Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Basements

Professor R S Narayanan FREng

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Interest in basements has increased

considerably
Reasons for their popularity include
Shortage of development land in cities & towns

High cost of land

Planning restrictions on height of vertical extensions of
existing buildings

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

The Times
16-11-2011

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Guidance aplenty!

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

The challenge
Exclusion of ground water
Achieving suitable internal environment for the
occupancy
Safe method of construction and minimum damage
to adjacent structures

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

The design process

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Collaborative effort
Manage clients aspirations

Safe excavation
Water exclusion

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Collaborative effort
Number parties will be involved including the client

Define the responsibility of parties at the outset

(e.g.) Water tightness, vapour tightness (damp proofing,
tanking etc), drainage

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Clients aspirations

Definition of functional environment

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Clients aspirations

Definition of water tightness

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Clients aspirations

Convince the client that

it is essential to obtain
a thorough site investigation and

data on surrounding structures

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Clients aspirations

Ground movements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Clients aspirations

Ground movements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Options for safe excavation
Open excavation

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Options for safe excavation

Top down construction

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Options for safe excavation

Design cannot be divorced from the method of construction

Designer should prepare a statement on the method assumed
in design
The net useable basement area will vary with the option for
excavation and the client should be advised

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Options for exclusion of ground water
Water resistant rc box
or
Accept and manage some ingress of water

Multiple precautions will be prudent in some cases

(e.g.) archives, very expensive properties
Remember: repairing an occupied basement can be extremely
expensive!
Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Planning basements
Options for exclusion of ground water
Concrete is inherently watertight
Magic potions are not required to make it watertight!

But
it is not vapour tight
Damp proof membranes will be required to make concrete vapour
tight

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Multiple protection

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Example of multiple protection & top down construction

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Example of multiple protection & top down construction

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Example of multiple protection & top down construction

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Example of multiple protection &

top down construction

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Concrete

Cement types: IIB (CEM I + 25% -35% fly ash) or III (CEM I
+ 36% - 65% ggbs)
Good compaction essential; hence consistence class S3
250mm of well compacted concrete should be water resistant
by itself.
Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Reinforcement for crack control
Minimum area
Related to the tensile strength of concrete when cracking is
first expected

Sufficient area
Related to the limiting crack width and restraint

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Joints

Movement joints are undesirable and generally unnecessary in

basements
Construction joints are unavoidable
Full continuity of reinforcement and water bar protection
should be incorporated in all construction joints

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Water bars

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng

Guidance on the design and construction of concrete basements

Thank you for your attention

Prof. R. S. Narayanan FREng