QUA LITY CONTROL

The initial control of quality is established by the specification 1Which will give indication
of strength or performance standard: Having set this out in document form, it is necessary to
provide the apprpriate supervision on-site to achieve the required standard/ This is a somewhat
difficult thing to do and depends on a number of factors which vary extraordinarily from site to
site.

Among these arc:

nature of the work

type and extent of the contract
type of contractor and the basis of selection and appointment
quality of operatives' skill
quality and type of site supervision
nature and standard of professional supervision
the influence of control and supervision exercised by the local authority.

ON-SITE, OFF-SITE PRODUCTION

When materials arc,mixed and placed or assembled on-site, there will inevitably be difficulties
i arising from weather and control. The effeCt of weather can.be serious, And result (if not
I immediately) in a sub-standard quality and performance", and in extreme cases, expensive failures
may arise. Interruption of work, delay and damage all increase cost and reduce appearance and
quality, and the inevitable waste arising accidentally, through cutting etc, or through carelessness
becomes siffni fic_int on some sites.

O f f - s i t e production, on the other hand, will allow the benefits of factory production or
controlled environment and mechanisation. Transport and handling problems may arise; but
the advantages of controlled manufacture, testing and adequate setting and curing times are all
critical, especially, with large complete units like walls where doors and windows are placed in
position and finished in the workshop.

Ii is certain that all materials will decay in time, and the process is affected by initial choice
and sel ecti on, design and detailing and by the quality of the workmanship. The dividing line
be retarding or Accelerating the natural process is fine, and sound initial decisions can be
negatived by poor maintenance or, more usually, no maintenance until it is too late.

TESTING:
The need to test at intervals and stages will vary, and is determined by considerations that may
have, already influenced choice of material and design. For example, a large reinforced concrete or
steel framed building will emphasise the quality control of the framing materials, the degree o f skill
and supervision required, the mixes and the testing. Ordinary low-rise development for domestic
buildings will probably have comparatively little concrete and steel, and where used, the
requirements are usually,less critical and the functions in these situations easily achieved with little
control necessary from this testing consideration.

The testing of building materials might be divided into the followin g:

During manufacture. These tests are carried out normally by prudent manufacturers, and
,

where compliance with a British or other Standard is required, tests are laid down. For
example, cement in accordance with BS 12.
During mixing or assembling. Somewhat crude tests can be carried out on site, with the
more sophisticated testing carried out in a laboratory. On important work, site laboratories