APPENDIX E - MODIFICATION TO DESIGN APE > TABLE OF CONTENTS

OF DOMESTIC BLOCKS

APE1 SCOPE OF APPENDIX...............................................................................3

APE1.A010.7 APPLICATION......................................................................................................3
APE1.A020.7 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED MODIFICATIONS
PROPOSED IN TENDER STAGE........................................................................3
APE1.A030.7 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PROPOSALS FOR
MODIFICATIONS IN POST-CONTRACT STAGE.............................................3
APE1.A040.7 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS....................3

APE2 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED

MODIFICATIONS PROPOSED IN TENDER STAGE...........................4
GENERALLY ......................................................................................................................................4
APE2.A010.7 APPLICATION......................................................................................................4
SCOPE OF MODIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................4
APE2.A020.7 LIMITATIONS.......................................................................................................4
APE2.A030.7 LARGE PANEL FORMWORK SYSTEM............................................................4
APE2.A040.7 NON-MANDATORY PRECAST EXTERNAL FACADES.................................4
APE2.A050.7 NON-MANDATORY SEMI-PRECAST SLABS..................................................4
APE2.A060.7 NON-MANDATORY PRECAST STAIRS............................................................4
APE2.A070.7 MECHANISED CONSTRUCTION METHODS.................................................4
SUBMISSIONS ......................................................................................................................................5
APE2.A110.7 SUBMISSIONS - GENERALLY...........................................................................5
APE2.A120.7 CONFLICT WITH SPECIFICATION...................................................................5
APE2.A130.7 MECHANISED CONSTRUCTION METHODS.................................................5
APE2.A140.7 PROPOSED STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS................................................5
APE2.A150.7 PROGRAMME FOR FURTHER SUBMISSIONS IN POST CONTRACT
STAGE
................................................................................................................................5
DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY...........................................................................................................................5
APE2.A210.7 DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY................................................................................5
BILLS OF QUANTITIES.................................................................................................................................6
APE2.A310.7 AMENDMENTS....................................................................................................6
APE2.A320.7 PREPARATORY WORKS FOR FINISHES..........................................................6
PRELIMINARIES ITEMS...............................................................................................................................6
APE2.A410.7 ON-SITE PLANT AND EQUIPMENT.................................................................6
INFORMATION TO TENDERERS FOR NOMINATED SUB-CONTACT AND SPECIALIST
WORKS
......................................................................................................................................7
APE2.A510.7 INFORMATION TO TENDERERS FOR NOMINATED SUB-
CONTRACT AND SPECIALIST WORKS
................................................................................................................................7

APE3 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PROPOSALS FOR

MODIFICATIONS IN POST-CONTRACT STAGE................................8
GENERALLY ......................................................................................................................................8
APE3.A010.7 APPLICATION......................................................................................................8
APE3.A020.7 TERMS AND CONDITIONS................................................................................8
SUBMISSIONS ......................................................................................................................................8
APE3.A110.7 SUBMISSIONS - GENERALLY...........................................................................8

APE4 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO

DESIGN AND/OR SPECIFICATION FOR DOMESTIC BLOCKS......9
DESIGN AND/OR SPECIFICATION.............................................................................................................9
APE4.A010.7 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS..............................................................9

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APPENDIX E - MODIFICATION TO DESIGN APE > TABLE OF CONTENTS
OF DOMESTIC BLOCKS

CONSTRUCTION ......................................................................................................................................9
APE4.A110.7 INSPECTION OF WORK.....................................................................................9
APE4.A120.7 OPENINGS THROUGH STRUCTURAL MEMBERS........................................9
APE4.A130.7 INSTALLATION OF CONCEALED SERVICES.................................................9
ACCEPTABILITY OF STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS.....................................................................10
APE4.A210.7 CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTABILITY................................................................10
APE4.A220.7 REDESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS.......................................................................10
APE4.A230.7 STRUCTURAL MEMBER SIZES......................................................................10
APE4.A240.7 CONCRETE DESIGN.........................................................................................10
APE4.A250.7 REINFORCEMENT DESIGN.............................................................................10
APE4.A260.7 USE OF FABRIC REINFORCEMENT...............................................................10
APE4.A270.7 PRECAST CONCRETE STAIRS........................................................................10
APE4.A280.7 NON-STRUCTURAL CONCRETE ELEMENTS..............................................10
ACCEPTABILITY OF ARCHITECTURAL MODIFICATIONS..............................................................10
APE4.A310.7 CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTABILITY................................................................10
APE4.A320.7 FLOOR LAYOUTS AND ELEVATIONS...........................................................11
APE4.A330.7 MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING STRUCTURE............................................11
APE4.A340.7 UTILITY SERVICE ROOMS..............................................................................11
APE4.A350.7 RENDER COAT TO WALLS..............................................................................11
APE4.A360.7 CONCEALMENT OF ELECTRICAL WIRING.................................................11
APE4.A370.7 EXTERNAL BUILDING FEATURES................................................................11
APE4.A380.7 DIMENSIONS OF OPENINGS..........................................................................11
APE4.A390.7 MONOLITHIC SLAB AND SCREED FINISH..................................................11

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SCOPE OF APPENDIX APE1

APE1 SCOPE OF APPENDIX

APE1.A010.7 APPLICATION
1. All terms and requirements set out in this Appendix shall only be applicable to
contracts with the construction of superstructure of domestic blocks.
2. All terms and requirements set out in this Appendix shall be applicable to
permitted modifications or proposals for modifications to design and/or
Specification for the domestic blocks.
3. Where any terms and requirements in Worksection APE4 of this Appendix are at
variance with those in Worksections APE2 and APE3 of this Appendix, the
terms and requirements of Worksection APE4 shall prevail.

APE1.A020.7 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED MODIFICATIONS

PROPOSED IN TENDER STAGE
Terms and requirements applicable to permitted modifications to design and/or
Specification for the domestic blocks proposed by the Contractor in tender stage are
specified in Worksection APE2 of this Appendix.

APE1.A030.7 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PROPOSALS FOR MODIFICATIONS IN

POST-CONTRACT STAGE
Terms and requirements applicable to modifications to design and/or Specification
for the domestic blocks proposed by the Contractor in post-contract stage after the
notified date for commencement of the Works are specified in Worksection APE3 of
this Appendix.

APE1.A040.7 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS

The acceptance criteria for permitted modifications to design and/or Specification
proposed by the Contractor in tender stage and for modifications to design and/or
Specification for domestic blocks proposed by the Contractor in post-contract stage
after the notified date for commencement of the Works are specified in Worksection
APE4 of this Appendix.

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TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED ...... APE2

APE2 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON

PERMITTED MODIFICATIONS
PROPOSED IN TENDER STAGE
GENERALLY
APE2.A010.7 APPLICATION
All terms and requirements included in Worksection APE2 hereunder apply to
permitted modifications to design and/or Specification for domestic blocks proposed
by the Contractor in tender stage.

SCOPE OF MODIFICATIONS
APE2.A020.7 LIMITATIONS
1. Only modifications to design and/or Specification for domestic blocks arising as
a result of complying with Items APE2.A030 to APE2.A070 inclusive are
permitted in tender stage.
2. Permitted modifications proposed and submitted by the Contractor with the
tender shall be in accordance with the Special Conditions of Tender and shall
comply with all the requirements as specified in Worksections APE2 and APE4
of this Appendix.

APE2.A030.7 LARGE PANEL FORMWORK SYSTEM

The further use of large panel formwork system for constructing the structural walls
(see CON2.D310 to CON2.D450).

APE2.A040.7 NON-MANDATORY PRECAST EXTERNAL FACADES

The use of precasting method for constructing the external facades of the domestic
flat units (see Worksection CON5).

APE2.A050.7 NON-MANDATORY SEMI-PRECAST SLABS

The use of semi-precasting method for constructing the slabs to areas other than
domestic flat units (see Worksection CON7).

APE2.A060.7 NON-MANDATORY PRECAST STAIRS

The use of precasting method for constructing the stairs of the domestic blocks (see
Worksection CON7).

APE2.A070.7 MECHANISED CONSTRUCTION METHODS

The use of any Approved mechanised method of construction.

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TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED ...... APE2

SUBMISSIONS
APE2.A110.7 SUBMISSIONS - GENERALLY
Submit a schedule listing any permitted modifications to the design and/or
Specification for domestic blocks proposed by the Contractor in a letter attached to
the Form of Tender.

APE2.A120.7 CONFLICT WITH SPECIFICATION

Submit with the tender a list of all items contained in the Specification which may
conflict with the tenderer's design, and full details of proposals for any amendments
or additions to the Specification.

APE2.A130.7 MECHANISED CONSTRUCTION METHODS

Submit with the tender details of any mechanised method of construction that it is
intended to use.

APE2.A140.7 PROPOSED STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS

Submit details with the tender showing:
1. The principles of any incidental structural design modifications proposed which
shall be prepared by a Registered Structural Engineer registered with the
Buildings Department; and
2. Proposals for supervision of all aspects of the concrete work by Contractor's own
staff and the CM.

APE2.A150.7 PROGRAMME FOR FURTHER SUBMISSIONS IN POST CONTRACT STAGE

Agree programme for submission of design calculations, framing plans,
reinforcement details, etc. with the CM prior to the notified date for commencement
of the Works. No change to the design principles submitted with the tender
documents will be permitted.

DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY
APE2.A210.7 DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Notwithstanding Clause 5.15 of the General Conditions of Contract, the Contractor
shall, with respect to the Contractor’s proposed modification to the design and/or
Specification, be responsible for the satisfactory performance of the Works as
modified by the Contractor’s proposed modifications to the design and/or
Specification and shall guarantee the same to the Employer. The Contractor shall
indemnify and keep indemnified the Employer, his agents and employees against
any liability, claims, demands, proceedings, damages, costs, charges and expenses
whatsoever in respect thereof or in relation thereto, and shall compensate the
Employer for any loss or expense arising therefrom.

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TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED ...... APE2

BILLS OF QUANTITIES
APE2.A310.7 AMENDMENTS
1. Subject to compliance with sub-clause (2) of this clause, the Contractor may, at
time of tender, insert, delete or revise the description and/or quantity of the
measured items within the Bills of Quantities to suit any modifications to design
and/or Specification for domestic blocks proposed by him. Such insertion,
deletion or revision shall be made in accordance with the Method of
Measurement stated in the Preliminaries to the Bills of Quantities. The
Contractor shall include a schedule in his tender showing all such revisions to
the Bills of Quantities.2.
a. No insertion, deletion or revision shall be made to the Preliminaries to the
Bills of Quantities.
b. No insertion, deletion or revision to any provisional quantities contained in
the Bills of Quantities shall be allowed to be made, although the work or
works to which the provisional quantities refer may be modified by the
Contractor in accordance with Worksection APE2 of this Appendix.

APE2.A320.7 PREPARATORY WORKS FOR FINISHES

Where items, such as plastering, rendering and screeding, have been deleted from the
Bills of Quantities as a result of the operation of sub-clause (1) of Item APE2.A310,
the cost of all preparatory work, including keying, or the use of special bonding
agent, etc., as required by the CM, to receive any subsequent finish is deemed to
have been included in the tender.

PRELIMINARIES ITEMS
APE2.A410.7 ON-SITE PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
1. For domestic blocks, where the precast concrete facade system involves early
capital cost of major and necessary items of on-Site plant and equipment which
are used intimately in association with the precast facade construction, the
Contractor may make a request for special terms of payment in respect of these
items and is advised to make known to the Employer at time of tender, by
submitting proposals in a separate letter with his tender.
2. In this connection, the Contractor is to note that any special terms of payment
proposal must be restricted to only the on-Site items of plant and equipment as
described in Clause SCT10 of the Special Conditions of Tender and the amounts
of these items must have been tendered in Bill No 1 - Preliminaries. The
acceptance of any special terms of payment proposals shall be at the discretion
of the Employer.
3. All other Preliminaries items not related to the special terms of payment
proposal shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set out in Bill No 1
Preliminaries.

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TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PERMITTED ...... APE2

INFORMATION TO TENDERERS FOR NOMINATED

SUB-CONTACT AND SPECIALIST WORKS
APE2.A510.7 INFORMATION TO TENDERERS FOR NOMINATED SUB-CONTRACT AND
SPECIALIST WORKS
1. The Contractor shall give full information and assistance to tenderers tendering
for any Nominated Sub-contract or Specialist Works on any permitted
modifications to design and/or Specification for domestic blocks which may
affect the submission of a tender for any such Nominated Sub-contract or
Specialist Works.
2. The Contractor shall be responsible for any additional costs, claims or expenses
whatsoever and howsoever arising on Nominated Sub-contracts or Specialist
Works as a result of any permitted modification to design and/or Specification
for domestic blocks and the Final Contract Sum shall not be adjusted in respect
of any such claims.

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TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON PROPOSALS ...... APE3

APE3 TERMS AND REQUIREMENTS ON

PROPOSALS FOR
MODIFICATIONS IN POST-
CONTRACT STAGE
GENERALLY
APE3.A010.7 APPLICATION
All terms and requirements included in Worksection APE3 hereunder apply to
modifications to design and/or Specification for domestic blocks proposed by the
Contractor in post-contract stage after the notified date for commencement of the
Works.

APE3.A020.7 TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Any modifications proposed by the Contractor in post-contract stage after the
notified date for commencement of the Works shall be submitted to the CM in
accordance with Clause 11.8 of the General Conditions of Contract. Such
proposals shall be treated as Requested Variation Proposals and subject to the
CM’s agreement under Clause 11.8 of the General Conditions of Contract.
2. The proposed modifications shall comply with all the requirements as specified
in Worksections APE3 and APE4 of this Appendix.

SUBMISSIONS
APE3.A110.7 SUBMISSIONS - GENERALLY
Any modifications proposed by the Contractor shall be submitted in accordance with
Clause 11.8(2) of the General Conditions of Contract. Submit with the proposal a
report identifying the principles of any proposed structural modifications which shall
be prepared by a Registered Structural Engineer registered with the Buildings
Department.

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED ...... APE4

APE4 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR

PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO
DESIGN AND/OR SPECIFICATION
FOR DOMESTIC BLOCKS
DESIGN AND/OR SPECIFICATION
APE4.A010.7 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
1. Any permitted modifications to design and/or Specification for domestic blocks
including any incidental structural design modifications proposed by the
Contractor in tender stage, and any modifications to design and/or Specification
for domestic blocks proposed by the Contractor in post-contract stage after the
notified date for commencement of the Works shall comply with the Hong Kong
Buildings Ordinance and its subsidiary Regulations.
2. The structural design of any modifications to domestic blocks shall comply with
the Building (Construction) Regulations, Codes of Practices, Practice Notes for
Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered
Geotechnical Engineers (PNAPs), and the Hong Kong Housing Authority
Specification Library, currently in use.
3. In the event that any element of the design of modifications is not covered by the
requirements in the Ordinance, Regulations and documents specified in sub-
clauses (1) and (2) above or any British Standards, when instructed by the CM,
the Contractor shall demonstrate by design calculation or experiment at his own
expense the suitability of any such element to comply with any other proposed
standard.

CONSTRUCTION
APE4.A110.7 INSPECTION OF WORK
Any proposal that may require the CM or his representative to carry out inspection
of any work outside normal office hours will not be considered.

APE4.A120.7 OPENINGS THROUGH STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

Ensure that all proposed modifications allow for all openings, sleeves, etc., through
structural members as shown in the Contract drawings or where necessary.

APE4.A130.7 INSTALLATION OF CONCEALED SERVICES

Ensure that all proposed modifications allow for installation of all concealed
building services provisions in concrete, brickwork and blockwork where required
under the Contract.

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR PROPOSED ...... APE4

ACCEPTABILITY OF STRUCTURAL
MODIFICATIONS
APE4.A210.7 CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTABILITY
The following clauses in this sub-section are subject to all the conditions stated
elsewhere in the Appendix.

APE4.A220.7 REDESIGN OF FOUNDATIONS

Redesign of the foundation is not permitted.

APE4.A230.7 STRUCTURAL MEMBER SIZES

Reduction to structural member sizes is not permitted. Increase to structural member
sizes shall be subject to Approval.

APE4.A240.7 CONCRETE DESIGN

Change to lower concrete grades and/or smaller concrete covers to reinforcing bars
are not permitted.

APE4.A250.7 REINFORCEMENT DESIGN

Modification to reinforcement design, except to suit any permitted modification to
structural concrete design, is not permitted.

APE4.A260.7 USE OF FABRIC REINFORCEMENT

Fabric reinforcement may be substituted for bar reinforcement providing that the
fabric reinforcement complies with all requirements of the Specification. In the
event that a change to design is required to suit a proprietary mesh, the cross
sectional area of the reinforcement in the fabric shall not, in any location, be less
than the designed area of steel/m² for bar reinforcement for that location.

APE4.A270.7 PRECAST CONCRETE STAIRS

Where a staircase flight is required to be constructed as precast concrete, a redesign
of the staircase flight to insitu concrete is not permitted. However, modifications to
the joints between the precast concrete flight and the insitu concrete landing may be
made but such modifications will be subject to Approval.

APE4.A280.7 NON-STRUCTURAL CONCRETE ELEMENTS

In accordance with CON4.M010 to CON4.M030, non-structural concrete elements
which are not shown on the Structural Framing Plans may be substituted with precast
concrete providing that such precast concrete complies with all requirements of the
Specification.

ACCEPTABILITY OF ARCHITECTURAL
MODIFICATIONS
APE4.A310.7 CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTABILITY
The following clauses in this sub-section are subject to all the conditions stated
elsewhere in this Appendix.

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APE4.A320.7 FLOOR LAYOUTS AND ELEVATIONS

Unless otherwise specified in the Contract, modification to floor layouts and
elevations is not permitted.

APE4.A330.7 MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING STRUCTURE

Internal non-structural walls may be constructed as a later separate operation, and
may be constructed of precast concrete, or solid concrete blocks plastered both sides.
For any proposed design changes to internal non-structural walls provide at least the
same performance standards as the walls shown on the tender drawings.

APE4.A340.7 UTILITY SERVICE ROOMS

Notwithstanding the provisions of Item APE4.A330 above, no modification or
change to utility service rooms will be permitted.

APE4.A350.7 RENDER COAT TO WALLS

For domestic blocks, all walls receiving a tile or paint finish include a 10 mm render
coat unless otherwise specified. Under no circumstances is this render coat to be
omitted. Pay special attention to spatterdash in accordance with the Specification to
ensure adequate key for this render coat.

APE4.A360.7 CONCEALMENT OF ELECTRICAL WIRING

For domestic blocks, electrical wiring is all by concealed conduit in walls and slabs
and shall comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Electricity
(Wiring) Regulations published by the Electrical and Mechanical Services
Department. No modifications to the layout will be permitted without prior
Approval.

APE4.A370.7 EXTERNAL BUILDING FEATURES

Do not omit any external building features. Any non-structural external elements
may be constructed later as a separate operation.

APE4.A380.7 DIMENSIONS OF OPENINGS

Do not vary the dimensions shown on the tender drawings for all doors, windows
and other openings.

APE4.A390.7 MONOLITHIC SLAB AND SCREED FINISH

Monolithic slab and screed finish is acceptable subject to the following conditions:
1. Floor level and falls being maintained as shown on the tender drawings;
2. The removal of any stains, marks, scratches or foreign matter left on the cast
floors and making good to the satisfaction of the CM. Should there be any
floors which, in the opinion of the CM, were not properly prepared or which
were left with a bowed floor surface with a surface which is excessively marked,
cut back the entire floor surface by 25 mm and lay a 25 mm cement sand
screeding at no extra cost; and
3. Permission to use a monolithic floor finish will be withdrawn should the CM
consider, at any time, that the general standard of floor finish is unacceptable.
No monetary claims whatsoever will be entertained or extensions of time
granted in the event of such a withdrawal of permission.

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