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Types of Construction Work, Specialized Trades & Qualifications

Construction – Building (SSW 2) · 建設分野(2号・建築区分) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure (Earthwork, Tunnels, Dams, Bridges, Paving, Landscaping)

Excavated bank soil swells in volume as air enters and shrinks when compacted. For dewatering, the 'Wellpoint method' pumps groundwater with vacuum pumps and wellpoints, while the 'Vertical drain (sand drain) method' drives vertical drains into soft clay to accelerate consolidation settlement. Interlocking 'steel sheet piles (Sheet piles)' provide high water tightness.

Tunnel methods include the 'Shield tunnel method' assembling segments behind a boring machine, mountain 'NATM' utilizing rock mass strength with shotcrete and rock bolts, and non-open-cut 'pipe jacking (Suishin kouji)' pushing pipes underground from a starting shaft using 'hydraulic jacks'.

Key civil works include the 'arch concrete dam' transferring water pressure to canyon walls, 'Sabo check dams' stopping debris flows, 'revetments and foot protection (Gogankou / Negatamekou)' preventing river erosion, large RC boxes called 'caissons' forming breakwaters, and 'cutter suction pump dredgers' cutting seabed soil and pumping it as slurry.

Bridge substructures transferring loads to the ground are 'abutments and piers (Kyoudai / Kyoukyaku)', and 'Prestressed Concrete (PC)' applies pre-compression via PC tendons to prevent tensile cracks. Asphalt pavement layers from bottom up are 'subgrade (Roshou) → base course (Roban) → binder course (Kisou) → surface course (Hyousou)'; other works include 'interlocking block paving' on bedding sand, railway 'sleepers (Makuragi)', slope 'hydroseeding (Shushi fukitsukekou)', and tree planting 'water-puddling (Mizugime)'.

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure (Earthwork, Tunnels, Dams, Bridges, Paving, Landscaping)

Key points


  • Vacuum dewatering is the 'Wellpoint method', and vertical drains accelerating clay settlement are the 'Vertical drain method'.

  • Assembling segments is the 'Shield tunnel method', shotcrete + rock bolts is 'NATM', and pushing pipes with hydraulic jacks is 'pipe jacking'.

  • Asphalt layers from bottom up are Subgrade → Base course → Binder course → Surface course; bridge substructures are 'abutments & piers'; puddling soil around tree roots is 'Mizugime'.
WordMeaning
Wellpoint method & Vertical drain method
Shield tunnel method & NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method)
Port caisson & Cutter suction pump dredger

Building Structures, Piles & Structural Trades (Steel, Rebar, Pumping, Welding)

A 'seismic base isolation structure (Menshin kouzou)' places laminated rubber isolators and dampers between the foundation and superstructure to reduce earthquake shaking. Piles reaching a deep bearing stratum are 'end-bearing piles (Shijigui)', and in the cast-in-place 'Earth drill method', 'bentonite stabilizing liquid and a surface casing' prevent borehole collapse before lowering the rebar cage and pouring concrete.

Erecting steel frames sequentially from the back of the site toward the front with a mobile crane is the 'retreating erection method (Tatenige)', and 'fireproofing coating (Taika hifuku)' such as rock wool prevents steel strength loss and collapse in a fire.

Adequate 'concrete cover thickness (Kaburi atsusa)' prevents carbonation from rusting and expanding internal rebar. Heating butted rebar ends with an oxy-acetylene flame under axial pressure to form a bulge is 'gas pressure welding', while joining metals by melting a lower-melting-point filler metal without melting the base metal is 'brazing/soldering (Rousetsu)'.

Concrete pumping requires close teamwork among the 'pump operator, hose nozzle worker (Tsutsusaki), and concrete vibrator worker'. In reinforced concrete block masonry, dampen blocks, lay them with ~10 mm mortar joints, and fill hollow cores containing vertical rebar.

Key points


  • Laminated rubber bearings under a building form 'base isolation (Menshin)', and Earth drill boreholes are stabilized with 'bentonite liquid and surface casing'.

  • Erecting steel from back to front is the 'retreating method (Tatenige)', and joining without melting base metal is 'brazing (Rousetsu)'.

  • Pumping teamwork links the 'pump operator, nozzleman, and vibrator worker'; concrete cover prevents carbonation-induced rebar corrosion.
WordMeaning
Seismic base isolation structure (Menshin kouzou)
Retreating steel erection method (Tatenige houshiki)
Brazing / Soldering (Rousetsu)

Exterior Walls, Roofing, Waterproofing, Plastering, Tile, Stone, Glass & Insulation

Non-load-bearing factory-made exterior panels attached to columns and beams on high-rises are 'curtain walls'. Roof systems include 'folded-plate metal roofs (Seppan yane)' fixed to tight frames, unglazed 'smoked clay tiles (Ibushi-gawara)' finished with a silver carbon film by smoking at the end of firing, and 'asphalt roofing' underlayment providing secondary waterproofing.

Spreading liquid urethane rubber or FRP to cure into a seamless membrane is 'liquid-applied membrane waterproofing (Tomaku bousui)', and sprayed rigid urethane foam insulation mixes two liquid components on site: 'polyol and polyisocyanate'.

Plaster mortar is applied in multiple coats (undercoat, brown coat, finish coat) to prevent drying shrinkage cracks, and washing away surface mortar before hardening to expose decorative pebbles is 'washed-out finish (Araishidashi)'. Exterior walls use low-absorption, frost-resistant 'porcelain or stoneware tiles' inspected for delamination with a test hammer, and hard, abrasion-resistant 'granite (Kakougan / Mikage-ishi)' is ideal for exterior walls and floors.

Two glass panes separated by a dry air/gas space for thermal insulation and condensation prevention form 'double-glazed glass (Fukusou glass)', fitting a new sash frame over an existing frame is the 'cover method', and architectural painting serves both 'beautification (Bisou)' and 'substrate protection'.

Key points


  • Non-load-bearing exterior wall panels are 'curtain walls', silver carbon-filmed tiles are 'Ibushi-gawara', and seamless liquid waterproofing is 'Tomaku bousui'.

  • Sprayed urethane foam mixes 'polyol and polyisocyanate', washing mortar to expose pebbles is 'Araishidashi', and durable exterior stone is 'granite'.

  • Insulating glass with an air space is 'double-glazed glass (Fukusou glass)', and capping old window frames is the 'cover method'.
WordMeaning
Curtain wall & Double-glazed insulating glass (Fukusou glass)
Washed-out pebble finish (Araishidashi) & Granite (Kakougan)
Liquid membrane waterproofing & Rigid urethane foam insulation

Interior Finishing, Fire Doors, MEP Equipment (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Fire) & Licenses

A raised floor creating underfloor space for power and communication cables is a 'free access floor (OA floor)'. Apply vinyl floor tiles/sheets after drying and cleaning the mortar substrate, spreading adhesive evenly, and observing 'open time'; before wallpapering, smooth gypsum board joints and screw heads with putty and apply sealer. Keep areas around 'fire doors (Boukado)' clear of obstacles, and conduct pre-work asbestos surveys regardless of project size, keeping records for '3 years'.

Electrical 'grounding (Earth)' limits current through the body during leakage to prevent shock and fire, and a 'Class 2 Electrician' license covers facilities receiving power at '600 V or less'. Slinging work ('Tamagake') for cranes with a lifting capacity of '1 ton or more' requires completion of a Skill Training Course.

HVAC refrigerant piping uses 'copper pipe (Doukan)' for superior heat transfer and corrosion resistance; mechanical ventilation using fans for both supply and exhaust is 'Type 1 ventilation'; and ducts exhausting smoke outdoors during fires are 'smoke exhaust ducts'. 'Thermal insulation work' prevents heat loss and condensation, while covering insulation with sheet metal ('jacketing / Racking') protects it from rain, impact, and UV rays.

Water purification plants process river water in order: 'sedimentation basin → filtration basin → chlorine disinfection'. In fire protection, a 'closed-type sprinkler head' melts its thermal element in fire heat to spray water only from that head, and a 'fire alarm system (Jidou kasai houchi setsubi)' detects heat or smoke with ceiling detectors and sounds alarms via a receiver.

Key points


  • Raised wiring floors are 'free access floors', asbestos survey records are kept for '3 years', and Class 2 Electricians handle facilities at '600 V or less'.

  • Refrigerant pipes use 'copper pipe', fan supply + fan exhaust is 'Type 1 ventilation', sheet-metal insulation cover is 'Racking', and water treatment follows Sedimentation → Filtration → Chlorination.

  • Slinging for cranes '≥ 1 ton' requires Skill Training, and detectors + receiver + alarm bells form an 'automatic fire alarm system'.
WordMeaning
Free access floor (OA floor)
Sheet-metal insulation jacketing (Racking) & Type 1 mechanical ventilation
Class 2 Electrician (≤ 600 V) & Slinging Skill Training (≥ 1 t)

Types of Construction Work and Terms

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