DOS & DONTS

OF
QUALITY CONCRETE,
REINFORCEMENT
AND
RCC IN MAJOR PROJECTS

www.constroinfo.com

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.

Setting out of Building

Excavation
Concreting

Cement

Aggregates

Form Work

Reinforcement

Concrete Work
www.constroinfo.com

4. Testing

Building Bricks

Cement

Coarse Aggregate

MS & TOR Steel

Concrete

www.constroinfo.com

Setting Out of Buildings.

Check Orientation according to site condition.

Mark all buildings according to plans on gound before

starting excavation.

Ensure that plinth level, length of wall and right

angles/diagonals are checked.

Dont overlook underground cables, sewage/water

mains, electric/telephone wire coming in the way of
siting of bldgs.

Dont provide high plinths and consider stepping

foundations where necessary

www.constroinfo.com

Excavation.

Ensure that safe bearing capacity is checked before

commencement of the work. (IS : 1904)

Ensure that refilling of trenches done in layers of not

exceeding 15 cm with available means as specified,
adequately watered and consolidated.

Ensure safety precautions while excavating in soft

soils or in case of deep excavations. (IS : 5121 1979
and IS : 3764 1966).

Ensure that foundation shall be laid and on original

www.constroinfo.com
GL.

Ensure in RCC footing, the thickness at the edge shall

not be less than 150mm for footing on soils and not

less

than 300mm above the top of piles for fasting in piles. (IS : 456
2000 clause 34.1.2).

Ensure min depth of foundation as per subsoil

investigation report.

Only approved earth must be used in filling under

foundation, plinth and floors. Avoid silt and expensive soil for
filling

Do not lay foundation till hard soil/moorum/rocks is met

with.

www.constroinfo.com

Do not over look the measures for anti termite soil

treatment. (IS : 6313 (Pt III 1981).

NB.

The chemicals are banned vide E-in-Cs Branch letter

No
(a)

Aldrin EC

(b)

Heptachlor EC

( c)

Chlordane EC

Only chloropyrophos EC 20% is to be used.

www.constroinfo.com

QUALITY
CONCRETING
www.constroinfo.com

Cement. Accept from main producers

Ensure proper dunnage for storing cement. It

shall be stored in water proof sheds.

Ensure that stocks are consumed reasonably/

quickly so that the stock remains as fresh as
possible. (FIFO). Cement over 6 months be
tested for its strength, setting time etc before
use.

Do not stack more than 12 bags high to avoid

humping under pressure.

Use cement batching always by weight (mass).

www.constroinfo.com

Aggregates.

Aggregate shall comply with requirements of

IS : 383. Preference should be given to natural
aggregate (IS : 456-2000 clause 5.3)

Test for alkaline aggregate reaction is must

(8.2.5.4).

Test for deleterious content of sand is must.

Use the sand washed condition.

Use of too fine sand should be avoided. FM

below 0.6 is dangerous.

Ensure grading of coarse and fine aggregate as

(well graded). 20mm aggregate is suitable for
this zone.
www.constroinfo.com

The grading of coarse and fine aggregate should

be checked frequently as possible (10.2.1).

Mica content of fine sand should not be

overlooked. Excess of 6% may not be allowed
1982).

(SP-23-

Coarse and fine aggregate shall be batched

separately. IS : 456 2000 Clause 5.3.4)

Determine MC in both FA & CA as frequently

as possible as per IS : 2386 (Pt 3).

Allow proper allowances for variation in masses

of aggregate due to MC.
www.constroinfo.com

Form Work.(IS : 14687- latest)

Remember : Good finishing practices are essential

for durable concrete

Use steel shuttering/plywood shuttering/timber

shuttering. In case of timber shuttering see that

the joints are neat and if possible tongued and grooved
to avoid any loss of slurry from the
concrete. (11.1
IS : 456 2000).

Ensure adequate supports/bracings to withstand

concrete tamping/vibration pressure.

www.constroinfo.com

Provide proper wedges while using oil on steel

plate, ensure no spillage are the reinforcement

Do not allow rickety formwork or yielding

supports like cracked ballies bamboos.

Failure of auditorium at Dehradun (during

)
being completed by NBCC was due to failure of
form works. It should be rigid and of
adequate strength.

The face of form work in contact with concrete

shall be cleaned and treated with form release
agent like oil, soap solution, water wash.

Ensure thin quoting of release agents to form

works without coating reinforcement avoid .
spillage etc while coating (IS : 456 2000,
Clause 11.2) www.constroinfo.com
.

Do not allow very old formworks/shuttering.

Ensure removal of

shavings, saw dust

rubbish, chippings,

from the interior of the

forms. (IS : 456 2000, Clause 11.2)

Do not remove form work untill concrete has

hardened for specified days. (Recommended
stripping time) (IS : 456 2000, clause 11.3.1)

The number of props left under shall be spaced

adequately to safely carry the full dead load of
concrete and live load likely to occur during
curing or further construction.
www.constroinfo.com

Reinforcement.(Reinforcement shall be
bent and fixed in accordance with
procedure specified in IS : 2502 (12.1).

Accept the reinforcement from the main

producer only SAIL/TISCO etc,

All reinforcement shall be free from loose mill

scales, loose rust and coats of paints, oil, mud
or any other substances which may destroy or
reduce the bond (IS : 456 2000 Clause 5.6.1).

When reinforcement is left exposed for future

construction, it should be adequately protected
from corrosion and weathering action.
www.constroinfo.com

Congestion of steel should be avoided at

intersections.

Ensure hooked and bent bars have adequate

concrete cover.

Ensure splicing in reinforcing bars are of correct

dimensions and away from maximum
stress
and properly staggered .

Check that cranking is at correct position.

Provide skin/side face reinforcement for

Beam 750mm (without torsion)

Beam 450 mm (with torsion)

Storage www.constroinfo.com
of steel shall be as per IS : 4082 (5.7)

Do not use too many small lengths.

Do not allow different types of metal within

the concrete mass to avoid bimetal

corrosion. (IS : 456 2000 Clause 12.6)

Crossing bars should not be tack-welded.

Ensure bar bending schedules to be

prepared. (Clause 12.1 ISO 4066 1977

for detailing).

Ensure that bar supports and cover blocks

are placed to maintain correct and bottom
side cover.
www.constroinfo.com

Ensure high chairs and stools on to support

supper reinforcement mats at the correct level
(SP 23 clause 2.5).

Ensure that positioning of down take pipes

(inlets/outlets) sleeves, pipes and electrical
conduits alongwith reinforcement.

Avoid rough handling, shock loading and

dropping from height of reinforcement.

No welding should be allowed for splicing

spacers ; cover blocks should be of concrete

same strength or PVC (12.3.1)
www.constroinfo.com

of

Ensure special ductility detailing for

earthquake resistant buildings (IS : 4326

1976)

www.constroinfo.com

Concrete Work.

prior

Ensure to give adequate notice to the contractor

to start any important operation for

concreting. (IS : 456 2000 Clause 13.6)

Batching for concrete should be allowed by mass

only for cement and aggregates.

Water shall be

weighed or measured by volume in a calibrated tank.

(IS : 456-2000, Clause 10.2).

Weigh

batching

machine is a mandatory requirement.

Ensure deep containers for transportation of

concrete during
hot weather. (IS : 456 2000,
www.constroinfo.com

Clause

Ensure that concrete is placed and compacted

before initial set.

Use vibrators for all RCC and pavement slabs

and other important works.

Ensure concrete cubes are made and tested

as specified.

Ensure proper curing.

Do not allow concreting unless you have been

satisfied regarding positioning of

reinforcement, spacers, soundness of

and all aspects.www.constroinfo.com

formwork

Do not allow excessive vibration.

Do not allow over trowelling/floating.

Do not expose fresh concreting to scorching sun,

rain or frost. Avoid concreting in such conditions

unavoidable, precautions enumerated in

if
SP : 25-

1984 should be adopted.

Ensure that measuring guage boxes are of

correct sizes and actually used for measuring

aggregate.

Ensure that sand and aggregate conforms to

grading specified.
www.constroinfo.com

Ensure that slump test is carried out at regular

intervals.

Check proportion of silt in sand.

Ensure proper water cement ratio.

Ensure that curing of the concrete is done for

specified number of days.

Ensure immediate inspection of site after

stripping the form works for any defective

works.

Ensure that where foundations are stepped the

overlap is more than thickness of concrete layer.
www.constroinfo.com

Concrete mix should be workable mix.

Ensure concreting for fire resistant structure as

per IS : 1642.

Dont allow concrete to be compacted in layer

exceeding what thickness is stipulated in specification.

Dont allow ramming/vibration of concrete once

the concrete has set.

Dont allow concreting in severe weather. If

unavoidable precautions as per IS : 7861 should be
followed.

Dont allow concrete to be thrown from a height.

(permissible free fall 1.5m as per IS : 456-2000)
www.constroinfo.com

Dont do excessive vibration. Otherwise

segregation starts.

Do not allow any rubbish particularly

chippings

shavings and sawdust in the

interior of the forms

Do not allow construction joints by free flow

of concrete. It should be true vertical.

Ensure all Quality Assurance Measures

incorporated in IS : 456-2000.

www.constroinfo.com

TESTINGS
www.constroinfo.com

BUILDING BRICKS

Test to be done

Compressive Strength

Water absorption

Efflorescence

Warpage

Dimensions

Shape and texture

www.constroinfo.com

Basis of Testing

IS : 3495 1976 (Part I to IV)

IS : 1077 1986

IS : 5454 1978

Sampling

Sampling may be done while bricks are in

motion or when they are stacked.

In both the cases a sample of 50 bricks should be

taken from every consignment of 50,000 bricks
or part thereof. Samples should be stored
in dry place till tests are carried out.

Minimum number of bricks required for testing

is 20. www.constroinfo.com

CEMENT

Test to be Performed

Fineness

Soundness

Setting Time

Compressive and tensile strength

Chemical Requirements

Drying shrinkage for PPC

www.constroinfo.com

Basis of Testing

IS : 269 1976 for OPC

IS : 8112 1976 for High strength

IS : 1489 1976 for PPC

Sampling

A fair average sample should be obtained from a

mixture of approximately equal portions taken from
12
different bags. Final sample should not weigh less
than
10 kgs

www.constroinfo.com

COARSE& FINE AGGREGATE

Tests to be Performed

Sieve analysis

Specific gravity, density, voids, moisture

content/absorption and bulking

Organic impurities

Flankiness Index

Elongation Index

Aggregate impact value

Aggregate crushing value

Aggregate abrasion value

Soundness of aggregate
www.constroinfo.com

Basis of Testing and Sampling

IS : 2386 1963 (Part I to VIII)

IS : 383 - 1970

IS : 5640 1970

IS : 2430 - 1986

Sampling

The sampling is to be carried out as per IS : 2430

for each lot of 15m3 or part thereof. Material
of each nominal size should be separately sampled. The
weight of sample to be sent should
be as
follows :Max size present

Size of Sample in kg

(i)

Coarse aggregate 63 cm

100 Kg

(ii)

www.constroinfo.com
40mm and
below
50 Kg

Aggregate should be packed in double gunny bags to

prevent loss in transit. The size of aggregates should be

prominently marked on gunny bags.

www.constroinfo.com

MILD STEEL & MEDIUM TENSILE STEEL

Tests to be Performed

Tolerance in dimension weight

Tensile test

Reverse bend test

Basis of Tests

IS : 432 1982 226 - 1975

IS : 1786 1985 (for Deformed bars)

IS : 4905 1968

www.constroinfo.com

Sampling

For tensile test, one test piece should be selected for

every 40 tonne and for cold bend test one piece should be
selected for every 20 tonne. A separate test is to be
carried
out for each diameter or for thickness of bar.
Length of
specimen for each test should not be less than
1.5m

www.constroinfo.com

CONCRETE

Tests to be Performed

Workability

Compressing Strength

Core strength (where required)

Flexure strength (where required)

Basis of Tests

IS : 1199 - 1959

IS : 516 1959

IS : 456 2000
www.constroinfo.com

Frequency of sampling.

Workability to be tested for each batch of concrete as

per IS : 456 2000

Compressive strength by casting 3 cube samples for 7

days and 28 days, be tested in accordance with
IS : 456 2000

Flexure strength by costing 3 beams samples for 7 days

and 28 days be tested.

www.constroinfo.com

GENERAL
www.constroinfo.com

Some important points are mentioned below :

Study carefully all drawings, specifications, SSR

and contract conditions. Always have copies of

above

mentioned documents readily available for

consultation.

Get conversant with all the relevant TDs of

the Zone

Do not hesitate to point out any mistake in

drawings, specifications or contract documents. In case

of doubt , get clarification from your
officer.
www.constroinfo.com

superior

Keep samples of all materials to be

incorporated in works for ready comparison

with approved samples kept in GEs

sample

room.

Ensure deployment of qualified site engineer

by the contractor.

Ensure better co-ordination between E/M

and B/R activities of the project.

For RCC framed, construction of panel walls

& partition wall should be proceeded with
from top down ward
www.constroinfo.com

For RCC frame structures, the drgs/provisions of

ductility provisions should be well understood.

Do not adopt a very fast pace of construction to avoid

cracking.

Ensure that essential field testing equipment such

as plumb bob, measuring tape, spirit level,

compass, leveling instrument etc are in good

condition

readily available.

Ensure all the tests specified in Contract Agreement of

the Zone as per Appx D .
www.constroinfo.com

Ensure that all work site documents like works Diary,

site instruction book, stage - passing register, measurement book, testing register, steel acceptance register,
sample passing register etc are properly filled
regularly or periodically.

See that contractors work is properly organized and

executed with efficient manner.

A proper job-oriented CPM analysis chart should

be prepared with the help of contractor and work
executed accordingly.

Ensure STEs/TEs obsns are replied and recoveries/

rectifications effected promptly

Ensure users participation since inception of the

project.
www.constroinfo.com

THANK YOU
www.constroinfo.com