Presentation on Conservation of Concrete Structure in Buildings by Prof. Jagjit Singh Ghuman, Life Member INTACH, Formerly Chief Town Planner and Head T&CP Deptt., Govt. of Pb. in Guest Lecture Cum Workshop On "Cultural Heritage Conservation: Towards New Paradigm" organised by Chandigarh College of Architecture on 3rd May, 2013

1. GUEST LECTURE CUM WORKSHOP ON
"CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION:
TOWARDS NEW PARADIGM"
On
2nd
and 3rd
May, 2013 CCA Auditorium (Anjuman)
By
Prof. J S Ghuman, Life Member INTACH
Formerly Chief Town Planner and
Head T&CP Deptt., Govt. of Pb.
CONSERVATION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES IN BUILDINGS

2. Definitions
• Culture/Cultural
The arts, customs and institutions of a nation
Related to the art, culture and intellectual achievements of a society.
• Heritage
Moveable e.g. piece of art or custom or traditions.
Immovable property, inherited or passed down from earlier
generations. i.e. historical sites, monuments or buildings.
The Protection of Historical Sites, Monuments and Buildings ACT.
Specifies a minimum period of a 100 years before it can qualify as a
heritage for protection.

3. • Conservation
Careful use of a resource (man-made or natural resources) to
preserve or repair of a piece of art or culture, archaeological or
historical sites, monuments, and buildings, or the natural environment.
• Paradigm
A model or concept, underlying the theories and practice of a
scientific subject.
• Concrete
A building material made of gravel (crushed stone/pebbles), sand, and
cement mixed with water, as a slurry, laid or cast in a mould
forming a stone like mass when dry, a physical form or structure.

4. • Structure
A composite free standing building or other object (e.g. a bridge or a
damn across a river), comprising of several parts and components
made of Concrete, or Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) or other
building materials.

5. Bhakra Dam, on River Satluj, Northern India.
Constructed in 1950’s

6. Thermal Plant Bhatinda, Punjab. Cement Concrete water Cooling Towers.
Constructed in mid 1960’s

7. Conservation of Concrete Building Structures
• Concrete or RCC is used in bulk with its façade in cement concrete
finish,
• The cement concrete texture in the construction is the key factor
and has to be;
a. A smooth and soft texture
b. Free of pitting, blisters or bubbles.
• Due to wear and tear, environmental or weathering action, the
surface of the concrete structure is damaged.
• The surface of the habitable inner side of the concrete structure
gets infested with cobwebs, insects and mites making it unfit for
habitation purposes.
• With age the concrete structure shows signs of decay, dereliction
and calls for its maintenance, conservation and restoration.

8. Chandigarh Capitol Complex: High Court Building,
In RCC and Concrete Cement. Constructed in 1950’s

9. Chandigarh Capitol Complex: State Assembly and Secretariat buildings.
In RCC and Concrete Cement. Constructed in 1950’s.

10. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Pb: Library Building
In RCC and Concrete Cement. Constructed in early 1970’s

11. Conservation and Maintenance
Technique
The age old myth, that RCC or Cement Concrete Buildings require no conservation or maintenance
is no longer valid and does not hold good.
Due to environmental changes and weathering action, the exposed texture of the Cement Concrete
Structures pose a serious health hazard with respect to habitable spaces in buildings.
No serious efforts have been made to conserve , restore or maintain the Cement Concrete Texture
in buildings or installation of fixtures for said purposes.
The indigenous conservation technique (demonstration exercise) in GNDU Amritsar RCC Library
building in Cement Concrete Texture was undertaken in 1992-93. The habitable room in the library
was found safe and healthy even after 8 years of its restoration. The restoration technique
comprises of. ;
a)Dusting and cleaning the Cement Concrete structure infested with dust and cobwebs, etc. with
water and coir brush (Do not use wire brush)
b)Use palm broom or compressed air pump with a spray gun to dry and clean the Cement Concrete
Surface
c)Use a mixture of Diesel 50% + Kerosene oil 40% + Phenyl 10% with a 4 inch paint brush or a
compressed air pump spray gun
d)Exercise all fire and other safety precautions including the use of face mask, glasses etc. when
applying the mixture in the room or interior portion of the building
e)Allow free flow of air and ventilation in the room or interior portion of the building before
occupying it.

12. Conclusion
• Conservation, restoration of the concrete surface texture, maintenance and upkeep of concrete
structures be made an integral part of the design and construction of high rise buildings on a 3 to 5
year rotation.
• Permanent fixtures for safe and free movement of workers and equipment be provided for
maintenance and upkeep of the outer surface of the building structure in high rise buildings. This
will be cost effective as no other shuttering cost will be required for carrying out the work in high
rise buildings.
• Chandigarh College of Architecture Research Cell may undertake a demonstration exercise for
conservation and restoration of interior of Concrete Structures in Buildings based on indigenous
cost effective techniques for working out further details.
Cost Effectiveness
The Indigenous Conservation and Restoration Technique for concrete structures for a
habitable room in the GNDU library building proved cost effective and works out to less
then Rs. 1.00 per sq. ft. of surface area. This includes cost of material and labour, but
does not include cost of shuttering or escalators for carrying out the work.