • Types of Business Organization in the Building Industry.
    • Types and sources of Capital.
22. Book Keeping
    • Book Keeping in small-scale businesses.
    • Books of original entries
23. Contract Work
    • Definition and types of contract.
    • Contract documents.
    • Parties to a contract

SUGGESTED READING LIST

1. Barry’s Introduction to Construction in Buildings
2. Blocklaying and Concreting
3. The Construction of Buildings VolsI– V
4. Building Technology Ivor H. Seeley
5. Building Construction S. C. O. A. Ezeji
6. Brickwork Vols 1 – 3 Nash
7. Building Construction Handbook R.  Chudley
8. Building Construction Vols 1 – 4 W. B. Mckay
9. Principles of Construction Roger Greeno
10. Building Construction for Senior Secondary Schools Vols 1 – 3 (Ilesanmi) Adesokan and  M. O. Adeniyi
11. Construction Technology Vols 1 – 4 R. Chuelley
12. Advanced Building Construction Vols 1 & 2 C. M. H. Barritt