GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR

EXCAVATION
Starting of work workmanship excavated material protection to existing services measurementwhat the rate includes.
The excavation for the foundation trenches shall be carried out in all sorts of soils as per plan and
lining approved at site.
The sides of the foundation trenches shall be truly vertical and bottom shall be uniformly leveled.
The excavated material shall be stacked away from the sides of the trenches of the excavation by at
least 2 meters. The excavated material shall be spread out uniformly up to a lead of 100 meters.
All the existing services such as water pipes, sewers, electric cables, etc. which are met with in
foundation trenches shall be carefully supported and protected by the contractor as per instruction of
the engineer.
The excavation shall be measured as per exact length and width of the lowest step of footings
according to drawings or the engineers instructions. The depth of the trenches shall be measured
vertically from the average ground level taken at site before starting the work.
The rate of excavation includes all timbering and other supports which are necessary for securing the
sides of the trenches and the contractorshall be responsible for their safety. No extra amount shall be
paid to the contractor for the excavation of the working space. The materials or valuables found
during excavation shall be the property of the owner.

EXCAVATION: CONSTRUCTIONLAYOUT

The construction starts once the general contractor has the site ready with temporary
utilities, storage, recycling bins, and safety and environmental safeguards in place.

Layout foundation corners

An accurate layout is important, especially in high density areas when the building is near
a setback or property line, because its final height and location must often be verified by
a licensed surveyor prior to being granted a certificate of occupancy.

The layout begins by positioning a surveying instrument directly over the workpoint, that
corresponds with the elevations and dimensions shown on the construction drawings.

The site work, foundation corners, floor and roof heights, are all located from this
workpoint using either the geometric computations or by triangulation method.

For straightforward foundations on an open site, most builders would simply

measure parallel offsets from a predetermined reference line sighted along the
setback or property corners.
Measurements along the length of reference line from the workpoint are taken from
dimensions specified on the construction drawings.
The layout is then checked with optical lasers, GPS, or by diagonal field
measurements to square up the foundation corners.

Setting batter boards

Once the corner stakes are set and checked for accuracy, string lines are extended
from temporary batter boards placed well outside the area to be excavated.
Important is that the horizontal member for each of batter boards is level, and that
they all share the same elevation as referenced from the workpoint.

The batter boards allow builders to carefully position string line intersections over the
center marker on the corner stakes. They will also be used to gauge the depth of the
excavation and the height of the foundation walls and footings as the work continues.

The string lines are tied to nails on the upper surface of the batter boards. They
locate the outside face of the foundation walls and any interior stem walls, special
conditions, or changes in elevation within the excavated perimeter.

Once the string lines are checked and labeled, they can be untied and set aside in
order to clear the area for the equipment needed to start the excavation. The strings
can then be quickly reset during the excavation to check progress, verify the depth of
the cut, and re-establish the foundation corners.

EXCAVATION QUALITY
CONTROLS

The horizontal member of all the batter boards should now be at same elevation above sea
level. This means the string lines attached to these batter boards can be used as a vertical
reference to check the depth of the cut, in addition to locating the critical corners and bearing
points for the foundation.

Checking the depth of the cut

To save time, most builders use a fixed or transit/level to monitor progress and control the
quality of the excavation. This survey instrument is set up over the workpoint so its scope
remains level through 360 degrees of rotation

Since the height above the workpoint is now constant, the scope can be aimed at a surveyors
story pole, first to get an elevation for the existing grade at that point, then to check the depth
of any cut by calculating the relative measurements on the story pole.

The idea is to avoid taking out more material than is absolutely necessary to comply with the
requirements for the foundation on of the construction drawings. Removing too much material

FOUNDATION LAYOUT

The size and depth of the cut is

based on the requirements
specified on the construction
drawings. These dimensions are
shown as a sea level elevation
on the civil engineering
drawings and transferred as a
reference zero point usually
set as the top of the finished
floor.

A typical wall section shows the

depth of the excavation from
this zero point to the relative
heights of foundation stem
walls, footings, and the total
thickness of the structure
supporting the finished floor.
The height of the structural
framing, finished grades,
walkways, and other site work

FOUNDATION LAYOUT

A plumb bob is used to transfer the location of the walls and bearing points room the string line
intersections to the floor of the excavation and position the foundation formwork.
The depth of the excavation and the top of the formwork are then measured vertically from the
string lines, and the corresponding horizontal members of the batter boards
Important is that an accurately placed and level excavation sets the stage for masons and
concrete workers, so that they can build the foundation according to their original contract
estimates.
If the cut is misplaced, too deep, or irregular, it means additional labor and materials, schedule
delays, and a possible change order.

FOUNDATION: Footings

The builders will use a transit level to cross check the layout of the foundation formwork based on vertical and
horizontal distances and triangulated offsets from the work-point.

In dense urban areas and zero lot line developments, a licensed surveyor is required to certify the location and
depth of the foundation as a condition of the building permit. Zero lot lines occur when zoning restrictions allow
construction right up to the property line.

Concrete Formwork
For some buildings, concrete is placed directly into a trench cut into the soil using the string lines as a
reference. This method is commonly used for the perimeters and bearing walls of a slab or monolithic
foundation.

For buildings supported by piers and continuous stem or basement foundation walls, spread footings are used to
distribute the weight of the building to undisturbed soil.

General contractors hire subcontractors who specialize in foundations to install these footings. As masons or
concrete workers, they clamp together reusable forms, place the rebar and concrete, then disassemble the
forms for their next job as soon as the concrete begins to set.

In contrast, hands-on builders assemble the footing formwork using standard lumber, setting aside the material
for reuse in other parts of the building as blocking or non structural framing once the forms are stripped and
cleaned.

Bearing Capacity and Soil

Because the footing is

designed to distribute the
bearing load from a column
or stem wall above, it is
offset so that the footing
itself is centered on that
load. In other words, the
center of the wall or column
above sits over the center
of the footing.

Centering the load in this

way means the width of the
footing extends out from
both sides of the wall
above. This means the
outer portion of the footing
extends beyond the face of
the finished wall.

Technically, the footing might cross a setback line, but since it is below
ground, it is most often ignored by building officials. However, when the
footing lies against a zero lot line with no setback, the spread footing must be
engineered so that the entire foundation remains within the property
boundaries.

Foundation: FootingReinforcing
Specialty contractors use reusable forms for their foundations, but for most
small projects almost any skilled carpenter can quickly layout and assemble
the formwork for a foundation footing. In this example, the footing formwork
is assembled with standard lumber that will be reused in the floor and wall

PIER WORK

If soil conditions are right, the footings can also be cut directly into the
soil as shown for the pier footing on the excavated shelf in the
illustration above.
Forms for the rest of the pier footings are prefabricated on site so that
they can be centered on the string line intersections marking the column
locations, or positioned with a tape measure from the perimeter
formwork. The center of the pier footing is the center of the column load
coming from above.
Bridging is used to locate and suspend the concrete reinforcing (rebar)
across the top of the open earthen formwork, or from the sides of the

 The size and location of the reinforcing varies with soil conditions and the
weight to be distributed over the undisturbed surface of the excavation.
Quality control
Its important to check the location and elevations of the footings for
accuracy, as well as test soil density to make sure it meets the original
engineering specifications. Loose or disturbed soil will sink or compress under
the weight of the building.
Depending on building type and local conditions, some building departments
will require certification for the location of the footing, along with penetration
test results verifying soil density before authorizing concrete placement.
The workpoint is again the primary reference to check the layout and vertical
elevations of the footings. Its easy to see how a level and accurate excavation
minimizes unforeseen material and labor costs for all future construction.
Continuous reinforcing
Standard lengths for rebar are 20 feet, with diameters measured according to
increments of 1/8. In other words, a #4 bar is 4/8 and a #5 bar 5/8. This
means the rebar must be cut and bent in the field to fit in the formwork using
a hydraulic tool.

PIER WORK

If soil conditions are right, the footings can also be cut directly into the
soil as shown for the pier footing on the excavated shelf in the
illustration above.
Forms for the rest of the pier footings are prefabricated on site so that
they can be centered on the string line intersections marking the column
locations, or positioned with a tape measure from the perimeter
formwork. The center of the pier footing is the center of the column load
coming from above.
Bridging is used to locate and suspend the concrete reinforcing (rebar)
across the top of the open earthen formwork, or from the sides of the

 Crossbars are installed to keep the formwork rigid and suspend the rebar. The steel reinforcing is tied to
keep it away from the sides of the formwork and up off the ground. Again, chairs or similar spacers may be
easier for some builders to install.
Clearances from the ground and sides of the formwork are necessary to protect the rebar and distribute
the loads on the foundation once the concrete has cured.
The rebar must also be continuous at all intersections and around corners because any gap or break in the
length may result in settlement cracking once the footing is under load.
Special attention is also required at any step or change in the footing elevation. Concrete stem walls are
formed to fit this step, but for a masonry stem wall, the step should be located so that it fits standard
masonry dimensions.
The stem walls require embedded vertical J-bars to tie reinforcing within the wall to the footing after the

Foundation: PlacingConcrete

As soon as the rebar and the forms are ready, most building permits will require
official approval before concrete can be placed. A code compliance inspector is then
scheduled by the builder to visit the site, check the forms and rebar against the
permit drawings, and authorize concrete placement with a stamp or signature.
Unless the foundation is unusually complicated, most inspectors will only take a
cursory look at the formwork, spot check some rebar, and sign off without comment,
after all most foundations are pretty much the same. But problems occur if the
rebar is dirty, rusty, or oily, or the formwork somehow affects public property. Rarely
is the inspector concerned about the foundations design or engineering, thats a
given.

PrePour Checklist

Good builders use a checklist to make sure the foundation is ready for inspection
and anticipate any possible delay. Concerns include a final check of the formwork for
gaps, weaknesses, missing hardware, cleaning the forms and reinforcing, checking
the position of sleeves and brackets, and making sure required insulation, expansion
joints, and vapor barriers are installed.

Prior to ordering concrete, its important to make sure all the necessary tools and
equipment are on site and ready to use. This includes shovels, water, vibrators,
spreaders and trowels. High density lighting might also be required on short winter
days, especially if theres any possibility of a delay.

In addition, a safety officer should be assigned to check the weather, designate safe

Placing The Concrete

Once the concrete has been scheduled, a biodegradable release agent is applied to the
forms to prevent bonding. A concrete pump makes it much easier to move concrete
around the site, reducing risk and the number of laborers required for the work, as well as
making it easier to spread and vibrate the material once in place.
The number of concrete trucks depends on the volume of material required, the supplier,
and jobsite conditions. For large projects, more than one truck will mean staging the work
according to volume calculations and site conditions in order to control joints, minimize
waste, and prevent potential contamination from excess concrete runoff.

 Specification for damp

proof course
:

Proportion- coarse aggregate-cement-water-proofing compound-mixing-preparation of base-layingcuring.

The proportional of damp proof course of cement concrete shall be one part of cement, two parts of
sands and four parts of coarse aggregates or one part of cement one and half parts of sand and
three parts of coarse aggregate by volume. The usual thickness of damp proof course shall be 25
mm to 40 mm.
The fine aggregate i.e., sand to be used shall be clean and coarse of average 5 mm size and shall
be from any organic or vegetable matter.
The cement to be used shall be fresh and shall comply with the standard requirements. The waterproofing compound to be used shall be of standard specifications. The water to be used shall be
clean and fresh.
The mixing of all the materials in their required proportion by volume shall be done on a clean and
solid platform. Dry coarse aggregates shall be stacked evenly on the platform. Sand and cement in
their required proportion shall be mixed dry till of uniform colour and then this mixture shall be
spread over the stacked coarse aggregate. The materials shall be turned over once without adding
water and shall be turned over for at least three times after adding required quantity of water
gradually and slowly to give a uniform concrete. Water-proofing compound in proportion as
specified shall then be added and mixed with concrete to make it water proof.
The base where damp proof course is to be laid shall be constructed with bricks on edge or with
frogs of the bricks down. The top of the plinth bed over which damp proof course is to be placed
shall be thoroughly cleaned with a steel brush, washed and wetted before laying damp proof
course. The wooden straight edges shall be fixed on plinth wall having the same inner width as
that the required thickness of damp proof course.
Damp proof course shall be laid to the full width of the plinth or of the superstructure as mentioned
in the drawings or tender. It shall be laid to the specified thickness over the plinth wall flush with
the floor surface and shall not be carried across the doorways or such other openings. It shall be
properly consolidated by temping and levelled horizontally as well as vertically. Laying of damp
proof course shall be completed on the same day. The joints shall be given at the openings. The
concrete surface shall be roughened and chequered when air dry to impart proper bondage with

 (4)Specification for brickbat lime concrete for

foundation in proportional (1:2:4):
Proportion lime mortar-brickbats-mixing-placing-rammingmeasurement.
The proportion of brickbat lime concrete shall be 1 part of
lime mortar(1:2) and 2 parts of brickbats by volume.
The lime mortar shall be prepared from one part of slacked
lime and two parts of sand by volume. The lime to be used
shall not be used shall not give a resdue of more than 10 per
cent by weight when tested with hydrochloric acid. The sand
to be used shall be clean and coarse and shall not contain any
organic impurities. The lime and sand shall be thoroughly
mixed in a bullock driven mortar mill fitted with Beales tell
tale and situated at site of work. The lime mortar shall be
prepared in required quantities and shall be stacked under a
shed and shall be kept dampt at all time. The lime mortar
which has become stale shall not be used for the work

The brickbats shall be obtained from thoroughly burnt new bricks and shall be broken in sizes of 40 mm
to 50 mm. The brickbats shall be free from dirt, dust or such other impurities.

The mixing shall be done on a water-tight platform. The materials shall be turned over twice dry again
with water, added in required quantities so that whole surface of broken brickbats gets coated with
mortar.

The placing of concrete shall start after the bottom of foundations is well-dressed watered and rammed
by means of rammers. The concrete shall be laid in layers of 20 cm thickness and each layer shall
be well-rammed and well-watered before next layer is laid. The concrete shall not be allowed to be
thrown from top but shall be gently lowered in the trenches.

The ramming shall be done till concrete becomes solid and compact. The watering on concrete surface
shall be done at least for one week. If desired the engineer shall test the consolidation of the
concerete by performing water test.

The measurement shall be taken for the exact dimensions as per drawings or as per instructions of the
consolidated concrete.

9. Floor insulation is normally 125mm flooring grade polystyrene. 75mm may be used if a better insulant
(such as polyisocyanurate) is used. 25mm edge insulation is needed.
10. 90mm standard Cavity Wall Insulation is used with 100mm aerated blocks or certain 100mm special
aggregate block.
11. Steel reinforcement must be lapped at least 450mm for both mesh and mild steel bars and provided
with 40mm concrete cover.

1. Raft foundations can be a suitable alternative if traditional strip/trench fill

foundations cannot be used. They are not suitable in all cases. Specialist advice
may have to be sought.
2. These details assume that ground conditions permit the use of raft foundations,
adequate ground bearing capacity to support structure exists and that ground is
free from contamination.
3. These details are not suitable where deep drains or trees can affect the
foundation.
4. These details are only suitable for single storey extensions to domestic buildings.
5. The dimensions of the raft should be at least 3m x 2m and the longer dimension
should be less than 1.5 times the shorter dimension. Internal stiffening beams,
similar to the internal edge beam may be required
6. The ground must be well consolidated and capable of supporting a load of at least
50kN/m.
7. Different settlement rates should be considered where the extension abuts the
existing building. Wall fixings between new and old brickwork etc.
8. Brickwork and blockwork should be suitable for use below ground level.

Property of the material

An effective damp proofing material should have the following properties
1.It should be impervious.
2.It should be strong and durable and should be capable of withstanding
both dead as well as live loads without damage.
3.It should be dimensionally stable
4.It should be free from deliquescent salts like sulphates chlorides and
nitrates
5.The material should be reasonably cheap.
6.The material should be such that it is possible to carry out leak proof
joining work.

Material used for damp proofing

Material used for damp proofing

Following are the materials, which are commonly used for damp
proofing.
Hot bitumen
This is a flexible material and is placed on the bedding of concrete or
mortar. This material should be applied with a minimum thickness of 3
mm.
2.Mastic asphalt
This is a semi rigid material and it forms an excellent impervious layer
for damp proofing. The good asphalt is very durable and completely
impervious material.
Bituminous felts
This is a flexible material. It is easy to lay and is available in rolls of
normal wall width. It is laid on a layer of cement mortar. An overlap of
100 mm is provided at the joints and full overlap is provided at all
corners.
Metal sheets
The sheets of lead, copper and aluminium can be used as the

 The thickness of lead sheets should be such

that its weight is not less than 200 N/m2.. It
resists ordinary corrosion.
The copper is flexible material. It possesses
higher tensile strength than that of
lead.
The aluminium sheets can also be used for
damp proofing. But they should be
protected with a layer of bitumen.

 Combination of sheets and felts

A lead foil is sandwiched between asphalt and bituminous felt. This is known as the lead core and it is found to be economical, durable and
efficient.
6. Stone
The two courses of sound and dense stones such as granite, slates etc laid in cement mortar with vertical breaking joint can work as an effective
damp proofing course.
Bricks
The dense bricks, absorbing water less than 4.5% of their weight, can be used for damp proofing at place where the damp is not excessive.
7. Mortar
The mortar to be used for bedding layers can be prepare by mixing 1 part of cement and 3 part of sand by volume. A small quantity of lime is
added to increase the workability.
9.Cement concrete
A cement concrete layer in proportional 1:2:4 is generally provided at the plinth level to work as a damp proofing course. The depth of cement
concrete layer varies from 40 mm to 150 mm
10. Plastic sheets
The material is made of black polythene having a thickness of about 0.55 mm to 1 mm with usual width of wall and it is available in roll lengths
of 30 m. this treatment is relatively cheap but it is not permanent.
Selection of material for D.P.C.
D.P.C. above ground level
For D.P.C above ground level, with wall thickness generally not exceeding 40 cm, any of the material can be used which is describe above.
Cement concrete is generally adopted for D.P.C at ground level or plinth level. A 25 to 50 mm thick layer of cement concrete M15 serve the
purpose under the normal condition. In case of damp and humid atmosphere richer mix of concrete can be used. The concrete is further made
dense by water proofing material in its ingredient during the process of mixing. It is usual to apply two coat of hot bitumen over the dried surface
of concrete D.P.C
Damp proofing treatment in building
Damp proofing treatment in building can be broadly divided into the following categories
1.Treatment of foundation
2.Treatment of floors
3.Treatment of walls
4.Treatment of parapet wall
5.Treatment to pitched roof
1.Damp proofing treatment to foundation
Depending upon the depth of the ground level, the treatment to be given to the foundation can be subdivided into the following four categories.
I.Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil
II.Treatment to foundation on damp soil
III.Treatment to basement in ordinary soil.
IV.Treatment to basement in damp soil
I.Treatment to foundation on ordinary soil
Building foundation on ordinary soil where the sub soil water table not high is also liable to get damp. Bricks being porous, brick masonry below
ground level can be absorbing moisture from adjacent ground.In case of building without basement the base portion for damp proof course lies at
plinth level. In case of structure without plinth, DPC should be provided at least 150 mm above ground level.

Treatment to foundation on damp soil

In case the DPC is laid over the entire area of ground floor including wall thickness. Bitumen felts
can be used for damp proofing treatment.

.Treatment to basement in
ordinary soil

III

In sites where subsoil water table is low, or where the hydrostatic pressure
is not much, the treatment consist in a providing a horizontal DPC over the
entire area of basement floor and then existing it in the form of vertical DPC
on the external face of the basement walls. The DPC material thus function
like waterproof tank on the external faces of the basement and keep it dry.
It is common to use bitumen felt in multiple layers for damp proofing
treatment to the basements.


The horizontal DPC is laid on the smoothened top of the lean concrete
bed.
IV.Treament to Basement in Damp Soil
. In sites where the ground water table is high, the problem of damp
proofing of basement can be tackled by one of the following methods.
I.By providing foundation drains
and DPC.
II.By providing RCC floors and wall
slab and DPC.
III.Water proofing treatment by using
grout consisting of cement mortar admixed with acrylic based
chemicals along with rough stone slabs.