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Tools, Machinery, Materials & Measuring Instruments (Architecture)

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.

Formwork, Rebar, Steel Frame, Scaffolding & Earthwork Tools and Materials

In formwork, the steel rod fitted with plastic P-cones at both ends to maintain uniform wall thickness between facing panels is a 'round separator (Maru-separator)'; when pipe supports exceed '3.5 m' in height, install 'horizontal ties in two directions at intervals of 2 m or less'.

Circular spacers maintaining side concrete cover on rebar are 'donuts', protective caps placed on protruding rebar ends are 'plastic caps (Pura-cap)', the hook tool for twisting tie wire is a 'Hakka', the rebar cutting machine is a 'bar cutter', and the bending machine is a 'bar bender'. In deformed rebar code 'SD345', 345 means a 'minimum yield point or proof stress of 345 N/mm²', and internal defects in gas pressure welds are inspected non-destructively using an 'ultrasonic flaw detector'.

Verify completion of Torshear high-strength bolt tightening by confirming the 'pintail has sheared off'; use a 'turnbuckle' to adjust diagonal brace tension, an 'orthogonal clamp (Chokkou clamp)' to join two scaffold pipes at 90 degrees, and a 'main rope tensioner (Oyazuna kinchouki)' to pull safety lifelines taut; with a slinging 'shackle', screw the pin all the way in so load bears on the bow crown and pin center.

Never use shovels or pickaxes as 'levers (Teko)' because handles can snap; use a 'plate compactor' (vibrating bottom steel plate) to compact crushed stone or asphalt flat; and set a 'hydraulic jack' vertically on a firm, flat surface while placing safety blocks under the raised load.

Formwork, Rebar, Steel Frame, Scaffolding & Earthwork Tools and Materials

Key points


  • Keep formwork spacing with a 'round separator', and brace pipe supports over 3.5 m high in 'two horizontal directions every 2 m or less'.

  • Side spacers are 'donuts', tip guards are 'plastic caps', SD345 denotes 'yield strength ≥ 345 N/mm²', and weld interiors are checked with an 'ultrasonic flaw detector'.

  • Check Torshear bolts by 'pintail shear-off', adjust brace tension with a 'turnbuckle', join pipes at 90° with an 'orthogonal clamp', and tension lifelines with a 'main rope tensioner'.
WordMeaning
Round separator, Donut spacer & Plastic rebar cap (Pura-cap)
Ultrasonic flaw detector (Chouonpa tanshouki)
Turnbuckle & Main rope lifeline tensioner (Oyazuna kinchouki)

Carpentry, Plastering, Painting, Interior & Piping Tools and Materials

On a Japanese double-edged carpenter's saw (Ryouba nokogiri), use the 'rip blade (Tatebiki)' when cutting along the wood grain and the 'crosscut blade (Yokobiki)' when cutting perpendicular to the grain. When wood moisture content drops below the fiber saturation point (approx. 30%), shrinkage begins—shrinking much more in the 'tangential direction of annual rings' than along the fibers—while strength increases.

In plastering, use a 'corner bevel trowel (Menbiki-gote)' to finish projecting 'outside corners (Dezumi)' of walls or columns; in sealant work, insert 'backup material (Backup-zai)' into deep joints to adjust sealant depth and prevent three-sided adhesion.

'Gypsum board' has a gypsum core containing crystal water, giving it excellent fire resistance, sound insulation, and workability; in light-gauge steel (LGS) ceilings, the hardware attached to the bottom of a suspension bolt to hold the main carrying channel (Nobuchi-uke) is a 'hanger'.

In steel painting, apply 'rust-inhibiting paint (Sabidome toryou)' first after surface preparation (Keren); fit organic gas respirators with a 'black canister (for organic gases)'; and use a 'pipe threading machine (Pipe machine)' to cut, ream/chamfer, and cut tapered external threads on steel pipes.

Key points


  • Cut along wood grain with the 'rip blade (Tatebiki)' and across grain with the 'crosscut blade (Yokobiki)'; below 30% moisture, wood shrinks most tangentially and gains strength.

  • Finish outside corners with a 'Menbiki-gote', prevent 3-sided sealant adhesion with 'backup material', and hang ceiling main channels with a 'hanger'.

  • Coat cleaned steel first with 'rust-inhibiting paint', use a 'black canister' for organic solvent vapors, and thread steel pipes with a 'pipe machine'.
WordMeaning
Corner trowel (Menbiki-gote) & Sealant backup material (Backup-zai)
Ceiling suspension hanger & Pipe threading machine (Pipe machine)
Fiber saturation point of timber (~30% moisture content)

Cement & Concrete Types, Admixtures, Slump Testing, and Vibrators

For winter construction requiring faster strength gain than ordinary Portland cement, use 'high-early-strength Portland cement (Soukyou)'; to suppress thermal cracking from hydration heat in mass concrete (dams, large foundations), use 'moderate-heat or low-heat Portland cement'.

Among concrete admixtures, an 'AE agent / AE water-reducing agent' entrains uniform microscopic air bubbles into concrete to improve 'workability' and 'freeze-thaw resistance (frost resistance)'.

In the 'slump test' measuring fresh concrete consistency (softness), measure the 'vertical subsidence (drop in cm) of the top of the concrete' immediately after lifting the slump cone.

When consolidating concrete with an 'internal rod vibrator (Bougata shindouki)', insert it vertically into each freshly placed layer and penetrate about '10 cm' into the underlying layer.

Key points


  • Use 'high-early-strength Portland cement' for rapid winter strength, and 'moderate-heat or low-heat Portland cement' to prevent thermal cracks in mass concrete.

  • 'AE agents / AE water-reducing agents' entrain fine air bubbles to improve workability and freeze-thaw resistance.

  • The slump test measures 'top subsidence (cm)' right after lifting the cone; insert rod vibrators vertically about '10 cm' into the lower layer.
WordMeaning
High-early-strength, Moderate-heat & Low-heat Portland cement
Air-Entraining (AE) agent / AE water-reducing agent
Concrete slump test & Internal rod vibrator

Surveying/Layout Instruments & Safety for Power, Gas, and Aerial Equipment

The wooden triangle using the 3 : 4 : 5 ratio to lay out right angles on site is an 'Oogane', the conical weight checking verticality is a 'plumb bob (Sagefuri)', the line marker is an 'ink pot (Sumitsubo)', and the self-leveling device projecting horizontal and vertical lines simultaneously is a 'laser line level'.

A 'total station' integrates a theodolite (angle meter) and an electro-optical distance meter to measure angles and distances simultaneously. In leveling, if backsight (BS) on Point A (elevation 10.000 m) is 1.520 m (instrument height = 11.520 m) and foresight (FS) on Point B is 0.980 m, the elevation of Point B is 11.520 − 0.980 = '10.540 m'.

With a 'portable circular saw', never stand directly behind the cutting line to avoid kickback and disconnect power before blade checks; 'disc grinder' wheel replacement must be done by a Special Training graduate followed by a trial run and PPE use. In gas welding and rebar gas pressure welding, install a 'dry flashback arrestor (Kanshiki anzenki)' to prevent flashback explosions.

In crane slinging, keep the 'sling angle within 60 degrees in principle' and never use kinked or broken-strand wire ropes. Operating an 'aerial work platform (Kousho sagyousha)' requires a 'Skill Training Course if the working floor height is 10 m or more, and Special Training if under 10 m'.

Key points


  • With Point A at 10.000 m, backsight 1.520 m, and Point B foresight 0.980 m, Point B's elevation is '10.540 m'.

  • Stand clear of the line behind a circular saw to avoid kickback, require 'Special Training' for grinder wheel changes, and fit a 'dry flashback arrestor' on gas torches.

  • Keep slinging angles 'within 60 degrees', and require 'Skill Training for aerial platforms ≥ 10 m and Special Training for < 10 m'.
WordMeaning
Dry flashback arrestor (Kanshiki anzenki)
Aerial work platform qualification threshold (10 m working floor height)
Total station & Self-leveling laser line level

Tools, Machines, Materials and Instruments

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Official references