eBook - Gopaals Notes on Construction Engineering-Revised Edition- May-12

7/29/2019 eBook - Gopaals Notes on Construction Engineering-Revised Edition- May-12

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Gopaals Notes on

Construction Engineering A personal reference compilation

of knowledge on ConstructionEngineering

A Compilation on day to day activities, its knowhow and exploration in

the form of questionnaire, useful for the beginners and the people from

construction industry who would like to refresh their knowledge.

An e-book

Compiled By:- Gopaal DhussaDCE, BTE Delhi, AMIE (India), NICMAR (CODE)

Edition:- 1st, Jan-2012, - ebookEdition:- Revised Edition, May-2012, - ebookPublished in: Jan-2012, May-2012 at http://contractorindia.comDistribution:- 1st & revised edition are Free for distribution
http://contractorindia.com/http://contractorindia.com/


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Gopaals Notes on Construction Engineering

Compiled by Gopaal Dhussa*Revised EditionMay-2012*

Page 2 of164Save paper Please do not print this e-book until very much required.

The Book is dedicated to myParentsand to myGuruji.

For their Guidance which made me travel so far that Imtrying to create a guide for Civil Engineers


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Preface to 1stedition

This document is compiled from the point of view of creating a readyreckoner for day to day working on the construction sites and managingthe projects while being at site and while taking the decisions.

The efforts are put up to make a dynamic documentwhich shall beupdated on regular basis based on my personal needs and the

questions raised by the readers.

As the document is compiled from the view point of helping the engineers,contractors, owners and users of the construction industry so we havetried to cover mostly those elements which are required by people on day

to day basis.

The document can also be used as a preparatory guide and also as areference.A word of caution is that as most of the information is compiled fromvarious sources (though deemed to be authentic) but while quoting theinformation from this compilation a persons own wisdom and jurisdictionis expected.

The references are indicated where ever was possible and wherever theyare not mentioned has actually skipped and shall be incorporated in nextrevision.

As the book is a dynamic model of knowledge and shall be updated everythree months based on the suggestions and usability of this book I wouldrequest the users not to print and waste paper.

Readers may send their suggestions at:[email protected]

Preface to Revised additionBased on the feedback received from our readers and my colleagues newinformation is added and the existing information is updated.

Im thankful to my readers and users of these notes for making these notesmore useful regularly.

The document shall be updated regularly as already committed.

RegardsGopaal Dhussa
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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ContentsJOB DESCRIPTION & ROLE CLARITY ........................................................................................... 7

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER .................................................... 8GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER......................................................... 8

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER.......................................................................... 8

POSITIVE TRAITS FOR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS TO POSSESS ..................................................... 9

QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED FOR TECHNICAL &TECHNICAL MANAGERIAL INTERVIEWS ....................... 9

MANAGERIAL LEVEL..................................................................................................................... 9

SITE ENGINEER /ASSISTANT MANAGER ....................................................................................... 10

DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES OF A TIMEKEEPER.......................................................................... 11

THE DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES OFACCOUNTING STAFF ........................................................... 11

DUTIES OF ANACCOUNTANT...................................................................................................... 13

KNOW BASICS OF STANDARD SITE OPERATIONS TO REVISE ONES TECHNICAL KNOWHOW .. 15

BASIC DEFINITIONS (FROM IS1200)......................................................................................... 16COMMERCIALABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................... 18

ALL ABOUT CONCRETE .............................................................................................................. 23

WHAT IS A CONCRETE MIX........................................................................................................... 23

WHAT IS WORKABILITY / SLUMP IN CONCRETE?HOW IS IT BEING MEASURED / TESTED ..................... 23

WHAT IS AN AGGREGATE............................................................................................................. 24

QUALITY CONTROL BASICS OF CONCRETE ..................................................................................... 24

WHAT IS WATER CEMENT RATIO & HOW DOES IT AFFECTS STRENGTH OF CONCRETE .......................... 24

WHAT ARE CHEMICAL ADMIXTURES, THEIR TYPE & USES ................................................................ 24

WHAT IS A REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE ................................................................................ 25

CURING OF CONCRETE & ITS IMPORTANCE..................................................................................... 25

CONCRETE

STRENGTH

TEST

-C

ONCRETE TESTING......................................................................... 26

CONCRETE COVER ...................................................................................................................... 26

PARADOX ABOUT CONCRETE COVER................................................................................................. 27

A BRIEF ABOUT CONCRETE MIXER AND READY MIX CONCRETE ......................................................... 27

ADVANTAGES OF READY MIX CONCRETE OVER SITE MIX CONCRETE.................................. 28

CEMENT &AGGREGATES ........................................................................................................... 29

STRENGTHALTERATION OF CEMENT DUE TO STORAGE............................................................... 30

CLASSIFICATION OF LIME CLAUSE 3.1.3.1 OF CPWDSPECIFICATIONS ......................................... 30

BULKING OF FINEAGGREGATE CL.3.1.4.5 OF CPWDSPECIFICATIONS........................................ 30

FREQUENCY OF SAMPLING CONCRETE CUBES (CLAUSE 14.2IS456) ............................................... 31

DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.................................................................................................... 32

ALL ABOUT FORM WORK........................................................................................................... 35

WHAT IS FORM WORK ................................................................................................................. 35

TYPE OF FORM WORKS. .............................................................................................................. 36

MATERIAL FOR FORMWORK - ...................................................................................................... 36

WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPE OF DEFECTS IN TIMBER / LUMBER AND ITS PREVENTIONS ................... 37

PARTICLE BOARDS .................................................................................................................... 38

CLIMBING FORM WORK............................................................................................................. 38

TECHNICAL TIPS ON FORM WORK /SHUTTERING .......................................................................... 40

ALL ABOUT REINFORCEMENT STEEL........................................................................................... 41

REINFORCEMENT STEEL OR REBAR .............................................................................................. 41

BAR BENDING SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................... 42

WELDING ELECTRODES &PROCEDURES ..................................................................................... 43

CARBON STEEL ELECTRODES ....................................................................................................... 43

PIPE WELDING ELECTRODES ....................................................................................................... 47


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QUANTITY SURVEY, ESTIMATION, MENSURATION.................................................................. 48

RULESFORROUNDINGOFFVALUE(SP27-1987) ............................................................. 49

TABLE FOR MEASUREMENTOFMATERIALS ...................................................................... 51

MENSURATION FORMULAS......................................................................................................... 52

COSTING .................................................................................................................................. 57

BASICS OF COSTING ................................................................................................................... 58

COST ENGINEERING .................................................................................................................... 58

COST ESTIMATE ......................................................................................................................... 59

CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES ................................................................................................ 59

KNOW METHODS TO CALCULATE DEPRECIATION ........................................................................ 61

WHAT IS DEPRECIATION ............................................................................................................. 61

HOW TO CALCULATE DEPRECIATION ............................................................................................ 61

APPLICABLE LAWS / ACTS / IMPORTANT CLAUSES/ IS CODES ................................................. 64

ISCODES................................................................................................................................... 65

ISCODE FOR METHOD OF MEASUREMENTS IS1200 ................................................................ 65

CODESANDSTANDARDS ..................................................................................................... 67

FOR DESIGN &EXECUTION......................................................................................................... 67

STATUTORYLAWS /ACTS PERTAINING TO INDIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY............................. 77

PRICEESCALATIONCLAUSE- (TAKEN FROM GCC OF DAE) .................................................. 78

DEFINITION -WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX........................................................................................ 84

DEFINITION -CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.......................................................................................... 84

REFUNDOFSECURITYDEPOSITANDPERFORMANCESECURITY................................... 85

FEW METHODS & MATERIALS REPRESENTED FOR READY REFERENCE.................................... 87

DIFFERENT TYPE OF PIPES ........................................................................................................ 88

KNOW FEW DAILY USE MATERIALS IN DETAILS - SOURCE -(SOURCE WIKIPEDIA) .......................... 89

CEMENT..................................................................................................................................... 89

HYDRAULIC CEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 89

DIFFERENT TYPE OF PORTLAND CEMENT ............................................................................................ 89

NON-PORTLAND HYDRAULIC CEMENTS............................................................................................. 90

FLYASH ................................................................................................................................... 91

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND CLASSIFICATION ................................................................... 91

CLASS F FLY ASH........................................................................................................................... 92

CLASS C FLY ASH .......................................................................................................................... 92

FLY ASH REUSE....................................................................................................................... 92

PORTLAND CEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 92

EMBANKMENT............................................................................................................................. 93

SOIL STABILIZATION ...................................................................................................................... 93

FLOWABLE FILL ............................................................................................................................ 93

ASPHALT CONCRETE...................................................................................................................... 93

POLYMERS .................................................................................................................................. 94

ROLLER COMPACTED CONCRETE ...................................................................................................... 94

BRICKS ...................................................................................................................................... 94

GROUT ...................................................................................................................................... 94

PIGMENT (PAINT) ................................................................................................................... 95

PAINT BINDER ........................................................................................................................ 95

PAINT VEHICLE OR SOLVENT ................................................................................................. 96

PAINT ADDITIVES ......................................................................................................................... 96

EPOXY RESINS ............................................................................................................................. 97VARNISH.................................................................................................................................... 98


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PLASTIC ..................................................................................................................................... 98

BRICKS.................................................................................................................................... 98

CONCRETE .................................................................................................................................. 99

TILES ......................................................................................................................................... 99

VITRIFIED TILE............................................................................................................................. 99

CERAMIC TILE ............................................................................................................................. 99

MARBLE .................................................................................................................................... 99

ALUMINUM COMPOSITE PANEL ACP ............................................................................................... 99

CURTAIN WALL &STRUCTURAL GLAZING ....................................................................................... 100

AREA MEASUREMENTSREADY REFERENCE NOTES............................................................. 101

PLINTH AREA MEASUREMENT .................................................................................................. 102

MEASUREMENTOFBUILDINGAREAS .............................................................................. 103

METHOD FOR MEASURING OFFICE FLOORAREA ....................................................................... 105

CONVERSION TABLE .............................................................................................................. 107

CONVERSION -WIRE GAUGE TO EQUIVALENT MM (PLATES) ...................................................... 107

CONVERSION FACTOR -RATE PER UNIT OF MEASUREMENT TO OTHER ........................................ 107

UNIT WEIGHTS - STRUCTURAL STEEL ELEMENTS ................................................................... 112

ISA-HOT-ROLLEDSTEELEQUALANGLES-(AS PER IS:808,1976 AND PART V) ............. 113

ISA-HOT-ROLLEDSTEELUN-EQUALANGLES ............................................................... 115

ISMC-HOT-ROLLED STEEL SECTIONS -MEDIUM CHANNELS (SLOPING FLANGES)...................... 117

ISMB-HOT-ROLLED STEEL SECTIONS -MEDIUM WEIGHT BEAMS ............................................ 118

WEIGHT OF STANDARD CHEQUEREDPLATES ...................................................................... 118

WEIGHT OF REINFORCEMENT STEEL BARS WITH THEIR STANDARD CROSS SECTIONALAREAS ..... 118

WEIGHT OF G.I.PIPES FOR WATER,GAS &AIR CONFIRMING TO IS1239 .................................. 120

WEIGHT OF PIPES FOR WATER,GAS &AIR CONFIRMING TO IS:3589/2001 ............................. 122

ANNEXURE1 ....................................................................................................................... 123

GLOSSARY OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TERMS ......................................................... 123

ANNEXURE -2 ........................................................................................................................ 145

LABOURPRODUCTIVITYNORMS FOR CIVIL WORKS .............................................................. 145

ANNEXURE3 ....................................................................................................................... 149

TABLE OF SCAFFOLDING MATERIALS PERTAINING TO CUP-LOCK SYSTEM ............................ 149

ANNEXURE - 4 ....................................................................................................................... 160

LIST OF MINIMUM STOCK OF BASIC ITEMS TO HAVE AT ANY PROJECT ................................. 160

ADDITIONS IN THIS REVISED EDITION ................................................................................... 163

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................... 164


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Job Description & Role Clarity

- for Understanding the Technical Competency of the Engineering & Project

Managerial Levels for Construction Project and other Team Members


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Responsibilities and Duties of a Construction Engineer

The role of a construction engineer is one which has multiple tasks and duties associated with it.

The construction engineer will implement a construction project and wear many different hatsalong the way. It is important to detail the specific duties and general responsibilities which go

along with this job position as it will show how useful this individual truly is in todays society.

General Responsibilities of a Construction Engineer

In general, a construction engineer is responsible for the planning of the construction project.

This includes conducting surveys, engaging in research, analyzing results, planning the

construction and overseeing it along the way. The construction engineer will also provide

information to the pertinent parties and general public to keep them informed and in the case that

any issues arise before, during and after the construction. A construction engineer is the one who

plans the project and advises the workers.

Specific Duties of a Construction Engineer

A construction engineer will have to fulfill a variety of specific duties on a daily basis. Prior to

even thinking about starting a construction project, the construction engineer will have to survey

the area. In conjunction with this they will need to produce reports and environmental statements

detailing how the project will be done and what areas it will affect. During the pre-construction

phase, the construction engineer will prepare diagrams, charts and surveys showing specific

information about the area and the desired project.

Once the reports, charts and data have been compiled, the construction engineer will then need todiscuss such items with related parties such as builders, environmental agencies and local, state

and federal entities. These items may also have to be made available to the general public for

their objections to be heard.

The construction engineer must also inspect the site to ensure that the building which will be

taken place can be accommodated by that area. Tests will be performed relating to the ground

and water level. The construction engineer may also have to determine the grade and elevation

levels of the area.

Some construction engineers must determine the costs of their construction projects. This is done

by proposing bids and determining the costs of labor and materials to ensure that the project can

be carried through in keeping with the budget that has been set aside. This will be an estimation

on the part of the construction engineer but it must be as close to the true number as possible.

The construction engineer must also provide technical advice to all parties involved with the

project. This may relate to any number of topics including the construction of the site to abiding

by certain laws, codes and regulations. A construction engineer is something of a jack of all

trades in many respects and therefore will be consulted on a number of issues.


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Positive Traits for Construction Engineers to Possess

There are a few different traits which would be beneficial for construction engineers to possess.

The first is good analytical skills. A large part of a construction engineers job is to analyze thesituation prior to the construction taking place. This includes performing surveys and research

from which the construction engineer will draw conclusions. Once the conclusions have been

made, the construction engineer will draft reports, graphs, charts and present data to the pertinentparties. Therefore, superb analytical skills will come in quite useful throughout these various

tasks.

Construction engineers must also have wonderful problem solving skills. A construction engineer

will find that from time to time he/she encounters problems along the way. By possessing good

problem solving skills, it will be that much easier for the construction engineer to analyze the

situation and then solve the problematic issues which have arisen.

Good mathematical skills will also prove useful for the construction engineer. Figures and

mathematical equations are commonplace in the job role of a construction engineer. By having

adequate mathematical skills, the construction engineer will find that their daily tasks are

completed much more quickly and correctly than if they lacked these skills.

Another positive trait for construction engineers to possess is good teamwork skills. Although

construction engineers may complete a number of their specific job tasks alone, there are other

job duties where they must rely on a team in order to properly complete them. By being a good

team player, the construction engineer will be able to work in harmony with others around them

and make the job that much easier.

Communication skills will also come in handy for the construction engineer. A construction

engineer will often have to express their findings to individuals or even large groups throughout

the course of a construction project. Therefore, it is easy to see how good communication skillswill be useful. If one possesses such skills they will be able to detail the information to others in

an effective manner and those listening to the details will be able to understand what they are

being told.

Attention to details is an additional positive trait for construction engineers to possess. When it

comes to construction, preciseness is crucial and one who exhibits good attention to details will

be more likely to ensure that the construction is performed correctly.

Questions to be asked for Technical & Technical Managerial Interviews

Managerial Level

First of all while deciding the candidate for the post of Project head / project manager pleaseensure that he / she has executed one project independently of at least half the value. For example

in our case of a project worth 200 Crores to be completed in 2 years of time a project worth 100

Crores should have been completed by the person of similar nature who wishes to be project


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head, otherwise this would be difficult for a person to envisage the problems which may come in

the project and project sequencing.

We have to check the leadership qualities of a person and ask him:

1. The way he plans to take on / start the project?2. The method in which he would like to plan the project and his ability to understand the

sequence of activities in terms of closing project and final handing over?3. How will he track the progress of project that is method by which he will determine the

direction of project progress in line with original scheduled completion of project.

4. Local coordination with client & consultants on day to day problems like design clarificationetc.

5. Is he aware of the statutory laws and the mandatory inspections / clearances required fromthe local statutory / legal bodies? Can he coordinate with them?

6. Does he understands the bar chart and PERT?7. Can he monitor the project in MS project or equivalent project planning & monitoringsoftware?

8. In case contractor doesnt fulfils his responsibilities or delays the project what will be yourline of action? Will you be ready will plan B in case contractor intentionally delays the

project or doesnt provide sufficient technical and supervisory manpower?

9. Progress review meetings with contractor and various other agencies and what is expectedout of this?

10.How would you achieve quality and maintain standard of quality?11.Cost control parameters to be adopted. What will he do in case contractor generates

unnecessary extra claim? That is his ability to interpret and implement contract is to be

judged.

12.Safety to be implemented at site. How will he ensure? What are the checks will he adopt?How will he pressurise contractor to ensure safety at work?

Site Engineer / Assistant Manager

1. Awareness and implementation of Quality procedures like Mix design for concrete (Mixdesign is different from nominal mix of concrete where we deals in ratios of cement and

aggregate, here the laboratory tests the contents of concrete and tells the mix to be followed)

M20 stands for Mix with compressive strength of 20 N / Sqmm, cube strength test, other

aggregate test like sieve analysis, silt content etc. Setting up of laboratory at site, what is the

equipment requiredeg cube testing machine.2. Drawing reading capacity for eg. Ask the cut length for steel to be bent at 90 degrees(Answer the length would be L4d, where d is the dia of bar and L is the final lengthrequired). Most of the engineers with lesser experience do not know how to calculate steel

schedule.

3. Mode of measurement, eg ask him how will he measure a white wash for the purpose ofpayment where the window is fixed on the outer side of wall. If he has gone through IS 1200

(This is IS code for mode of measurement) then he would be in a position to answer or else

no.4. Ability to check survey and coordinate with drawing to start the building.5. Cost control parameters to be adopted.6. Safety to be implemented at site. How will he ensure? What are the checks will he adopt?

How will he pressurise contractor to ensure safety at work?7. How will he behave in case an accident occurs at site?


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8. Coordination and reporting techniques he would like to follow. Determination and alarmingto Project manager about status of project.

9. Team spirit to finish the project on time.

Duties & Responsibilities of a TimekeeperBy Daniel Shin, eHow Contributor

For employees to be paid correctly and on time, they must submit their hours worked either

electronically or manually to timekeepers. Timekeepers maintain an accurate track of hours

worked for payroll purposes. They typically are hired as acting liaisons between employees and

payroll coordinators to ensure the smooth process of pay distribution. Calculating an employee's

time worked, production and commission are duties of a timekeeper.

KnowledgeTimekeepers must have knowledge in accounting and payroll data software programs. Many

organizations require timekeepers to have knowledge in administrative skills such as operating

computers, 10-key calculators, word processing and proficiency with Excel spreadsheets. It is

imperative for timekeepers to know personnel compensation and benefits relating to hours

worked. Knowledge of mathematical reasoning and analytical skills are needed to avoid any

errors during work.

AbilitiesTimekeepers must have the ability to compute and post wages and deductions with employee

hours worked. They must be extremely reliable since they are dealing with time-related issues

and paycheck distribution. Timekeepers must be capable of multitasking, planning and

organizing details while communicating effectively with co-workers and employees. They must

be able to attend meetings and inform employees on information that helps prepare for future

issues related to payroll discrepancies.

FunctionsDuties of a timekeeper include maintaining time sheets and accurately inputting time and

attendance data into the computer. They verify attendance, hours worked and pay adjustments

while tracking overtime hours and approving compensatory time earned. A timekeeper also isresponsible for keeping track of leave time such as vacation, holidays, personal or sick days for

employees. Duties also include ensuring time sheets are submitted and received by employees on

time to issue accurate payroll adjustments.

Places of WorkThe majority of timekeepers work in cubicles or offices in the human resources department of acompany. Some timekeepers work in warehouses or on-site to manage manual time sheets used

by labor workers. Timekeepers also work for companies that are contracted by multipleorganizations to take care of their timekeeping needs

The Duties & Responsibilities of Accounting StaffBy Marquis Codjia, eHow Contributor

Accounting assistants are entry-level positions requiring a two-year college degree in business,

finance or accounting. They perform a variety of tasks under the supervision of seniorprofessionals. These tasks could include journal entries, ledger confirmations and bank


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reconciliations. They also may assist internal and external auditors in evaluating a business'

internal procedures. Assistants move up to more senior roles if they receive a four-year collegedegree and earn a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Make Journal Entries

Accounting assistants record an organization's business activities by making journal entries in

sub- or general ledgers. Entering items in a journal means crediting or debiting an account. There

are five types of accounts: expense, revenue, asset, liability and shareholders' equity. Expensesare charges incurred. Revenues reflect sales and commissions. Assets indicate what a business

entity owns, and liabilities, what it owes. Shareholders' equity represents amounts invested by

company owners.

Verify Journal and Ledger Balances

Journal and ledgers are accounting records. Bookkeepers enter financial data into journals by

making journal entries. Such information is then summarized in sub- and general ledgers. A sub-ledger is a section of a general ledger. For example, Client XYZ's sub-ledger is part of a businesscustomers' general ledger. Accounting staff verify that balances are accurate by checking journal

entries, vendor bills and customer invoices.

Reconcile Bank Statements

Accounting clerks also perform bank reconciliation duties. A business entity may have several

accounts with a variety of institutions. Reconciling bank statements ensures that clerks can verifyan organization's cash balance, and that such balance agrees to internal cash ledgers. These

employees perform reconciliations on a monthly basis, and follow up on differences with bank

staff.

Support Monthly CloseAccounting assistants work under the guidance of senior professionals to perform month-end

procedures. Such procedures could include reconciling bank statement balances to cash ledgers,

making journal entries to adjust unpaid bills or correcting prepaid expense amounts. Prepaid

expenses are those that an organization pays prior to receiving goods or services. Examples of

such expenses are annual insurance premiums or semi-annual rents. Unpaid bills could be

salaries due at month-end but payable five days into the following month.

Support Audit Procedures

Accounting clerks also may assist internal and external auditors by providing required data and

confirming ledger balances. They work under the leadership of senior staff to ensure that internal

policies, guidelines and procedures in journal entry, warehouse, inventory shipment and

receiving departments are adequate and operating effectively. These employees may also

perform administrative duties for internal or external auditors.

Compute Taxes

Accounting clerks also could compute a business entity's tax liabilities. They may work in the tax

department or in the finance department under the guidance of professionals. They also could

evaluate and analyse sales taxes collected from customers, and ensure that such taxes are

transferred to state and local revenue services.


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Warning

Be careful who you allow to do your taxes at the end of the year. Retail tax preparation chains

typically hire individuals and teach them how to input tax information in their computers. Theseindividuals do not hold a degree and often don't know why they are inputting certain information

into the computer. You are better off finding a certified public accountant. That is an accountant

that has earned a degree and passed the CPA exam. Don't assume that, just because a company isa brand name, that they are using professional CPA's. Ask first.


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Basic Definitions (from IS 1200)

B

Barge Board -- A purpose-made fitting, normally of angular section, to form the junction between roofcovering and either wall or vertical cladding at a gable end.

Batten - A piece of sawn timber whos cross sectional dimensions do not exceed 5 cm in eitherdirection.

Berm - A shelf that breaks the continuity of a slope.

Boulder - A more or less rounded block or fragment of rock and of average dimension 300 mm orgreater. Usually boulders are rounded by being carried or rolled along by water or ice; sometimes also byweathering in place in which case they are

known as boulders of weathering, disintegration or exploitation.

C

Chair - A rigid device used to support and/or hold reinforcing bars in proper position to preventdisplacement before or during concreting.

Chhajja - The projected reinforced cement concrete member of average thickness not exceeding 100mm.

Cobble - A rock fragment, usually rounded or semi-rollnded, with an average dimension between 80 and300 mm.

Compaction - The tlensification of a soil by means of mechanical manipulation.

Corner Piece ( Corner Flashing ) - An accessory to form the junction between vertical corrugatedsheeting at internal or external angles.

DDemolition - Taking up or down or breaking up.

Dismantling - Carefully taking up or down and removing without. damage; the article shall be passedby hand, where necessary, and lowered to the ground and not thrown and where these are fixed by nails,

screws, bolts, etc, these shall betaken out with proper tools and not by tearing or ripping.

Dubbing Out - The operation of attaching pieces of slate, tile, etc, to a wall with plaster, and thenlikewise covering them in order to fill out hollows or to form projections.

FFinial - A decorative fitting of ridges and hips, and at the middle or dome roofs. used at the junction topof conical, pyramidal or dome roofs.Flashing - A strip of impervious material usually metal, used to exclude water from the junctionbetween a roof covering and another part of the structure.

H

Hacking - The roughing of solid backgrounds, by hand or mechanical methods, to provide a suitablekey.

Haunch - The depend portion of a beam that increases in depth toward the support.

Hip .- The outer angle ( more than 110 ) formed by the inclined ridge between two intersecting roofslopes.

Hook - A bend in the end of a reinforcing bar.

L

Lap - The length by which one bar or sheet of fabric reinforcement overlaps another.


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PPlank - A piece of sawn timber whose thickness does not exceed 5 cm but the width exceeds 5 cm.

RRaking - Removing mortar from masonry joints to provide suitable key for the plastering and pointing.

Rock - Natural solid mineral matter connected by strong and permanent cohesive forces, occurring inlarge masses or fragments.

S

Sand - Cohesion less aggregates of angular, sub angular, sub-rounded, rounded, flaky or flat fragments ofmore or less unaltered rocks or mineral of size between 4.75 mm and 75 microns.

Scanting - A piece of timber whose cross-sectional dimensions exceed 5 cm but do not exceed 20 cm inboth directions.

Stopends - The forming of the lower ends of capping above drips, gutters and the like, to form aclosure.

VVerge - The edge of the roof surface finished at a gable or the edge of the vertical tiling at windowreveals and of walls and dormer cheeks.

Void - Space in a soil mass not occupied by solid mineral matter. This space may be occupied by air,water or other gaseous or liquid material.


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Commercial Abbreviations

S. No. Abbreviation Definition

1 @ At or to

2 a.a.r. Against all risks.

3 A/C Accounts current.

4 Acc. Account.

5 a/o Account of.

6 a/d After date.

7 A/S Account sale.

8 B/E Bill of exchange.

9 B/L Bill of landing.

10 b/s Bill of sale

11 c & f Cost & freight included in price.

12 c.i.f. Cost, insurance & freight included in price.

13 C.O.D. Collect (or cash) on delivery.

14 Cr Creditor.

15 c/o Care of.

16 c/s Cases.

17 C.W.O. Cash with order.

18 d.d. Days after date.

19 Dr. Debtor.

20 d.s. Days after sight.

21 d/y Delivery.

22 ea. Each.

23 E.E. Errors expected.

24 E. & O. E. Errors & omissions expected.

25 f.a.q. Fair average quality.

26 f.a.s. Free alongside ship : buyer puts them on board and paysdues & charges.

27 f.o.b. Free on board : the price quoted to include all the expensesof putting goods on board ship.

28 f.o.r. Free on rail, i.e. loaded into wagons.

29 f.o.v. Free on van, i.e. loaded into vans.

30 f.o.w. Free on wharf alongside ship.

31 G.M.B. Good marketable brands.

32 G.O.B. Good ordinary brands.

33 I.O.U. I owe you.

34 Inst. Instant (present month).

35 Ltd. Limited.

36 m.d. Months after date.


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37 m.s. Months after sight.

38 M/s Messers.

39 M.O. Money order.40 n.a. No advice.

41 No. Numero (Number).

42 o/a On account.

43 % Per cent.

44 0/00 Per thousand.

45 p.n. Promissory note.

46 P.O. Postal order.

47 P.T.O. Please turn over.

48 Percent By the hundred (centum).

49 pro rata In proportion.

50 pro tem. Pro tempore (for the time being).

51 Prox. Proximo (next month)

52 Re As regards.

53 Shri Shreeyut.

54 SShri Sarvashreeyut.

55 R.S.V.P. Please reply.

56 S.O. Supplied only, i.e. not fixed.

57 SS Steamship.

58 Ult. Ultimo (last month).

59 viz. Videlicet (namely, to wit).

60 Xd Ex-dividend.

61 Xi Ex-interest.

62 Ex. div. Ex-dividend.

63 .p. Librae, pence (pounds, pence).

64 -Do- ordo- Ditto or ditto.

65 cum. div. With dividend.

66 Anno Domini In the year of our Lord.

67 Ab initio From the beginning.

68 Ab origine From the origin.

69 Addenda List of additions; things to be added.

70 Ad hominem Personal.

71 Ad hoc For this special purpose.

72 Ad infinitum To infinity.

73 Ad interim In the meanwhile.

74 Ad nauseum To the point of disgust or satiety.

75 Ad referendum For further consideration.

76 Ad rem To the point; to the purpose.

77 Ad valorem According to the value.

78 Ad verbum To a word, or word for word.


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79 Alter idem Another exactly similar.

80 Ante meridiem Before noon.

81 A priori From cause to effect.82 A posteriori From effect to cause.

83 Argumentum ad ignorantiam Argument founded on ignorance of the person addressed.

84 Bona fide Good faith (in good faith), genuine.

85 Coeteries paribus Other things being equal.

86 Caveat emptor Let the buyer beware (look after his own interests).

87 Corrigenda Things to be corrected; a list of errors.

88 De facto In the point of fact; actual or actually.

89 De jure From the law; by right.

90 De novo Anew.91 De rigueur Indispensable; obligatory.

92 Errata List of errors.

93 Et cetera And the rest.

94 Et sequentes; Et sequential And those that follow.

95 Exempli gratia By way of example.

96 Ex gratia As an act of grace.

97 Ex officio In virtue of his office.

98 Ex parte From one party or side.

99 Experto crede Trust one who has had experience.100 Ex post facto After the deed is done; retrospective.

101 Expressis verbis In express terms.

102 Flagrante delicto In the very act.

103 Frons et origio The source and origin.

104 Force majeure Greater force or strength; overwhelming force, act of God.

105 Humanem est errare To err is human.

106 Ibidem (or ibid) At the same place, (in the book).

107 Id est (i.e.) That is, often is.

108 In extenso At full length.

109 Infra dig Beneath ones dignity.

110 In re In the matter of.

111 In situ In its original situation.

112 In statu quo In former state.

113 Inter alia Among other things.

114 In terrorem As a warning.

115 Inter se Among themselves.

116 In toto Entirely.

117 In transitu In the course of passage or transit.

118 Ipsissima verba By the very words.


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119 Ipso facto By the very fact.

120 Jure humano By human law.

121 Juste milieu The golden mean.122 Lacuna A gap, a vacant space.

123 Lapsus calami A slip of the pen.

124 Lapsus linguoe Slip of the tongue.

125 Lex loci Law or custom of the place.

126 Lex non scripta Unwritten law.

127 Lite pendente During the trial.

128 Locum tenens A substitute.

129 Locus standi A place of standing; A right to appear and be heard before acourt in a particular case.

130 Mal a propos Ill timed.131 Mala fide In bad faith; treacherously.

132 Mandamus Writ issued by higher court to lower court.

133 Me judice I being judge; in my opinion.

134 Modus operandi Manner of working.

135 Modus vivendi Manner of living; used as a temporary workingarrangement.

136 Mutates mutandis With the necessary changes.

137 Nil admirari To be astonished at nothing.

138 Nolens volens Willing or non-willing.

139 Non liquet The case is not clear.140 Non sequitur It does not follow.

141 Nota bene (N.B.) Mark well, take notice.

142 Nudis verbis In plain words.

143 Obiter dictum A word said by the way; a passing comment made by ajudge.

144 Obscurium per obscurius An obscurity explained by another obscurity.

145 Onus probandi The burden of proof.

146 Pari passu With equal pace; side by side.

147 Per For, through.

148 Per diem Per day.

149 Per mensem Per month.

150 Per se By itself.

151 Persona grata An acceptable person.

152 Petito principii A begging of the question.

153 Post meridiem After noon.

154 Poste restante To remain in post office until call for.

155 Prima fascie At first view or consideration.

156 Pro et contra (Pros & cons) For & against.

157 Pro forma For the sake of form.


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158 Pro rata According to rate or proportion.

159 Pro tempore For the time being.

160 Quantum meruit As much as he deserved.161 Quantum sufficit As much as suffices.

162 Quid pro quo Something in return; as equivalent.

163 Raison detre Justification for existence.

164 Re In the matter of.

165 Reductio ad absudum A reducing to the absurd (A method of proof).

166 Res judicata A case or suit already setteled.

167 Resume A summary or abstract.

168 Seriatum In a series, one by one.

169 Sine cura Without a charge or care.


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All about Concrete

What is a concrete mix

Ans. A hard, strong construction material consisting of sand, conglomerate gravel, pebbles, broken stone,or slag in a mortar or cement matrix.

Any of several manufactured, stone like materials composed of particles, called aggregates, that areselected and graded into specified sizes for construction purposes and that are bonded together by one or

more cementitious materials into a solid mass.

The term concrete, when used without a modifying adjective, ordinarily is intended to indicate the product

formed from a mix of portland cement, sand, gravel or crushed stone, and water. There are, however, manydifferent types of concrete. The names of some are distinguished by the types, sizes, and densities ofaggregatesfor example, wood-fiber, lightweight, normal-weight, or heavyweight concrete. The names of

others may indicate the type of binder usedfor example, blended-hydraulic cement, natural-cement,

polymer, or bituminous (asphaltic) concrete.

What is Workability / slump in concrete? How is it being measured /

tested

Ans. Workability is the ability of a fresh (plastic) concrete mix to fill the form/mold properly with the

desired work (vibration) and without reducing the concrete's quality. Workability depends on watercontent, aggregate (shape and size distribution), cementitious content and age (level ofhydration), and canbe modified by adding chemical admixtures. Raising the water content or adding chemical admixtures will

increase concrete workability. Excessive water will lead to increased bleeding (surface water) and/orsegregation of aggregates (when the cement and aggregates start to separate), with the resulting concretehaving reduced quality. The use of an aggregate with an undesirable gradation can result in a very harsh

mix design with a very low slump, which cannot be readily made more workable by addition of reasonable

amounts of water.

Workability can be measured by the "slump test," a simplistic measure of the plasticity of a fresh batch of

concrete following the ASTM C 143 or EN 12350-2 test standards. Slump is normally measured by fillingan "Abrams cone" with a sample from a fresh batch of concrete. The cone is placed with the wide end

down onto a level, non-absorptive surface. It is then filled in three layers of equal volume, with each layerbeing tamped with a steel rod in order to consolidate the layer. When the cone is carefully lifted off, theenclosed material will slump a certain amount due to gravity. A relatively dry sample will slump very

little, having a slump value of one or two inches (25 or 50 mm). A relatively wet concrete sample may

slump as much as six or seven inches (150 to 175 mm).

Slump can be increased by adding chemical admixtures such as mid-range or high-range water reducingagents (super-plasticizers) without changing the water/cement ratio. It is bad practice to add extra water at

the concrete mixer.

High-flow concrete, like self-consolidating concrete, is tested by other flow-measuring methods. One of

these methods includes placing the cone on the narrow end and observing how the mix flows through thecone while it is gradually lifted.


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What is an aggregate

Ans. An inert granular material such as natural sand, manufactured sand, gravel, crushed gravel, crushedstone, vermiculite, perlite, and air-cooled blast-furnace slag, which when bound together into aconglomerate mass by a matrix forms concrete or mortar.

Quality Control Basics of Concrete

Ans. Quality Control

Concrete manufacturers expect their raw material suppliers to supply a consistent, uniform product. At thecement production factory, the proportions of the various raw materials that go into cement must be

checked to achieve a consistent kiln feed, and samples of the mix are frequently examined using X-rayfluorescence analysis.

The strength of concrete is probably the most important property that must be tested to comply with

specifications. To achieve the desired strength, workers must carefully control the manufacturing process,which they normally do by using statistical process control. The Indian Standard of Testing Materials andother organizations have developed a variety of methods for testing strength. Quality control charts arewidely used by the suppliers of ready-mixed concrete and by the engineer on site to continually assess thestrength of concrete. Other properties important for compliance include cement content, water/cement

ratio, and workability, and standard test methods have been developed for these as well.

What is water cement ratio & how does it affects strength of concrete

Ans.Water-cement ratio is the ratio of weight of water to the weight of cement used in a concrete mix. Ithas an important influence on the quality of concrete produced. A lower water-cement ratio leads to higherstrength and durability, but may make the mix more difficult to place. Placement difficulties can beresolved by using plasticizer. The water-cement ratio is independent of the total cement content (and the

total water content) of a concrete mix

Potable water should be used for manufacturing concrete. The water/cement ratio (mass ratio of water tocement) is the key factor that determines the strength of concrete. A lower w/c ratio will yield a concrete

which is stronger and more durable, while a higher w/c ratio yields a concrete with a larger slump, so it

may be placed more easily.

What are Chemical admixtures, their type & usesAns. Chemical admixtures are materials in the form of powder or fluids that are added to the concrete to

give it certain characteristics not obtainable with plain concrete mixes. In normal use, admixture dosagesare less than 5% by mass of cement, and are added to the concrete at the time of batching/mixing. The

most common types of admixtures are:

1) Acceleratorsspeed up the hydration (hardening) of the concrete. Without accelerants, concretemay take centuries to cure. Craig Taylor at Los Alamos says "The cement in the Great Wall ofChina has not yet reached a chemically neutral state. But the supercritical carbon dioxidetreatment achieves the chemically stable condition in minutes or hours."

2) Retarders slow the hydration of concrete, and are used in large or difficult pours where partial

setting before the pour is complete is undesirable.


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Adequate curing is essential to bring the concrete to required strength and quality. The aim of curing is topromote the hydration of the cementing material. This is accomplished by preventing moisture loss and,

when necessary, by controlling temperature. Moisture is a necessary ingredient in the curing process, since

hydration is a chemical reaction between the water and the cementing material. Unformed surfaces areprotected against moisture loss immediately after final finishing by means of wet burlap, soaked cottonmats, wet earth or sand, sprayed-on sealing compounds, waterproof paper, or waterproof plastic sheets.Formed surfaces, particularly vertical surfaces, may be protected against moisture loss by leaving theforms on as long as possible, covering with wet canvas or burlap, spraying a small stream of water over the

surface, or applying sprayed-on sealing compounds. The length of the curing period depends upon theproperties desired and upon atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and wind velocity,during this period. Short curing periods are used in fabricating concrete products such as block or precast

structural elements. Curing time is shortened by the use of elevated temperatures.

Concrete Strength Test - Concrete testing

Engineers usually specify the required compressive strength of concrete, which is normally given as the 28day compressive strength in N/Sqmm or megapascals (MPa). Twenty eight days is a long wait to

determine if desired strengths are going to be obtained, so three-day and seven-day strengths can be usefulto predict the ultimate 28-day compressive strength of the concrete. A 25% strength gain between 7 and 28days is often observed with 100% OPC (ordinary Portland cement) mixtures, and up to 40% strength gaincan be realized with the inclusion of pozzolans and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM's) such as

fly ash and/or slag cement. As strength gain depends on the type of mixture, its constituents, the use ofstandard curing, proper testing and care of cylinders in transport, etc. it becomes imperative to proactively

rely on testing the fundamental properties of concrete in its fresh, plastic state.

Concrete is typically sampled while being placed, with testing protocols requiring that test samples be

cured under laboratory conditions (standard cured). Additional samples may be field cured (non-standard)for the purpose of early 'stripping' strengths, that is, form removal, evaluation of curing, etc. but the

standard cured cylinders comprise acceptance criteria. Concrete tests can measure the "plastic"(unhydrated) properties of concrete prior to, and during placement. As these properties affect the hardenedcompressive strength and durability of concrete (resistance to freeze-thaw), the properties of slump(workability), temperature, density and age are monitored to ensure the production and placement of'quality' concrete. Tests are performed per ASTM International or CSA (Canadian Standards Association)and European methods and practices. Technicians performing concrete tests MUST be certified. Structuraldesign, material design and properties are often specified in accordance with ACI International code(www.concrete.org); with test methods, production and delivery under the "prescription" or "performance"

purchasing options per ASTM C94 (www.astm.org).

Compressive strength tests are conducted using an instrumented hydraulic ram to compress a cylindrical orcubic sample to failure. Tensile strength tests are conducted either by three-point bending of a prismatic

beam specimen or by compression along the sides of a cylindrical specimen.

Concrete Cover

Concrete cover is the region between the exposed concrete surface and the nearest surface of thereinforcing bar, in reinforced concrete members.

Purpose of Provision of Concrete Cover

to protect the reinforcement bars from environmental effects to prevent corrosion

to protect the reinforcement bars from fire

to give reinforcing bars sufficient embedment to enable them to be stressed without slipping

Guidelines


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The amount of cover depth that needs to be provided is usually based on the exposure conditions that thestructure is likely to be subjected. The Indian Concrete Code mandates the following:

Nominal Cover Requirements based on Exposure Conditions in Indian Concrete Code

IS:456-2000

Exposure Condition Nominal Cover

(mm)

Mild 20

Moderate 30

Severe 45

Very Severe 50

Extreme 75

Other national codes also specify minimum cover requirements based on their respective local exposureconditions.

Paradox about Concrete Cover

Large cover depths (50-75 mm) are required to protect reinforcement against corrosion in aggressiveenvironments, but thick cover leads to increased crack widths in flexural reinforced concrete members.Large crack-widths (greater than 0.3 mm) permit ingress of moisture and chemical attack to the concrete,

resulting in possible corrosion of reinforcement and deterioration of concrete. Therefore, thick coversdefeat the very purpose for which it is provided. There is a need for judicious balance of cover depth and

crack width requirements.

A brief about Concrete mixer and Ready mix concrete

Concrete mixer

The portable concrete/mortar mixer has wheels and a towing tongue so that it can be towed by a motorvehicle and moved around the worksite by hand, and its rotation is powered by mains electricity. The lever

allows the concrete/mortar to be tipped into a wheelbarrow.

A concrete mixer (also commonly called a cement mixer) is a device that homogeneously combinescement, aggregate such as sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a

revolving drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works portable concrete mixers are often usedso that the concrete can be made at the construction site, giving the workers ample time to use the concretebefore it hardens. An alternative to a machine is mixing concrete or cement by hand. This is usually done

in a wheelbarrow; however, several companies have recently begun to sell modified tarps for this purpose.

Ready Mix Concrete (RMC)

Ready Mixed Concrete, or RMC as it is popularly called, refers to concrete that is specificallymanufactured for delivery to the customer's construction site in a freshly mixed and plastic or unhardenedstate. Concrete itself is a mixture of Portland cement, water and aggregates comprising sand and gravel or

crushed stone. In traditional work sites, each of these materials is procured separately and mixed inspecified proportions at site to make concrete. Ready Mixed Concrete is bought and sold by volume -usually expressed in cubic meters. RMC can be custom-made to suit different applications. Ready Mixed

Concrete is manufactured under computer-controlled operations and transported and placed at site using

sophisticated equipment and methods. RMC assures its customers numerous benefits.


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Advantages of Ready mix Concrete over Site mix Concrete

Better quality concrete is produced.

Elimination of storage space for basic materials at site.

Elimination of procurement / hiring of plant and machinery

Wastage of basic materials is avoided.

Labor associated with production of concrete is eliminated.

Time required is greatly reduced.

Noise and dust pollution at site is reduced.

Transportation of Ready Mix Concrete

Special concrete transport trucks (intransit mixers) are made to transport and mix concrete from afactory/plant to the construction yard. They are charged with dry materials and water, with the mixingoccurring during transport. (Although, more modern plants load the truck with 'Ready Mixed' concrete.With this process, the material has already been mixed, and then is loaded into the truck. The ready mixtruck maintains the material's liquid state, through agitation, or turning of the drum, until delivery.) Theinterior of the drum on a concrete truck is fitted with a spiral blade. In one rotational direction, the concrete

is pushed deeper into the drum. This is the direction the drum is rotated while the concrete is beingtransported to the building site. This is known as "charging" the mixer. When the drum rotates in the otherdirection, the Archimedes screw-type arrangement "discharges", or forces the concrete out of the drum.

From there it may go onto chutes to guide the viscous concrete directly to the job site. If the truck cannotget close enough to the site to use the chutes, the concrete may be discharged into a concrete pumpconnected to a flexible hose, or onto with a conveyor belt which can be extended some distance (typically

ten meters). A pump provides the means to move the material to precise locations, multi-floor buildings,

and other distance prohibitive locations.


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Cement & Aggregates

Different type of Cements

Strength Alteration of Cement Due to Storage

Classification of Lime - Clause 3.1.3.1 of CPWD Specifications

Table of Bulking of Fine Aggregate - Clause 3.1.4.5 of CPWD Specifications

Different type of Cements

Various types of Cements are being used in India:

S. No. Type of CementSpecific IS Code(Linked to BIS site for

catalogue)

01 Masonry Cement IS : 3466-1988

02 33 Grade of OPC IS : 269-1989

03 43 Grade of OPC IS : 8112-1989

04 53 Grade of OPC IS : 12269 - 1987

05 Portland Pozzolana Cement IS : 1489 - 1991

06 Portland (Blast Furnace) Slag Cement IS : 455 - 198907 Rapid Hardening Portland Cement IS : 8041 -1990

08 Hydrophobic Portland Cement IS : 8043 - 1991

09 Low Heat Portland Cement IS : 12600 - 1989

10 Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement IS : 12330 - 1988

11 High Alumina Cement IS : 6452 - 1989

12 White Portland Cement IS : 8042 - 1989

13 Oil Well Cement IS : 8229 - 1986

14 Super Sulphate Cement IS : 6909 - 1990

15 Thermal Insulation finishing Cement IS : 9743 - 1990

16 Thermal Insulating Cements IS : 7509 - 199317 Thermal Insulating Cements (Type 350) IS : 7510 - 1974
http://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/3466.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/269.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8112.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12269.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/1489_2.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/455.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8041.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8043.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12600.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12330.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/6452.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8042.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8229.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/6909.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/9743.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/7509.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/7510.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/7510.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/7509.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/9743.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/6909.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8229.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8042.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/6452.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12330.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12600.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8043.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8041.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/455.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/1489_2.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/12269.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/8112.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/269.htmlhttp://www.bis.org.in/bis/html/3466.html


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Strength Alteration of Cement Due to Storage

Cement stored for long periods tend to loose strength if conditions of storage are notperfect:

S. No. Storage period of Cement Strength Reduction

01 Fresh NIL

02 3 months old 20 %

03 6 months old 30 %04 12 months old 40 %05 24 months old 50 %

Classification of Lime Clause 3.1.3.1 of CPWD Specifications

Lime used in building construction shall confirm to IS : 712-1984

S.No.

Class of Lime Description / Details

01 Class A Eminently hydraulic lime used for structural purpose.

02 Class B Semi hydraulic lime used for masonry mortars.03 Class C

Fat lime used for finishing coat in plastering, white washing etc. &addition of pozzolanic material for masonry mortar.

04 Class DMagnesium lime used for finished coat in plastering, white washingetc.

05 Class E Kankar lime used for masonry mortars.

Bulking of Fine Aggregate Cl. 3.1.4.5 of CPWD Specifications

Table gives relation between moisture content & percentage of bulking (for guidance only)

S.No.

Moisture content percentage Bulking Percentage (By Volume)

01 2 % 15 %

02 3 % 20 %

03 4 % 25 %04 5 % 30 %


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Drinking Water Standards

Physical & Chemical Standards for Water

(Compiled from Central Public Health and Environmental EngineeringOrganisation's Manual on Water supply & Treatment)

a) The Physical & Chemical quality of drinking water should not exceed the limitsshown in the Table.

S. No. Characteristics Acceptable* **Causes for Remarks

Rejection

1Turbidity (Units on J.T.U.Scale)

2.5 10

2Colour (Units on Platinumcobalt scale)

5 25

3Taste and Odour Unobjectionable Unobjectionable

4pH 7.0 to 8.5 9.2

5Total dissolved solids(mg/l)

500 1500

6Total hardness (mg/l) (asCaCO3)

200 600

7Chlorides (as Cl) (mg/l) 200 1000

8sulphates (as SO4) 200 400

9Flourides (as F) (mg/l) 1 1.5

10Nitrates (as NO3) (mg/l) 45 45

11Calcium (as Ca) (mg/l) 75 200

12Magnesium (as Mg) (mg/l) >30 150

If there are 250 mg/l of sulphates, Mg content can be increased to amaximum of 125 mg/l with the reduction of sulphates at the rate of 1

unit per every 2.5 units of sulphates.

13Iron (as Fe) (mg/l0 0.1 1

14Manganese (as Mn) (mg /l)

0.05 0.5

15Copper (as Cu) (mg / l) 0.05 1.5

16Zinc (as Zn) (mg / l) 5 15

17Phenolic compounds (asPhenol) (mg/l)

0.001 0.002

18Anionic detergents (mg / l)(as MBAS)

0.2 1


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19Mineral Oil (mg / l) 0.01 0.3

TOXIC MATERIALS

20Arsenic (as As) (mg / l) 0.05 0.05

21Cadmium (as Cd) (mg / l) 0.01 0.01

22Chromium (as HexavalentCr) (mg/l)

0.05 0.05

23Cyanides (as CN) (mg/l) 0.05 0.05

24Lead (as Pb) (mg/l) 0.1 0.1

25Selenium (as Se) (mg/l) 0.01 0.01

26Mercury (total as Hg)(mg/l) 0.001 0.001

27Polynuclear aromatichydrocarbons (PAH)

.2 micro g / l .2 micro g / l

RADIO ACTIVITY

28Gross Alpha Activity 3pCi/l 3pCi/l

29gross Beta Activity 30pCi/l 30pCi/l

pCi = pico curie

Notes:*1 The figures indicated under the column 'Acceptable' are the limits upto which

water is generally acceptable to the consumers.

**2 Figures in excess of those mentioned under 'Acceptable render the water notacceptable, but still may be tolerated in the absence of alternative and bettersource upto the limits indicated under column "Cause for Rejection" abovewhich the supply will have to be rejected.

*3 It is possible that some mine & spring waters may exceed these radio activitylimits and in such cases it is necessary to analyse the individual radiconuclidesin order to assess the acceptability or otherwise for public consumption.

b) Bacteriological Standards

Guideline Values for Bacteriological Quality

S. No. Organism Unit GuidelineValue

Remarks

A. Piped Water Supplies

A.1 Treated Water entering the distribution system


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Type of Form Works.

Formwork comes in three main types:

Traditional timber formwork. The formwork is built on site out of timber and plywood ormoisture resistant particleboard. It is easy to produce but time consuming for larger structures,and the plywood facing has a relatively short lifespan. It is still used extensively where the labour

costs are lower than the costs for procuring re-usable formwork. It is also the most flexible type offormwork, so even where other systems are in use, complicated sections may use it.

Engineered Formwork systems. This formwork is built out of prefabricated modules with ametal frame (usually steel) and covered on the application (concrete) side with material havingthe wanted surface structure (steel, timber, etc.). The two major advantages of formwork systems,

compared to traditional timber formwork, are speed of construction (modular systems clip orscrew together quickly) and lower life-cycle costs (barring major force, the frame is almostindestructible, while the covering may have to be replaced after a few - or a few dozen - uses,

depending on the applications).o Re-usable plastic formwork. These interlocking and modular systems are used to build

widely variable, but relatively simple concrete structures. The panels are lightweight and

very robust.

Stay-In-Place Formwork systems. This formwork is assembled on site, usually out ofprefabricated insulating concrete forms. The formwork stays in place (or is simply covered withearth in case of buried structures) after the concrete has cured, and may provide thermal and

acoustic insulation, space to run utilities within, or backing for finishes.o Stay-In-Place Structural Formwork systems. This formwork is assembled on site, usually

out of prefabricated fibre-reinforced plastic forms. These are in the shape of hollowtubes, and are usually used for columns and piers. The formwork stays in place after the

concrete has cured and acts as axial and shear reinforcement, as well as serving toconfine the concrete and prevent against environmental effects, such as corrosion and

freeze-thaw cycles.

Table or Flying Form Systems

These systems consist of slab formwork tables that are reused on multiple stories of a building withoutbeing dismantled. The assembled sections are either lifted per elevator or flown by crane from one story

to the next. Once in position the gabs between the tables or table and wall are filled with fillers. They

vary in shape and size as well as their building material. The use of these systems can greatly reduce the

time and manual labor involved in setting and striking the formwork. Their advantages are best utilized bylarge area and simple structures. It is also common for architects and engineers to design building around

one of these systems.

Material for Formwork -

Timber - Lumber or timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has beenprocessed for usefrom the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrialuseas structural material for construction or wood pulp for paper production. "Timber" is a term also

used for sawn wood products (that is, boards),

Lumber is supplied either rough or finished. Rough lumber is the raw material for furniture making andother items requiring additional cutting and shaping. It is available in many species, usually hardwoods.

Finished lumber is supplied in standard sizes, mostly for the construction industry, and is primarily one ofa few coniferous (needle-bearing) species such as pine, cedar, hemlock, fir or spruce.


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resistance to organisms that cause deterioration. If it is applied correctly, it extends the productive life oflumber by five to ten times. If left untreated, wood that is exposed to moisture or soil for sustained periods

of time will become weakened by various types of fungi, bacteria or insects.

Particle Boards

Particleboard, or particle board, (called "chipboard" in the UK and Australia) is an engineered woodproduct manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even saw dust, and a

synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded. Particleboard is a type offibreboard, a composite material, but it is made up of larger pieces of wood than medium-densityfibreboard and hardboard.

Characteristics

Particleboard is cheaper, denser and more uniform than conventional wood and plywood and is substituted

for them when appearance and strength are less important than cost. However, particleboard can be mademore attractive by painting or the use of wood veneers that are glued onto surfaces that will be visible.Though it is denser than conventional wood, it is the lightest and weakest type of fiberboard, except for

insulation board. Medium-density fibreboard and hardboard, also called high-density fiberboard, are

stronger and denser than particleboard.

A major disadvantage of particleboard is that it is very prone to expansion and discoloration due tomoisture, particularly when it is not covered with paint or another sealer. Therefore, it is rarely usedoutdoors or places that have high levels of moisture, with the exception of some bathrooms, kitchens and

laundries, where it is commonly used as an underlayment beneath a continuous sheet of vinyl floorcovering. In such an installation the edges must be properly covered upward against the wall and joints andnon-covered edges must be properly sealed against moisture penetration. A higher quality material not

subject to expansion is underlayment-grade plywood, which is constructed without interior voids in itslayers to better resist the high local pressure from objects such as stiletto heels

Climbing Form Work

Ans. Climbing formwork is a special type of formwork for concrete structures that rises with the buildingprocess. Best known in the construction of towers, skyscrapers and other tall vertical structures, it allowsthe reuse of the same formwork over and over for identical (or very similar) sections / stories further up the

structure.

The climbing formwork structure normally does not only contain the formwork itself, but also usually

provides working space / scaffolds for construction crews. It may also provide areas for machinery and

screens for weather protection.

Types

Climbing formwork (crane-climbing) - in this type of climbing formwork, the formworkaround the structure is displaced upwards with the help of one or more cranes once the hardening

of the concrete has proceeded far enough. This may entail lifting the whole section, or be

achieved segmentally.

Climbing formwork (self-climbing) or Slip Form- In this type of formwork, the structureelevates itself with the help of mechanic leverage equipment (usually hydraulic). To do this, it

fixes itself to sacrificial cones or rails emplaced in the previously cast concrete.
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Gliding formwork - This type of formwork is similar to the self-climbing type above.However, the climbing process is continuous instead of intermittent, and is usually only broken

for a short time (for example to fix the mounting mechanisms to new anchoring points). The

advantage is that it will produce seamless structures, but it requires a continuous, uninterruptedprocess throughout.


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Technical Tips on Form Work / Shuttering

Deviation from Specified dimensions of Form Work

The Form work shall be designed and constructed to the shapes, lines and dimensionsshoiwn on the drawings within tolerance given as under:

ElementDeviation from specified

dimensions

a)Deviation from specified dimensions of cross section ofcolumns and beams

- 6 mm+ 12 mm

b) Deviation from dimensions of footings

1) Dimension in plan - 12 mm+ 50 mm

2) Eccentricity

0.02 times the width of footing

in the direction of deviationbut not more than 50mm

3) Thickness+/- 0.05 times the specified

thickness

Removal of Form Work (Stripping Time) - Clause 5.2.3.7 of CPWDSpecifications

In normal circumstances and where OPC is used, forms may generally be removed afterthe expiry of the following periods:

Type of Form Work (Location)Min period before

striking Form Worka) Vertical formwork to columns, Walls, beam 16 - 24 hrs

b)Soffit formwork

Documents

eBook - Gopaals Notes on Construction Engineering-Revised Edition- May-12