LECTURE NOTE ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS I
,1.0 PRELIMINARY SITE OPERATIONS
These are activities or task embarked upon by a builder or contractor when possession of the site
has taken for construction purpose. These activities precede the actual construction of the
building project.
Site Activities that precede Actual Building construction
The following activities precede actual building construction on site
Site clearance
Setting Out (discussed in Topic 2)
Excavation (discussed in Topic 3)
Provision of access road
Provision of site offices and storage facilities
Provision of site services
Site Clearance
Site clearing is essential. It involves removal of the vegetation such as bushes and shrubs,
digging of trees root and carting away. Site clearance also may involve the demolition of existing
buildings. The top soil should also be removed up to a depth of at least 150mm to remove any
plant life and decaying vegetable. Top soil is however valuable as a top dressing for gardens and
may be disposed of in this manner.
Provision of Facilities on Site
A well-managed site should have facilities and services which will make the site functional and
convenient. On a building construction site, the following facilities and services should be
provided:
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,Temporary services: These include the provision of services such as water supply and,
electricity supply. Water is required on construction site for drinking and for the works.
Where the site is close to the public water mains, the water can be connected directly from
the public water mains to the site. An electrical supply for power tools, electricity can be
supplied from the mains or a petrol generator. A telephone line should be provided which is
secured so that it can only be used for official or authorized calls.
Site accommodation: A site should have an office and sheds for the workers on site to
change their clothes and to take rest on site during breaks from work and also have their
meals. Site accommodation and similar facilities provided on a site depends on the number of
people that are working on the site.
Material Storage: Cement, plaster and lime supplied in bags form require a locked up dry
store free against the effect of weather and theft. These materials should not be stored on the
site for long period of time on site; therefore provision should be made for rotational use so
that the material being used comes from older stock. The type of storage facilities required on
a construction site for any material depends on the following factors
• Durability i.e. whether it will need protection from the elements
• Vulnerability to damage
• Vulnerability to theft
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, 2.0 SETTING OUT OF BUILDING
This is the transfer of information on the building drawing to the ground with high degree of
accuracy. When the site clearance is completed, the setting out of the work may begin. The
objective of setting out is twofold. Firstly, it must establish the excavation size, shape and
direction and secondly it must establish the width and position of the walls and columns. It is
necessary to have a good knowledge of geometry in order to ensure accurate work. The first
tasked in setting out a building is to establish a base line from which the whole of the building
can be set out. The position of this line must be marks on site so that it can be re-established at
any time. The building line is frequently determined by the highway authority and in urban areas
it is often 9m/6m 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.
Setting out Equipment
1. Measuring tape: before setting out any work the tape would be carefully checked for
accuracy. Metallic lines tapes tend to stretch after they have been in use for some time. The
tape is to mark the measurement on the profiles. It should be ensured that each measurement
is taken from the extended ring at the end of the tape.
2. Profiles: When setting out a building, it is an advantage if the line can be secured so that they
are well clear of the building line. The trenches can then be dug without interfering with the
lines. Timber profiles erected for this purpose consist of pegs driven into the ground and
boards nailed across them. The lines can then be stretched above the ground level well clear
of any obstruction and may easily be checked for accuracy.
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,1.0 PRELIMINARY SITE OPERATIONS
These are activities or task embarked upon by a builder or contractor when possession of the site
has taken for construction purpose. These activities precede the actual construction of the
building project.
Site Activities that precede Actual Building construction
The following activities precede actual building construction on site
Site clearance
Setting Out (discussed in Topic 2)
Excavation (discussed in Topic 3)
Provision of access road
Provision of site offices and storage facilities
Provision of site services
Site Clearance
Site clearing is essential. It involves removal of the vegetation such as bushes and shrubs,
digging of trees root and carting away. Site clearance also may involve the demolition of existing
buildings. The top soil should also be removed up to a depth of at least 150mm to remove any
plant life and decaying vegetable. Top soil is however valuable as a top dressing for gardens and
may be disposed of in this manner.
Provision of Facilities on Site
A well-managed site should have facilities and services which will make the site functional and
convenient. On a building construction site, the following facilities and services should be
provided:
Page | 1
,Temporary services: These include the provision of services such as water supply and,
electricity supply. Water is required on construction site for drinking and for the works.
Where the site is close to the public water mains, the water can be connected directly from
the public water mains to the site. An electrical supply for power tools, electricity can be
supplied from the mains or a petrol generator. A telephone line should be provided which is
secured so that it can only be used for official or authorized calls.
Site accommodation: A site should have an office and sheds for the workers on site to
change their clothes and to take rest on site during breaks from work and also have their
meals. Site accommodation and similar facilities provided on a site depends on the number of
people that are working on the site.
Material Storage: Cement, plaster and lime supplied in bags form require a locked up dry
store free against the effect of weather and theft. These materials should not be stored on the
site for long period of time on site; therefore provision should be made for rotational use so
that the material being used comes from older stock. The type of storage facilities required on
a construction site for any material depends on the following factors
• Durability i.e. whether it will need protection from the elements
• Vulnerability to damage
• Vulnerability to theft
Page | 2
, 2.0 SETTING OUT OF BUILDING
This is the transfer of information on the building drawing to the ground with high degree of
accuracy. When the site clearance is completed, the setting out of the work may begin. The
objective of setting out is twofold. Firstly, it must establish the excavation size, shape and
direction and secondly it must establish the width and position of the walls and columns. It is
necessary to have a good knowledge of geometry in order to ensure accurate work. The first
tasked in setting out a building is to establish a base line from which the whole of the building
can be set out. The position of this line must be marks on site so that it can be re-established at
any time. The building line is frequently determined by the highway authority and in urban areas
it is often 9m/6m 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.
Setting out Equipment
1. Measuring tape: before setting out any work the tape would be carefully checked for
accuracy. Metallic lines tapes tend to stretch after they have been in use for some time. The
tape is to mark the measurement on the profiles. It should be ensured that each measurement
is taken from the extended ring at the end of the tape.
2. Profiles: When setting out a building, it is an advantage if the line can be secured so that they
are well clear of the building line. The trenches can then be dug without interfering with the
lines. Timber profiles erected for this purpose consist of pegs driven into the ground and
boards nailed across them. The lines can then be stretched above the ground level well clear
of any obstruction and may easily be checked for accuracy.
Page | 3
