Construction practices and quality control

1. Construction Practices
&
Quality Control

2. Need for Quality Control :
It measures and regulates
 Adequacy of the construction procedure
 Quality of selected materials
 Quality of workmanship
 Safety management
 Results of each completed task comply with the requirements
for project specifications and design

3. Major Construction Activities (in
sequence of occurrence)
 Excavation and plain cement concrete
 Anti termite treatment and backfill
 Concreting and Reinforcement
 Brickwork, including mortar and plastering
 Water proofing
 Flooring
 Plumbing & Water supply
 Electrical works (external & internal)
 Painting
 Drainage works

4. Major Control Points in the various
civil works:
 Excavation and plain cement concrete
 Pre-excavation :
 Dressing, Marking ,Accuracy, Stepping, Stacking, Disposal, Obstruction, Serviceable
Materials, Levelling, Checking, etc
 Existing sewer line and other services, if any, located in the layout should be identified.
 Proper remedial measures to be taken to prevent entry of water into the construction site as
well as dewatering arrangement to be made
 Leveling and setting out of works including all intermediate levels should be checked
properly.
 Provision for proper lighting arrangement, site office, temporary shed for workers, storage
of building materials etc are to be made

5.  Post Excavation :
 Excavated materials should be staked away from the foundation edge (at least 1 meter) and loose packets of soils, if
any, should be identified and marked.
 No vehicles should be allowed to ply/park within 1 meter of excavated area
 Excess excavation carried out if any should be filled by PCC as per instruction of Engineer in Charge
 Appropriate shoring and shuttering arrangements for excavated areas, as required/specified should be made to avoid
collapse of the site

6. Plain Cement Concrete
 Shuttering, if required, to be provided properly without any gap in between and should be checked for water tightness
 Anti-termite treatment should be finished before commencement of concreting
 All materials should be of specified brand and grade and should be accompanied with manufacturer’s test certificate
 Sand and aggregate should be free from any impurities and should be washed before use
 Proper storage methods should be ensured to prevent possible deterioration and periodical visual inspection & usual site
laboratory test to be conducted before putting them into works
 Concreting should be in line and level and curing should be done as per specification

7. Anti-termite treatment and Backfill
 Chemicals for ATT are as per specification and within expiry date
 Record of stock and consumption of materials are to be maintained at sites
 Mixing is done as per manufacturer’s specified proportion
 ATT should be finished before commencement of backfilling with the specified soil only
 Backfilling should be done in layers of 300 mm with proper watering and compaction

8. Reinforced Cement Concrete
 All materials should be as per specification and should be accompanied with manufacturer’s test
certificate and checked for compliance
 Proper storage methods are to be ensured to prevent possible deterioration
 Form-work should be as per required profile, line, level & finish and should be sturdy to withstand
weight of wet concrete, steel & live load & to be tested for water tightness
 Proper water cement ratio, vibration, deposition of concrete, location of construction joint should be
ensured

9.  Conduction of usual slump test, cube test, specified period of curing, striking of forms etc are to be maintained as per
specification
 Bar length should be as per bar bending schedule
 Reinforcement should be placed as per specified spacing and diameter
 Lap length should be provided as per code specification
 Concreting should be done continuously and compaction of concrete should be carried out continuously including proper
maintenance of construction joint
 Removal of shuttering should be as per provision of IS : 456-2000
 Line and level of concrete surface should be checked continuously
 Defects, if any, to be identified and proper action to be taken for rectification instantly

10. Brick masonry work
 Bricks shall be of specified quality & size of bricks should conform to standards
 Bricks are soaked in water before use, for a period, for the water to just penetrate the whole depth of
the bricks.
 Alternatively, clean water spraying to be done to bricks soaked in stacks for a period not less than
six hours
 Only surface dry bricks are to be laid. Unless otherwise specified, English bond is to be followed
and for half brick wall - stretcher bond.
 Brick work should be cured for at least 7 days and at least 3 days before starting of plastering works.
 Raking of joints to receive plaster and curing for the period as specified should be followed.

11. Plastering
 Masonry and concrete surface to which plaster is to be applied is clear, free from
efflorescence, damp and sufficiently rough and hacked, washed and well watered before
plaster is applied.
 Preparation of mortar of specified ratio and in requisite amount should be done.
 Provision of thickness pad and chicken mesh at masonry-RCC junction shall be made.
 All chasing, installation of conduit, boxes etc are ensured before commencement of
plastering work.
 Curing is started as soon as the plaster has hardened sufficiently and is kept continuously
damp for proper curing for at least 7 days.

12. Tile Flooring
 Sub grade concrete or RCC slab on which the tiles are laid are cleaned, wetted and mopped.
 Mortar is spread, tamped and corrected to proper levels and allowed to harden sufficiently to offer a
fairly rigid cushion for the tiles to set
 Over the mortar bedding, neat grey cement slurry (1.5 bags of cement in 100 lits of water) of honey
like consistency is spread.
 Tiles are soaked in water , washed, cleaned and are fixed in the grout one after another
 Joints are kept as thin as possible and in straight lines or to suit required pattern

13.  Curing shall be done for at least 7 days & fixing of skirting should be done only after curing period is over
 Skirting is fixed using 1:1 mortar proportion and skirting joints are matched with joints of flooring
 Finished floor level of bathrooms and WC should be lower than the adjacent floor level by approximately 18 mm
 The finished work should not sound hollow when tapped with a wooden mallet

14. Plumbing and water supply
 GI PLUMBING ON WALLS
 Take measurements of required lengths of pipe, make an assembly of pipes as per layout. Fix it on the wall and
ensure all heights and measurements
 Leakages to be checked through pressure testing
 GI DOWNTAKE
 Mark all the GI lines on the wall in plumb as per layout and design, on completion of external plastering
 Fix all the vertical GI pipes in line and level with proper clamping
 Minimum 3 clamps should be fixed one at centre and one at each joint for each pipe using drill machine only
 Provide control valves for all the toilets, kitchen and master valve at terrace level as per design, location and
specification

15.  TERRACE
 GI work on the terrace should be done after water proofing of the terrace is completed
 It should be laid as per given layout and design
 Preferably terrace looping pipes to be run 0.6 m above the water proofing level, on the parapet wall with clamping
 SUPPLY OF WATER TO AND FROM UNDERGROUND WATER TANK
 Before doing the roadwork, lay the required water supply lines from the source such as, municipal line, bore well,
open well, treatment plant, up to the underground water tank
 Lay the delivery lines from UGR to OHR
 Check the position of delivery lines, air vents, washout, drain pipes, manholes for both the tanks

16. Drainage system
 Drainage line to be constructed as per the design & layout
 Excavation to be done considering the invert level of chambers
 The joints of the chambers should be packed with packing rope, soaked in cement slurry and sealed
with cement mortar to the cemented joints.
 Proper curing should be done at least for 7 days.
 Testing of drainage line should be done as per IS standards and defects found if any should be
repaired instantly and back filling work should be done only after confirmation of no leakage in the
line.

17. Painting
 Great skill of workmanship is required as painting affect the total appearance of the building from
inside and outside.
 Surface should be cleared with wire brush for dust, loose scales, etc and should be completely dried
 All gaps, cracks and undulations shall be filled and smoothened
 After preparation of surface, apply thick coat of primer to walls and ceilings followed by filler
(putty) in horizontal and vertical directions
 Apply first coat of paints after 24 hours on cleaning the surface
 Second coat and subsequent coats of paints if required, should be applied at an interval of minimum
24 hours.

18. Building material tests for Quality
control
 WATER
 PH value - IS : 3025
 Concentration of solids in water - IS : 3025
 Sulphate impurities - IS : 3025
 Organic/Inorganic solids - IS : 3025
 Chloride content - IS : 3025

19. Building material tests for Quality
control
 Cement
 Fineness - IS : 4031 : 1996
 Soundness - IS : 4031 : 1988
 Setting time - IS : 4031 : 1966
 Compressive strength - IS : 4031 : 1988
 Consistency - IS : 4031 : 1996
 Specific gravity - IS : 4031 : 1968

20. Building material tests for Quality
control
 Sand
 Fineness modulus - IS : 1607 : 1960
- IS : 383 : 1970
 Silt content - IS : 2386 : 1963
- IS : 383 : 1970
 Bulkage of sand - IS : 2386 : 190
 Specific gravity & water absorption - IS : 2386 : 1963
 Organic impurities - IS : 383 : 1988

21. Building material tests for Quality
control
 Coarse Aggregate
 Sieve analysis for grading - IS : 383 -1963
 Specific gravity & water Absorption - IS : 2386-1963
 Soundness - IS : 2386-1963
 Impact value - IS : 2386-1990
 Crushing value - IS : 2386-1990
 Stone metal-Abrasion test - IS : 2386-1990
 Flaking index - IS : 2386-1963

22. Building material tests for Quality
control
 Bricks
 Test for water absorption -IS:3425-1992
 Compressive strength -IS:3495-1992
 Test for efflorescence -IS:3495-1992
 Steel
 Mechanical properties such as 0.2% proof stress, % elongation, tensile strength of reinforcing
T.M.T. bars -IS:1608-1995
 Reinforcing steel- Bend test - IS:1608-1995

23. Building material tests for Quality
control
 Concrete
 Slump test -CPWD specification
 Compaction Factor -CPWD specification
 Weight, Cement factor and air content test -CPWD specification
 Reinforcement
 Tensile Strength - IS 1608
 Rebound test - IS:1786
 Elongation test - IS 1786
 Proof Stress - IS 1786
 Bend test - IS 1786

24. Diaphragm Wall (Example for Concreting )

26. Reinforcement Steel

27. Checklist : Excavation & PCC
Sr No Items Remarks
1 Good for construction drawings indicating levels available at Site
2 Proper safety precautions taken for site and public
3 Precautions taken for drawing and protecting site from flooding
4 Dumping ground established
5 Setting out and levels as per drawings
6 Intermediate levels checked
7 Post Excavation
8 Characteristics of excavated strata noted and deviations informed
9 Appropriate shoring and shuttering done

28. Checklist for Plain Cement concrete works
Sr No Items Remarks
1 All levels and dimensions checked for correctness
2 Shuttering is as per plan and has no gaps in between
3 All materials are of specified brand and grade
4 Making of concrete has been done as specified
5 Slump and other tests carried out as specified
6 Honeycombing removed
7 Required number of samples have been taken for carrying out slump tests, cube tests etc
8 Concreting has been done as per specified line and level
9 Curing has been done as specified
10 Compaction has been done properly
11 Remedial measures taken for removal of defects

29. Checklist for Anti-termite treatment &
Backfill
Sr No Items Remarks
1 Chemicals for ATT are as per specification
2 Chemicals in use are within expiry date
3 Sufficient quantities of chemicals are available at site for ATT
4 Safety precautions have been taken for carrying out ATT
5 Record of consumption maintained at site
6 Filling materials/earth is as per specification
7 Anti-termite treatment has been carried out before commencement of backfilling
8 Filling has been done in layers of 300 mm,watered and compacted as per specification
9 Proper compaction method has been adopted
10 Filling has been done to the required levels

30. Checklist : Reinforced Cement Concrete
works
Sr No Items Remarks
1 All specified materials available at site
2 Cement is of the requiredgrade and not more than three months old
3 Shuttering checked for Staging& Propping, line and level,dimensions cleaning etc and its quality approved
4 Application of oil & grease carried out
5 Mixer/Vibrator as specified available at site with adequate means to run them during concretion
6 Cutout & Sleeves/Inserted
7 Surface of reinforcementis clean and free from rust
8 Bars have been provided asper structural drawings
9 Lap length & dowels provided as per codal provisions
10 Pin bars & chairs/cover blocks provided as per requirements

31. Checklist : Reinforced Cement Concrete works
Sr No Items Remarks
11 Tying of bars has been done correctly
12 Service lines (Electrical, Plumbing, Others) if any, provided before commencement of concrete
13 Availability/Arrangement of pumps etc, roper access & walkway checked
14 Adequacy of vibrators/needle including diesel vibrator
15 Slump cone test cubes made
16 Safety & health measures taken before commencement
17 All necessary precautions taken before commencement of concreting
18 Samples taken for slump, cube tests etc for each batch
19 Proper compaction done and checks on staging & scaffolding carried out
20 Covering of green concrete carried

32. Checklist : Reinforced Cement
Concrete works
Sr No Items Remarks
21 Surface finish checked
22 Construction joints provided
23 Deshuttering started on vertical faces
24 Proper curing of concrete carried out
25 Defects notified and removed
26 Cubes and other test results will be intimated to the Engineer-in-charge for further action

33. Checklist for Masonary, mortar and
plaster
Sr No Items Remarks
1 Availability of material asper daily requirement checked
2 Quality check for bricks/blocks/sand cement carried out
3 Provisions kept for electrical and other services
4 Checking for line/level/right angle carried out
5 Mortar checked for mix proportion
6 Proper raking of joints
7 Seismic bands provided as per zonal requirements
8 Check cleaning of dead mortar and broken bricks/blocks etc
9 Curing carried out as per requirements
10 Mortar for plastering as specified for each side of wall
11 Quality of cement and sand checked
12 Curing work done as per requirement
13 Preparation of surface

34. Checklist for Masonary, mortar and
plaster
Sr No Items Remarks
14 Curing
15 Check for hollowness
16 Check for cracks
17 Mortar mixing in tray
18 Addition of water proofing compound
19 Proper roughing of first code
20 Check for collection of mortar spills
21 Cleaning of dead mortar
22 Check of waviness
23 Check for grooves/drip moulds
24 Application of cement slurry on concrete surface

35. Checklist for Masonary, mortar and
plaster
Sr No Items Remarks
25 Curing
26 Check for hollowness
27 Check for cracks
28 Check for diagonal
29 Line wash after 3 days (within 5 days in case of neeru application )
30 Safety and health measures