Ce 223 Notes 2010.2011 PDF

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II, BEng II, 2010/2011
Department of Civil and Building Engineering
P. O. BOX 1, KYAMBOGO KAMPALA, UGANDA
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
BARCHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CIVIL AND

BUILDING ENGINEERING
CE223: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II

YEAR TWO-SEMESTER II
2010/2011
Tel: 0772-459779/ 0712-459779; E-mail otim02@yahoo.com
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Course Outline
1. History of Construction, forms of Construction: Buildings, Heavy/Civil Construction

and industrial construction works
2. The process of construction: Building team; Inception, Design, submission of plans for
approval, tendering, construction, supervision and inspection. The Construction Site.
Drawings and Documentation. Site Layout. Sequence of Work. Site Clearance.
3. Site Visits and industrial tours.
4. Setting out: Buildings, Drainage and Roads Using Tapes Only.
5. Foundations: Site Selection and investigation; Preliminaries: Hoarding, Services e.g
water, electricity, toilet, kitchen, staff accommodation, storage, security etc. Types of
foundations: Strip, Pad, Pile and Raft foundation
6. Exclusion and Removal of Water. Importance and methods of dewatering
7. Temporary Works: Formwork, scaffolding and timbering
8. Floors. Walls and Piers: Ground and suspended timber and concrete floors, types of
wall: Load bearing walls, framed walls, retaining walls etc
9. Multi-storey Structures: Foundations, Steel frames, Concrete Frames, Floors, Claddings
10. Roof Structures and Roof Coverings. Pitched and Flat roofs: Structural materials:
reinforced concrete, steel, and timber. Roof coverings: Tiles, Concrete, sheet metals,
asphalt
11. Doors, Windows and Other Openings: Materials used: Metals, Timber, Plastics.
Frames, Linings and Shutters
12. Services: Electricity, water, sewage, telephone and gas transmission
13. Internal Finishes and External Finishes.
14. Stairs, Ramps and Ladders. Choice of the method of ascending and descending: Types
of stairs, materials used for the construction; Reinforced concrete, Timber and Steel
(Details of Sketches to demonstrate understanding shall be emphasised in this
Course.)
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CONTENTS
Course Outline .............................................................................................................................. ii

1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 History of Civil Engineering ............................................................................................. 2
1.2 HISTORY OF CONSTRUCTION .................................................................................... 3
1.3 The Building/Construction Profession .............................................................................. 4
1.4 Construction processes ...................................................................................................... 8
2.0 FOUNDATIONS ............................................................................................................. 14
2.2 Functions of Foundations: .............................................................................................. 14
2.3 Essential Requirements of a Good Foundation............................................................... 15
2.4 Site investigation: ........................................................................................................... 18
2.5 Foundation failure ........................................................................................................... 47
3.0 SOLID CONCRETE GROUND FLOORS ..................................................................... 49
3.2 Elements of solid concrete ground floors ....................................................................... 52
4.0 WALLS ........................................................................................................................... 55
4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 55
4.2 Types of walls.................................................................................................................. 55
4.3 Functional Requirements ................................................................................................. 56
4.4 Methods for constructing walls for buildings .................................................................. 57
5.0 ROOFS ........................................................................................................................... 65
5.2 The functional requirements of a roof are: ..................................................................... 65
5.3 Flat Roofs ....................................................................................................................... 67
5.4 Flat roof coverings: ........................................................................................................ 74
5.5 Pitched Roofs ................................................................................................................. 80
5.6 Trussed rafters ................................................................................................................ 81
5.7 Purlin or double roof: ..................................................................................................... 82
5.8 Hipped roofs ................................................................................................................... 85
5.9 Connections .................................................................................................................... 91
6 Windows and Doors ........................................................................................................ 94
6.2 Windows .......................................................................................................................... 94
6.3 Functional requirements.................................................................................................. 94
6.4 Materials used for windows ............................................................................................ 97
6.5 Window types ................................................................................................................. 99
6.6 Glass and Glazing ......................................................................................................... 105
6.7 Doors ............................................................................................................................. 105
6.8 Functional requirements of doors ................................................................................. 105
7.0 Temporary Works .......................................................................................................... 114
7.2 Scaffolds ....................................................................................................................... 114
7.1 Formworks .................................................................................................................... 119
7.2 Factors which influences the pressure of concrete on the formwork: .......................... 121
7.3 Timbering to excavations: ............................................................................................ 124
8.0 References..................................................................................................................... 126
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1.0 Introduction
1.1 History of Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction
and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works such as bridges,
roads, canals, dams and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline in the world
after military engineering, and it was defined to distinguish non-military (civilian) engineering from
military engineering. It is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental
engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal
or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering,
surveying, and construction engineering. Civil engineers have saved more lives than all the doctors
in history through development of clean and safe water and sanitation systems.
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human existence. The earliest
practices of Civil engineering may have commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt
and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus
causing a need for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation became increasingly
important leading to the development of the wheel and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture, and
the term engineer and architect were mainly geographical variations referring to the same person,
often used interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (2700-2500 BC) might be
considered the first instances of large structure constructions.
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to incorporate all things civilian as
opposed to from military engineering. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John Smeaton
who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771 Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed
the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally
over dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was little more than a social
society.
In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer
Thomas Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal Charter in 1828,
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formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession. Its charter defined civil engineering as the
art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man, as the
means of production and of traffic in states, both for external and internal trade, as applied in the
construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation and docks for internal intercourse
and exchange, and in the construction of ports, harbours, breakwaters and lighthouses, and in the art
of navigation by artificial power for the purposes of commerce, and in the construction and
application of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns.
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United States was Norwich University
founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United
States was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such degree to be
awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
In a nut shell, Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles, and its
history is intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and mathematics throughout
history. Because civil engineering is a wide ranging profession, including several separate
specialized sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures, materials science,
geography, geology, soils, hydrology, environment, mechanics and other fields.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and construction was carried out
by artisans, such as stone masons and carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge
was retained in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and infrastructure that
existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and mathematical problems
applicable to civil engineering is the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including
Archimedes Principle, which underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such
as Archimedes' screw.
1.2 HISTORY OF CONSTRUCTION
Ever since the dawn of civilization, man has indulged in some form of construction activity. Even in
ancient times, man created architectural marvels which came to be regarded as the wonders of the
world, for example the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the Angkor temples of
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Cambodia and the Tower of Babel. The pyramid of Giza in Egypt contains more than 2,000,000
blocks with an average weight of about 2.3tons each. About 100,000 persons worked on the
pyramids for three to four months a year to build it in about 20 years. The Great Wall of China,
built to provide protection against surprised enemy raids, is about 6400km long and its height and
width at the top varies from 5 to 10metres. It has several high towers placed every few hundred
meters.
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the
building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is
a feat of multitasking. Normally the job is managed by the project manager and supervised by the
construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect.
For the successful execution of a project, effective planning and good management is essential.
Those involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the
environmental impact of the job, the scheduling, budgeting, site safety, availability of materials,
logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays, preparing tender documents,
etc.
1.3 The Building/Construction Profession
Technical and specialized occupations require more training as a greater technical knowledge is
required. These professions also hold more legal responsibility. A short list of the main careers with
an outline of the educational requirements is as given below:
Architect - Typically holds at least a 4-year degree in architecture. To use the title
"architect" the individual must hold chartered status with the Royal Institute of British
Architects and be on the Architects Registration Board; in Uganda called USA.
Civil Engineer - Typically holds a degree in a related subject. The Chartered Engineer
qualification is controlled by the Institution of Civil Engineers. A new university graduate
must hold a masters degree to become chartered, persons with bachelors degrees may
become an Incorporated Engineer after four years of engineering practice in Uganda.
Building Services Engineer - Often referred to as an "M&E Engineer" typically holds a
degree in mechanical or electrical engineering. Chartered Engineer status is governed by the
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
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Project Manager - Typically holds a 2-year or greater higher education qualification, but are
often also qualified in another field such as quantity surveying or civil engineering.
Quantity Surveyor - Typically holds a degree in quantity surveying. Chartered status is
gained from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Structural Engineer - Typically holds a bachelors or masters degree in structural
engineering, new university graduates must hold a masters degree to gain chartered status
from the Institution of Structural Engineers
Types of construction projects
In general, there are three types of construction:
1. Building construction
2. Heavy/civil construction/infrastructure
3. Industrial construction
Each type of construction project requires a unique team to plan, design, construct, and maintain the
project.
1. Building construction
Building construction is the process of adding structure to real property. The vast majority of
building construction projects is small works such as residential houses, renovations, addition of a
room, or renovation of a bathroom. Often, the owner of the property acts as labourer, paymaster,
and design team for the entire project. However, all building construction projects include some
elements in common - design, financial, and legal considerations. Many projects of varying sizes
reach undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation reason;
those with experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful oversight during the
project to ensure a positive outcome.
Buildings come in a wide amount of shapes and functions, and have been adapted throughout
history for a wide number of factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, to
land prices, ground conditions, specific uses and aesthetic reasons. Buildings serve several needs of
society primarily as shelter from weather and as general living space, to provide privacy, to store
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belongings and to comfortably live and work. A building as a shelter represents a physical division
of the human habitat (a place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at times may be
harsh and harmful).
Ever since the first cave paintings, buildings have also become objects or canvases of artistic
expression. In recent years, interest in sustainable planning and building practices has also become
part of the design process of many new buildings
Definition of building
Building is defined in many aspects as:
The act of constructing, erecting, creating, manufacturing or establishing.

A structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place;
The first shelter on Earth constructed by a relatively close ancestor to humans is believed to be built
500,000 years ago by an early ancestor of humans, Homo erectus. The Egyptian pyramids were
built around 4000-2700BC.
Types of buildings
Residential: Residential buildings are called houses/homes, though buildings containing large
numbers of separate dwelling units are often called apartment buildings / blocks to differentiate
them from the more 'individual' house.
Building types may range from one-room wood-framed, masonry, or adobe dwellings to multi-
million dollar high-rise buildings able to house thousands of people. Increasing settlement density
in buildings (and closer distances between buildings) is usually a response to high ground prices
resulting from many people wanting to live close to work or similar attractors.
Multi-storey
A multi-storey building is a building that has multiple floors above ground in the building.
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Multi-storey buildings aim to increase the area of the building without increasing the area of the
land the building is built on, hence saving land and, in most cases, money (depending on material
used and land prices in the area).
Creation
The practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings is most usually a collective effort
of different groups of professionals and trades. Depending on the size, complexity, and purpose of a
particular building project, the project team may include:
A real estate developer who secures funding for the project;

One or more financial institutions or other investors that provide the funding
Local planning and code authorities
Construction managers who coordinate the effort of different groups of project participants;
Licensed architects and engineers who provide building design and prepare construction
documents;
Landscape architects;
Interior designers;
Other consultants;
Contractors who provide construction services and install building systems such as climate
control, electrical, plumbing, Decoration, fire protection, security and telecommunications;
Marketing or leasing agents;
Facility managers who are responsible for operating the building.
Regardless of their size or intended use, all buildings must comply with local zoning ordinances,
building codes and other regulations such as fire codes, life safety codes and related standards.
Residential construction practices, technologies, and resources must conform to local building
authority regulations and codes of practice. Materials readily available in the area generally dictate
the construction materials used (e.g. brick versus stone, versus timber). Cost of construction on a
per square metre (or per square foot) basis for houses can vary dramatically based on site
conditions, local regulations, economies of scale (custom designed homes are always more
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expensive to build) and the availability of skilled trades people. As residential (as well as all other
types of construction) can generate a lot of waste, careful planning again is needed here.
Infrastructure /Civil engineering construction
These are capital intensive and heavy equipment oriented works which involves movement of large
quantity of bulk materials like earth, steel and concrete. These works include dams, canal,
highways, airports, railways, bridges, gas/oil pipe lines, transmission lines, water supply and
sewage disposal networks, dock and harbours, nuclear and thermal power plants, and other
specialist construction activities which build-up the infrastructure for the growth of the economy.
These works are designed by specialist engineering firms and are mostly financed by
government/public sector. The engineers and builders engaged in infrastructure construction are
usually highly specialized since each segment of the market requires different types of skills.
However, demands for different segments of infrastructure and heavy construction may shift with
saturation in some segments. For example, as the available highway construction projects are
declining, some heavy construction contractors quickly move their work force and equipment into
the field of mining where jobs are available.
Industrial construction
These works include construction of manufacturing, processing and industrial plants like steel mills,
petroleum refineries and consumer goods factories. Industrial construction, though a relatively small
part of the entire construction industry, is a very important component. Processes in these industries
require highly specialized expertise in planning, design, and construction. As in building and
heavy/highway construction, this type of construction requires a team of individuals to ensure a
successful project.
1.4 Construction processes

Selection of Professional Services
When an owner decides to seek professional services for the design and construction of a facility, he
is confronted with a broad variety of choices. The type of services selected depends to a large
degree on the type of construction and the experience of the owner in dealing with various
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professionals in the previous projects undertaken by the firm. Generally, several common types of
professional services may be engaged either separately or in some combination by the owners.
Design team
In the modern industrialized world, construction usually involves the translation of paper or
computer based designs into reality. A formal design team may be assembled to plan the physical
proceedings, and to integrate those proceedings with the other parts. The design usually consists of
drawings and specifications, usually prepared by a design team including the client architects,
architects, interior designers, surveyors, civil engineers, cost engineers (or quantity surveyors),
mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, and fire protection engineers. The
design team is most commonly employed by (i.e. in contract with) the property owner. Under this
system, once the design is completed by the design team, a number of construction companies or
construction management companies may then be asked to make a bid for the work, either based
directly on the design, or on the basis of drawings and a bill of quantities provided by a quantity
surveyor. Following evaluation of bids, the owner will typically award a contract to the most cost
efficient bidder.
The modern trend in design is toward integration of previously separated specialties, especially
among large firms. In the past, architects, interior designers, engineers, developers, construction
managers, and general contractors were more likely to be entirely separate companies, even in the
larger firms. Presently, a firm that is nominally architecture" or "construction management" firm
may have experts from all related fields as employees, or to have an associated company that
provides each necessary skill. Thus, each such firm may offer itself as "one-stop shopping" for a
construction project, from beginning to end. This is designated as a "design Build" contract where
the contractor is given a performance specification, and must undertake the project from design to
construction, while adhering to the performance specifications. Several project structures can assist
the owner in this integration, including design-build, partnering, and construction management. In
general, each of these project structures allows the owner to integrate the services of architects,
interior designers, engineers, and constructors throughout design and construction. In response,
many companies are growing beyond traditional offerings of design or construction services alone,
and are placing more emphasis on establishing relationships with other necessary participants
through the design-build process. The increasing complexity of construction projects creates the
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need for design professionals trained in all phases of the project's life-cycle and develop an
appreciation of the building as an advanced technological system requiring close integration of
many sub-systems and their individual components, including sustainability.
Financial advisors
Many construction projects suffer from preventable financial problems. Underbids ask for too little
money to complete the project. Cash flow problems exist when the present amount of funding
cannot cover the current costs for labour and materials, and because they are a matter of having
sufficient funds at a specific time, can arise even when the overall total is enough. Fraud is a
problem in many fields, but is notoriously prevalent in the construction field. Financial planning for
the project is intended to ensure that a solid plan, with adequate safeguards and contingency plans,
is in place before the project is started, and is required to ensure that the plan is properly executed
over the life of the project.
Mortgage bankers, accountants, and cost engineers are likely participants in creating an overall plan
for the financial management of the building construction project. The presence of the mortgage
banker is highly likely even in relatively small projects, since the owner's equity in the property is
the most obvious source of funding for a building project. Accountants act to study the expected
monetary flow over the life of the project, and to monitor the payouts throughout the process. Cost
engineers apply expertise to relate the work and materials involved to a proper valuation. Cost
overruns with government projects have occurred when the contractor was able to identify change
orders or changes in the project resulting in large increases in cost, which are not subject to
competition by other firm as they have already been eliminated from consideration after the initial
bid.
Large projects can involve highly complex financial plans. As portions of a project are completed,
they may be sold, supplanting one lender or owner for another, while the logistical requirements of
having the right trades and materials available for each stage of the building construction project
carries forward. In many English-speaking countries, but not the United States, projects typically
use quantity surveyors.
Legal Aspects
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A construction project must fit into the legal framework governing the property. These include
governmental regulations on the use of property, and obligations that are created in the process of
construction. The project must adhere to zoning and building code requirements. Constructing a
project that fails to adhere to codes will not benefit the owner. Some legal requirements come from
malum in se considerations, or the desire to prevent things that are indisputably bad - bridge
collapses or explosions. Other legal requirements come from malum prohibitum considerations, or
things that are a matter of custom or expectation, such as isolating businesses to a business district
and residences to a residential district. An attorney may seek changes or exemptions in the law
governing the land where the building will be built, either by arguing that a rule is inapplicable (the
bridge design won't collapse), or that the custom is no longer needed (acceptance of live-work
spaces has grown in the community).
A construction project is a complex net of contracts and other legal obligations, each of which must
be carefully considered. A contract is the exchange of a set of obligations between two or more
parties, but it is not so simple a matter as trying to get the other side to agree to as much as possible
in exchange for as little as possible. The time element in construction means that a delay costs
money, and in cases of bottlenecks, the delay can be extremely expensive. Thus, the contracts must
be designed to ensure that each side is capable of performing the obligations set out. Contracts that
set out clear expectations and clear paths to accomplishing those expectations are far more likely to
result in the project flowing smoothly, whereas poorly drafted contracts lead to confusion and
collapse.
Procurement
Procurement describes the merging of activities undertaken by the client to obtain a building.
There are many different methods of construction procurement; however the three most common
types of procurement are:
1. Traditional (Design-bid-build)
2. Design and Build
3. Management Contracting
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There is also a growing number of new forms of procurement that involve relationship contracting
where the emphasis is on a co-operative relationship between the principal and contractor and other
stakeholders within a construction project. New forms include partnering such as Public-Private
Partnering (PPPs) aka Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) and alliances such as "pure" or "project"
alliances and "impure" or "strategic" alliances. The focus on co-operation is to ameliorate the many
problems that arise from the often highly competitive and adversarial practices within the
construction industry.
Traditional/Design-bid-build: This is the most common method of construction procurement and

is well established and recognized. In this arrangement, the architect or engineer acts as the project
coordinator. His or her role is to design the works, prepare the specifications and produce
construction drawings, administer the contract, tender the works, and manage the works from
inception to completion. There are direct contractual links between the architect's client and the
main contractor. Any subcontractor will have a direct contractual relationship with the main
contractor.
Design and build/turn-key: This approach has become more common in recent years and includes
an entire completed package, including fixtures, fittings and equipment where necessary, to produce
a completed fully functional building. In some cases, the Design and Build (D & B) package can
also include finding the site, arranging funding and applying for all necessary statutory consents.
The owner produces a list of requirements for a project, giving an overall view of the project's
goals. Several D&B contractors present different ideas about how to accomplish these goals. The
owner selects the ideas he likes best and hires the appropriate contractor. Often, it is not just one
contractor, but a consortium of several contractors working together. Once a contractor (or
consortium/consortia) has been hired, they begin building the first phase of the project. As they
build phase 1, they design phase 2. This is in contrast to a design-bid-build contract, where the
project is completely designed by the owner, then bid on, then completed.
Construction management
In this arrangement the client plays an active role in the procurement system by entering into
separate contracts with the designer (architect or engineer), the construction manager, and
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individual trade contractors. The client takes on the contractual role, while the construction or
project manager provides the active role of managing the separate trade contracts, and ensuring that
they all work smoothly and effectively together.
Management procurement systems are often used to speed up the procurement processes, allow the
client greater flexibility in design variation throughout the contract, the ability to appoint individual
work contractors, separate contractual responsibility on each individual throughout the contract, and
to provide greater client control.
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CHAPTER TWO
2 FOUNDATIONS
Every building consists of two basic components: the superstructure and the substructure/
foundation. The superstructure is usually that part of the building which is above the ground, and
which serves the purpose of its intended use. The substructure or foundation is the lower portion of
the building, usually located below ground level, which transmits the load of the super-structure to
the sub-soil or the ground to which the loads are transmitted. A part of the super-structure, located
between the ground level and the floor is known as the plinth. The foundation is therefore that part
of the structure (walls, piers and columns) which is in direct contact with and transmitting loads to
the ground. The foundations of structures bear on and transmit loads to the ground. The concrete
base of walls, piers and columns is what is called the foundation. The soil which is located
immediately below the base of the foundation is called the sub-soil or foundation soil, while the
lowermost portion of the foundation which is in direct contact with the sub-soil is called the footing.
The basic function of a foundation is to transmit the dead loads, super-imposed loads (live loads)
and wind loads from a building to the soil on which the building rests, in such a way that:
Settlements are within permissible (allowable)limits, without causing cracks in the super-
structure
Soil does not fail in shear. When loads are transmitted to the sub-soil, it settles. If this settlement
is slight and uniform throughout, no damage will be caused to the structure. If the settlement is
excessive and unequal, serious damage may result in the form of cracked walls, distorted doors
and window openings, cracked beams and lintels, walls thrown out of plumb etc and sometimes
complete collapse of the structure.
The foundation is thus one of the most important parts of a building. The principal foundation types
are: strip, pad, raft and pile foundations (R.Barry, 1984) as shown below in figure 1 and all can
broadly be classified as shallow and deep foundations.
The size and shape of a building has an effect on the type of foundation used; though this is also
dependent on soil and site conditions (R. L. Fullerton, 1977)
2.2 Functions of Foundations:

Foundations serve the following purposes;
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Reduction of load intensity: Foundations distribute the loads of the super-structure to a larger
area so that the intensity of the load at its base does not exceed the safe bearing capacity of the
sub-soil. In the case of deep foundations, it transmits the superimposed loads to the sub-soil both
the the skin friction as well as through the end bearing.
Even distribution of loads: Foundations distribute the non uniform load of the super-structure
evenly to the sub-soil. For example, two columns carrying unequal loads can have a combined
footing which may transmit the load to the sub-soil evenly with uniform soil pressure. Due to this,
unequal or differential settlements are minimised.
Provision of level surface: Foundations provide levelled and hard surface over which the super-
structure can be built.
Lateral stability. It anchors the super-structure to the ground, thus imparting lateral stability to
the super-structure. The stability of the building against sliding, overturning, due to horizontal
forces (such as wind, earth quake etc) is increased due to foundations.
Safety against undermining (deterioration). It provides the structural safety against undermining
or scouring due to burrowing animals and flood water
Protection against soil movements: Special foundation measures prevent or minimises the
distress (or cracks) in the super-structure, due to expansion or contraction of the sub-soil because of
moisture movement in some problematic soils.
2.3 Essential Requirements of a Good Foundation

Foundations should be constructed to satisfy the following requirements:
a) The foundation shall be constructed to sustain the dead and imposed loads and transmit these to
the subsoil in such a way that pressure on it will not cause settlement which would impair the
stability of the building or adjoining structures
b) Foundation base should be rigid so that differential settlement are minimised, especially for the
case when super-imposed loads are not evenly distributed.
c) Foundations should be taken sufficiently deep to guard the building against damage or distress
caused by swelling or shrinkage of the sub-soil.
d) Foundations should be so located that its performance may not be affected due to any
unexpected future influence
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Despite the precautions taken, the foundation of large buildings imposes considerable loads on sub-
soils so that consolidation of the subsoil may be appreciable either during the erection or for some
years after the completion of the building. Owing to variations in the subsoil or to different
intensities of pressures in the subsoil at various points below buildings or to both, unequal
settlement of the foundation could occur which may damage the structure. The intensity of pressure
in the subsoil below the foundation of a large building may be considerable to some depth below the
foundation so that a stratum of weak subsoil in this region may give way. If the intensity of pressure
below a foundation is sufficiently great it may cause the sub-soil to collapse by shear failure, either
forcing a column of subsoil down, or by the displacement of soil each side of the foundation. To
anticipate the likely behaviour of subsoil under the foundation of a large building the engineer must
know the nature of the sub soil for some depth below the surface and have knowledge of its
behaviour under load.
Soil is defined as sediments and deposits of solid particles produced by the disintegration of rocks
and it is the size of the particles of a particular soil and the degree to which the particles bind
together which is of interest to an engineer.
Soils can be defined as;
Non-cohesive or coarse grained soils (sand and gravel)
Cohesive or fine grained soils (clay and silt)
Organic soils (peat)
The characteristics of soils of interest to engineers include:

1. Compressibility
2. Cohesion of particles
3. Internal friction and
4. Permeability
1. Compressibility
Under load sand is only slightly compressed due to expulsion of water and some rearrangement of
the particles. Because of its high permeability sand is rapidly compressed due to quick expulsion of
water, and compression of sand subsoil keeps pace with the erection of buildings so that once the
building is completed no further compression can take place. This condition makes sand to be safe
against settlement.
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Clay is very compressible, but due to its impermeability, compression takes place slowly because of
the very gradual expulsion of water through the narrow capillary channels in the clay. The
compression of clay subsoil under the foundations of a building may continue for some years after
the building is completed, with consequential gradual settlement.
2. Cohesion of particles (plasticity):
There is negligible cohesion between the particles of sand and in consequence it is not plastic.
There is marked cohesion between the particles of clay which is plastic and can be moulded,
particularly when wet.
3. Internal friction:
There is considerable friction between the coarse particles of sand which strongly resists
displacement of the particles. When the internal friction is overcome, the soil shears and suddenly
gives way causing sudden collapse of the building.
There is very little friction between the fine particles of clay due to its plastic nature and as a result,
shear failure, under the loads of the building may take place along several strata simultaneously
with consequent heaving of the soil.
Figure1.2 showing heaving of the soil

4. Permeability:
When water can pass rapidly through the pores of a soil the soil is said to be permeable. Coarse
grained soils such as sand and gravel are permeable, and because water can drain rapidly through
them, they can consolidate rapidly under load.
17
Fine grained soils such as clay have low permeability and because water passes very slowly through
the pores, they consolidate slowly.
Bearing Pressure
The intensity of pressure on subsoil is not uniform across the width or length of a foundation and
decreases with depth below the foundation. To determine the probable behaviour of a soil under
foundations, the engineer has to know the intensity of pressure on the subsoil at various depths. If
points of equal stresses are joined the result is a bulb of unit pressure extending down wards. Thus
the bulb of the pressure gives an indication of stress in sub-soils at various points below a
foundation. If there are separate foundations close together as for example where there is a group of
columns then the bulbs of pressure can be combined to form one large pressure bulb diagram as
shown in figure 1.3. Where bulbs of pressure of adjacent foundations intersect an increased
intensity of pressure occurs. For an engineer to be able to select the type and determine the depth of
foundation to use an in-depth study of the soil below the ground has to be carried out and this is
referred to as site investigation.
Figure 1.3
2.4 Site investigation:

Before foundation design can begin there are a number of preliminary stages. These,
separate stages, are generally referred to as site investigation. Site Investigation normally involves
three basic stages:
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1. The desk study:

This is the first stage in the site investigation. Essentially, it comprises the collection and analysis of
existing information about the site. The desk study has two main objectives:
To determine the nature, past use, and condition of the site.
To determine whether this has any implications for the proposed building and its foundations.
A sensible starting point is to consult large scale maps of the proposed site and check site
boundaries, building lines, existing buildings and other man-made, or natural, features which
will affect the future buildings. A comparison with older maps may give some clues to determine
former use and, therefore, potential hazards. Geological maps, other written records, and local
knowledge will help identify the likely nature of the subsoil and determine the extent of difficult
ground conditions.
Most subsoil, including firm and stiff clays, compact sands, gravels and rocks will easily support
the relatively low loads of two and three storey buildings using simple strip foundations.
However, soft cohesive soils, peaty soils, and of course, fill, pose problems. A site that has been
mined also needs treating with caution - foundation solutions can be costly. Large scale historical
maps, often held at city and county libraries, show the extent of former mining. Thousands of old
shafts and tunnels still exist in many countries. Other items which should come to light during the
desk study include the likelihood of:
Filled or contaminated ground
Quarrying or mining
Rights of way
Ponds, watercourses, ground water levels and the risk of flooding
Utility services (drains, electricity, gas, telephone, and optical cables etc - see left-hand plan)
Previous vegetation (ie large felled trees)
Landslip
Naturally occurring aggressive chemicals (eg sulphates), harmful gases (radon) and landfill gases
e.g (Methane and CO2).
2. A walk-over survey:
It is the second stage in the site investigation. It's a detailed site inspection which:
Enables much of the material discovered in the desk study to be confirmed or further investigated
Identifies other potential hazards
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Enables the surveyor to collect photographic records

Gives the surveyor/engineer the opportunity to make detailed drawings of all those items (trees,
existing buildings, watercourses, etc) which will have implications for the building design
3. Sub-soil survey:
A direct ground investigation is the third stage in the site investigation. As far as low rise housing is
concerned its main objective is to determine whether strip foundations will be suitable and,
assuming they are, whether they can be designed in accordance with the simple 'rule of
thumb' approach contained in the Building Regulations. The ground investigation will provide
detailed information on:
Nature and thickness of made up ground/top soil above the subsoil
Nature, thickness and stratum depth of subsoil
An assessment of allowable bearing pressure
Groundwater levels, chemicals in the ground etc.
Existing structures or hazards in the ground
The natural vegetation at a site gives guide to the nature of the soil, and the conformation of the
natural surface will be a guide to the nature of the subsoil. Any adjacent earth work such as quarries
and railway or road cuttings will give some indication of subsoil. Geological maps of the area and
information from the Local Authority Surveyors will supply further information. This preliminary
inspection will be a guide to the preferred siting of buildings on open land and will provide
background information in built up areas. Once the preliminary designs of the buildings are
completed and the position of the buildings on the site established the Engineer will require a
precise knowledge of the subsoil under the proposed buildings for some depth below the surface.
Depth of Exploration
The depth to which exploration of the subsoil should be carried depends on the nature of the subsoil
strata, the size of the structure and the type of foundation.
Exploration in general, should be carried out to a depth up to which the increase in pressure due to
structural loading is likely to cause perceptible settlements or shear failure of foundations. Such a
depth, known as significant depth, depends upon the type of structure, its weight, size, shape and
disposition of the loaded areas, and the soil profile and its properties. The significant depth may be
assumed to be equal to one-and-a-half or two times the width (smaller of the lateral dimension) of
the loaded area.
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The depth of exploration at the start of the work may be decided according to the following guide
rules, which may need modification as exploration proceeds:
1. Isolated spread footing or raft: One and a half times the width.
2. Adjacent footings with clear spacing less than twice the width: One and a half times the
length.
3. Pile foundation: 10 to 30 metres, or more, or at least one a half times the width of the
structure.
4. Base of the retaining wall: One and a half times the base width or one and a half times the
exposed height of face of wall, whichever is greater.
5. Floating basement: Depth of construction.
6. Weathering considerations: 1.5 m in general and 3.5 m in black cotton soils.
Building Codes suggests that normally the depth of exploration should be one and half times the
estimated width (lower dimension) of the footing, single or combined, from the base level of he
foundation; but in weak soils, the exploration should be continued to a depth at which the loads can
be carried by the stratum in question without undesirable settlement or shear failure. In any case,
the depth to which weathering processes affect the soil should be regarded as a minimum depth for
the exploration of sites and this should be taken as 1.5 metres. But where industrial processes affect
the soil characteristics, this depth may be more.
Sub-soil exploration is done for the following purposes;
(a) For New Structures

1. The selection of type and depth of foundation.
2. The determination of bearing capacity of the selected foundation.
3. The predication of settlement of the selected foundation.
4. The determination of the ground water level.
5. The evaluation of the earth pressure against walls, basements, abutments etc.
6. The provision against constructional difficulties.
7. The suitability of soil and degree of compaction of soil.
(b) For Existing Structures
1. The investigation of the safety of the structure.
2. The prediction of settlement.
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3. The determination of remedial measures if the structure is unsafe or will suffer

detrimental settlement.
Methods of Site Exploration
The various methods of site exploration may be grouped as follow:
1. Open excavations
2. Borings
3. Sub-surface soundings
4. Geo-physical methods.
1. Open Excavation (Open Trial Pits)

Trial pits are the cheapest method of exploration in shallow deposits, since these can be used
in all types of soils. In this method, pits are excavated at the site, exposing the sub-soil
surface thoroughly. Soil samples are collected at various levels. The biggest advantage of
this method is that soil strata can be inspected in their natural condition and samples
(distributed or undistributed) can be conveniently taken. A typical trial pit is shown below.
Sketch of a typical trial pit

The method is generally considered suitable for shallow depths, say up to 3 m. The cost of open
excavation increases rapidly with depth. For greater depths and for excavation below ground water
table, especially in pervious soils, measures for lateral support and ground water lowering becomes
necessary.
2. Boring Methods
The following are the various boring methods commonly used;
(i) Auger boring
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(ii) Auger and shell boring

(iii) Wash boring
(iv) Percussion boring
(v) Rotary boring
(i) Auger boring

Augers are used in cohesive and other soft soils above water table. They may either be operated
manually or mechanically. Hand augers are used up to a depth of up to 6 m. Mechanically operated
augers are used for greater depths and they can also be used in gravelly soils.
Augers are of two types; (a) spiral auger and (b) post-hole auger
Sketch of a typical spiral auger and post hole auger
Samples recovered from the soil brought up by the augers are badly distributed and are useful for
identification purposes only. Auger boring is fairly satisfactory for explorations at shallow depths
and for exploratory borrow pits.
(ii) Auger and shell boring
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Cylindrical augers and shells with cutting edge or teeth at lower end that can be used for making
deep borings. Hand operated rigs are sued for depths up to 25 m and mechanized rigs up to 50 m.
Augers are suitable for soft to stiff clays, shells for very stiff and hard clays, and shells or sand
pumps for sandy soils. Small boulders, thin soft strata or rock or cemented gravel can be broken by
chisel bits attached to drill rods. The hole usually requires a casing.
Sketch of typical sand pump

(iii) Wash boring
Wash boring is a fast and simple method for advancing holes in all types of soils. Boulders and
rock cannot be penetrated by this method.
The method consists of first driving a casing through which a hollow drilled rod with a sharp chisel
or chopping bit at the lower end is inserted. Water is forced under pressure through the drill rod
which is alternatively raised and dropped, and also rotated. The resulting chopping and jetting
action of the bit and water disintegrates the soil. The cuttings are forced up to the ground surface in
the form of soil-water slurry through the annular space between the drill rod and the casing. The
change in soil stratification could be guessed from the rate of progress and colour of wash water.
The samples recovered from the wash water are almost valueless for interpreting the correct geo-
technical properties of soil.
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Sketch of wash boring
(iv) Percussion boring
In this method, soil and rock formations are broken by repeated blows of heavy chisel or bit
suspended by a cable or drill rod. Water is added to the hole during boring, if not already present
and the slurry of pulverised material is bailed out at intervals. The method is suitable for advancing
a hole in all types of soils, boulders and rock. The formations, however, get disturbed by the
impact.
(v) Rotary boring
Rotary boring or rotary drilling is a very fast method of advancing hole in both rocks and soils. A
drill bit, fixed to the lower end of the drill rods, is rotated by a suitable chuck, and is always kept in
firm contact with the bottom of the hole. A drilling mud, usually a water solution of bentonite, with
or without other admixtures is continuously forced down to the hollow drill rods.
The mud returning upwards brings the cuttings to the surface. The method is also known as mud
rotary drilling and the hole usually requires no casing.
Rotary core barrels, provided with commercial diamond-studied bits or a steel bit with shots, are
also used for rotary drilling and simultaneously obtaining the rock cores or samples. The method is
then known as core boring or core drilling. Water circulated down the drill rods during boring.
Record of borings
In all exploration work it is very important to maintain an accurate and explicit record of borings.
Soil/rock samples are collected at various depths, during boring. These samples are tested in the
laboratory for identification and classification. The samples are suitably preserved and arranged
serially according to the depth at which they are found. A boring chat is prepared for each bore
hold. A site plan should be prepared; showing the disposition of various bore holes on it.
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Boring Record
Number and disposition of trial pits and borings

The number and disposition of the test pits and borings should be such as to reveal any major
changes in the thickness, depth or properties of the strata affected by the works, and the immediate
surroundings.
The following are recommended number of pit:
(a) For a compact building site covering an area of about 0.4 hectares, one bore hole or trial pit in
each corner and one in he centre should be adequate.
(b) For small and less important buildings, even one bore hole or trial pit in the centre will suffice.
(c) For very large areas covering industrial and residential colonies, the geological nature of the
terrain will help in deciding the number of bore holes or trial pits. Dynamic or static cone
penetration tests may be performed at every 100 metres by dividing the area into grid patterns
and number of bore holes or trial pits decided by examining the variation in the penetration
curves.
3. Sub-Surface Soundings
The sounding methods consist of measuring the resistance of the soil with depth by means of
penetrometer under static or dynamic loading. The penetrometer may consist of a sampling spoon,
a cone or other shaped tool. The resistance to penetration is empirically correlated with some of the
engineering properties of soil, such as density index, consistency bearing capacity etc. The values
of these tests lie in the amount of experience behind them. These tests are useful for general
exploration of erratic soil profiles, for dinging depth to bed rock or stratum, and to have an
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approximate induction of the strength and other properties of soils, particularly for cohesionless
soils, from which it is difficult to obtain undisturbed samples. The two commonly used tests are
standard penetration test and the cone penetration test.
4. Geo-Physical Methods
Geo-physical methods are used when the depth of exploration is very large, and also when the speed
of investigation is of primary importance. Geo-physical investigations involve the detection of
significant differences in the physical properties of geological formations. These methods were
developed in connection with prospecting of useful minerals and oils. The major method of geo-
physical investigations are; gravitational methods, magnetic methods, seismic refraction method
and electrical resistivity methods are the most commonly used for Civil Engineering purposes.
Seismic refraction method
In this method, shock waves are created into the soil at their ground level or a certain depth below it
by exploding small charge in the soil or by striking a plate on the soil with a hammer. The radiating
shock waves are picked up by the vibration detector (also called geophone or seismometer) where
the time of travel of the shock waves gets recorded. A number of geophones are arranged along a
line. Some of the waves, known as direct or primary waves travel directly from the shock point
along the ground surface and are picked first by the geophone. The other waves which travel
through the soil get refracted at the interface of two soil strata. The refracted rays are also picked
up by the geophone. If the underlying layer is denser, the refracted waves travel much faster. As
the distance between the shock point and the geophone increases, the refracted waves are able to
reach the geophone earlier then the direct waves. By knowing the time of travel primary and
refracted waves at various geophones, the depth of various strata can be evaluated by preparing
distance-time graphs and using analytical methods.
Seismic refraction method is fast and reliable in establishing profiles and different strata provided
the deeper layer have increasingly greater density and thus higher velocities and also increasingly
greater thickness. Different kinds of materials such as gravel, clay, hardpan, or rock have
characteristics seismic velocities and hence they may be identified by the distance-time graphs. The
exact type of material cannot, however be recognized and the exploration should be supplemented
by boring or soundings and sampling.
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Sketch
Electrical Resistivity Method
The electrical resistivity method is based on the measurement and recording of changes in the main
resistivity of various soils. Each soil has its own resistivity depending upon its water content,
compaction and composition; for example, it is low for saturated silt and high for loose dry gravel
or solid rock.
The test is conducted by driving four meal spikes to serve as electrodes into the ground along a
straight line at equal distances. A direct voltage is imposed between the two outer electrodes, and
the potential drop is measured between the inner electrodes. The mean resistivity (ohm-cm) is
computed from the expression
= 2*3.14*D*E/I, D= distance between the electrodes (cm)
Sketches
The depth of exploration is roughly proportional to the electrode spacing. For studying vertical
changes in the strata, the electrode system is expanded, about a fixed central point, by increasing the
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spacing gradually from an initial small value to a distance roughly equal to the depth of exploration
required. The method is known as resistivity sounding.
To correctly interpret he resistivity date for knowing the nature and distribution of soil formation, it
is necessary to make preliminary trial or calibration tests on known formations.
Choice of Exploration Method
The choice of a particular exploration method depends on the following factors (a) nature of ground
(b) topography (c) cost
1. Nature of ground
In clayey soils, borings are suitable for deep exploration and pits for shallow exploration. In sandy
soils, boring is easy but special equipments should be used for taking representative samples below
the water table. Such samples can however, be readily taken in trial pits provided that, where
necessary, some form of ground water lowering is used.
Borings are suitable in hard rocks while pits are preferred in soft rocks. Core borings are suitable
for the identification of types of rock but they cannot supply data on joints and fissures which can
only be examined in pits and large diameter borings.
When the depth of exploration is much, and where the area of construction site is large, geophysical
methods (specially the electrical resistivity method) can be used with advantage. However, borings
at one or two locations should be carried out, for calibration purposes. In soft soil, sounding
method may also be used to cover large area in relatively shorter duration.
2. Topography
In hilly country sides, the choice between vertical openings (for example, boring sand trial pits) and
horizontal openings (for example, headings) may depend on the geological structure, since steeply
inclined by strata are most effectively explored by headings and horizontal strata best explored by
borings which may have to be put down from a floating craft.
3. Cost
For deep exploration, borings are usual, as deep shafts are costly. However, if the area is vast,
geophysical methods or sounding methods may be used in conjunction with borings. For shallow
exploration in soil, the choice between pi and borings will depend on the nature of the ground and
the information required for shallow exploration in rock; the cost of boring a core drill to the site
will only be justified if several holes are required; otherwise trial pits will be more economical.
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Soil Samples and Samplers

Soil samples can be of two types;
(i) Distributed samples
(ii) Undistributed samples
A distributed sample is that in which the natural structure of soil gets partly or full modified and
destroyed although with suitable precautions the natural water content may be preserved. Such a
soil sample should, however, be representative of the natural soil by maintaining the original
proportion of the various particles intact. An undistributed sample is that in which the natural
structure and properties remain preserved.
The sample disturbance depends upon the design of the samplers and the method of sampling. To
take undisturbed samples from bore holes properly designed sampling tools are required. The
sampling tube when forced into the ground should cause as little remoulding and disturbance as
possible. The design features of the sampler that govern the degree of disturbance are (i) cutting
edge (ii) inside wall friction and (iii) no-return value.
The area ratio should be as low as possible. It should not be greater than 25 percent; for soft
sensitive soil, it should preferably not exceed 10 percent. The inside clearance should lie between 1
to 3 percent and the outside clearance should not be much greater than the inside clearance. The
walls of the sampler should be smooth and should be kept properly oiled so that wall friction is
minimised.
Lower value of inside clearance allows the elastic expansion of soil provided in samplers, should
permit easy and quick escape of water and air when driving the sampler.
30
Sketch of cutting edge
31
Types of foundation
1. Shallow foundations
2. Deep foundations
Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip
footings and rafts. Deep foundations include piles, pile walls, diaphragm walls (Diaphragm walling
refers to the in-situ construction of vertical walls by means of deep trench excavations. Stability of
the excavation is maintained by the use of a drilling fluid, usually a bentonite suspension) and
caissons.
1. Shallow foundations
Pad foundations
Strip foundations
Raft foundations
Shallow foundations are those founded near to the finished ground surface; generally where the
founding depth (Df) is less than the width of the footing and less than 3m. These are not strict rules,
but merely guidelines: basically, if surface loading or other surface conditions will affect the
bearing capacity of a foundation it is 'shallow'. Shallow foundations (sometimes called 'spread
footings') include pads ('isolated footings'), strip footings and rafts.
Shallows foundations are used when surface soils are sufficiently strong and stiff to support the
imposed loads; they are generally unsuitable in weak or highly compressible soils, such as poorly-
compacted fill, peat, and alluvial deposits, etc.
32
Pad foundations
Pad foundations are used to support an individual point load such as that due to a structural column.
They may be circular, square or rectangular. They usually consist of a block or slab of uniform
thickness, but they may be stepped or haunched if they are required to spread the load from a heavy
column. Pad foundations are usually shallow, but deep pad foundations can also be used.
Strip foundations
Strip foundations are used to support a line of loads, either due to a load-bearing wall, or if a line of
columns need supporting where column positions are so close that individual pad foundations
would be inappropriate. The absolute minimum
thickness of this strip is 150mm.
Raft foundations
Raft foundations are used to spread the load from a structure over a large area, normally the entire
area of the structure. They are used when column loads or other structural loads are close together
and individual pad foundations would interact.
A raft foundation normally consists of a concrete slab which extends over the entire loaded area. It
may be stiffened by ribs or beams incorporated into the foundation.
33
Raft foundations have the advantage of reducing differential settlements as the concrete slab resists
differential movements between loading positions. They are often needed on soft or loose soils with
low bearing capacity as they can spread the loads over a larger area.
2. Deep foundations
Piles
Deep foundations are those founding too deeply below the finished ground surface for their base
bearing capacity to be affected by surface conditions, this is usually at depths >3 m below finished
ground level. They include piles, piers and caissons or compensated foundations using deep
basements and also deep pad or strip foundations. Deep foundations can be used to transfer the
loading to deeper, more competent strata at depth if unsuitable soils are present near the surface.
Piles are relatively long, slender members that transmit foundation loads through soil strata of low
bearing capacity to deeper soil or rock strata having a high bearing capacity. They are used when
for economic, constructional or soil condition considerations it is desirable to transmit loads to
strata beyond the practical reach of shallow foundations. In addition to supporting structures, piles
are also used to anchor structures against uplift forces and to assist structures in resisting lateral and
overturning forces.
Piers are foundations for carrying a heavy structural load which is constructed in-situ in a deep
excavation.
Caissons are a form of deep foundation which are constructed above ground level, then sunk to the
required level by excavating or dredging material from within the caisson.
Compensated/floating foundations are deep foundations in which the relief of stress due to
excavation is approximately balanced by the applied stress due to the foundation. The net stress
applied is therefore very small. A compensated foundation normally comprises a deep basement.
Piles
Types of pile
Types of construction
34
Factors influencing choice

Pile groups
Piled foundations can be classified according to the type of pile (different structures to be
supported, and different ground conditions, require different types of resistance) and
the type of construction (different materials, structures and processes can be used).
Types of pile
End bearing piles

Friction piles
Settlement reducing piles
Tension piles
Laterally loaded piles
Piles in fill
Piles are often used because adequate bearing capacity can not be found at shallow enough depths
to support the structural loads. It is important to understand that piles get support from both end
bearing and skin friction. The proportion of carrying capacity generated by either end bearing or
skin friction depends on the soil conditions. Piles can be used to support various different types of
structural loads.
End bearing piles
35
End bearing piles are those which terminate in hard, relatively impenetrable material such as rock or
very dense sand and gravel. They derive most of their carrying capacity from the resistance of the
stratum at the toe of the pile.
Friction piles
Friction piles obtain a greater part of their carrying capacity by skin friction or adhesion. This tends
to occur when piles do not reach an impenetrable stratum but are driven for some distance into a
penetrable soil. Their carrying capacity is derived partly from end bearing and partly from skin
friction between the embedded surface of the soil and the surrounding soil.
Settlement reducing piles
36
Settlement reducing piles are usually incorporated beneath the central part of a raft foundation in
order to reduce differential settlement to an acceptable level. Such piles act to reinforce the soil
beneath the raft and help to prevent dishing of the raft in the centre.
Tension piles
Structures such as tall chimneys, transmission towers and jetties can be subject to large overturning
moments and so piles are often used to resist the resulting uplift forces at the foundations. In such
cases the resulting forces are transmitted to the soil along the embedded length of the pile. The
resisting force can be increased in the case of bored piles by under-reaming. In the design of tension
piles the effect of radial contraction of the pile must be taken into account as this can cause about a
10% - 20% reduction in shaft resistance.
Laterally loaded piles
Almost all piled foundations are subjected to at least some degree of horizontal loading. The
magnitude of the loads in relation to the applied vertical axial loading will generally be small and no
additional design calculations will normally be necessary. However, in the case of wharves and
jetties carrying the impact forces of berthing ships, piled foundations to bridge piers, trestles to
overhead cranes, tall chimneys and retaining walls, the horizontal component is relatively large and
may prove critical in design. Traditionally piles have been installed at an angle to the vertical in
such cases, providing sufficient horizontal resistance by virtue of the component of axial capacity of
the pile which acts horizontally. However the capacity of a vertical pile to resist loads applied
normally to the axis, although significantly smaller than the axial capacity of that pile, may be
sufficient to avoid the need for such 'raking' or 'battered' piles which are more expensive to install.
When designing piles to take lateral forces it is therefore important to take this into account.
37
Piles in fill
Piles that pass through layers of moderately- to poorly-compacted fill will be affected by negative
skin friction, which produces a downward drag along the pile shaft and therefore an additional load
on the pile. This occurs as the fill consolidates under its own weight.
Types of pile construction
Displacement piles
Non-displacement piles
Displacement piles cause the soil to be displaced radially as well as vertically as the pile shaft is
driven or jacked into the ground. With non-displacement piles (or replacement piles), soil is
removed and the resulting hole filled with concrete or a precast concrete pile is dropped into the
hole and grouted in.
Displacement piles
Totally preformed displacement piles

Driven and cast-in-place displacement piles
Helical (screw) cast-in-place displacement piles
Methods of installation
38
Sands and granular soils tend to be compacted by the displacement process, whereas clays will tend
to heave. Displacement piles themselves can be classified into different types, depending on how
they are constructed and how they are inserted.
Totally preformed displacement piles
These can either be of precast concrete; full length reinforced (prestressed) jointed (reinforced)
hollow (tubular) section or they can be of steel of various section.
Driven and cast-in-place displacement piles
This type of pile can be of two forms. The first involves driving a temporary steel tube with a closed
end into the ground to form a void in the soil which is then filled with concrete as the tube is
withdrawn. The second type is the same except the steel tube is left in place to form a permanent
casing.
Helical (screw) cast-in-place displacement piles
This type of construction is performed using a special type of auger. The soil is however
compacted, not removed as the auger is screwed into the ground. The auger is carried on a hollow
stem which can be filled with concrete, so when the required depth has been reached concrete can
be pumped down the stem and the auger slowly unscrewed leaving the pile cast in place.
Methods of installation
Dropping weight
Diesel hammer
Vibratory methods of pile driving
Jacking methods of insertion
Displacements piles are either driven or jacked into the gound. A number of different methods can
be used.
39
Dropping weight
The dropping weight or drop hammer is the most commonly used method of insertion of
displacement piles. A weight approximately half that of the pile is raised a suitable distance in a
guide and released to strike the pile head. When driving a hollow pile tube the weight usually acts
on a plug at the bottom of the pile thus reducing any excess stresses along the length of the tube
during insertion.
Variants of the simple drop hammer are the single acting and double acting hammers. These are
mechanically driven by steam, by compressed air or hydraulically. In the single acting hammer the
weight is raised by compressed air (or other means) which is then released and the weight allowed
to drop. This can happen up to 60 times a minute. The double acting hammer is the same except
compressed air is also used on the down stroke of the hammer. This type of hammer is not always
suitable for driving concrete piles however. Although the concrete can take the compressive stresses
exerted by the hammer the shock wave set up by each blow of the hammer can set up high tensile
stresses in the concrete when returning. This can cause the concrete to fail. This is why concrete
piles are often pre-stressed.
Diesel hammer
Rapid controlled explosions can be produced by the diesel hammer. The explosions raise a ram
which is used to drive the pile into the ground. Although the ram is smaller than the weight used in
the drop hammer, the increased frequency of the blows can make up for this inefficiency. This type
of hammer is most suitable for driving piles through non-cohesive granular soils where the majority
of the resistance is from end bearing.
Vibratory methods of pile driving
Vibratory methods can prove to be very effective in driving piles through non cohesive granular
soils. The vibration of the pile excites the soil grains adjacent to the pile making the soil almost free
flowing thus significantly reducing friction along the pile shaft. The vibration can be produced by
electrically (or hydraulically) powered contra-rotating eccentric masses attached to the pile head
usually acting at a frequency of about 20-40 Hz. If this frequency is increased to around 100 Hz it
can set up a longitudinal resonance in the pile and penetration rates can approach up to 20 m/min in
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moderately dense granular soils. However the large energy resulting from the vibrations can
damage equipment, noise and vibration propagation can also result in the settlement of nearby
buildings.
Jacking methods of insertion
Jacked piles are most commonly used in underpinning existing structures. By excavating
underneath a structure short lengths of pile can be inserted and jacked into the ground using the
underside of the existing structure as a reaction.
Non-displacement piles
Small diameter bored cast-in-place piles

Large diameter bored cast-in-place piles
Partially preformed piles
Grout or concrete intruded piles
With non-displacement piles soil is removed and the resulting hole filled with concrete or
sometimes a precast concrete pile is dropped into the hole and grouted in. Clays are especially
suitable for this type of pile formation as in clays the bore hole walls only require support close to
the ground surface. When boring through more unstable ground, such as gravels, some form of
casing or support, such as a bentonite slurry, may be required. Alternatively, grout or concrete can
41
be intruded from an auger rotated into a granular soil. There are then essentially four types of non
displacement piles.
This method of construction produces an irregular interface between the pile shaft and surrounding
soil which affords good skin frictional resistance under subsequent loading.
Small diameter bored cast-in-place piles
These tend to be 600mm or less in diameter and are usually constructed by using a tripod rig. The
equipment consists of a tripod, a winch and a cable operating a variety of tools. In granular soils, the
basic tool consists of a heavy cylindrical shell with a cutting edge and a flap valve at the bottom.
Water is necessary to assist in this type of excavation. By working the shell up and down at the
bottom of the bore hole liquefaction of the soil takes place (as low pressure is produced under the
shell as the liquified soil is rapidly moved up) and it flows into the shell and can be winched to the
surface and tipped out. There is a danger when boring through granular soil of over loosening the
material at the sides of the bore. To prevent this, temporary casing should be advanced by driving it
into the ground.
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In cohesive soils, the borehole is advanced by repeatedly dropping a cruciform-section tool with a
cylindrical cutting edge into the soil and then winching it to the surface with its burden of soil. Once
at the surface the clay which adheres to the cruciform blades is paired away.
Large diameter bored cast-in-place piles:
A spiral or bucket auger as shown in this diagram is attached to a shaft known as a Kelly bar (a
square section telescopic member driven by a horizontal spinner). Depths of up to 70m are possible
using this technique. The use of a bentonite slurry in conjunction with bucket auger drilling can
eliminate some of the difficulties involved in drilling in soft silts and clays, and loose granular soils,
without continuous support by casing tubes. One advantage of this technique is the potential for
under reaming. By using an expanding drilling tool the diameter at the base of the pile can be
enlarged, significantly increasing the end bearing capacity of the pile. However, under-reaming is a
slow process requiring a stop in the augering for a change of tool and a slow process in the actual
under-reaming operation. In clay, it is often preferable to use a deeper straight sided shaft.
Large boreholes from 750mm up to 3m diameter (with 7m under-reams) are possible by using
rotary drilling machinery. The augering plant is usually crane or lorry mounted.
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Partially pre-formed piles
This type of pile is particularly suitable in conditions where the ground is waterlogged, or where
there is movement of water in an upper layer of the soil which could result in cement being leached
from a cast-in-place concrete pile. A hole is bored in the normal way and annular sections are then
lowered into the bore hole to produce a hollow column. Reinforcement can then be placed and grout
forced down to the base of the pile, displacing water and filling both the gap outside and the core
inside the column.
Grout- or concrete-intruded piles
The use of continuous flight augers is becoming a much more popular method in pile construction.
These piles offer considerable environmental advantages during construction. Their noise and
vibration levels are low and there is no need for temporary borehole wall casing or bentonite slurry
making it suitable for both clays and granular soils. The only problem is that they are limited in
depth to the maximum length of the auger (about 25m). The piles are constructed by screwing the
continuous flight auger into the ground to the required depth leaving the soil in the auger. Grout (or
concrete) can then be forced down the hollow shaft of the auger and then continues building up
from the bottom as the auger with its load of spoil is withdrawn. Reinforcement can then be lowered
in before the grout sets.
An alternative system used in granular soils is to leave the soil in place and mix it up with the
pressured grout as the auger is withdrawn leaving a column of grout reinforced earth.
Factors influencing choice of pile
Location and type of structure

Ground conditions
Durability
Cost
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There are many factors that can affect the choice of a piled foundation. All factors need to be
considered and their relative importance taken into account before reaching a final decision.
Location and type of structure
For structures over water, such as wharves and jetties, driven piles or driven cast-in-place piles (in
which the shell remains in place) are the most suitable. On land the choice is not so straight
forward. Driven cast-in-place types are usually the cheapest for moderate loadings. However, it is
often necessary for piles to be installed without causing any significant ground heave or vibrations
because of their proximity to existing structures. In such cases, the bored cast-in-place pile is the
most suitable. For heavy structures exerting large foundation loads, large-diameter bored piles are
usually the most economical. Jacked piles are suitable for underpinning existing structures.
Ground conditions
Driven piles cannot be used economically in ground containing boulders, or in clays when ground
heave would be detrimental. Similarly, bored piles would not be suitable in loose water-bearing
sand, and under-reamed bases cannot be used in cohesionless soils since they are susceptible to
collapse before the concrete can be placed.
Durability
This tends to affect the choice of material. For example, concrete piles are usually used in marine
conditions since steel piles are susceptible to corrosion in such conditions and timber piles can be
attacked by boring molluscs. However, on land, concrete piles are not always the best choice,
especially where the soil contains sulphates or other harmful substances.
Cost
In coming to the final decision over the choice of pile, cost has considerable importance. The
overall cost of installing piles includes the actual cost of the material, the times required for piling
in the construction plan, test loading, the cost of the engineer to oversee installation and loading and
the cost of organisation and overheads incurred between the time of initial site clearance and the
time when construction of the superstructure can proceed.
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Pile groups
Piles are more usually installed in groups, rather than as single piles. A pile group must be
considered as a composite block of piles and soil, and not a multiple set of single piles. The capacity
of each pile may be affected by the driving of subsequent piles in close proximity. Compaction of
the soil between adjacent piles is likely to lead to higher contact stresses and thus higher shaft
capacities for those piles. The ultimate capacity of a pile group is not always dependent on the
individual capacity of each pile. When analysing the capacity of a pile group 3 modes of failure
must be considered. Single pile failure Failure of rows of piles Block failure
The methods of insertion, ground conditions, the geometry of the pile group and how the group is
capped all effect how any pile group will behave. If the group should fail as a block, full shaft
friction will only be mobilised around the perimeter of the block and so any increase in shaft
capacity of individual piles is irrelevant. The area of the whole base of the block must be used in
calculating the end bearing capacity and not just the base areas of the individual piles in the group.
Such block failure is likely to occur if piles are closely spaced or if a ground-contacting pile cap is
used. Failure of rows of piles is likely to occur where pile spacing in one direction is much greater
than in the perpendicular direction.
Combined foundation: spread footing which supports two or more columns is termed as combined
footing. The foundation of adjacent columns are combined; i) when a column is so close to the
boundary of the site that a separate foundation would be eccentrically loaded and ii) where
foundations of adjacent columns are linked to resists uplift, overturning or opposing forces. Where a
framed building is to be erected alongside an existing building it is often necessary to use a
cantilever or asymmetrical combined base foundation for columns next to the existing building so
that pressure on the subsoil due to the base may not so heavily surcharge the subsoil under the
foundation of the existing building as to cause it to settle appreciably.
Combined foundations may rectangular, trapezoidal or combined column and wall footing.
If the independent footings of two columns are connected by a beam, it is called a strap footing. A
strap footing may be used where the distance between the columns is so great that a combined
trapezoidal footing becomes quite narrow, with high bending moments and expensive.
Pier Foundations
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A pier foundation consist of a cylindrical column of large diameter to support and transfer large
super-imposed loads to firm strata below. The difference between pile foundation and pier
foundation lies in the method of construction. Though pile foundations transfer the load through
friction and or bearing, pier foundations transfer the load only through bearing. Generally, pier
foundation is shallower in depth than the pile foundation. Pier foundation is preferred in a location
where the top strata consist of decomposed rock overlying strata of sound rock. In such a condition,
it becomes difficult to drive the bearing piles through decomposed rock. In the case of stiff clays,
which offer large resistance to the driving of bearing piles, pier foundation can conveniently be
constructed
Pier foundations may be of:
Masonry or concrete pier or Drilled caisson
Sketches of pier foundation
2.5 Foundation failure

Foundation of a structure fails either due to collapse of the soil by failure in shear or due to unequal
settlement of the different parts of the foundation or a combination of both.
Contact pressure: A perfectly flexible foundation uniformly loaded will cause uniform contact
pressure with all types of soil. A perfectly flexible foundation supposes a perfectly flexible structure
supporting flexible floors, roofs and claddings. Most large buildings however have rigid
foundations designed to support a rigid or semi-rigid frame.
In practice the contact pressure on a cohesive soil such as clay is reduced at the edges of the
foundation by yielding of the clay and as the load on the foundation increases more yielding of the
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clay takes place so that stresses at the edges decrease and those at the centre of the foundation
increases as in the figure below. The contact pressure on a cohesionless soil such as dry sand
remains parabolic and the maximum intensity of pressure increases with increased load. An
understanding of the distribution of contact pressure between foundation and soil will guide the
choice for the foundation type to use. The foundation of a building on a cohesionless soil for
example would be designed so that the more heavily loaded columns would be towards the centre to
allow uniformity of settlement over the whole building. Conversely a foundation on a cohesive soil
such as clay would be arranged with the major loads towards the centre of the foundation where
pressure intensity is least.
Relative settlement (differential settlement):

Parts of the foundation of a building may suffer different magnitude of settlement due to variations
in the load on the foundation or variation in the subsoil. These variations may cause distortion of a
rigid or semi-rigid frame and consequent damage to rigid in-fill panels and cracking of load bearing
walls, rigid floors and finishes. Some degree of relative settlement is inevitable in the foundation of
most buildings but so long as this is not pronounced or can be accommodated in the design of the
building, the performance of the building will not suffer. Cracks which are not visible do not
weaken the building or encourage the penetration of rain. More pronounced relative settlement such
as is common between the main wall of a house and the less heavily loaded bay window bonded to
it may cause visible cracks in the brickwork at the junction of the bay window and the wall. Such
cracks will allow rain to penetrate the thickness of the wall. To avoid this either the foundation
should be strengthened or some form of slip joint be formed at the junction of he bay and the main
wall. Unequal settlement or differential settlement is usually caused by:
Weak sub-soils, such as made up grounds
Shrinkable and expansive soils (such as clay)
Frost action
Movement of ground water and uplift pressure
Excessive vibrations due to traffic, machinery etc
Slow consolidation of saturated clays and Slipping of strata on sloping sites.
When designing the foundation therefore, the above factors must be taken into account.
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CHAPTER THREE
3 SOLID CONCRETE GROUND FLOORS

Ground floors are floors that bear directly on the ground. The materials used are usually concrete,
bricks or timber with timber sometimes resting on dwarf walls.
Concrete is the name given to a mixture of particles of stone bound together with cement. Because
the major part of concrete is of particles of broken stones and sand, it is termed the aggregate. The
material which binds the aggregate is the cement and this is described as the matrix.
Concrete
House foundations are invariably formed in concrete. It is available in a range of strengths and is
usually brought onto site ready-mixed or mixed in-situ as, and when, required.
What is concrete?
The word concrete is derived from the Latin word concretus, meaning grown together. It is a
mixture of several constituents which behaves as a single material. In its simplest form concrete
comprises cement, aggregate and water. The major constituent by weight in concrete is aggregate -
stone with a range of particle size from 40mm down to 0.1mm. The aggregate is a mixture of:
Coarse aggregate - naturally occurring gravel or crushed rock
Fine aggregate - sand or crushed rock.
The aggregate is bound together by cement paste, a mixture of cement and water.
Properties
The properties of the cement paste are extremely important and largely determine the properties of
the concrete:
it must be fluid enough for some time after mixing to allow the concrete to be placed
and compacted into its final shape
it must then set and gain strength so that it binds the aggregates together to make a
strong material.
The mechanism by which cement sets and hardens depends on the type of cement, usually due to a
chemical reaction between the cement and the mixing water.
Uses
The great advantage of concrete as a construction material is that after mixing it is a fluid (plastic)
material which can be compacted into any shaped mould or formwork. This may be done on site (in
49
situ concrete), or for very high quality finishes, under factory conditions (precast concrete). When
the cement paste solidifies due to the hydration reaction between cement and water it
becomes a structural material. Concrete is very strong in compression. Its compressive strength
makes concrete an ideal material for foundations and floor slabs and other structural elements that
are mainly loaded in compression.
However, the tensile strength of concrete is relatively low, about one tenth of the
compressive strength. Therefore in structural elements such as beams, which, when loaded, are in
compression at the top and tension at the bottom, it is necessary to use reinforced concrete.
Reinforced concrete contains steel reinforcing rods, usually 20-30mm in diameter. These rods are
positioned where the principal tensile stresses will occur in the structure, and then the concrete is
poured and compacted around the reinforcement. Reinforced concrete is therefore a composite
material, where the concrete takes the compressive forces and the reinforcing steel takes the
tensile forces.
2.1 Preparation for oversite concrete
Turf and top soil is removed preparatory to building operations and a hardcore bed and oversite
concrete is spread as a barrier to moisture that might rise from the ground. It is practice on building
sites to first build external and internal load bearing walls from the concrete foundation upto the
level of the damp proof course, above the ground, in walls. The hardcore bed and the oversite
concrete are then spread and leveled with external walls.
The Building Regulations 1976 requires that a continuous layer of concrete atleast 100 thick be
spread over the site of all buildings within the external walls.
Damp proof course should always be atleast 150 above the ground level.
Concrete is used for floors laid directly on the ground (slab-on-grade) and for floors supported by
the structural frames. The slab on grade floors may be poured before any other part of the building
has been built or on leveled and compacted grade after the rest of the building has been erected. In
the first case, side forms of wood or metal are placed, leveled, and staked, and screed strips are
placed at convenient intervals to provide guides in leveling the concrete.
A single course slab poured on grade after the walls have been erected is a common occurrence in
industrial and commercial buildings. A reasonable procedure would be as below:
1. Backfill all ditches and trenches within the walls with granular fill or good marrum and compact
thoroughly in layers of about 150.
50
2. Isolate all columns from the floor slab by boxing them with square wood or metal forms, or with
round fiberboard forms which should be set to level the top of the slab.
3. Set screed strips at the same elevation at convenient intervals through out the area to be
concreted. Provide a key way form on each screed strip
4. Isolate the walls from the slab by fastening strips of asphalt-impregnated fiberboard or other joint
material not more than 12mm thick around the walls, level with the top of the slab
5. Prepare any changes in slab thickness, as at doorways, to be as gradual as possible and at slopes
of not more than 1 in 10.
6. Use a template with legs the length of the slab thickness to check the grade
7. Oil the screed strips
8. Cover the grade with a polythene moisture barrier, allowing generous lap between strips.
9. Place the reinforcement-mesh or rods as specified
10. Place the concrete as close to its final position as possible. Consolidate with an internal vibrator,
especially at corners, walls and bulk heads
11. Trowel to a hard dense surface with hand or power trowel
12. Cure by covering with:- Water proof curing paper or two coats of curing compound or a layer of
damp sand
13. Remove the forms around columns and attach joint material to the vertical faces of the slab and
the base of the columns. Fill with concrete, edge and finish
14. Cut control joints to a depth of atleast 1/5th of the slab thickness with a power saw every 6m to
7.5m in both directions
14. Caulk the joints with mastic joint filler
15. Cure for atleast 7days before allowing regular traffic on the surface
The building regulations require that the top surface of the concrete is not below the level of the
surface of the ground or paving adjoining any external wall of the building.
It would of course be possible to make the site concrete 450 thick; in this instance so as to bring its
top surface to dpc level, but this would be unnecessarily expensive method. Instead, what is known
as hardcore is usually spread first to raise the level of the concrete. It should be noted that it is not
considered good practice to spread the soil excavated from foundation trenches over the site of
buildings so as to raise the level of the site concrete, even though would appear a reasonable
procedure.. The excavated soil will have been broken up in digging and would need quite thorough
ramming to avoid sinking.
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3.2 Elements of solid concrete ground floors
Sub-grade
Sub-base; this is constructed from selected materials to form a leveled, smooth working
platform on which to construct the slab. On very good sub-grades such as gravels, the sub
base may be omitted.
Filling:The materials to be used for filling should have a high permeability to minimise
upward movement of water. It most cases hardcore is used
Slip membrane-damp proof membrane is to minimise/prevent dampness rising to the
concrete slab, It also reduces internal friction between the concrete slab and the sub-base
Prevents lost of concrete
Slip membrane
Materials for the slip membrane are polythene, mastic asphalt, building paper and where the water
table is high use tanking, mastic asphalt and bituminous felt
Concrete slab
This is the main concrete structural element forming the floor and may be from plain or reinforced
concrete. This shall depend on the site conditions, loading or function of the structure
Wearing surface
Screed
This is the finishing of mortar done on the oversite concrete. Screed done immediately after casting
is termed as monolithic. The advantage is that it safes time and bonds better with the oversite
concrete, cheaper interms of the materials and has no joint
Concrete slab can be cast in portions to minimise shrinkage and subsequent cracking. There is long
strip method of casting and chequered method
The bays refer to divisions of the slab interms of the widths and lengths. This also makes the
working easier
Control joints: Control joints to minimise cracking due to expansion and contraction should always
be allowed for which are usually inform of longitudinal and transverse joints. It is of advantage to
make these joints coincide with the bay lengths and widths
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dpc
oversite concrete
min 150
slip membrane
hardcore{ sub-base}
atleast 600 sub-grade( can be

imported
filled material
materials)
Figure 2.1 Section through a solid ground concrete floor
Hardcore
This is the name given to the infill of materials such as broken bricks, stone or concrete, which are
hard and do not readily absorb water or deteriorate. This hardcore is spread over the site within the
external walls of the building to such thickness as required to raise the surface of the site concrete.
The hardcore should be spread it is roughly level and rammed until it forms a compact bed for
oversite concrete. The thickness is usually from 100 to 300.
The hardcore bed serves as a solid working base for building and as a bed for the oversite concrete.
If the material for the hardcore is hard and irregular in shape they will break the capillarity which
would make dampness to weaken the oversite. It is important the materials are kept clean and free
from old plaster or clay which in contact with broken bricks or gravel would present a ready narrow
capillary path for moisture to rise. The materials for hardcore should also be chemically inert and
not appreciably affected by water. The materials commonly used for hardcore are: bricks or rubble,
concrete rubble, gravel and crushed hard rock, chalk, pulverized fuel ash, blast furnace slag, colliery
spoil etc
Blinding
Before the concrete is laid it is usual to blind the top surface of the hardcore. The purpose of this is
to prevent the wet concrete running down between the lumps of stones or bricks as this would make
it easy for water to rise up by capillarity through the concrete. To blind or seal the top the top
surface of the hardcore a thin layer of very dry coarse of clinker or ash can be used. A weak mix of
concrete of 1:4:8 cast to 50 can also be used.
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Damp proof membrane

The model Health Bylaws of 1936 required concrete oversite as a barrier to moisture rising from the
ground. Concrete is to some degree permeable to water and will absorb moisture from the ground.
A damp oversite concrete slab will be cold and draw appreciable heat from rooms it it is to be
maintained at an adequable temperature. A damp oversite concrete slab may cause damage and
deterioration in moisture sensitive floor finishes such as wood. On building sites that retain moisture
due to a high water table and on sloping sites where water may run down to the building and
wherever the site concrete is likely to be damp, it is good practice to used proof membrane under, in
or on the site concrete. The damp proof membrane may be on top, sandwiched in or under the
concrete slab.
The materials for dpm are: hot pitch or bitumen, mastic asphalt or pitch mastic, polythene sheets,
tar, rubber emulsion etc.
Damp proof Courses (dpc)
The function of dpc is to act as a barrier to the passage of moisture or water between the parts
separated by the dpc. The movement of moisture or water may be upwards in the foundation of
walls and ground floors, downwards in parapets and chimneys or horizontal where a cavity wall is
closed at the jambs openings. Dpc should always be at a minimum of 150 above the finished ground
level or 150 above the splash apron
The materials for dpc are:
Flexible dpc
Lead, copper, bitumen dpc, polythene sheets,
Semi -Rigid dpc: mastic asphalts
Rigid dpc: slates, bricks, etc
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CHAPTER FOUR
4 WALLS
4.1 Introduction
A wall is a continuous, usually vertical, solid structure of bricks, stone, concrete,, timber or metal
thin in proportion to its length and height which encloses and protects a building or services to
divide buildings into compartments or rooms. Walls are defined as external or internal to
differentiate functional requirement and as load bearing or non load bearing to differentiate
structural requirements. Load bearing walls carry imposed loads such as the floors and roof loads in
addition to their own weights.
4.2 Types of walls
1. Solid walls: Solid or masonry walls are constructed of blocks of bricks, stone or concrete laid in
mortar with the blocks laid to overlap in some form of what is called bonding or as a
monolithic(one piece)
2. Framed walls: A framed wall is constructed from a frame of small sections of timber, concrete
or metal joined together to provide strength and rigidity, over both sides of which or in between
the members of the frame are fixed thin panels of some material to fulfill the functional
requirement of a particular wall
Sketches
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4.3 Functional Requirements
1. Stability: Stability is how firmly fixed a wall is. The stability of a wall may be affected
foundation movement, eccentric loads, lateral forces (wind, rain and earth quake) and expansion
due to temperature and moisture changes. Intersecting walls and piers buttress and improve the
stability of straight walls against overturning and irregular profile walls have greater stability
than straight walls because of the buttressing effects. The common methods are: chevron or zig-
zag, square irregular wall and serpentine wall (e.g Lugogo stadium)
2. Strength: A wall should be designed to safely support its own weight, wind loads and the loads
imposed by floors and roofs. The strength of a wall depends on the material used and the wall
thickness. The thicker the wall the greater the load it can carry. Building regulations 1976 set
out the minimum thickness of walls in relation to height, length and loads it can carry( Barry
1984, the Construction of Buildings Vol 1)
3. Exclusion of rain: This will depend to some extent on its exposure to wind. A measure of
exposure is the driving rain index which is the product of the annual average rainfall and the
average wind speed divided by 1000. The actual exposure of a building will depend on its site
and will be affected by proximity to coast, lakes, elevation of the site, height of the building and
proximity of other buildings all of which should be taken into account. The behavour of a wall
in excluding wind and rain will depend on the nature of the materials used in the construction
and how they are put together
4. Durability: A block wall of sound bricks, stone or blocks laid in mortar suited to the
characteristics of the material and designed with due regard to the exposure of the wall t driving
rain and with sensible provision of damp proof courses around doors and windows and to
parapets should be durable for the anticipated life of the majority of most buildings and require
little if any maintenance and repair.
5. Fire resistance: The resistance of the elements of a structure to collapse, flame penetration and
heat transmission during a fire is expressed in periods of from 1.5 to 6hours. Various periods of
resistance are called for depending on the size, nature and occupancy of the building so that
notional periods of resistance to fire of the elements of the buildings are assumed to be
sufficient for the safe escape of the occupancy during fire.
56
6. Thermal properties: To maintain reasonable and economic conditions of thermal comfort in

buildings, wall should provide adequate insulation against excessive loss or gain of heat, have
good thermal storage capacity and the thermal face of walls should be at reasonable
temperature. For insulation against loss of heat, light weight materials with low conductivity are
more effective than dense materials with high conductivity whereas dense materials have better
thermal storage capacity than light weight materials
7. Resistance to sound transmission and sound absorption: Sound is transmitted as a airborne
sound and impact sound. Airborne sound is generated as cyclical disturbances of air from the
source of the sound with diminishing intensity. Impact sound is caused by contact with a
surface, as for example, the slamming of a door or foot steps on the floor. The most effective
insulation against airborne sound is a dense barrier such as a solid wall which absorbs the
energy of the airborne sound waves. The heavier and more dense the barrier the material, the
more effective it is in reducing sound. For reasonable reduction of airborne sound between
dwellings one above the other, a concrete floor is necessary. It should however, be noted that the
more dense the material the more readily it will transmit impact sound. Absorbent materials
inform of carpets will cushion the impact sound. Use of acoustic tiles and curtains should be
encouraged to prevent reflected sounds in smoothly painted rooms and walls
4.4 Methods for constructing walls for buildings
Walls are constructed in different forms and of various materials to serve several functions. Exterior
walls protect the building interior from external environmental effects such as heat and cold,
sunlight, ultraviolet radiation, rain and snow, and sound, while containing desirable interior
environmental conditions. Walls are also designed to provide resistance to passage of fire for some
defined period of time, such as a one-hour wall. Walls often contain doors and windows, which
provide for controlled passage of environmental factors and people through the wall line.
Walls are designed to be strong enough to safely resist the horizontal and vertical forces imposed
upon them, as defined by building codes. Such loads include wind forces, self-weight, possibly the
weights of walls and floors from above, the effects of expansion and contraction as generated by
temperature and humidity variations as well as by certain impacts, and the wear and tear of interior
occupancy.
57
Modern building walls may be designed to serve as either bearing walls or curtain walls or as a
combination of both in response to the design requirements of the building as a whole. Both types
may appear similar when complete, but their sequence of construction is usually different.
Bearing-wall construction may be masonry, cast-in-place or precast reinforced concrete, studs and
sheathing, and composite types. The design loads in bearing walls are the vertical loading from
above, plus horizontal loads, both perpendicular and parallel to the wall plane. Bearing walls must
be erected before supported building components above can be erected.
Curtain-wall construction takes several forms, including lighter versions of those used for bearing
walls. These walls can also comprise assemblies of corrugated metal sheets, glass panels, or
ceramic-coated metal panels, each laterally supported by light subframing members. The curtain
wall can be erected after the building frame is completed, since it receives vertical support by
spandrel beams, or relieving angles, at the wall line.
Masonry walls are a traditional, common, and durable form of wall construction used in both
bearing and curtain walls. They are designed in accordance with building codes and are constructed
by individual placement of bricks, blocks of stone, cinder concrete, cut stone, or combinations of
these. The units are bonded together by mortar.
Reinforced concrete walls are used for both strength and aesthetic purposes. Such walls may be cast
in place or precast, and they may be bearing or curtain walls. Some precast concrete walls are
constructed of tee-shaped or rectangular prestressed concrete beams, which are more commonly
used for floor or roof deck construction. They are placed vertically, side by side, and caulked at
adjacent edges.
Stud and sheathing walls are a light type of wall construction, commonly used in residential or other
light construction where they usually serve as light bearing walls. They usually consist of wood
sheathing nailed to wood or steel studs, usually with the dimensions 4 2in. (5 10 cm) or 6
2in. (5 15 cm), and spaced at 16 in. (40 cm) or 24 in. (60 cm) on centerall common building
module dimensions. The interior sides of the studs are usually covered with an attached facing
material. This is often sheetrock, which is a sandwich of gypsum between cardboard facings.
Composite walls are essentially a more substantial form of stud walls. They are constructed of
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cementitious materials, such as weatherproof sheetrock or precast concrete as an exterior sheathing,

and sheetrock as an interior surface finish.
Prefabricated walls are commonly used for curtain-wall construction and are frequently known as
prefab walls. Prefabricated walls are usually made of corrugated steel or aluminum sheets, although
they are sometimes constructed of fiber-reinforced plastic sheets, fastened to light horizontal beams
(girts) spaced several feet apart. Prefab walls are often made of sandwich construction: outside
corrugated sheets, an inside liner of flat or corrugated sheet, and an enclosed insulation are fastened
together by screws to form a thin, effective sandwich wall. These usually have tongue-and-groove
vertical edges to permit sealed joints when the units are erected at the building site by being
fastened to framing girts.
Glass, metal, or ceramic-coated metal panel walls are a common type of curtain wall used in high-
rise construction. They are typically assembled as a sandwich by using glass, formed metal, or
ceramic-coated metal sheets on the outside, and some form of liner, including possibly masonry, on
the inside; insulation is enclosed.
Tilt-up walls are sometimes used for construction efficiency. Here, a wall of any of the various
types is fabricated in a horizontal position at ground level, and it is then tilted up and connected at
its edges to adjacent tilt-up wall sections. Interior partitions are a lighter form of wall used to
separate interior areas in buildings. They are usually nonbearing, constructed as thinner versions of
some of the standard wall types; and they are often designed for some resistance to fire and sound.
Retaining walls are used as exterior walls of basements to resist outside soil pressure. They are
usually of reinforced concrete; however, where the basement depth or exterior soil height is low, the
wall may be constructed as a masonry wall.
The word brick is used to describe a small block of burned clay of such size that it can be
conveniently held in one hand and is slightly longer than twice its width. The standard brick is
225x112.5x65,which 10mm mortar joint becomes 225x112.5x75, to BS 3921 part 2
Materials from which bricks are made are Clay, -Concrete and soil
Brick Wall Construction

Types of Bricks
59
Commons ;These are bricks which are sufficiently hard to safely carry the loads normally
supported by brick work, but because they have a dull texture or poor colour they are not in demand
for use as facing bricks. Any brick which is sufficiently hard and has reasonably good shape and of
moderate price may be used as a common brick.
Facings; This is by far the widest range of bricks as it includes any brick which is sufficiently hard
burned to carry normal loads is capable of withstanding the effects of rain, wind, spot and frost
without breaking up and usually have pleasant appearance
Engineering bricks; these are made from selected clay which have been carefully prepared by
washing and crushing. They are heavily moulded and carefully burned so that the finished brick is
very solid and hard and capable of safely carrying much heavier loads than other types of bricks.
They are mainly used for carrying exceptionally heavy loads, for bricks piers and general
engineering worker strength of bricks >50N/mm2.
Semi-Engineering bricks: These are harder than most ordinary bricks but not as hard as
engineering bricks, and hence carry less loads than engineering bricks and are cheaper .
Hollow, perforated and special bricks: Cellular and perforated bricks are lighter than solid blocks
and the cells and perforations facilitate drying and burning. The saving in clay and consequent
reduction in weight is an advantage in non-load bearing walls but does not significantly improve
thermal insulation in external walls. Cellular bricks are laid with the cells or hollows downwards
and perforated bricks should be laid so that the mortar does not fill perforations
Sketches
Prosperities of Bricks
Hardness Any brick with good compression strength, reasonable resistance to saturation by rain
water and reasonable resistance to the disruptive action of frost should be hard burned. Simple test
is to hold one brick in one hand and give it a light tap with a hammer. A dull ringing sound is a sign
of bad brick.
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Compressive strength- This is the only property of bricks that can be determined accurately. The
compressive strength of bricks is found by crushing 12 bricks individually until they fail or
crumble. The pressure required to crush them is noted and the average compressive strength of the
brick is stated as Newton per mm2 of surface area required to ultimately crush the bricks. The
strength varies from 3.5N/mm2 for soft facing bricks to 140N/mm2 for engineering bricks
Absorption- Much scientific work has been done to determine the amount of water absorbed by
bricks and the rate of absorption. The amount of water a brick will absorb is a guide to its density
and therefore its strength in resisting crushing but is not a reasonable guide to its ability to weather
well. the term weather well describes the ability of the bricks in a particular situation to suffer
rain, frost and wind without loosing strength, without crumbling and to keep their colour and
texture.
Frost resistance- In chimney stacks and parapet walls where brickwork suffers most rain saturation
and there is a likely hood of damage by frost . Parapet walls and Chimney stacks and garden walls
should be built of sound, hard burned bricks protected with coping, cappings and dpcs
Efflorescence- Clay bricks contain soluble salts that migrate in solutions in water, to the surface of
brickwork as water evaporates to outside air. These salts will collect on the face of brick work as an
efflorescence [flowering] of white crystals that appear in irregular unsightly patches. It is most
pronounced in parapet and chimney walls.
Sulphate attack on mortar and rendering when brick work is persistently wet as in foundations,
retaining walls parapet, chimneys, soluble sulphate in bricks and mortar may with time crystalise
and expand and cause mortar and rendering to disintegrate. To minimize this effect, bricks with low
sulphate content should be used.
Bonding
In building a wall of bricks or blocks it is usually to lay the bricks in some regular pattern that each
brick bears partly upon two or more bricks below itself . The bricks are said to be bonded, meaning
they bind together by being laid across each other as in the sketch below.
Types of bonds
1-Strecher, 2-English, 3-Flemish, 4- Double English bonds, 5- Double Flemish bonds
Mortar for brick work
Mixtures of cement and sand, Cement, lime and sand, Lime and sand and clay
Usually in ratios of 1:3 for external walls and 1:4 for internal walls
Pointing
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The word painting is used to describe the filling of the mortar joints in the external faces of
brickwork. Brick work is pointed for two reasons:
1) To ensure that all horizontal and vertical mortar joints in external brickwork are solidly
filled with mortar to make them water tight
2) For decorative reasons
Sketches
Cavity walls
If instead of building a solid wall with bricks or blocks bonded along the length and into the
thickness of the wall, two separate skins are built with an air space or cavity between, the result will
be a wall with better resistance to the penetration of rain. Walls built in this way with two skins or
leaves separated by a 50 wide air space, or cavity have been used for many years and are very
satisfactory. The height to which such a wall can safely be built must be limited because in effect
the wall is no more stable than each skin as there is no bonding into the thickness of the wall . The
vertical stability of the two walls can be and always is improved by building metal ties across the
cavity in such a way that the ends of the ties are bedded in the horizontal mortar joints of each skin.
The cavity at base to the ground level can always be filled with concrete as mortar usually get
accumulated there or a solid one and half brick wall can be constructed.
Wall Ties: There are 3 patterns of metal ties in common use the galvanized iron twisted tie , the
double triangle tie and the galvanized wire butterfly ties
62
The usual intervals at which ties are built into cavity walls are 900 horizontal and 450 vertically and
250 near openings: The purpose of cavity is to prevent rain penetrating to the inner skin and to
improve the insulation of the wall.
Openings in Brick and Block walls
Jamb: The term Jamb is derived from the French word jambe meaning leg. It is because the brick
work on either side of the opening acts as like legs which support brickwork over the head of the
opening.
Reveal: The term reveal is used to describe the thickness of the wall revealed by cutting the opening
and the reveal is a surface of brickwork as long as the height of the opening.
Closing of cavities at opening
The cavity is closed either with brick or block and a continuous strip of bitumen impregnated felt,
lead-cored felt, or strip of lead or copper is sandwiched in the cavity at the jabs of the opening.
Around door openings with wood frames, a strip of vertical dpc material is tacked to the back of the
wood frame or the lead or copper fixed to the back of the wood frame as in the sketches below:
Lintels
This the is the name given to any single solid length of concrete, steel, timber or stone built in over
an opening to support the wall over it. The ends of the lintels must be built into the bricks or block
work over the jambs as to convey the weight carried by the lintels to the jambs. The area of the wall
on which the ends of the lintel bears is termed as its bearing ends .The wider the opening the more
weight the lintel has to support and the greater it bearing at the ends must be so as to transmit the
load it carries to an area capable of supporting it.
Read and make notes on Arches
63
64
CHAPTER FIVE
5 ROOFS
The primary purpose of a roof is to protect a buildings interior, but it may also be used to
contribute to a buildings exterior appearance.
The completed roof consists of several components, including the roof frame, roof deck, vapour
barrier, insulation, water proof roofing material, flashing and drains, construction and control joints
In the design of a roof, a number of factors are considered .e.g.: weather, appearance, height, area,
and style of the frame.
A roof may be constructed as a flat roof from a timber, metal or concrete framed platform which is
either horizontal or inclined up to 10degrees to the horizontal, or as a pitched roof with one or more
slopes pitched at more than 10 degrees to the horizontal. Some of the examples of pitched roofs are:
Symmetrical pitch, asymmetrical pitch, mono-pitch with trussed rafters, and mono-pitch with
slopping soffit, butterfly roof, and lean to roof.
lean-to
asymmetrical pitch symmetrical pitch
mono-pitch with sloping soffit butterfly roof

mono-pitch with trussed rafters
Figure 1 Sketches of the different pitched roofs
5.2 The functional requirements of a roof are:

Stability
Strength
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Exclusion of wind and rain

Durability
Fire resistance
Thermal properties
Stability
A roof is constructed to support the dead load of the roof structure and its covering, insulation and
internal finishes, snow loads and pressure or suction due wind without undue deflection or
distortion. The dead load can be calculated from unit weight of materials set out in BS 648. Snow
loads are assumed from average snow falls. The pressure of wind on a roof will depend on the
exposure, height and shape of the roof and the surrounding buildings. Wind blowing across a roof
will tend to cause pressure on the wind ward side and suction on the opposite side of the building.
The stability of a flat roof depends on the adequate support from walls or beams and sufficient
depth or thickness of timber joist or concrete relative to spans, and the assumed loads to avoid gross
deflection under load.
Strength: The strength of a roof depends on the characteristics of the materials from which it is
constructed and the way in which they are put together in the form of a platform or some form of
triangulated frame.
Exclusion of wind and rain: A roof excludes rain through the material with which it is covered;
varying from the continuous impermeable layer of asphalt covering that can be laid horizontal to
exclude rain, to the small units of clay tiles that are laid overlapping down slopes so that rain runs
rapidly to the eaves. In general the smaller the units of roof covering, such as tiles or slate, the
greater the pitch or slope to exclude rain that runs down in the joints between the tiles onto the back
of another tile or slate lapped under and so on down the roof. Impermeable materials such as asphalt
and bitumen that are laid without joints can be laid flat and sheet metals such as lead and copper
that are joined with welts can be laid with a very shallow fall.
Durability: This depends largely on the ability of the roof covering to exclude rain. Persistent
penetration of water into the roof structure may cause decay of timber, corrosion of steel or
disintegration of concrete
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Fire resistance: A roof and its covering should have adequate resistance to damage by fire, and
against spread of flame for escape in fire, for the periods of from thirty minutes to six hours.
Thermal properties: The materials of roof structures and roof coverings are generally poor
insulators against transfer of heat and it is usually necessary to use some material which is a good
insulator, such as light weight boards, quilts or loose fill to provide insulation against excessive loss
or gain of heat.
Insulating materials may be applied to the underside or the top of flat roofs or between the joists of
timber flat roofs. Rigid materials such as wood wool, that serves as roof deck and insulation are laid
on top of the roof and non-structural materials at ceiling level or on top below some form of
decking. It is of good practice to fix insulating materials at ceiling level in timber flat roofs, so that
there can be cross ventilation between the joists from permanent vents, to limit condensation risks
as required by building Regulations 1981.
Vapour barrier: Insulating materials are effective against transfer of heat to the extent that they
retain still air between fibres, in granules or in minute spaces. When this light weight materials
absorb water they lose their insulating properties as water enters the air spaces, and water is not a
good insulator. Precaution must be taken, therefore, to prevent moisture or water saturating the
insulation either through the roof covering or from humid warm air from inside the buildings. As a
barrier to humid warm air from inside the building, an impermeable vapour barrier should be fixed
between the warm air side and the insulation. This vapour barrier takes the form of a sheet of
bitumen, polythene, or aluminium that is impermeable to moisture.
5.3 Flat Roofs

A flat roof by definition is any roof with a slope of less than ten degrees.
The simplest roof to construct is a flat roof, framed in wood, steel, or reinforced concrete.
Factors considered in the choice of material to use for structural frame work.
Cost
Size (span)
Availability of materials and equipment
Working Space
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Timber flat roof construction:

Timber flat roofs consists of soft wood timber joist of 38 to 50 thick and from 75 to 225 deep placed
on edges from 400 to 600 apart with the ends of the joists built into or onto or against brick walls
and partitions.
Strutting between joists: Solid or herringbone strutting should be fixed between the roof joists.
When timber is seasoned it shrinks, and timber such as roof joists, which is not cut on the radius of
the circle of the log does not shrink uniformly. The shrinkage will tend to make the floor joists
twists, or wind, and to prevent this
400 s o l i d s t r u t t in g
-6 0
0
75 - 225
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a ll p la te s
Figure 2
timber strutting is used. Herringbone strutting consists of short lengths of 50 x 38 softwood timber
nailed between the joists as shown in the illustration below. The other method of strutting termed
solid strutting consists of short length of timber of the same section as the joists which are nailed
between the joists in a line or staggered as in the figure below. This is not usually so effective a
system of strutting as the herringbone system, because unless the short solid lengths are cut very
accurately to fit to the sides of the joists they do not firmly strut between the joists.
Note: Ceiling noggings can also be used in place of strutting.
Usually one set of struts is used for joists spanning up to 3.6 and two for joists spanning more than
3.6. A single set of struts is fixed across the roof at mid span.
Roof deck/boards: Boards which are left rough surfaced from the saw are usually employed to
board timber flat roofs and is called rough boarding and are usually 19 thick cut with square. For
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good work tongued and grooved boards are often used as the plain edged boarding may shrink and
twist out of level as they dry. Chip boards may also be used in lieu of them to maintain a level roof
deck
End support of joists: Roof joists are normally supported on timber or metal wall plates. Wall
plates serve to distribute the roof loads uniformly over the walls and Provides a level bed for the
roof joists.
Where there is a parapet wall, the end of the joists can rest on the inner walls of cavity walls or on
metal hangers.
1 9 m m tim b e r b o a rd in g
ro o f jo ist
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a ll p la te o r
m e ta l p la te s
F ig u re 3
ro o f jo is t
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a ll p la te o n
b ric k c o rb e l
F ig u re 4
wall plate resting on the inner wall of a cavity wall construction

The ends of roof joists are sometimes carried on brick corbel courses, timber plate and corbel
brackets or on hangers.
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ro o f jo is t
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a ll p la te o n
s te e l c o rb e l b ra c k e ts
b u ilt in a t 7 5 0 c e n tre s l
Figure 5. Timber joists on wall plates supported by steel corbel brackets

The ends of roof joists built into solid brick walls should be given some protection from dampness
by treating them with a preservative. Timber joist may be built into a solid external wall if the wall
is thick enough to prevent penetration of moisture to the joist ends and where the wall is protected
externally with slate or tile hanging.
cavity insulation carried

bituminus felt on boards
upto joint roof insulation
on insulation
timber joists
100 x 75 wall plate
cavity
wall
Figure 6. joists end on cavity walls
Timber firring: Flat roofs are usually constructed so that the surface has a slight slope or fall
towards rainwater outlets. This slope could be achieved by fixing the joists to a slight slope but the
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ceiling below the roof would then also be sloping. It is usual to provide a sloping surface to the roof
by means of firring pieces. These consist of either tapered lengths of softwood nailed across the
joists or varying depth lengths of softwood nailed across the joists. Tapered firring is used for roofs
covered with chipboard or wood wool slabs and the varying depth firring for boards laid parallel to
the slope of the roof so that variations in the level of the boards do not impede the flow of rainwater
down the shallow slope. As an alternative to firring, some insulating boards are cut or made to a
slight wedge section to provide the necessary fall to a roof.
varying height
firring pieces nailed
across joists
tapered firing piece nailed

to top of joists
75 - 225
joists
100 x 75wall plates
400
-600
Roof joists
Figure 7. Timber firring
Thermal insulation: A timber flat roof provides poor insulation against loss or gain of heat as most
of the materials used are poor insulators.
Any material that is to be a good thermal insulator must have a great number of tiny air spaces in it
as it is the air trapped in these spaces that acts as the thermal insulator.
Insulating materials are manufactured in the form of boards, slabs, quilts or loose fill and when used
with timber roofs the boards and slabs are fixed on the joists under the boarding or on the underside
of the joists. Quilted materials are usually laid between or over the joists and dry fill between the
joists.
Reinforced concrete roofs
Reinforced concrete roofs have a better resistance to damage by fire and can safely support self
weight, wind/rain pressure. The resistance to fire required by building regulations for most offices,
large blocks of flats, factories and public buildings is greater than can be obtained with a timber
roof.
A reinforced concrete roof will usually span the least width between the external or external walls
and internal load bearing walls and will be supported on walls and partitions.
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Monolithic Reinforced concrete roof

The word monolithic means one stone and is used in buildings to described one unbroken mass of
any material. A monolithic concrete roof is one unbroken solid mass of concrete cast-in-situ and
reinforced with mild steel reinforcing bars. To support the concrete while it is still wet and plastic,
and for seven days after it has been placed, a temporary centering has to be used (form work). This
takes the form of rough timer boarding or steel sheets, supported on timber or steel beams and post.
The steel reinforcement is laid out on top of the centering and raised 15 above the centering by
means of small blocks of fine concrete (spacers) which are tied to the reinforcement bars with wires.
The wet concrete is then placed and spread on the centering, and is compacted and leveled off. It is
usual to design the roof to span the least width of the building and two opposite sides of the
concrete are build into walls incase of parapet walls.
asphalt on screed
concrete roof
insulating lining fixed to

cavity sofit of roof and inside of
wall wall for intermittent heating
Figure 8. Reinforced concrete roof
Centering: The temporary timber board or sheet steel support for monolithic concrete floor or roof
is termed centering.
Reinforcement of concrete: The steel reinforcing bars are cast into the under side of the roof with
15 of concrete cover below them to prevent the steel rusting and to give it some protection incase of
fire. The thicker the concrete cover to the reinforcement the greater the resistance of the roof to fire.
The duty of determining the amount of reinforcement to use in a concrete roof is done by Engineers
usually Structural or Civil Engineers. When the engineer designs a reinforced concrete roof, he
usually calculates the amount of steel reinforcement required for an imaginary strip of roof 300
72
wide spanning between the walls, as though the roof were made up of strips of 300 wide concrete
beams placed side by side.
Because the centering required to give temporary support to a monolithic concrete roof tends to
obstruct and delay building operation below the roof, the most common concrete roof used today
are the self centering concrete.
Self-centering concrete roofs:
These are constructed with precast reinforced concrete slabs which are cast in the manufacturers
yard and are delivered to the building site where they are hoisted to the level of the roof and placed
in position. Once in their positions they require no support other than the bearing of their ends on
beams or walls.
Advantages of self centering concrete roofs:
Concrete has good quality since it is done under strict specialized supervision
It is faster to complete roofing as the roof slabs can be ordered for in advance.
There is no much interference of the activities below the roof.
Disadvantages:
Difficulty in hoisting where there is no enough space
The joints sometimes leak when not well finished
Thermal insulation: A reinforced concrete roof provides poor insulation against loss or gain of
heat and some material which is a good thermal insulator should be incorporated in the construction
of the roof or a light weight concrete slab be used. One way of doing this is to used light weight
aggregate instead of sand when screeding. It is the screed which provides the slope for the rain
water to run off the roof. The light weight aggregate in common use are foamed slag, pumice and
vermiculite. These materials are porous and it is the air trapped in the minute pores of the material
which at once make them light in weight and good thermal insulator.
Foam slag: This is formed by spraying water on molten slag which is poured off molten iron in
blast-furnaces. The water causes the slag to expand into a porous light weight mass. The slag is
crushed into small particles used for screed which greatly improves on the thermal properties of the
concrete roof. The thickness of the screed is usually 25mm. This is a cheap material to use.
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Pumice: This is a rock of volcanic origin which is usually porous, light weight, and a good thermal
insulator. It is crushed into small particles and used for screeding though usually expensive and
hence not commonly used.
Vermiculite: This is a micaceous mineral which consists of fine layers of materials closely packed.
When it is heated the fine layers open out and gases are trapped in the many spaces between the
expanded layers. It is very light in weight and most commonly used today because of its
effectiveness in thermal insulation.
Any of the rigid, light weight insulating boards may be used to improve the thermal insulation of a
concrete roof fixed either on top or below the concrete roof. The most convenient place for the
insulating board is on top of the concrete roof, under the roof covering. By insulating the concrete
roof from out side air, concrete roof can act to store heat in continuously heated buildings (winter).
5.4 Flat roof coverings:

The materials used to cover flat roofs are: Built-up bitumen felt, mastic asphalt and the non ferrous
sheet metals, lead, copper, zinc and aluminium.
Built-up bitumen felt:
This is one of the cheapest and most commonly used roof coverings for flat and shallow roof slopes.
The roof is built with three layers of bitumen roof felt.
The three types of base materials used for bitumen roofing are: fibre, asbestos and glass fibre, the
material of the base being felted and impregnated with bitumen. The surface of the under layer is
finished with fine mineral granules so that the bitumen does not bond in rolls and the exposed layers
are finished with a mineral particle finish. The method of fixing is based on the nature of the roof
surface to which it is being applied. The felt is laid across the roof with 50 side lap and 75 end laps
between sheets.
Glass fibre based felts have excellent dimensional stability, are non-absorbent and will not rot.
Normally used for very good quality works
Asbestos based felts have good resistance to damage by fire, good dimensional stability and are
used as a base layer for fire resistance and for good quality work for both under layers and exposed
layers.
Timber boarded roofs: On a timber board or chip board roof surface with the insulation either
under the boards or at or over the ceiling level, the first under layer of felt is nailed to the boards
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either at 150 centres both across and along the roof, or at 50 centres along the laps of sheets and 150
centres elsewhere. The wider centre of nailing is considered adequate for fixing. The second
underlayer is then bonded to the first in hot bitumen spread by mop or brush on the first underlayer,
and the top, or exposed layer, likewise bonded to the second underlayer with the joints between
sheets in each layer breaking joint.
Dry insulation boards: Rigid preformed insulation boards may be used as insulation and the
surface for bitumen felt roofing on a timber board or chipboard covered roof and on metal and
timber roof decking. Many of the rigid, dry insulation boards, except expanded polystyrene, are
suitable for the direct application of bitumen felt roofing. The insulation boards are laid on an
underlay of self finished roofing felt that serves as a barrier against warm air from the room below.
The underlayer of felt may be nailed, or partially or fully bonded on hot bitumen to the boards. The
insulation board is then partially or fully bonded to the felt underlay and the roof finish of three
layers of glass fibre, asbestos or asbestos first layer and felt fibre layers is then fully bonded to the
insulation.
Concrete screed finish: Cement screeds and particularly light weight aggregate screeds on concrete
roofs take time to thoroughly dry out and may absorb rain water so that it is likely that some water
will be trapped in the screed once bitumen felt covering has been applied. The heat of the sun will
then cause this water to vaporize and the vapour pressure will cause the felt roofing to blister, crack
and let in water. To relieve this water vapour pressure, it is practice to use a venting layer of felt on
wet screeded roofs. This perforated layer of felt is laid dry on the screed and the three layers of felt
are then bonded to it. The venting layer allows water vapour to be released through vapour pressure
releases at abutments and verges of the roof.
Parapet walls and abutments: The bitumen felt roofing should be turned up 150 against parapet
and abutting walls, over an angle fillet as shown in the sketch below and either the damp-proof
course turned down over the upstand of the felt roofing or a separate flashing dressed over the
upstand.
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non-ferrous sheet metal flashing built into wall and

copping with a dpc under dressed over upstand of
roofing felt
3-layers of roofing felt

bitumen felt dpc
angle fillet
timber boards
on isulation board &
vapour pressure barrier
Figure 9. Parapet wall

Eaves and Verges: Either the bitumen felt roofing may be dressed over gutters with a welt or a
separate non-ferrous drip may be used. Similarly, either the felt or a separate flashing may be used
at verges.
3 - la y e r s o f b it u m e n
r o o f in g f e lt o n t o p o f 2 5 s c r e e d
f e lt t u r n e d o v e r v e r g e fille t
a n d n a ile d t o f a s c ia
c o n c r e te r o o f
c a v it y
w a ll f ille d u p t o
r o o f le v e l w it h in s u la t io n
Figure 9. Treatment at eaves and verges

Mastic asphalt: This is a mixture of naturally occurring material which is soft, has a low melting
point and is an effective barrier to penetration of water.
Asphalt is manufactured either by crushing natural rock asphalt and mixing it with natural lake
asphalt, or by crushing natural limestone and mixing it with bitumen whilst the two materials are
sufficiently hot to run together. The heated asphalt is run into moulds in which it solidifies as it
cools.
Solid blocks of asphalt are heated on the building g sites and the hot plastic material is spread over
the surface of the roof in two layers breaking joint to a finished thickness of 20mm. as it cools it
hardens and forms a continuous, hard water proof surface.
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Parapet walls: External walls of buildings are raised above the level of the roof as a parapet wall
for the sake of the appearance of the building as a whole.
Parapet walls should not be built above the roof level higher than six times the least thickness of the
parapet wall for the sake of stability as they are free standing. To prevent rain water from saturating
parapet walls, it is essential that it should be covered or capped with some non-absorbent material.
Natural stone, concrete, and bricks are some of the materials used for capping.
Parapet wall d.p.c: It is good practice to build a continuous horizontal d.p.c into brick parapet wall
at the junction of the roof covering, upstand or skirting with the wall. In stone capping similarly rain
water usually penetrate through the cracks and saturate the wall below. If frost occurs the parapet
wall may be damaged, therefore it is good practice to build in a continuous layer of dpc of
bituminous felt, copper or lead below the stone.
Parapet to cavity walls: The construction of a parapet built on a cavity wall is usually somewhat
different from that built on a solid wall. An external wall built with a cavity to prevent rain
penetrating the wall and it is logical to continue the cavity to at least the top of the roof, so that the
cavity protects roof timber or concrete built into or against the wall. The cavity should always be
continued to the level of the asphalt skirting.
non-ferrous sheet metal flashing built into wall and

copping with a dpc under dressed over upstand of
roofing felt
3-layers of roofing felt

weep holes
Cavity gutter of
felt or metal
angle fillet
flat roof
Figure 10
Thermal insulation: For effectiveness the thermal insulation of a wall must be continuous for the
height of the wall upto the insulation in the roof. Where a cavity lining or fill is used in a cavity wall
it must be carried up atleast to the roof insulation.
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Sheet metal roof coverings

Sheet metal is used as a covering because it gives excellent protection against wind and rain; it is
durable and lighter in weight than asphalt, tiles or slates. The four common sheet forms used are;
lead, copper, zinc and aluminium.
Properties of metals which make them to be used as either a flat roof or pitched roof covering are:
Lead: This is a heavy, comparatively soft metal with poor resistance to tearing and crushing hence
has to be used in thick sheets as a roof covering. It is malleable and can easily be bent and beaten
into quite complicated shapes without damage to the sheets. Lead is quite resistant to all weathering
and can last upto 100 years.
Copper: This is a heavy metal with good mechanical strength and malleable. Because of its
mechanical strength this metal can be used in quite thin sheets as a roof covering. Like lead, copper
can be beaten and bent into complicated shapes.
On exposure to atmosphere a thin layer of copper oxide forms which is tenacious, non-absorbent
and prevents further oxidation of the copper below. Copper is quite weather resistant and last as
long as lead.
Zinc: It is one of the lighter metals with good mechanical strength but not so malleable and
normally brittle. Zinc sheet is liable to damage in very heavily polluted industrial atmospheres and
should not be used there. The useful life of zinc as a roof covering is between 20 to 40 years.
Aluminium: This is one of the lightest metals with moderate mechanical strength and is as
malleable as copper. It is resistant to all weathering agents. On exposure to atmosphere a film of
aluminium oxide forms which is dense and tenacious and prevents further corrosion. Aluminium as
a roof covering has a useful life intermediate between zinc and lead. Bitumen and asphalt have
replaced the above metal roof covering because of their low initial cost, although metal roof
covering is becoming more common because of their use for low pitched roofs, architectural
designs (fashion).
Joint sheets:
The sheets of metals have to be fixed to the roof and jointed to allow for expansion and contraction
without tearing. Three types of jointing have been developed which successfully joints the sheets,
keeps out water and allows for expansion and contraction.
All metal sheets are laid to a fall or slope on roofs so that water runs off. The longitudinal joints are
usually in form of a roll. Rounded timber battens some 50 square are nailed to the roof and the
edges of the sheets are either overlapped or covered at these timber rolls. The joints across or
78
transverse to the fall of the roof are always formed as a small step called a drip. The purpose of the
drip is to accelerate the flow of rain water running down the shallow slope of the roof
Upstand and apron: Where there is a parapet wall around the roof or where the roof is built up
against a wall, the sheets are turned up against the wall about 150 as an upstand. The top of these
upstands are not fixed in any way so that the sheets can expand without restrain. To cover the gap
between the upstand and the wall strips of sheets, the sheets are tucked into a horizontal brick joint,
wedged in place and then dressed down over the upstand as an apron flashing.
Rain water gutters: If the flat roof is surrounded on all sides by parapet walls it is necessary to
collect the rain water falling off at the lowest point of the roof. A shallow timber framed gutter is
constructed and is lined with sheets. The gutter is constructed to slope or fall towards one or more
rain water outlets. The gutter is usually made 300 wide and is formed between one roof joist, spaced
300 from a wall, and the wall itself.
Sketch how it is done.
Eaves gutter: Where the roof has no parapet walls as for copper roof covering where the beauty of
the roof covering is of importance, the run off rain water is discharged into an eaves gutter as in the
sketch.
It is practice to drain the water from the gutters into down pipes which discharges the water into
reserve tanks or into storm water channels
Draw the sketch
Sheet metal covering to concrete roofs: Bitumen and asphalt have been the cheapest roof
coverings on concrete roofs but they have a useful life of some twenty years only as a result sheet
metals are sometime preferred. The sheet metal is jointed and fixed to a concrete roof in the same
way as a timber roof. The wood rolls are secured to the concrete by screwing them to splayed
timber battens set into the screed on the concrete or by securing them with bolts set in sand and
cement in holes punched in the screed as shown below.
Roofing felt: It is essential that sheet metal be laid on a continuous layer of roofing felt laid on the
surface of the concrete roof. The felt enables the metal to contract and expand freely and prevents it
tearing on any sharp projections in the surface of the concrete roof
79
5.5 Pitched Roofs

A pitch roof has one or more roof slopes at a pitch or slope of more than 100 to the horizontal. The
most common roof shape is the symmetrical pitch roof pitched to a central ridge with equal slopes.
Ridge
Hip
Verge board
Hipped end Gable end

with a vent
Eaves
Figure 11. Illustration of a pitched roof with a hip and a gabled end
The traditional roofing materials like slate and tiles can only be successfully fixed on to a surface
inclined at atleast 25degrees to the horizontal.
The construction method is to slope the surfaces by pitching the rafters on either sides of the ridge
piece with the rafters bearing on the wall plate. This is the simplest roof because each pair of rafters
acts like two arms pinned at the top and is called a couple. Precautions should be taken on the span
as the weight of the roof tends to spread the rafters of a couple roof and over turn the supporting
walls.
In the traditional pitched roof form, timber ties are nailed to the foot of pairs of rafters to prevent
them spreading under the load of the roof. The ties may also serve to support the ceiling frame. The
other approach is to use timber ties nailed to the foot of pairs of rafters to prevent them spreading
under the load of the roof and is termed a closed couple roof
A modification of the close couple roof is the collar roof, where the ties are fixed between pairs of
rafters one third the height of the roof up from the wall plate.
The advantage here is that the roof may extend up into the part of the roof
80
3.5max 4.5max 5.5max
couple roof collar roof closed couple roof
Figure 12.
5.6 Trussed rafters

A trussed rafter is a triangular roof frame of rafters, ceiling joists and internal webs joined with
spiked connector plates and assembled in a factory. A trussed rafter uses upto 60% less timber than
a comparable traditional pitched roof and requires less on site labour as most of the members are
brought to the site and assembled or to be assembled only. Timber- framed pitched roofs are usually
constructed with trussed rafters and are the most economical and convenient way of framing pitched
roofs.
Trussed rafters are fabricated from stress graded timbers, accurately cut to shape and assembled and
joined with steel connector plates. Much of the preparation and fabrication of these trussed rafters is
mechanized, resulting in accurately cut and finished trusses that are delivered to site ready to be
lifted and fixed as a roof frame. The connector plates are made from carbon steel which is stamped
out so that the teeth protrude. The connector- plates are machine pressed to form strong rigid joints
and is used where the joints are butt joints. If the members overlap one another, split rings and bolts
are used to connect them. The split rings are set in circular grooves cut in the meeting places and a
bolt through the assembly holds the two together tightly.
Trussed rafters are erected and nailed to a timber wall plate, bedded on the external walls, at centres
to suit the roof covering.
2 0 0 x 3 2 - 5 0 r id g e b o a r d C o lla r p ie c e
1 0 0 x 5 0 t ie s a n d s tr u t s
1 0 0 - 1 5 0 r a f te r s o n
w a ll p la t e s
1 5 0 x 5 0 t ie b e a m s
a t 4 0 0 - 6 0 0 c e n tre s
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a ll p la t e
f itt in g in t o t h e b ir d m o u t h
o n th e ra fte r
A t y p ic a l t r u s s e d r a f t e r
81
Figure 13 Trussed rafters

Size of roof timbers
Rafters are usually 38 50 thick and 100 150 deep and are spaced at from 400 to 600 centres. The
depth of rafters and the centres at which they are fixed depends on the type and weight of the roof
covering they have to support and their unsupported length. In addition to the dead weight of the
roof covering, such as tiles or slates, the rafters have to be able to resist the pressure of wind.
Collars are usually 44 thick and are usually as deep as the roof rafters. The ridge board is usually 25
38 thick and so deep that the whole depth of the splay cut ends of rafters bear on it.
Eaves: This is a general term used to describe the lowest courses of the slates or tiles and the timber
supporting them. The eaves of most pitched roofs are made to project some 150 to 300 beyond the
external face of walls and in Uganda they are as wide as 600. This gives some protection to walls
and enhances the appearance of buildings. Eaves can also be finished flush with the wall. The roof
coverings drains into an eaves gutter fixed to the fascia boards. The soffit of projecting eaves can be
finished closed with boards, sheets or plastered ceiling or it can also be left open.
125x50 rafters
50x25 bracket nailed to rafter

to support soffit 125x50 tie beam
or ceiling joists
225x25 fascia
19 soffit board
making a closed eaves
FIGURE 14 DETAIL OF CLOSED EAVES CONSTRUCTION
5.7 Purlin or double roof:

A purlin is a continuous timber fixed horizontally under the roof rafters to give the support between
the ridge and the wall plate. The purlin is in turn supported by means of timber struts which bear
onto a load bearing partition or fixed onto the tie beams resting on the wall plates. It will be seen
that the purlins support the rafters mid-way between the ridge and the eaves and are supported by
struts at intervals of about 1.8 along their lengths. Where the roof slope is long, more than a line of
purlin should be provided corresponding to the struts. Collars fixed every fourth rafter serve to
82
brace the roof and provide a secure fixing for the purlins which bear on them. The size of the
purlins depends on the weight of the roof and their unsupported length between the struts. With
struts not more than 1.8 apart a 125 x 50 purlin is used for most rafters.
Collars of the same section as the roof rafters are fixed to every third or fourth rafter. Struts are
usually 75 square in section. The foot of the strut is fixed to a timber wall plate bedded in mortar on
the load bearing partition. Incase of terrace buildings the purlins can be made to rest on the diving
walls, this also helps to prevent the spread of fire from one house to the other. In this Case the
diving wall should be taken up to the under side of the roof covering or even through to form a
parapet wall.
Timber trusses
A strongly constructed purlin roof depends for support on the load bearing partitions conveniently
placed and these partitions often restrict freedom in planning the rooms of the building. A method
of constructing pitched roofs so as to avoid the use of struts to support the purlins, and load bearing
partitions to support the struts, is to use timber trusses. The word truss means tied together and a
timber roof truss is a triangular frame of light section timbers fixed together. The timber trusses
span between external walls and are spaced about 1.8m apart and they serve to support the purlins
which in turn support the roof rafters. The timbers of the truss are bolted together and to make the
connections rigid galvanized iron timber connectors are bolted between each two timbers at
connections. The strength of the trusses derives mainly from the rigidity of the connections.
To reduce the quantity of timbers used, the ceiling rafters are given support by means of hangers
and binders. The hangers are nailed to the purlins and to these are nailed horizontal binders to which
the ceiling joists are nailed or secured with metal plates.
The timber connectors have opposed teeth which when firmly bolted between the timbers prevents
any scissor movement between them. Timber trusses have largely been superseded by trussed
rafters for most domestic buildings.
83
200 x 32-50 ridge board
100-150 rafters on
wall plates
150x50 purlin
125 x50 collar & 75 x 75 strut
150 x 50 tie beams/ceiling
to every 3rd or 4th rafter
joists at 400-600 centres
100 x 75 wall plate

fitting into the bird mouth
Load bearing partition on the rafter
FIGURE 15: A typical trussed rafter for span upto 7.5
200 x 32-50 ridge board

all joints in truss bolted through
timber connectors
75x38 tie
75 x 50 hangers
100x38 rafters at
400-600 c/c
150x50 purlin

joists at 400-600 centres
75x50 strut
125x50 ceiling
binders
100 x 75 wall plate

fitting into the bird mouth
on the rafter
FIGURE 16: A typical trussed rafter for span

upto 8.0
84
g a lva n ise d stee l ga ng -na il
con n ec to r p la tes a t all jo in ts
75 x3 8 tie
1 00 x3 8 rafte rs at
4 0 0-6 0 0 c/c
1 5 0 x 5 0 tie b ea m s/ceilin g
jo ists a t 40 0 -60 0 cen tre s 75 x5 0 strut
Figure 17: A typical trusse d rafter for span upto 12.0 and pitch
from 1 5 to 40 deg.
5.8 Hipped roofs

The most economical way of constructing a pitched roof is to form it with two slopes with gable
ends. But a simple gable end roof sometimes looks clumsy due to the great area of tile or slate
covering and this can be avoided by forming hipped ends to the roof.
The hipped ends are pitched at the same slope as the main part of the roof and the rafters in the
triangle of the hipped end are pitched up to a hip rafter. The hip rafters carry the ends of the cut
rafters in the hipped ends and those of the main roof slopes. The hip rafter is usually 38-50 thick
and 200 to 250 deep. The cut jack rafter are nailed each side of the hip rafter. Because the hip
rafter carries the ends of several jack rafters it tends to over turn the walls at the corner of the
building where it bears on the wall plates and to resist this, angle tie should always be fixed
across the angle of the roof. The angle ties are usually 100 x 75 timber and are either firmly
bolted to or dovetail housed into the top of the wall plates some 600 from the corner of the
building.
2 0 0 x 3 8 r id g e b o a r d
e n d o f h ip p e d r a fte rs
c u t & n a i le d t o r id g e b o a r d
2 0 0 x 5 0 h ip r a fte r b e a r in g 1 2 5 x 5 0 ja c k r a fte r s
o n th e w a ll p la te
1 2 5 x 5 0 c e ilin g jo is ts
1 0 0 x 7 5 w a l l p la t e
lo a d b e a r in g w a ll
F ig u r e 1 8 : h ip p e d r o o f c o n s t r u c t io n
85
Roof Ventilation
The limited capacity of air to hold moisture in the form of water vapour increases with
temperature. When the temperature of air falls, so does its capacity to hold moisture and the
surplus moisture is given up in the form of condensation. The air inside heated buildings usually
contains more water vapour than outside air and so has a higher vapour pressure which creates a
vapour drive from the area of high pressure inside the building to the out side through the
material of the roofs, so that warm moist air will penetrate the ceiling and insulation of roofs and
condense on cold surfaces inside the roof space due to condensation which will cause corrosion
of fixings and decay of timber.
To prevent an excessive built-up of moisture from condensation inside roofs, a cross ventilation
of roof spaces by vents not less than 0.3% of the roof plan area is required. This is done by
fixing ventilators either in the soffit of overhanging eaves incases of hipped roofs or on the gable
ends incase of gabled ends
Lamella Roof construction

A lamella roof is a curved roof similar in shape to one formed by the use of bowstring trusses,
but without the use of frame work of webs and lower chords found in truss roof. It does
however; provide clear spans of great width. It is formed by framing together a series of
intersecting arches made up of relatively short members called lamellas. They are made of 50-
100 material (steel or concrete), 3.6m to 4.9m long, beveled, bored with two holes at each end,
and bolted together.
A reinforced concrete lamella roof may be erected over a curved form made the width of the
building and the depth of one bay carried over movable scaffolds. The erection of the formwork
is begun from both sides at the sill and completed at the centre. The horizontal thrust developed
in this roof must be taken care of by tie rods, wooden ties, buttressed walls or wall columns. The
usual length of individual members is 3.6, 4.2 or 4.9 with arch spacing of approximately 1.2,
1.36 or 1.5 respectively. The angles between the intersecting lamellas should not exceed 450 and
should preferably be between 380 and 400
Decking must be applied directly over the framework of the roof.
Folded plate roofs: A folded roof is another roof in which the roof slab has been formed in thin,
self supporting structure, usually made either of wood or concrete.
A concrete roof of this type can be made with precast panels or may be cast-in-situ. The rest of
the construction is like for flat roofs except in this case they are pitched and folded.
86
Lamella roof
lag screw
plate tie rod
bolt
Lamella joint
Figure 19: construction of a lamella roof.
Figure 20: Folded plate roof construction
Pitched Roof Coverings

The traditional covering for pitched roofs, plain clay tiles and natural slates, are much less used
than they were because they are comparatively expensive and the majority of pitched roofs of
new buildings are covered with single lap concrete tiles and mangalore tiles.
The small unit pitched roof coverings are single lap tiles, plain tiles and slates.
Single lap tiles
These are so shaped that they overlap the edges of adjacent tiles in each course. The overlap
prevents water entering the roof between adjacent tiles and in consequence the tiles can be laid
with a single end lap. The advantage of single lap tiling is that its weight per unit area is up to
40% less than that of plain tiling.
Plain tiles: These are flat rectangular roofing units of size 265 by 165 with holes for nailing and
nibs for hanging to batten. These tiles are laid double lap down the slope of the roof because
water running between the open joints between adjacent tiles runs on to the back of a tile double
lapped under the joint. A plain tile roof is generally heavier than a comparable single lap tile
roof.
87
Concrete roofing tiles: These are extensively used today as a substitute for good quality clay
tiles. They are manufactured from a mixture of carefully graded sand, and Portland cement
which is compressed in a mould and painted in different colours.
Clay roofing tiles: Clay can be excavated, moulded and burned without any expensive or
elaborate machinery and for years clay roofing tiles have been used in Uganda. There are hand
made clay tiles and machine pressed clay roofing tiles. Hands made roofing tiles are not so good
and usually have a lot of defects.
Mangalore clay roofing tiles (Uganda clay roofing tiles)
These are the single lap clay tiles. They differ from ordinary single lap tiles in that one or more
grooves exist in the vertical edges of the tiles. The tiles are machine pressed during the
manufacturing. They are hung on softwood battens of 50x38 and weighs 40kg per unit roof area.
Each unit has a weight of 2.5kg and there are 15 pieces in a square metre. The side laps are
usually 50 and the end laps are adjustable with a minimum of 62. Mangalore tiles are of size
400x230.
In Uganda roofing timber is supplied in sizes of 150x50, 100x50, 100x 75, 75x50 and 250x 25
and 4.2m long.
Roof trusses.
The trusses for mangalore roofing tiles consists of principal rafters of double pieces of 100x50 at
1.8m centres with common rafters of the same size to that of the principal rafters in between at
a spacing of 600 centres. The main tie/ tie beams or ceiling joists are of 150 x 50 and the purlins
of the same size are used to transfer the loads from the common rafters to the principal rafters.
The tie beams are fixed to the legs of the principal rafters at the same centering. Struts and ties
are from 100 x50 timbers and the struts serves to transmit the load from the purlins to the tie
beams and onto the wall plates which are of size 100x75
38x200 ridge piece
100x50 tie
100x50 principal rafters at

1.8m c/c made of 2pcs of
rafters
joists at 1.8m centres
100x50 strut
100x75 wall plate
Figure 21: A typical principal trussed rafter
88
100x50principal rafter
-338
312
38x50 timber battens
laid over plain sheets 150x50tie beam
100x75 wall plate
plain galv. sheet

metal
Figure 22: Detail of laying mangalore roofing tiles
Traditionally battens were laid on polythene supported by chicken wire mesh due high cost of
metal sheets. This was meant to prevent water escaping through the numerous joints to the
inside of the roof. Today the cost of galvanized plain sheets of lower gauges have come down
and with the coming up of many industries they are readily available in the local markets and as
a result most roofs in Uganda are now covered with plain iron sheets underneath the battens to
receive tiles. Battens of usually size 50x38 are fixed using wire nails at a margin of 312 to 338.
The tiles ate then hooked on the battens starting from down the eaves moving up the slope of the
roof to the ridge piece.
Ridge: Any one of the four standard sections of clay ridges may be used to cover the ridge.
Ridges are usually laid using mortar. It is economical to first pack the broken pieces of the tiles
around the ridge piece before applying the mortar.
Hips: Hips are laid the same way like the ridges. However to prevent the tiles from slipping
down the hip a galvanized iron or wrought-iron hip iron is fixed to the hip or fascia.
Read about:
Roofing slates, Pan Tiles, Spanish tiles, and Italian tiles especially the laying.
Timber Pitched Roofs in Sheet Metal Coverings

Various methods are used to make roofing sheets, two basic types are generally made:
corrugated and flat. Galvanized steel, aluminium and galbestos are all used to make corrugated
89
roofing sheets of varying width, depth and pattern of corrugation and allowable span, depending
on the gauge and material used.
Corrugated sheet metal roofing sheets are normally supported on wood or steel purlins properly
spaced according to the gauge of the metal and the roof load involved. Manufactures normally
give tables of unsupported length of the sheets depending on the gauges to guide roofers in
spacing the purlins.
There are two common laying orders for roofing sheets. Laying should start at the leeward end
of the building so that side laps will have better protection from wind driven rain. The top edges
of eave sheets should extend atleast 38 beyond the back of steel purlin and 75 beyond the centre
line of timber purlins. At side laps where edge corrugation of adjacent sheets is opposite in
direction, the under lapping side should finish with an upturn edge and overlapping side with a
down turned edge.
Sheets should extend atleast one corrugation over the gable and there should be 75 of over hang
at the eaves. End laps between sheets should generally be 150 and side laps of 1.5corrugations
but they may be increased to 225 and two corrugations for extreme conditions
Special nails with a ring or screw-type shank should be used for fastening corrugated sheets to
wood purlin. Nails should be driven at the top of corrugations, but care must be taken not to
drive them so far as to flatten the corrugation, thus preventing the next sheet from fitting
properly. Sheets are fastened to steel purlins with stain less self-tapping screws and aluminium
washers.
Steel Roof Trusses
Mild steel is much stronger than timber, it is more fire resisting and its sections can be readily
assembled to for comparatively simple connections. It is principally for these reasons that mild
steel is now employed extensively for roof trusses of small and medium spans and its supersede
of timber as a material for trusses of large span.
Steel for trusses of open (unceiled) roofs of certain buildings, well designed for large spans with
light weight members and satisfactory appearance, chiefly because of the small size of the
members and the simple joints are commonly in use. Mild steel trusses must be painted
periodically to prevent rusting.
A steel truss like the built-up truss is a triangulated structure. The principle rafters are prevented
from spreading by connecting their lower ends by a tie and strut and ties are provided at
intermediate points to afford adequate bracing. The struts should be kept as short as possible.
The centre line principle is adopted through out and thus the point of attachment of each purlin
90
coincides with the intersection of the axes of truss members. Secondary stresses such as bending
moments in the rafters are thereby avoided.
All the members of a modern metal roof truss are mild steel, and most, if not all should be of
angles. Angles effectively resist both compression and tension stresses; they can be conveniently
attached and the manufacturing process is more economical. Struts consist of either single or
double angles and the main consist of either one or two angles placed back to back. Until
comparatively recently, it was a common practice to use single or double flat bars for the main
tie, as they were suitable for resisting tension stresses, however, owing to wind pressure and the
abnormal strain imposed during the transportation and the erection of trusses, members may be
subjected to changes of stresses and flats will not resist compression. Flat main therefore tend to
become buckled. .if a ceiling is to be provided, ceiling joints can readily be fixed to a main tie of
double angles and this is an additional reason why they should be used instead of flats.
5.9 Connections
The members of a truss are connected together normally by means of:
a. Bolts and thin plates called gussets
b. welding
c. rivets ( not in common use)
The pitch of rivets is the distance between their centres and should not be less than 2.5 times
the diametre of the bolts. The maximum pitch should not exceed 32t or 300mm. the size of
the bolts depends upon that of the members to be connected, thus 16mm diametre bolts are
commonly employed for angles and flats up to 60mm wide and 20mm diametre bolts for
larger members. When making a joint, a number, even if subjected to a small stress, should
be connected to a gusset by at least two bolts. If a member consists of double angles, gussets
are always placed between them.
Support to the trusses

Sound concrete pads of sufficient thickness and area must be provided to give reliable and level
bearing for the end of the truss and to receive the steel fixing bolts. The bolts are called ragged
bolts or ragged lewis bolts.
Fixing the roof coverings

Purlins are laid across the rafters to support the sheeting or tiles/slates (battens). The purlins can
be from timber members or metal angles or zed sections. The spacing of the purlins will depend
91
on the roof loading, the type of roof covering used and the spacing of the mild steel roof trusses.
Manufactures will recommend maximum centres appropriate to the roof coverings.
Traditionally a hook bolt was used to fix the sheeting, but this presented problems with water
proofing at the top of the bolts. Today an Oakley clip is fixed and adjusted inside the roof and
ensures a satisfactory water seal.
100x50 timber purlin
1
80x80x6 rafter L
1
65 x 50 x 6 strut L
1
65 x 50 x 6 ties L
1
65 x 50 x 6main tie L
6mm gusset
shoe
Figure 24: Typical trusses of upto 6m span and upto 3.7 c/c
175x100 purlin
1
80x80x6L.rafter
12mmdia.coach bolt
14
0 150x 150x10L.cleat 150long
rafter 1
65x60x6.L. Tie
80X80X10 150 X140X328Pad stone
L.cleats welded
to bearing plates
0
20
strut
Figure (a)section thru the strut Figure (b)section thru the pad stone
92
150x 150x10L.cleat 150long
15 oakley clip
0
twin angle rafter Zed purlin

14
0
0
20
strut
Figure 26: showing the fixing of the roof covering on the zed purlin
Figure 25: details of a
steel truss connection to the strut and a section thru the pad stone.
93
CHAPTER SIX
6 Windows and Doors
6.2 Windows
A Window is an opening formed in a wall or roof to admit daylight through some transparent or
translucent material fixed in the opening. The primary function of a window is served by a sheet
of glass fixed in a frame in the widow opening. This is a simple widow and is termed a dead
light window because no part can be opened.
As the window is part of the wall, it should serve the functional requirements of a wall like
exclusion of wind and rain, act as a barrier to excessive transfer of heat and sound and should be
fire resistant in the same way just like the surrounding wall and roof.
The function material of a window, glass, is efficient in admitting day light and excluding wind
and rain but is a poor barrier to the transfer of heat, sound and the spread of fire.
The traditional window is usually designed to ventilate rooms through one or more parts that
open to encourage an exchange of air between inside and outside. It is important to separate
windows from ventilations so that the window may be made more effectively wind and weather
tight and ventilation can be more accurately controlled.
6.3 Functional requirements

The primary function of a window is: admission of light. The secondary functions are: a view
and ventilation.
The functional requirements of a window as a component part of a wall or roof are:
Strength and stiffness.
Thermal insulation
Sound insulation
Fire resistance
Strength and stiffness

A window should be strong enough when closed to resist the likely pressures and suctions due to
wind, and when open be strong and stiff enough to resist the effect of gale force winds on
opening lights. A window should be sufficiently strong and stiff against pressures and knocks
due to normal use and appear to be safe, particularly to occupants in high buildings. A window
94
should be securely fixed in the wall opening for security, weather tightness and the strength and
stiffness given by fixings.
Air tightness: to conserve heat and avoid cold draught it is good practice to design windows so
that there is little unnecessary leakage of air. Air movement through closed windows may occur
between the window frame and the surrounding wall, through cracks between glass and the
framing, through glazing joints and more particularly through clearance gaps between opening
lights and the window frame. Leakage around window frames, around glass and through glazing
joints can be avoided by care in design, construction and maintenance. The flow of air through
windows is caused by changes in pressure and suction caused by wind and may cause draughts
of in ward flowing cold air and loss of heat by excessive inflow of cold and outflow of warm air.
It is to control this air movement that systems checks rebates and weather stripping are used in
windows.
Exclusion of rain: Penetration of rain through cracks around opening lights, frames or glass
occurs when rain is driven on to vertical windows by wind so that the more the window is
exposed to driving rain, the greater the likely wood of Rain penetration. The performance of
windows in excluding rain is tested in the laboratory by throwing water in droplets, from
horizontally mounted jets, in a band some 50 deep at the head of the test window so that water
runs down the window face.
To minimize the penetration of driven rain through vertical windows the followings should be
done:
Set the face of the window back from the wall face so that the projecting head and jamb
will to some extent give protection by dispersing rain
Ensure that external horizontal surfaces below openings are as few and as narrow as
practicable to avoid water being driven into the gaps.
Ensure that there are no open gaps around opening lights by the use of lapped and
rebated joints and that where there are narrow joints that may act as capillary paths there
may be capillary grooves.
Restrict air penetration by means of weather stripping on the room side of the window so
that the pressure inside the joint is the same as that outside; a pressure difference would
drive water into the joint
Ensure that any water entering the joints be drained to the outside by open drainage
channels that run to the outside.
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Weather stripping: In modern window design weather stripping used depends on the opening
movement of the windows, compression strips being used for hinged and pivoted opening lights
and wiping sliding seals for sliding windows. The material used is resilient rubber compounds in
the form of compression strips and seals or nylon pile strip.
Thermal insulation
Unlike the wall around it a window, which is a component part of a wall, will affect internal
thermal comfort in two ways: by its transmittance of heat and through the penetration of the
radiant heat of the sun that causes solar heat gain.
Heat is transferred through a wall or window by conduction, convection and radiation.
Sound insulation
There is a considerable variation in the level and type of noise that different people can tolerate
without discomfort. In order to establish an acceptable noise level it is necessary to assume a
measure of sound level that corresponds to subjective judgment of noise.
The audible frequencies of sound are from about 20Hz to 20000Hz, where Hz represents the unit
hertz where one hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
Noise is the general term used for the subjective judgement of level of sound that is distracting
or uncomfortable and therefore unacceptable. Tolerable sound level depends on the activities of
those inside particular rooms and the general background level of sound within the room.
The transmission of sound through materials depends on their mass, the more dense or heavier
the material the more effective it is in reducing transmission of sound. The reduction of sound
transmission is termed sound insulation. Because of the thin material with which they are glazed
and the necessary clearance gaps around opening lights, windows afford poor insulation against
external noise. Open windows, as well as providing an obstructed path for intrusive sound, may
often serve to reflect external sounds into rooms. Insulation of a glass can be done by use of
thicker glass or doubling the glass. Doubling the glass by sealed double glazing is not so
effective. It is advisable to use double windows with two separate sheets 200 to 300 apart.
Fire resistance
Ordinary glass cracks and breaks within a few minutes when subjected to the heat generated by
fire. To limit the spread of fire, regulations require fire breaks to windows to limit the spread of
fire to adjacent buildings. Fire breaks are solid incombustible upstands or projections to
windows that serve as a barrier to the spread of fire. Wired glass also limits the spread of fire as
the broken glass will be held in place.
Day light
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The prime function of a window is to admit daylight for day time activities in sufficient quantity
for efficient performance. The quantity of light admitted depends in general terms on the size of
the window or windows in relation to the area of the room lit and the depth inside the room to
which useful light will penetrate depends on the area of the window and the height of the head
of the window above floor level. Good sense dictates taking the maximum advantage of this free
source of illumination. The accepted minimum level of day light for performance of various
activities varies from for bedrooms, 1 for living rooms to 6 for drawing rooms, the figures
given being the day light factor which is the percentage of day light admitted through a window
from the hemisphere of unobstructed sky. In a room with windows on one long side with no
external obstructions and a room surface reflectance of 40%, where the glass area is 1/5th 0r
20% of the floor area, the average day light factor will be 4 and the minimum half of 4.
Example: Determine the size of a window in a room measuring 4x3 with a daylight factor of 6.
Solution: Floor area..12m 2
The average day light factor in side lit rooms is roughly equal to 1/5th of the percentage
ratio of glass to floor area.
Conversely required glass area = ...6x12x5/100
. = 3.6 m 2
Window sizes say 2.4x1.5 or two windows of 1.2x1.5
Ventilation
For the comfort and well being of people it is necessary to ventilate rooms by allowing a natural
change of air between inside and outside and outside or to cause a change by mechanical means.
The necessary rate of change will depend on the activities and numbers of those in the room.
The total area of ventilation for any habitable room can be calculated as 1/20th of the floor area.
The size of a ventilating opening, by itself, gives no clear indication of the likely air change as
the ventilating effect of an opening depends on air pressure difference between inside and
outside and the size of opening or openings through which air will be evacuated to cause air
flow.
6.4 Materials used for windows

The common materials for making windows are: Wood, steel, Stainless steel, aluminium,
bronze, and plastics
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Wood: The traditional material used for making windows is wood, which is easy to work by
hand or machine, can readily be shaped for rebates, drips, grooves and mouldings, has a
favorable strength to weight ratio, and with good thermal properties.
The disadvantages of wood are the considerable moisture movement that occurs across the grain
with moderate moisture changes and liability to rot. The dimensional changes can make the
joints to open and admit water that increases the moisture content that can lead to rot. Where
windows are made of soft wood timber it should regularly be painted besides treatment with
preservatives. This is to avoid rot.
Steel
Steel section windows have been in use for quite a long time and it is gaining popularity over
timber windows. Steel windows often rust, and corrode there fore care must be taken by use of
zinc coating or regular painting. The advantage it has is the slender sections for both frame and
opening lights that are possible due to inherent strength and rigidity of the material. The
disadvantages are high thermal conductivity that makes the window framing act as a cold bridge
to the transfer of heat and the very necessary regular painting required to protect the steel from
rusting.
Aluminium
Aluminium windows are made from aluminium alloy of magnesium and silicon that is extruded
in channel and box sections with flanges and grooves for rebates and weather stripping.
Aluminium windows have adequate strength and stiffness with good resistance to corrosion and
can also be readily welded and brazed.
The advantages of aluminium windows are the variety of sections available for the production of
a wide range of window types, and the freedom from destructive corrosion.
The disadvantage is however the high thermal conductivity of the material which acts as a cold
bridge to heat transfer and aluminium window is relatively very expensive.
Stainless steel: It is made from an alloy of steel and chromium making it corrosion-resistant and
expensive. Because of its cost it is used in windows as a thin surface coating to other materials
such a wood and aluminium for its appearance and freedom from corrosion.
Bronze: Manganese brass is the material commonly used for bronze windows. The material is
rolled or extruded to form window sections. It has advantages of freedom from corrosion, high
strength to weight ratio, and attractive colour and texture of the material.
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Plastics: This is the latest material to be used as windows with a particular advantage of being
maintenance free. The disadvantage of plastic is that it is less rigid than the wood or steel and
does not resist heat and fire.
6.5 Window types

Fixed light: A fixed light or dead light is a window opening in which one square, pane or sheet
of glass is fixed either directly to the wall structure or more usually to a frame which is in turn
fixed to the wall so that no part of the window will open.
Opening light: An opening light is the whole or part of parts of a window that can be opened by
being hinged or pivoted to the frame or can slide open inside the frame. Windows with opening
lights are classified in accordance with the manner in which the opening lights open inside the
frame as below
Pivoted
Hinged
Sliding and
Composite action
And as a broad classification as:
Side hung, Top hung and Bottom hung
Horizontally pivoted and vertically pivoted
Vertically siding and horizontally sliding and sliding folding
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s id e h u n g to p h u n g b o tto m hung
h o r r iz o n t a lly p iv o t e d v e r t . p iv o t e d
lo u v r e
h o r r iz o n t a lly s lid in g
v e r t s lid in g
Side hung: The traditional casement consists of a square or rectangular window frame of wood
with the opening light or casement hinged at one side of the frame to open in or out. The side
hung opening part of the window is termed the casement and it consist of glass surrounded and
supported by a wooden frame as below with a simple one light casement, opening out.
head
h in g e
w in d o w fr a m e
fra m e o f c a s e m e n t
or sash g la s s
s ill
post
c a s e m e n t h in g e d a t
s id e to o p e n o u t
S id e h u n g c a s e m e n t w in d o w
The traditional casement is hinged to open outward. An outward opening casement can more
readily be made to exclude wind and rain than the one opening in as the casement is forced in to
the outward-facing rebate in the frame by wind pressure and the outward facing rebate is more
effective than the inward facing rebate.
Because casement is hinged on one side, its other side tends to sink, due to the weight of the
casement when it is open. If any appreciable sinking occurs the casement will bind in the
window frame and in time may be impossible to open. The wider the casement the greater its
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weight and the more likely it is to sink. It is considered wise to construct casement of widths of
not more than 600. Where a window is wider than 600, you design more than one casement.
A window of two casements can be designed with the casements hinged so that when closed
they meet in the middle of the window. It is usually considered better to construct the window
frame with vertical wood members, called mullions, to which each casement closes to avoid
jamming of casements where they meet in the middle.
Because a casement does not provide close control of ventilation it is common to provide small
opening lights, called vent lights, which are usually hinged at the top to open out
head
head ventlight open

transom
hinge
hinge
frame of casement
or sash glass
mullion
glass
sill glass mullion
sill glass
casement hinged at
side to open out casement hinged at
side to open out
casements close to mullion
casements close to mullion
with ventlights
Casement windows with vent lights are usually designed so that the transom is above the
average eye level of people using the room (2.1m) for obvious reasons. The disadvantage of
casement window is that the casements, ventlights, mullions, and transoms reduce the possible
unobstructed area of glass and therefore day light through a window of any size and the many
clearances gaps around opening casements and ventlights and frame members emphasize the
problem of making the window weather tight.
Wood casement windows
For years wood casement windows have been the traditional windows for small buildings. To
provide adequate strength and stiffness in the frame, casements and ventlights of casement
windows and to accommodate rebates for casements and ventlights and for glazing, timber of
adequate section has to be used and joined. The traditional joint used is the mortice and tenon
joint in which a protruding tenon, cut on the end of one section fits into a matching mortice on
the other, the joint being made secure with glue and wedges as below:
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head
tenon
dead light
hinge
glass
mullion
sill mortice
wedge
casement hinged at
side to open out
casements with a dead light on one side style
and open ventlights

Where mass production of wood windows is expected, combed joints are used. This involves
interlocking tongues cut on the ends of members which are put together, glued and pinned.
A casement window frame consists of a head, two posts (jambs) and a sill joined with mortice
and tenon depending on the number of casements and ventlights.
Wood members
The members of a wood window frame are cut from 100x75 or 75x50 sawn timbers for the
head, posts and mullion and from 150x75 or 100x63 for sill and transom. Similarly the rails and
stiles of casements and ventlights are cut from 50x50 or 50x44 sawn timbers which are planed
(wrought) and whose finished sizes are about 45x45 or 39. The sawn timbers are planed smooth
(wrought) and this reduces their sizes by about 5mm on both sides.
Window frames
The members of the frame are joined with wedged mortice and tenon joints. The posts of the
frames are tenoned to the head and sill with the ends of the sill and head projecting some 40mm
or more each side of the frame as horns. These projecting horns can be built into the wall in the
jambs of openings or they may be cut off on sites if the frame is built in flush with the outside of
the wall. The reason for using a haunced tenon joint between posts and head is so that when the
horn is cut off there will be a complete mortice and tenon left.
Fixing windows
Wood window frames are usually built in to solid walls as the walls are raised. The other
method is to fix the window in position after the wall is built. Wood window frames are secured
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in position in solid walls by means of galvanized steel cramps or lugs that are screwed to the
back of the frame and built into horizontal brick or block work as the wall is raised. The spacing
is the cramps should be between 300 and 450. The other approach is to do the finishing
according to the sizes of the frames and use raw bolts to fix them.
Casement: The four members of the casement are two stiles, top rail and bottom rail. The stiles
and top rail are cut from 50x44 timbers and the bottom rail from 75x44 timbers. The stiles and
rails are rebated fro glass and rounded or moulded on their inside edges for appearance sake.
The rails are tenoned to mortices in the stiles and put together in glue, cramped up and wedged
Ventlights: The four members are cut from the same timbers as the stiles of the casement and
are rebated, moulded and joined in the same way as for the casement.
Some standard wood casement sizes.
Heights Widths
900 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2400
1050
1200
1500
The manufactures of standard windows produce a range of standard windows. The advantage of
having standard windows is in the economy of mass production. In line with the move to
dimensionally co-ordinate building components and assemblies the standard range of windows
may fit with such allowances for tolerances and joints as appropriate. The purpose of
dimensional co-ordination is to rationalize the production of building components and
assemblies through the standardization of sizes within a frame work of basic spaces into which
the standard components and assemblies may fit.
Hinges and fasteners

Wood casements and ventlights are hung on standard steel butt hinges or on metal offset hinges.
The offset hinge is designed with the pin offset outside the window so that when the casement is
open there is a gap between the hinged edge of the casement and the frame wide enough for
access for cleaning the outside of glass from within the building.
Steel windows:
Steel casement windows are made either from standard Z-sections or the universal sections.
Steel casements are assembled by welding the joints.
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Standard steel casements are made from the hot rolled steel Z-sections which are used both for
the frame, casement and ventlights. The section is cut to length and mitred and welded at the
corners. The assembled and cleaned parts of the window are then rust proofed by the hot dip,
galvanizing process in which the window parts are dipped in a bath of molten zinc.
Hinges and fasteners: Steel casement windows are fitted with steel butt or offset hinges and
lever catches and stay similar to those used for wood windows, the fittings being welded to
frame and casement.
Fixing steel windows
Standard steel windows are usually built in to openings in solid walls and secured with building-
in lugs or ties that are bolted to the back of the frames through a slot that allow adjustment for
building into horizontal brick or block courses.
Window sills
It is good practice to set the outside face of widows back from the outside face of the wall in
which they are set so that the reveals of the opening give some protection against driving rain.
Wind driven rain which will run down the impermeable surface of the window glass to the
bottom of the window should be run out from the window by some form of sill. The function of
an external sill is to conduct the water that runs down from windows, away from the window
and to cover the wall below the window and exclude rain from the window. The material from
which the sills are made should be sufficiently impermeable and durable to perform its function
during the life of the building. External sills are formed either as an integral part of the window
frame, as an attachment to the under side of the window or as a sub-sill, which is in effect a part
of the wall designed to serve as a sill.
The materials used for the construction of window sills are: natural stone, cast stone, concrete,
slates, tiles and bricks.
w e a th e r e d w in d o w
s ill w ith
a th r o a t b e lo w
S e c tio n th ro u g h a w in d o w
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6.6 Glass and Glazing
Glass is made by heating soda, lime and sand to a temperature at which they melt and fuse.
Molten glass is drawn, cast, rolled or run onto a bed of molten tin to form flat glass. The
followings types of glass are in use in buildings:
Float glass, patterned glass, wired glass, toughened glass, clear sheet glass, polished plate glass,
double glazing units. Glass are manufactured in thicknesses of 3 to 19mm
Wind loading
Glass should be sufficiently thick in relation to its area to safely withstand wind pressure and
suction. The likely wind pressure depends on the exposure of the building and three grades of
exposure are defined as sheltered, moderate and severe
Glazing
The operation of fixing glass in windows, doors and openings is termed glazing. Glass must be
accurately cut to size to provide an edge clearance between the edges of the glass and the bed of
the rebate to allow for variations in the sash or frame and of the glass and to facilitate setting the
glass in position. An edge clearance of 2mm for putty glazing and 3 for other methods of glazing
for glass upto 6 thick and upto 5 for thicker glass must be made. To secure glass in the glazing
rebates with the requisite edge clearance all round, setting locks are placed below the glass. The
setting glass are made of pvc, hammered lead, hard nylon or hard wood from 25 to 150 long and
of the same thickness as the edge clearance. The two common methods of glazing are putty and
bead glazing
6.7 Doors
A door is a solid barrier to a doorway or opening that can be opened for access and closed to
deny access for privacy and security and serves as a thermal, acoustic and fire barrier as part of
an external wall.
A doorway is an opening in a wall or partition for access and a door frame or lining is the timber
or metallic or plastic frame or lining fixed in the doorway or opening to which the door closes
on hinges, pivots or runners
6.8 Functional requirements of doors

The primary function of a door is to provide access.
The secondary functions as a components part of a wall or partition are:
105
Strength
Shape stability
Privacy
Security
Thermal insulation
Sound insulation
Fire resistance
Exclusion of wind and rain as a part of an external wall.
Means of access
The operating characteristics of a door to serve this function depend on the weight of the door
itself and the hardware such as hinges and locks and fitments such as door closers fixed to the
door and frame and draught stripping which cause operating difficulties.
Door(s) leaf
The traditional domestic door is of one leaf which is hinged on one side to open in one direction
for the convenient entry or exit of people. Double-leaf, double swing, sliding, and sliding and
folding doors are also used for both domestic and other purposes. The word leaf refers to the
opening part of a door.
Doors are made of timber, aluminium, steel and plastics just like the windows
Standard Doors
The standard size of door leaf are weight 2040, width 526, 626, 726, 826 and 926 for internal
doors and height 1994, width 806 and 906 for external doors and thickness 40 or 44. A door set
is a standard combination of door leaf with frame or lining and hinges and furniture packed as a
unit ready for fix.
Wood Doors:
Wood doors may be classified as:-
(i) Flush doors
(ii) Panelled doors
(iii) Match boarded doors.
106
top rail
brace
stile
middle rail
panel
bottom rail
panelled door matchboarded door flush door
Flush Doors
The fashion in buildings has been for plain surfaces devoid of decorative mouldings that will
collect dust. Hence the use of flush doors which are surfaced with sheets of hardboard or
plywood fixed either to a cellular skeleton or solid core.
Cellular core flush doors:

These doors are made with cellular, fibreboard or paper core in a light softwood frame with
lockage blocks covered with plywood or hardboard both sides.
Skeleton frame flush doors:
In skeleton core flushed doors, a small section in timbers is constructed as illustrated above.
The main members of this structural core are stiles and rails, with intermediate rails.
soft wood frame core strips glued together
lock block lock block
ply wood or hardboard ply wood or hardboard

facing glued to frame facing glued to frame
& cellular core & cellular core
Cellular core flush Skeleton frame Solid core Flush

door flush door door
107
Solid core flush doors:
Plywood and hardboard facings bonded to cellular or skeleton flush doors do not always remain
flat and waves on their surface may be apparent particularly if the door is painted with gloss
paint. A flush door with a solid core of timber, clipboard, flax board or compressed fibreboard
can be used for public buildings and other buildings with high levels of use externally and as fire
door. It has better thermal and acoustic properties than cellular core or skeleton core flush
doors.
Fire doors:
The term fire is used as a general description of all doors that serve to control the spread of fire
or the smoke and gases resulting from the fires in buildings. The term fire resisting is used more
specifically to describe a door, together with its frame, that has resistance to collapse, flame
penetration and excessive temperature rise for a stated period of time during fires.
Fire check door:
This most accurately describes the function of a fire door in checking the spread of fire for a
stated period of time.
Smoke control doors:
This accurately describes the purpose of fitting a door solely to check the spread of smoke:
Function
Most fires in buildings from small sources which develop quantities of smoke and other
combustion products in the early stage of the fire. Pressure differences may force smoke
through gaps around the door. As the fire develops and the temperatures rises on the effect of
the heat of the fire without collapsing and be capable of serving as a barrier to the spread of
excessive quantities of heat and hot gases
Construction
A range of wood doors has been tested to give fire resistance from 30 to 60 minutes. These
include skeleton-core flush with a plasterboard core and solid-core flush door with solid timber,
compressed, straw, chipboard, flax board or compressed fibre board strips. The resistance of a
door set to the spread of smoke and fire depends on the door frame and the door and its fittings.
Use of Intumescent Strip:
This is a material that swells when heated by foaming and expanding. The material is used with
aluminium or PVC cover strips fixed in rebates to the edges of the door or frames so that in fires
the Intumescent material expands and seals the gaps between the door and frame as a barrier to
the spread of smoke and fire. The seals incorporate a neoprene draught strip that serves as a
108
smoke seal in the early stages of a fire and Intumescent material acts as a seal against the spread
of fire in the later stages.
Hinges, locks and door closers:
For a door to be effective as a barrier to smoke and frame, it must be held securely in position on
its hinges and firmly on the closed position by the latch and be self closing for the period of
minutes specified for stability and integrity. The purpose three steel hinges are generally
recommended. The latch must be strong and engage the latch plate at least 10 to maintain the
door in the closed position.
Panelled Doors
Panelled doors are framed with stiles and rails around a panel or panels of wood or plywood.
The stiles and rails are cut from timbers of the same thickness and some of the more usual sizes
of timber used are; stiles and top rails 10038 or 10050; middle rail 17538 or 17550, bottom
rail 20038 or 20050. Because the door is hinged on one side to open, it tends to sink on the
lock stile. The stiles and rails have to be joined to resist the tendency of the door to sink and the
two types of joint used are a mortice and tenon joint or a dovetail joint.
Mortice and tenon joint:
This is the strongest type of joint used to frame members at right angles in joinery work. The
panels are usually jilted into stiles, rails and cramped after gluing and wedging around the
panels. For economy and mass production dowel joints should always be used.
Panels:
Timber panels, more than 250 wide are made up from boards 150 wide that are tongued
together. The term tongued describes the operation of jointing boards by cutting grooves in their
edges into which a thin tongue or feather of wood is cramped and glued.
Plywood:
This is made from three, five, seven or nine piles or thin layers of wood firmly glued together, so
that the long grain of one ply is at right angles to the grain of the plies to which it is boarded.
The most pronounced shrinkage in wood occurs at right angles to the long grain of the wood and
any shrinkage of the centre ply is resisted by the outer plies, hence the odd number of plies used.
Plywood does not shrink appreciably and because of the opposed long grains, it does not warp or
twist. The three plywood 5 or 6.5 mm thick is generally used for door panels.
Fixing panels:
This is done by fixing panel in the grooves cut in the edges of the stiles and rails. If any
shrinkage of the members of the door occurs, gaps will not appear around the panels. A panel
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set in grooves to stiles and rails with square edges may leave an unfinished look which can be
modified by cutting mouldings on the edges of the members. An inferior method of fixing
panels is to plat nail timber beads each side of the panel.
Double swing doors
Doors are hunged to swing both ways to provide ready access to and from parts of buildings
used in common by the occupants and users at points where it is convenient to provide an
opening barrier, for example from halls to corridors, to provide some separation of the public
and the more private parts of the building. These doors, which are liable to heavy use, are
usually constructed as panelled doors with a glazed panel at eye level to prevent accidents due to
simultaneous use for each side. The door leaf is hung either on double action hinges or pivoted
on a double-action floor spring and top pivot
Sliding and sliding folding doors
Sliding doors are designed for intermittent use to provide either a clear opening or a barrier
between adjacent rooms or spaces to accommodate change use or function, and in narrow spaces
to avoid the obstruction caused by hinged leaf. They are also designed for intermittent use to
provide a larger opening than is practical with sliding doors, and to divide large spaces into
smaller by closing back to one by opening.
Matchboarded doors
Matchboarded doors are made with a facing of tongued, grooved and V-jointed boards fixe3d
vertically to either ledges and braces or a frame. These doors are used for cellars, sheds and
stores where the appearance of the door is not important.
Ledged Matchboarded door. Matchboarding is nailed to horizontal ledges directly. The direct
nailing does not strongly frame the door which is liable to sinking and losing shape.
Ledged and braced Matchboarded: This type of door is strengthened against sinking with
braces between the rails and is fixed at an angle to resist sinking on the lock edge. The braces
are nailed to the boarding
Framed and braced Matchboarded door: the match boarding is fixed to a frame of stiles and
rails that are framed with mortice and tenon joints with braces to strengthen the door against
sinking.
Hardware for doors
Hardware is the general term for the hinges, locks latches and handles for a door. Ironmongery
was a term used when most of these were made of steel or iron.
Examples of hinges are; pressed steel butt hinges, cast iron butt hinges, brass butt hinges, steel
skew butt hinges, hook and band hinges. (Read about more)
110
matchboarding 25, T&G, V-joint
both sides matchboarding 25, T&G, V-joint
both sides
150
ledge 100x32 ledge 150x25
matchboarding
nailed to ledges sitle 100x50
ledge 150x25
brace 100x25
ledge 150x32 ledge 150x25

ledge 150x32
Ledged martchboarded door Ledged & braced martchboarded door Framed, braced & martchboarded door
Latches and locks

The word latch is used to describe any wood or metal device which is attached to a door or
window to keep it closed and which can be opened by the movement of the latch operated by a
handle, lever or bar, a lock is any device of wood or metal attached to a door which can be used
to keep it closed by application of a loose key. Examples of locks are mortice locks, rim lock
and mortice dead lock.
Door frames and linings
A door frame is a surround in a door way or opening, to which the door is hung and to which it
closes, which sufficient strength in itself to support the weight of the door. A door lining is a
surround inside a door way or opening , as wide as the reveal of the opening, to which the door
is hung and closes, which is not in itself strong enough to support the weight of the door without
support from the surrounding wall or partition. Door frames and linings maybe made of wood,
metal or plastic.
Wood door frames
A door frame consists of three or four members which are either rebated 13mm deep for the
door or a wood stop 13mm is planted to the frame. A frame consists of two posts and a head
member and may also have the fourth member, a threshold or sill to assist in weather exclusion.
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head 100 x 75
Ends of head project 100 as horns for

building in the wall
100
posts of frame 100 x 75 rebate

for door
50
13
40/44
section through the post
Dowels
Door frames that do not have a threshold or sill are often secured to the floor by a mild steel
dowel, 12mm diametre and 50 long that is driven into the foot of the posts and set the concrete
floor.
Fixing door frames
Door frames are usually built in, which describes the operation of building walls or partitions
around the frame. The frame is secured onto the walls with L-shaped galvanized steel building-
in lugs which are screwed to the back of the frames. Frames are also fixed in by screwing in
through to wood plugs fitted in the walls during finishing
Threshold or sill
A wood sill to an external door is usually of some wood, such as oak, and the sill is joined to the
posts of the frame with haunced mortice and tenon joints. The sill is usually wider than the
frame and is rebated for the door 13 deep for an outward opening door and grooved for water
bar for an inward opening door and weathered and throated.
Standard wood door frames and door sets
There are no generally available standard wood door frames and linings for standard doors.
Manufacturers offer standard frames for standard doors of sections from ex. 104x64 to ex
89x64, rebated for doors with co-ordinating dimensions of frame, 900, 1000, 1200, 1500, 1800,
2100 wide and 2100 high.
112
Metal door frames
These are manufactured from mild steel strip pressed into one of the three standard profiles. The
same profile is used for head and jambs of the frame. The three pressed steel members are
welded together at angles. Two loose pin butt hinges are welded to one jamb of the frame and an
adjustable lock strike plate to the other. Two rubber buffers are fitted into the rebate of the jambs
to which the door closes to cushion the impact sound of the door closing. Metal door frames are
built in and secured with adjustable metal building in lugs. The frames may be used externally or
internally.
113
CHAPTER SEVEN
7 Temporary Works
Temporary work refers to any construction activity which is not a permanent part of the
structure. These are works which are carried out as a means or process of executing the
permanent work. It can also be called false works.
7.2 Scaffolds
This is a temporary structure which provides access on or from which persons work or that is
used to support materials or equipment.
Basic requirements
Where work can not be safely done from the ground level, any part of the permanent structure,
scaffolds can bear on the ground, anchored on the permanent structure from up down wards or
cantilevered
Objectives
You should be able to identify the different members of a scaffold
Know the types of scaffolds
Know how to erect and strip a scaffold
Characteristics of false works
False works are normally designed for short term loading
Has no visual requirement
Often dismantled under load
The materials can be second hand
Does not need much skill in erecting
Made up of numerous small components usually assembled by simple connections
Alterations are inevitable.
Problems associated with scaffolds:

It often overturns due to light weight members
Usually unstable
Has a high windage surface on the top
Scaffolds are given scan attention
Types of scaffolds
Independent scaffold
114
Builders or put-log scaffold
Towers
Independent scaffolds: An independent scaffold stand on its own without getting support from
the structure being constructed.
g u a rd
r a il
le d g e r s
b o a rd e d p la tfo r m s ta n d a rd
to e b o a rd
c ro s s b ra c e s
tra n s o m
b a s e p la te 1 5 0 x 1 5 0
s o le p la te
in d e p e n d e n t s c a f f o ld
tra n s o m
b a s e p la te 1 5 0 x 1 5 0
s o le p la te
b u id e r 's s c a f f o ld
Figure 1 Independent scaffolds and Put-log scaffold
When assembling metallic props fittings and couplers are used. The members tying them
horizontally are called laces.
115
Standard: This is a vertical or near vertical tube that transmits loads to the foundation (base
plate) and onto a sole plate. It is usually of size 48.3mm and 4mm thick.
Ledger: It is a longitudinal tube normally fixed parallel to the face of the building in the
direction of the larger dimension of the scaffolds. It acts as a support for the put logs and
transoms and frequently for the tie tubes and ledger braces. They are usually joined to adjacent
standards.
Braces: This is a tube fixed diagonally and with a tolerance of 25mm in 2m. They should not be
fitted to touch the grounds. It prevents lateral movements. They are fixed diagonally with
respect to the vertical and horizontal members to accord stability. They are usually cross and
longitudinal bracings.
Tie or tie assembly
This is a system of tubes attached to anchorage on buildings or framed around part of it or
wedged or screwed into it with a tie tube; used to secure the scaffold to the structure
b r id le
A tie a s s e m b ly th r o u g h a w a ll. A tie a s s e m b ly th r o u g h a

w in d o w
Figure 2 Tie assembly
Care must be taken to ensure the wall above is in compression or it should have a beam to
support the tie system otherwise the wall might collapse outwards.
Bridle: This is a horizontal tube fixed across an opening or parallel to the face of a building to
support the inner end of a put log, transom or a tie tube.
Guard rail: A member incorporated into the scaffolding system to prevent the fall of a person
from a flat form or access way.
Most scaffolds should be atleast one board (300) from the building
Buttresses: These are used to add on lateral rigidity and especially when the height is going
higher for independent scaffolds.
116
Ladders: These are used to access the scaffolds and should always go above the working plat
form atleast 1070mm to enhance easy climbing
Lift: This is the distance from a ledger to ledger and should always be atleast 2.0 to
accommodate a person working.
Bay length: This is the centre to centre of standards and are usually 1.5 to 1.5m
Nets, fans or sheets should always be incorporated to prevent particles from flying off and
disrupting the pubic from normal operation around the site and also allow operatives to
concentrate.
Independent tied scaffolds are sometimes called double scaffolds and can be classified into three
according to their use.
The working platform: This is where workers stand to execute the works. It is where the
materials for the days work are also kept. Platforms for walkway is usually 630wide, for
materials and walkway 830mmwide (4boards) and if barrows are used then add 200 to the four
boards. It is usual to use 5boards
Types of scaffolds Purpose
For painting or cleaning faces of buildings.
Light duty Only one platform used at a time.
To provide upto four working platforms in

use at any one time. Maximum load per
General purpose platform is 180kg/m2
Heavy duty Has two heavy duty platforms& two

working platforms with maximum load of
290kg/m2
g u a r d r a il
to e b o a rd
tr a n s o m lo n g it u d in a l b r a c in g
le d g e r
b a s e p la t e
s ta n d a r d
s o le p la t e
T h is is c a lle d lo n g it u d in a l b r a c in g . T h e a n g le o f t h e r a k e r
s h o u ld b e a t 4 5 d e g r e e s a n d u p t o f u ll h e ig h t o f t h e s c a f f o ld
Figure 3 Elevation showing the different components

117
The load on the standards needs to be spread over a sufficient area of ground to avoid
settlement. This is achieved by using a scaffolding fitting called a base plate and a timber sole
plate as seen from the above figure.
A builders scaffold is usually made up of a single line of standards; as a result it gets its support
from the structure being erected as seen from the sketch.
It is important to introduce members called laces at some intervals on the standards to reduce the
effective heights.
Safety considerations when using scaffolds
After the erection, the scaffolds should always be checked for any false like missing
components, settlement etc.
Materials should not be thrown down or up
Materials should be heaped close to the standards
If any member is to be dismantle temporarily, it should first be braced
The loading should always be axially done
Hoist: This is a power operated means of delivering or transporting workers and materials to the
work points
A hoist is composed of:
A gate at every platform
Lift
A cage were workers and materials are loaded for transporting
Differences between a temporary work and permanent works

Temporary works Permanent works
Short term loading Permanent loading
No visual beauty is required Appearance very important
Dismantled under load Needs skilled labour
Second hand materials No part can be dismantled under load
Does not require skilled labour Materials are usually first hand
Alterations are inevitable
Read about:
1. Tower scaffolds, Cantilever scaffolds, Trussed scaffolds ,Suspended scaffolding
2. Trestles
118
7.1 Formworks
Definition: A formwork is a container within which in-situ concrete is cast. The purpose is to
contain freshly placed concrete until it has gained sufficient strength to resist superimposed
loads, frost damage and mechanical damages. Formwork also helps to produce the desired shape
and finish to the concrete member
The principle of construction of formworks must revolve around the following requirements
1. Strength: Formwork must be sufficiently strong to support the loads imposed during placing
and curing concrete. These loads will be dead load of the fresh concrete and the dead load of
formwork. It should also contain the live loads due operatives, mechanical compaction and
tools and equipment. Formworks should be tight fitted and to the required tolerance. These
tolerances are usually given in the specifications for the work. Economics dictates that the
shapes of the members be the same allowing the formwork to be reused. The sequence of re-
using formwork is as below:
I. Position steel reinforcement or position formwork
II. Check for alignment, plumb and tolerance
III. Concrete member
IV. Cure concrete
V. Support until concrete achieves required strength
VI. Strike formwork
VII. Clean and re-use.
2. Durability: It should withstand adverse conditions for the expected period of use
3. Impermeability: The material should be impermeable to avoid the lost of water.
4. Surface finish: The finish required to the concrete can affect the cost considerably.
Formwork should be able to produce the desired finish on the surface. There is direct
finishing after formwork is removed, indirect finishing where some portions of the concrete
is removed to say expose coarse aggregates as desired and secondary finishing where
concrete is added say by rough casting after striking formwork.
5. Cost: Cheapness must be in consistence with quality and this can be achieved by re-use of
standard stock.
6. Economy: Consider the re-use value without cutting unnecessary waste.
7. Ease of fixing and striking: consider the problem of striking without damaging the concrete
and the formwork. Formwork must be easy to assemble and dismantle
Materials from which formworks are made:
Timber, steel, plastics, rubber, plywood, fibre glass, plaster of Paris, aluminium, iron sheets
119
Timber formwork
This is the most commonly used and is divided into hardwood and softwood.
Softwood is the most commonly used for formwork because it is cheaper than hardwood. The
softwoods used are kirundu, Cyprus, pines, etc. Besides being cheap they are soft and hence
easily worked.
Formwork to columns:
chemical releasing agent

coated on sheeting
adjustible props
starter bar
softwood 50mm conc kicker

framing
wt of conc. + vibration
transfered to sheeting
plan of column column elevation
Figure 6.4 Column Formwork
The weight of wet concrete plus the equipment and vibration load has to be supported.
Column forms are often subjected to a much greater lateral pressure than wall forms because of
their comparatively small cross-section and relatively high rates of placement.
It is therefore necessary to provide tight joints and strong tie support. Some means of accurately
locating column forms, anchoring them at their base, and keeping them in a vertical position are
also prime considerations. Where possible a clean out opening should be provided at the bottom
of columns so that debris may be removed before pouring begins. Windows are often built into
one side of tall column forms to allow the placing of concrete in the bottom half of the form
without having to it from the top. Columns may be square, rectangular, round, or irregular, and
forms may be of wood, steel or fibreboard
120
7.2 Factors which influences the pressure of concrete on the formwork:
Density of concrete
Depth of concrete
Workability of the mix
Rate of placing
Concrete temperature
Height of lift
Section of the formwork
Type of cement used
Form treatment, care and removal
In nearly all types of building construction, formwork constitutes a significant part of the
cost of the building. In order to keep this cost at a minimum, forms are often made
reusable, either wholly or in part. They must therefore be designed so that removal is
simple and can be accomplished without damage to the form sections. Care must be
taken in handling and storing these units so they will not be broken or damaged and will
be available for re-use. In order to facilitate removal, form faces must be treated to
prevent concrete from adhering to them. A number of materials are available for this
purpose usually consisting of liquids which are to be brushed or sprayed on the form.
Wooden forms must be treated to minimize absorption of water. Oil is one material used
for this purpose. Form sealers which coat the surface of the form with an impervious film
are also used for this type of treatment. Form removal must be carried out without
damaging either the forms or the structure being stripped. Levers should not be used
against the concrete to pry forms away because green concrete is relatively easy to
damage.
Positioning the formwork:

The starter bars usually go through the slab, but should not be used for alignment. A concrete
kicker is first cast and then the formwork is erected tight up to the kicker. Before the formwork
is erected the release agent is applied either by brush or spray. To keep the formwork tight
together to prevent shape distortion and loss of cement slurry a steel cramp can be used. The
columns should be kept plumb and this is done by the use of steel adjustable props or pull-push
props. A tie piece can also be used. A tie has the following functions:
a) It fixes two sides together
121
b) Holds two parts away from each other
c) Anchor one side only
d) Provides anchorage for the next lift
e) Resist shear stresses.
There are two types of ties: Non-recoverable and Recoverable tie. A yoke can also be used to do
the same thing.
The weight of the concrete will depend on the rate of pour. In columns we normally fill the
concrete to column full height, whereas in a wall we would fill or pour the concrete in lifts.
Column formwork should always be checked for tightness, alignment and plumb prior to
concreting. The steel reinforcement should always have sufficient concrete cover of atleast
20mm.
Curing concrete: Concrete hardens by a process called hydration. As water evaporates voids
are created in the setting concrete. It is the extent to which these voids are filled with silicate gel
that determines the strength, durability and density of concrete. As active hydration takes place
in the first few hours after placing fresh concrete, it is important for water to be retained during
an extended period, this is called curing.
The rate of evaporation from unprotected area will be higher when; the relative humidity, Wind
speed and the concrete temperature is high or not uniform
Generally concrete curing refers to the act of controlling the concrete temperature and water
content in the concrete for a definite period of time after placing. The time for curing concrete
depends on:
a. Air temperature
b. Shuttering material
c. Concrete temperature
d. Thermal insulation of the curing material
e. Size of pour
Optimum concrete temperature is 200c
The length of hydration of the cement and therefore the rate of hardening of the concrete
depends on temperature and moisture available. The duration of controlled curing is important.
122
100x50timber bearers
Formwork
Brace wall(200x25)
Cleat
Gravel
Forming top of a trench simple footing form

Form braced against excavtion
Figure6.5. Footing Forms
There are usually two factors of prime importance to consider in the construction of footings.
One is that the concrete must be upto specified strength and the other that the footings be
positioned according to plan.
A certain amount of tolerance is allowed in footing size and thickness, but reinforcing bars and
dowels must be placed as specified. Concrete is can sometime be cast against the excavation, but
care must be taken that this does not give inferior results, caused by the earth absorbing water
from the concrete or by pieces of earth falling into it.
In cases where wall footings are shallow, lateral pressure is small and the forms are simple
structures as seen in the figure above. When the soil is firm, the form can be held in place by
stakes and braces. If the soil will hold stakes, the forms may be secured by bracing them against
the excavation sides only.
Formwork for beams
spacer
form side ledgers
kicker
brace (Shore)
100x50stud
bearer
sofit
prop
Figure 3.6. Section through a beam formwork

123
7.3 Timbering to excavations:
This is the support given to the sides of excavation to protect soil collapsing inwards, people
falling in. It includes the covering of trenches or forming a barrier to warn people. By regulation
any excavation exceeding 1.5m should have the sides supported. Timbering should be inspected
everyday and after every shift.
Some form of record should be kept especially when using explosives for excavation.
100x100waling 100x100waling
100x100strut
closedboardingusedinloose openboardingusedin
soil semi-closedboarding firmsoil
Figure 6. 7. The different methods of timbering
The choice of the type and size of boarding depends on the nature of the soil and depth of
excavation
Sheet piles
These are temporary structures used in place of timbering
Advantages of sheet piling
Higher efficiency and speed in erection
Driven before excavation commences
Re-used
No strutting required
Precautions taken during excavation:
Proper access to excavation
Escape route/ provision be allowed
Ventilation
Warning signs should be installed
124
cantilevered sheet pile anchored sheet pile
Figure 3. 8 Sheet piling
125
8 References
1. Barry R.; The Construction of Buildings Volume I to Volume V.
2. Chudley, R. and Greeno, R. 1999. Building Construction Handbook. 3rd ed.
Butterworth-Heinemann, London
3. Butler, J.T. 1983. Elements of Administration for Building Students. 3rd ed. Hutchison
& Co., London.
4. Chudley R. Construction Technology Volumes I-V
5. Punmia B.C. 2007. Building Construction. Laxmi Publications (P) Ltd, 113, Golden
house, Daryaganj. New Dehli-110001
126

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CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II, BEng II, 2010/2011

Department of Civil and Building Engineering

P. O. BOX 1, KYAMBOGO KAMPALA, UGANDA

BARCHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CIVIL AND

CE223: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY II

Tel: 0772-459779/ 0712-459779; E-mail otim02@yahoo.com

1. History of Construction, forms of Construction: Buildings, Heavy/Civil Construction

Course Outline .............................................................................................................................. ii

1.2 HISTORY OF CONSTRUCTION

1.3 The Building/Construction Profession

Types of construction projects

In general, there are three types of construction:

Building is defined in many aspects as:

The act of constructing, erecting, creating, manufacturing or establishing.

A real estate developer who secures funding for the project;

Infrastructure /Civil engineering construction

1.4 Construction processes

Traditional/Design-bid-build: This is the most common method of construction procurement and

2.2 Functions of Foundations:

2.3 Essential Requirements of a Good Foundation

The characteristics of soils of interest to engineers include:

2. Cohesion of particles (plasticity):

Figure1.2 showing heaving of the soil

2.4 Site investigation:

1. The desk study:

Enables the surveyor to collect photographic records

(a) For New Structures

3. The determination of remedial measures if the structure is unsafe or will suffer

1. Open Excavation (Open Trial Pits)

Sketch of a typical trial pit

(ii) Auger and shell boring

(i) Auger boring

Sketch of a typical spiral auger and post hole auger

Sketch of typical sand pump

Sketch of wash boring

(iv) Percussion boring

(v) Rotary boring

Number and disposition of trial pits and borings

Choice of Exploration Method

Soil Samples and Samplers

Sketch of cutting edge

Factors influencing choice

End bearing piles

End bearing piles

Settlement reducing piles

Laterally loaded piles

Types of pile construction

Totally preformed displacement piles

Totally preformed displacement piles

Driven and cast-in-place displacement piles

Helical (screw) cast-in-place displacement piles

Vibratory methods of pile driving

Jacking methods of insertion

Small diameter bored cast-in-place piles

Small diameter bored cast-in-place piles

Large diameter bored cast-in-place piles:

Partially pre-formed piles

Grout- or concrete-intruded piles

Factors influencing choice of pile

Location and type of structure

Location and type of structure

Sketches of pier foundation