i

A TECHNICAL REPORT

ON

SETTING OUT

PREPARED BY

EMMANUEL ADEDEJI BALOGUN

CVE/2013/061

SUBMITTED TO MR. R.B. AJALA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY,

ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE.

January 2019
 ii

Department of Civil Engineering,

Obafemi Awolowo University,

Ile-Ife,

Osun state.

9th January, 2018.

Mr. R.B. Ajala,

Department of Civil Engineering,

Obafemi Awolowo University,

Ile-Ife,

Osun state.

Dear Sir,

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

Please find attached, the setting out report written in fulfilment of CVE 502

(Construction Engineering) requirement.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

……………………………….

Emmanuel Balogun Adedeji

CVE/2013/061
 iii

ACKNOWLEDEMENT

I thank the Almighty God, the Omniscient Spirit and the Author and Dispenser of

Knowledge and Wisdom. May His holy name be glorified for His grace and for His

blessings upon humanity.

I will like to appreciate the support, encouragement and prayers of my parents; Mr. and

Mrs. Balogun. May the good Lord continue to grant them sound health, protection and

prosperity.

Finally, I will like to thank Mr. R.B. Ajala for his efforts in impacting the needful

knowledge of setting out as regards construction engineering.

 iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ii

ACKNOWLEDEMENT iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii

CHAPTER ONE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 General Background 1

1.2 Objectives of Setting Out 2
CHAPTER TWO 3

LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Setting Out 3

2.2 Elements of Setting Out 3
2.3 Equipment for Setting Out 3
2.4 Principle of Setting Out 6
2.5 Methods of Setting Out 7
2.5.1 Builder square method 7
2.5.2 3-4-5 method 8
2.5.3 Theodolite method 8
2.6 Procedure for Setting Out 14
CHAPTER THREE 16

MATERIALS, METHODS AND PRECAUTIONS 16

3.1 Materials and Equipment 16

3.2 Method Used for Setting Out 18
3.3 Precautions 21
3.3.1 Good practice in office 21
3.3.2 On site control of Setting out errors 22
3.3.3 Equipment and staff 22
 v

3.3.4 Checks to prevent setting out errors 22

3.3.5 Marking the ground for building set out 23
3.3.6 Use of grid offset 23
CHAPTER FOUR 26

CONCLUSION 26

REFERENCES 27
 vi

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Equipment 5

Figure 2.2: A typical builders’ square, used for setting out 10

Figure 2.3: The 3-4-5 method 11

Figure 2.4: A labeled theodolite 12

Figure 2.5: Setting out using the theodolite 13

Figure 3.1: Example of plan to be set out on ground 20

Figure 3.2: Gridline and Offset line for building setting out 25
 vii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Setting out is the establishment of the marks and lines to define the position and level
of the fundamental elements for the construction work in order that the work can
proceed with reference to them.

In this report, the material and equipment used and involved in setting out process are
explained. The principle as well as methods used for the various setting out are also
explained.

Methods discussed in this report include the builders’ square method, 3-4-5 method and
the theodolite method. Precautions taken in setting out method are also explained in
this report.
 1

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Background

In every country, construction is a major activity and setting out, therefore becomes an

important work for the surveyor. Normally surveying involves preparation of

a map or plan showing existing features of the ground. Setting out is the reverse

process of fixing on the ground the details shown in a map or plan.

In order to begin excavation of trenches required for a building’s foundation, the builder

must know the positions and levels of building lines shown on the construction plans

on the ground. That is, the exact length, width, depth, and position of the foundation

trenches must be marked on the ground. This movement from the construction plan to

the actual site by transferring dimensions from the layout plan to the ground is called

setting out. It is probably the most critical step in the entire construction process.

Controlling dimensions and references on the plans will determine the positioning of

the building, and in particular its foundations. These include; overall length and width,

distances to road centre-lines and to other structures, internal structural measurements,

approaches and rights-of-way and so on.

The controlling points of the structure can then be marked so that the construction team

is able to easily identify them. This usually consists of marking the building’s corners,

horizontal and vertical positions, using stakes, batter boards with string lines, drill

holes, cut-and-fill notations, and other methods.

Main reasons for setting out are to allow for construction to be done within the legal

boundary, which is vital to ensure no boundary disputes later on and also to enable the
 2

construction team to build exactly to plan as markers are physically laid out in front of

them.

1.2 Objectives of Setting Out

The specific objectives of setting out are;

(a) to define accurately the outline and width of the excavation and the centre line

of proposed building walls.

(b) to ensure that the various element of the schemes is positioned correctly in all

dimensions both relatively and absolutely.

 3

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Setting Out

Setting out is the translation of construction plans into physical points on the ground

that can be used as a basis for the actual construction. Construction surveying provides

not only the horizontal location of new structure, but also the vertical information

required. The setting out survey consists of locating and marking horizontal and vertical

control points of the layout structure.

2.2 Elements of Setting Out

Setting out is generally performing the following tasks:

 survey existing conditions of the future work site, including topography,

existing buildings and infrastructure even including underground infrastructure

whenever possible (for example, measuring invert elevations and diameters of

sewers at manholes).

 Stake out reference points and markers that will guide the construction of new

structures.

 Verify the location of structures during construction.

 Provide horizontal control on multiple floors.

 Conduct an As-Built surveying: a survey conducted at the end of the

construction project to verify that the work authorized was completed to the

specifications set on plans.

2.3 Equipment for Setting Out

Equipment used in setting out of process includes

 4

i. Pegs: The pegs have to be driven in 500 mm outside the final position of the

building. Pegs or stakes are used to mark out residential boundaries and indicate

points and positions of a site. They are usually made of wood (although some are

made of metal or plastic). Figure 2a shows a peg.

ii. Profile board: A sight rail placed on the pegs outside of an excavation, usually

in pairs to mark out excavation soil.

iii. Measuring tape: A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler and used

to measure distance. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal

strip with linear-measurement markings. It is a common measuring tool. Figure

2b shows a measuring tape.

iv. Lines (different colours): This is used for alignment and to guide while

excavating the soil.

v. 2 inches Nails: These are used to couple the peg and profile board together, and

are also used for noting points of excavation. Lines are also tied on it during

excavation. This can be seen in Figure 2c.

vi. Builders square: This is used to obtain a perfect 900 shape at corner joints.

Figure 1d sows a builders square.

vii. Theodolite: This is a surveying instrument, consisting of a small mounted

telescope, used to measure horizontal and vertical angles.

viii. Hammer: used to nailed nails to make desired joints.

 5

(a)

(b)

(d)
(c)

Figure 2.1: Equipment (a) peg (b) measuring tape (c) nail (d) builders square
 6

2.4 Principle of Setting Out

Setting out is done on the principle of whole to part. According to this principle the

largest possible rectangle of the building is found and set out. The rectangle is further

partitioned into small parts (internal rooms). It’s very important to ensure that the main

rectangle (external wall) is set in a horizontal level.

The level is obtained by use of a clear hose pipe filled with water. Ensuring that the

pegs are positioned at the same horizontal level is very important as it eliminates

arithmetic errors, which could arise when getting your diagonals, to establish if the

house is indeed square.

The main rectangle is set using the pegs that are in horizontal level. The diagonals of

the main rectangle are checked to determine its accuracy. Accurately set up main

rectangle is then subdivided to obtain the consisting gridlines. These are obtained by

the using structural drawings, Theodolite and steel tape. Nylon threads are stretched

between the pegs to obtain the gridlines when necessary. For this division of the internal

wall to take place, profiles must be in place on the ground. Profiles consist of pegs,

driven into the ground, with cross pieces of timber attached to them. Wooden pegs atop

by a wire nail are driven to establish the grid lines of the building. Usually apart from

the pegs depicting the main grid lines, pegs which show the 500mm off sets are also

established during the setting out process to facilitate the construction that follows.

Although profile boards are temporary, they contain a lot of important information on

distance, with the points clearly marked on them showing the position of the walls and

width of trench. These can be marked on the profile board using nails, and later

transferred to the ground for excavation.

 7

It is very important for the profile to be placed firmly on the ground, and at a safe

distance from the excavation area, so that they can be used when setting the wall on top

of the ground slab. Also, these pegs are driven at places such that they won’t be

disturbed by field work etc. Usually they are driven with a distance of 1.5 meter from

the grid line.

2.5 Methods of Setting Out

The first task in setting out a building is to establish a baseline from which the whole

of the building can be set out. The building position of this line must be marked on the

site, so that it can be properly re-established at any given point in time. The building

line is frequently determined by the highway authority or officials, and in urban areas.

It is often eight metres from the back of the public foot path. If other buildings have

been erected at the area the building line can be determined from these existing

buildings.

After the base line has been established, marked and checked properly, the main lines

of the buildings can be set out, each corner being marked with stout peg. A check is

then made of the setting out lines for right angles and correct lengths. The method of

establishing of the right angle is what the setting out sets out to establish in addition to

the correct length.

2.5.1 Builder square method

The procedure for this method of setting out are as follows:

i. Find the distance of the site building to the building line on working drawings.

ii. Place a peg in the ground at corner A and hammer a nail into the top of the peg.

iii. Repeat these steps to place a peg in the ground for corner B.
 8

iv. Tie the string between pegs A and B. Measure the distance between A and B (check

that the distance on the ground is the same on the drawing) by measuring.

v. Repeat these steps for corners C and D.

vi. Measure the diagonals A-D and B-C (the two diagonals should be equal)

vii. Use the builder's square to check that the corners are at right angles. Figure 2.2

shows a typical builders’ square method of setting out.

2.5.2 3-4-5 method

To set out right angles in the field, a measuring tape, two ranging poles, pegs and three

persons are required. The first person holds together, between thumb and finger, the

zero mark and the 12 meters mark of the tape. The second person holds between thumb

and finger the 3 meters mark of the tape and the third person holds the 8 meters mark.

When all sides of the tape are stretched, a triangle with lengths of 3 m, 4 m and 5 m is

formed (as shown in figure 3.1), and the angle near person 1 is a right angle. Instead of

3 m, 4 m and 5 m a multiple can be chosen: e.g. 6 m, 8 m and 10 m or e.g. 9 m, 12 m

and 15 m. Figure 2.3 shows the 3-4-5 method.

2.5.3 Theodolite method

The procedures are as follows:

(a) A theodolite or total station is set up over a control point which has known co-

ordinates.

(b) The instrument is then pointed at another control point in order to orientate the

instrument to north. If a conventional theodolite is being used it normal to turn the

instrument to north and reset the horizontal angle to zero.

(c) The distances and bearings from that control point to those points which require

setting out are now located and fixed with pegs.

 9

(d) A control point which is located near to the structure to be set out will ensure

maximum accuracy.

(e) If a total station is used the co-ordinates are entered into the software and the prism

target will allow the bearing and distance to be located for each point.

(f) If a conventional theodolite is used the co-ordinates of the control point are

compared with those of each point to be set out. This will require whole circle

bearings and distances to be calculated for each point.

(g) The procedure is then to simply turn to the required bearing and measure the

distance ensuring that the tape is held as near horizontal as possible.

Figure 2.4 shows a labelled theodolite and Figure 2.5 illustrates setting out using the

theodolite.
 10

Figure 2.2: A typical builders’ square, used for setting out.

 11

Figure 2.3: The 3-4-5 method

 12

Figure 2.4: A labeled theodolite

 13

Figure 2.5: Setting out using the theodolite

 14

2.6 Procedure for Setting Out

i. Site clearance

ii. Obtain the architect or building plan

iii. Get the necessary materials ready (i.e. pegs, nails, rope or line, hammer, tape,

marking tool etc.).

iv. Firstly, take note of the four corners where we have the proposed columns/pillars

or as case might be.

v. Establishing the four corners in relation to the dimension of the building floor plan

by pegging it.

vi. After establishing these four corners insert nails at the centre- top of each peg and

then run rope round the 4 pegs.

vii. Taking just one side measure the setback from back of fence to the end of building

lines in that particular angle, then come to the front and measure the setback also

as given on your drawing plan.

viii. After this go back to the rear or you may use the front as a point mark depending

on which setback is more important to you. Measure the setback from fence

establish this two points with pegs then put a rope to cross both pegs and make

them form a right angle or 90 degrees. To determine if your rope are at right angle

put a checker popularly called ‘square’ by bricklayers, this will direct you if you

need to shift the other rope that can be varied since one is already fixed to form a

base mark (i.e. the rope running through two pegs from the rear to the front either

on left side or the right side.

ix. After establishing a right angle, do your measurement to correspond with what is

on plan and then use the square at the other end to now establish the other two
 15

points. When establishing these points be conscious to place your peg at 1m or 3

½ ft behind your building line i.e. where blocks will actually pass through.

x. After this, nails peg at 3m interval round under the rope marking your building

line, then nail tie rods (flat thin wood) on top round the entire area.

xi. Establish each room measurement by nails ( you require four nails at each

measurement, two to establish the two sides of block you are going to place

later on then the other two at both ends to serve as the points where you will

excavate ,the length of this is usually three times the width of the block you are

using that is if you are using a 9“ block then expect to excavate or dig a trench of

27” wide.

xii. From the plan details, the width of excavation to be done is also marked by line

with pegs at appropriate positions. However the excavation width is then marked

by lime or by with furrow with spade.

xiii. The digging or excavated depth depends on the type of foundation as recommended

by your structural engineer.

xiv. Next is casting of concrete bed/base

xv. After casting of foundation, use the nails on your profile board to determine where

your blocks will follow Set blocks, 3-4 or more coaches/courses and partitions in

reference to site topography

xvi. Filling and backfilling of the trenches and inside trenches

xvii. Casting your ground floor slab or oversite concrete or German floor.
 16

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS, METHODS AND PRECAUTIONS

3.1 Materials and Equipment

The elementary aids and equipment used for setting out are the following:

1. Pegs (reference, survey, and multi-purpose)

2. Tapes measure/measuring wire

3. Ranging rods

4. Boning rods

5. Triangle sets

6. Cross staff

7. Optical square

8. Gradient template

9. Straight-edge in combination with spirit level

10. Abney level

11. Dumpy level

12. Water manometer

13. Tube water level

14. Camber board

Some of these equipment used for setting out method are explained with dimensions

given where appropriate.

i. Pegs: Are used to mark the alignment and/or the levels of the road. Usually, they

are made of wood. These pegs should have a length of approximately 40 cm and a

cross-section 5 cm round or 5 × 5 square. It is advisable to paint at least the top half

 17

of the peg yellow or white so that it stays well visible even after a period of several

months. The chainage of the road will be marked on the reference peg (chainage

shows the distance from the beginning of the road).

ii. Tape measure: A great variety of tape measures exist. The most common length

of tape measure used for setting out is 30 meters. The tapes are made of steel or

linen. Although the former is stronger, the numbers become illegible after a period

of use.

iii. Ranging rods: Are sticks usually 2.5-3.0 meters long with a diameter of

approximately 2.5 cm. They are made of various materials (metal, hard plastic or

wood) and are usually provided with a pointed metal end. Painted alternatively red

and white they are clearly visible. The length of the red/white sections varies: 25

cm, 30 cm or 50 cm.

iv. Boning rods: These are T-shaped and of a uniform height. They can be easily

manufactured by nailing a wooden lath of approximately 80 cm long and 10 cm

wide on another lath of approximately 150 cm long and 10 cm wide so that the end

result looks like a "T". A simple stand can be manufactured so that the setting out

can be done by two instead of three persons if necessary.

v. Triangle sets: These can be manufactured from three wooden laths to show

different angles. They can be used for:

a. to set out a right angle to a centre-line (which has to be done when cross-

sections are set out);

b. to control or estimate the steepness of gradients (in this case a spirit level or

plumbing line is also required).

 18

3.2 Method Used for Setting Out

The plan used for the setting out is shown in Figure 3.1 and the method is as follows:

After the site has been cleared by removing loose or vegetable soil, the following

procedure are usually carried out;

i. First identify a reference point or reference line or base line according to the site

layout plan. This is a point where you position the first peg (first corner of the

house), which helps to ensure balance.

ii. Establish the point or line considering the permanent structures and the relevant

distances to structural parts from them as given in the drawings. One side of the

house should run parallel to the boundary of the plot or an existing building.

iii. After establishing the base line, the main rectangle is set up using the pegs and

theodolite. Steel tape must be used to measure long distances and it must be tightly

stretched when taking the readings. Wooden pegs atop by a wire nail are driven to

establish the grid lines of the building. These pegs are driven at places such that

they won’t be disturbed by field work etc. Usually they are driven with a distance

of 1.5 meter from the grid line.

iv. From the plan (fig 1), the centre line of the walls are calculated. Then the centre

lines of the rooms are set out by setting perpendiculars in the ratio 3:4:5. Suppose

the corner points are a, b, c, d, e, f and g which are marked by pegs with nails on

top.

v. The setting of the corner point is checked according to diagonals ac, bd, cf and eg.
 19

vi. During excavation, the centre points a, b, c, d, e, f, g may be removed. Therefore

the centre lines are extended and the centre points are marked about 2m away from

the outer edge of excavation.

vii. Thus, the points A1, A2, B1, B2 and likewise, are marked outside the trench. Centre

line are shown clearly by stretching thread or rope. The centre points fixed 2m away

from the excavation are marked with sit out pegs.

viii. From the plan details, the width of excavation to be done is also marked by thread

with pegs at appropriate positions.

ix. The excavation width is then marked by lime or by with furrow with spade.

x. If the plan is much too complicated and follows a zigzag pattern, then the centre

pegs are kept at suitable positions according to site conditions.

 20

Figure 3.1: Example of plan to be set out on ground.

 21

3.3 Precautions

To prevent errors, the following are the different types of control that should be carried

out to prevent any errors during setting out building plan on ground:

 Good practice in office

 On site control

 Equipment and staff

 Checks

 Marking the ground

 Use of grid offset

3.3.1 Good practice in office

To successfully set out the building, it is necessary to complete office works with great

accuracy. The drawing should be the latest version and if there are any changes in the

drawing, it should be checked whether it influences the work in the field or not.

It is required to examine and explore the quality of information, for example, the

dimensions should be checked and confirmed with structural dimensions to make sure

that it is realistic.

Also, it is recommended to conduct calculation by two independent individual since the

person who check the first computation may follow procedures and does not notice

errors. If a program is used to do calculations and solving problems, the user should

know the program well and have information that the software does work. The user

need to understand the results adequately otherwise unacceptable errors could occur.
 22

3.3.2 On site control of Setting out errors

It is required to check both primary baseline and bench marks to make sure that they

are accurate. Approximate setting out might be used for excavation but such work with

such quality cannot be accepted for concrete work which requires considerable

accuracy. It is advised to continuously check concrete benchmark station since they can

be damaged by excavations.

Also, it should be guaranteed that correct stations are used during working and this can

be done by noticing and observing stations or by taking measurements to the adjacent

stations.

3.3.3 Equipment and staff

After accurate calculations at office are finished and good control is obtained at

construction site, it is considerably crucial to use a suitable instrument and experienced

staff to carry out the work and get the required accuracy.

3.3.4 Checks to prevent setting out errors

It is recommended to do cross checks to specify any errors that have been made. For

example, when a rectangular shape is set out, diagonals should be computed prior to

the works to determine errors during the work in the field.

Cross checks need to be used for completed works to examine their accuracy and find

out errors in the work if any exist. It is advised to begin setting out from the major

control lines and then proceed to other parts of the building to prevent accumulative

errors.

Also, it is recommended to establish secondary control points from the main control

point instead of using other secondary control points to set a new one. This is because
 23

any error in one secondary control point would be repeated for other points and might

increase.

For example, one houses is set out, it is preferable to set each house from the main

control point rather than from another house since errors would cause considerable

issues. In this case, there might not be enough space for the last house to be set.

Use of common sense at the end of the works is the last check that should not be avoided

because great mistakes can be noticed and considerable cost could be saved.

3.3.5 Marking the ground for building set out

It is recommended to use mark setting out using proper means to make it easy to

understand. The setting out would not serve any purpose if it cannot be understood by

user. The information provided on setting out should be adequate and the provision of

too much information needs to be avoided. It is advised to ask the person that will use

the setting out and find out what he wants about the work.

It is possible to use marks and expiations along the lines and on the wall unless it is a

finished surface. Regarding offsets, they should be sensible and proper dimensions shall

be used such as 1000mm. It may be required to explain the setting out by the individual

who carried out the work for a person who is going to use the setting out.

3.3.6 Use of grid offset

It is required to offset gridline from actual position to a new sight of line to keep the

line of sight as clear as possible. This offset is recommended to be adequately large to

account for size of columns and formworks. Figure 3.2 shows gridlines used for setting

out.
 24

Errors in out of square taping would be insignificant if the offset is kept small to a

practical limit. In summary, no matter how offsets are established, it should not cause

errors at construction site. Regarding change in offsets, the variation should be obvious

and clear such as a meter or half of a meter.

 25

Figure 3.2: Gridline and Offset line for building setting out
 26

CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

Setting out must be done correctly before excavation starts because getting it wrong

could turn out to be expensive. Major responsibilities of setting out works lies with the

contractor as he is entitled to call upon the resident engineering to check that the setting

out is correct- although this does not prevent the contractor from being held responsible

for wall error which, even so, escape the notice of the resident engineer and the staff.

Setting out can be carried out on a virgin ground and as well on a german floor after the

casting had been done. But the most important thing to take note of is that is must be in

accordance to the design work.

 27

REFERENCES

Construction Surveying (Elements of setting out) – Wikipedia (2018). Retrieved from

Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia:
<https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_Surveying>

How to Set Out a Building Plan on Ground with Procedure? – The Constructor
(2018). Retrieved from The Constructor - Civil Engineering Home
<https://theconstuctor.org/tips/setting-out-a-plan-on-ground/5897/>
Setting Out of Buildings – Archbaheez Blogspot (2016). Retrieved from Archbaheez
Blogspot : <https://archbaheez.blogspot.com/2016/09/setting-out-of-
buildings_21.html?m=1>
What is Setting Out/Stake out? – Civil Simplified (2016). Retrieved from Civil
Simplified – Civil Engineering Workshops and Projects:
<https://www.civilsimplified.com/resources/what-is-setting-out-stake-out>