Overview
This unit provides a comprehensive examination of construction procedures, principles, and methods used in complex medium-rise and high-rise projects within NCC Building Classes 2 to 9. It introduces the structural systems that support large buildings and explores how planning and design processes shape construction outcomes. The unit covers temporary works, waste management systems, and the work health and safety obligations that apply across complex project environments. It also addresses complaint and regulator management, highlighting the compliance processes associated with major construction activities. Learners engage with the specialised requirements of high-rise and ultra-high-rise buildings, as well as the logistical and coordination challenges inherent in large-scale projects. The unit examines the post-completion phase, including defect management and the identification of common building faults in high-rise developments. It further explores the design and operation of fire safety systems, alongside the utilities and building services that support functional performance in complex buildings.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: BLAR12057 Commercial Construction or BLAR11048 Construction 2.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self Reflection
The number of students participating in the satisfaction survey was low, limiting the representativeness of the feedback. While the feedback received is useful, a higher response rate would provide a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences.
Implement additional strategies to encourage survey participation, such as in-class reminders, targeted Moodle announcements, or brief incentives, to ensure feedback is representative and can meaningfully inform future unit improvements.
Feedback from Self Reflection Student Feedback
Students value the inclusion of real-world examples in lectures, which help them connect theoretical concepts to professional practice and enhance engagement.
Maintain and expand the use of real-world examples throughout the unit, integrating case studies, industry experiences, and practical scenarios to reinforce the relevance of the material to students’ future careers.
Feedback from Staff Feedback
Emphasising critical thinking in assignment design, as implemented this term, encouraged students to engage more deeply with the material and helped reduce reliance on generative AI tools.
Continue designing assignments that require critical analysis, problem-solving, and original reasoning.
- Plan the temporary works, particularly scaffolding, formwork and falsework and plant selection processes used for complex or "super tall" construction.
- Describe the functions, materials and details of the major components. the waste management strategies used and the regulatory inspections made when constructing a complex or "super tall" project.
- Diagnose and plan the rectification of common building faults.
- Explain the issues encountered by complex or "super tall" buildings including funding, ownership, design and construction.
- Discuss the development and implementation of innovative building practices.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | |||||
| 4 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Construction Technology for Tall Buildings
- 6th edition (2024)
- Authors: Michael Yit Lin Chew
- World Scientific Publishing Co (distributed by Ingram Australia)
- ISBN: 9789811293924
This 5th edition covers the latest practices and processes of various alternative methods for the construction of tall buildings from foundation to roof. The text progresses through the stages of site investigation, excavation and earthmoving, foundation construction, basement construction, structural systems for the superstructure, site and material handling, wall and floor construction, external wall and roof construction. The planning, safety and environmental considerations, methods, materials, equipment, and construction sequence of the various proprietary systems for each of these respectively stages are discussed.
This 5th edition covers the latest practices and processes of various alternative methods for the construction of tall buildings from foundation to roof. The text progresses through the stages of site investigation, excavation and earthmoving, foundation construction, basement construction, structural systems for the superstructure, site and material handling, wall and floor construction, external wall and roof construction. The planning, safety and environmental considerations, methods, materials, equipment, and construction sequence of the various proprietary systems for each of these respectively stages are discussed.
Additional Textbook Information
All students are recommended to access the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, Volumes One and Two, which is available free of charge through the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website. Additional ABCB handbooks and guides referenced in the weekly content are also freely available and will be linked under the unit’s Learning Resources section in Moodle.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Webcam and headset
- MS Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
f.afzal@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Topic 1: Introduction and Structural Systems
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Topic 2: Planning and Design Stage
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Topic 3: Temporary Works
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Topic 4: Waste Management Systems
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Topic 5: Work, Health and Safety
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Topic 6: Complaint and Regulator Management
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
No scheduled class
Chapter
Use the time to work on an assessment or take a wellness break.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Topic 7: High-Rise and Ultra High Buildings
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Topic 8: Large Scale Projects
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Topic 9: Post Completion
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Topic 10: Common Building Faults in High Rise Buildings
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Topic 11: Fire Safety Systems
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Topic 12: Utilities and Services
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle unit site for additional information.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz Due: Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Exam period concludes.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Assessment 1 relates to learning outcomes 1, requiring research to answer questions on Temporary works. Temporary works assist the works stages of a development project in a variety of different ways. It is important to be able to identify the most appropriate way of supporting a construction or demolition process to assist with expediting processes, making work areas safe and improving the performance of the building systems.
Your task is to detail the role of each of the following types of temporary works, who can install them, how they are installed and where they may be used on a project site.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 5 Wednesday (8 Apr 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
PDF or Word File
Vacation Week Wednesday (22 Apr 2026)
Your assessment submission must be in an electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions from the Assessment tab shown on the unit Moodle site. Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report. You must ensure that the work is your own or has been correctly referenced to the appropriate author(s), according to the CQU requirements. You will find further support material for this assessment on the unit Moodle site.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
Show clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use and reference correctly supporting information.
Communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Use graphs, illustrations and other graphics to visually support your submission.
Demonstrate the core knowledge associated with this unit and show appropriate application of that knowledge.
No submission method provided.
- Plan the temporary works, particularly scaffolding, formwork and falsework and plant selection processes used for complex or "super tall" construction.
2 Written Assessment
Assessment 2 relates to learning outcomes 2, requiring research to answer questions on building regulations. Building regulation is at times reactionary in nature. Incidents occur, investigations happen, lessons are learned and regulation is changed/enhanced. Large incidents at times led to changes in building regulation and more importantly, an appreciation for good fire safety practices. As building professionals, our education is largely based on reading the NCC, standards and legislation. It is a fundamental part of our professional development, however at times, learning from real incidents helps us to put the pieces together on why particular safety controls are required by the NCC. It also improves our ability to educate others about the importance of fire safety measures by being able to discuss the role these measures have and what can happen if they are not implemented or fail to activate.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 8 Wednesday (6 May 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
PDF or Word File
Week 10 Wednesday (20 May 2026)
Your assessment submission must be in an electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions from the Assessment tab shown on the unit Moodle site. Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report. You must ensure that the work is your own or has been correctly referenced to the appropriate author(s), according to the CQU requirements. You will find further support material for this assessment on the unit Moodle site.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
Show clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use and reference correctly supporting information.
Communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Use graphs, illustrations and other graphics to visually support your submission.
Demonstrate the core knowledge associated with this unit and show appropriate application of that knowledge.
No submission method provided.
- Describe the functions, materials and details of the major components. the waste management strategies used and the regulatory inspections made when constructing a complex or "super tall" project.
- Explain the issues encountered by complex or "super tall" buildings including funding, ownership, design and construction.
3 Presentation
Assessment 3 relates to learning outcomes 3, 4, and 5, requiring research to answer questions on defects in buildings. Defects in buildings are nearly always inevitable, particularly for large complex projects due to the scale of the project, the range of sub-elements in the building and reliance on third-party certification for a lot of sub-elements rather than physical inspection during installation/commissioning. Your task is the research the following common building defects and to determine possible causes for the defect, ways to investigate/assess the problem and ways to potentially remedy the problem. Moreover, conveying garbage and services in high-rise buildings is ordinarily undertaken in shafts (vertical and horizontal). Shafts play a variety of different roles in a building and are described in the NCC a number of different times. Your task for this part of the assessment is to investigate a range of different shafts (as described) in high-rise buildings.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 12 Wednesday (3 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
PDF or Word File
Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026)
Your assessment submission must be in an electronic format.
Before or on the nominated due date, upload your work following the on-screen instructions from the Assessment tab shown on the unit Moodle site. Your submission will be processed through the similarity detection software, Turnitin. You may amend your work based on the detection report. You must ensure that the work is your own or has been correctly referenced to the appropriate author(s), according to the CQU requirements. You will find further support material for this assessment on the unit Moodle site.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
Show clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use and reference correctly supporting information.
Communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Use graphs, illustrations and other graphics to visually support your submission.
Demonstrate the core knowledge associated with this unit and show appropriate application of that knowledge.
No submission method provided.
- Diagnose and plan the rectification of common building faults.
- Explain the issues encountered by complex or "super tall" buildings including funding, ownership, design and construction.
- Discuss the development and implementation of innovative building practices.
4 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment item relates to the unit learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and includes multiple choice questions. One attempt is allowed.
Other
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Attempt via Moodle Learning Site.
As soon as quiz if completed
Your answers will be automatically marked by the system.
- Plan the temporary works, particularly scaffolding, formwork and falsework and plant selection processes used for complex or "super tall" construction.
- Describe the functions, materials and details of the major components. the waste management strategies used and the regulatory inspections made when constructing a complex or "super tall" project.
- Diagnose and plan the rectification of common building faults.
- Explain the issues encountered by complex or "super tall" buildings including funding, ownership, design and construction.
- Discuss the development and implementation of innovative building practices.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
