SETTING OUT
Setting out is the process of transferring the dimensions from the working
drawings to the site on the ground.
Steel tapes should be used up to 30m.
Linen or plastic coated tapes should be avoided in measuring long distances
as they are liable to stretch.
Tools and materials
i. Panga
ii. Club hammer
iii. Pegs
iv. String
v. Nails
vi. Spike (sharp stick)
vii. Building Square
viii. Profile boards
ix. Pencil
x. Hand saw
xi. Spirit level
xii. Plumb bob
xiii. Tape measure
xiv. Claw hammer
xv. A sledge hammer of weight 2kg.
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, Procedure of Setting out Circular Buildings
i. Centre peg c is driven in position (R + M) metres long from the reference
point S.
A nail is fixed at the top of the peg
ii. A string is measured equal to the length of the radius required and then
one end of it is tied to the centre peg while the other is fixed to a spike.
iii. The string is stretched and the wall boundary marked.
A uniform tension should be applied to the string while marking to maintain
the radius required.
iv. The pole positions are the marked around the circumference.
If the wall is to be constructed of bricks, blocks or stones, then the trench
width would have to be marked.
Later the wall thickness is marked on the foundation strip.
The marks for the trench and the wall width is done by repeating step (iii)
using the appropriate radii.
A trammel could be used to mark the width of the trench and the wall
thickness.
Advantages of Using a Trammel
i. A trammel could be used to mark the width of trench and wall thickness.
ii. There is no problem encountered because of tension.
Page7
Methods of setting out rectangular buildings
There are three methods of setting out namely:
i. The 3:4:5 methods
ii. The builder’s square method
iii. The use of leveling instruments
, The 3:4:5 methods
i. The reference points S1 and S2 are located on the site boundary.
ii. The positions of peg A and B are located by measuring the distances S 1A
and S2B and pegs driven in position.
iii. A string is stretched between A and B.
This is the baseline (face line) of the building.
iv. Along line AB the position of the corner ‘C’ is located
v. The right-angled corner of the building at ‘C’ is set out.
The setting out of a right angled corner may be done using different
methods.
a) Peg ‘C’ marking the corner of a building is driven in position.
b) A distance of 3 units from peg ‘C’ is measured along the baseline AB and
‘C1’ fixed in position.
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c) Peg ‘C2’ is located by measuring 5 units from ‘C1’and 4 units from ‘C’
respectively, thus forming a right angle at ‘C’.
vi. A string is stretched from ‘C’ to ‘E’ through ‘D’.
The position of peg ‘D’ is located by measuring to width.
vii. Peg ‘G’ is located along baseline AB by measuring to length of the building.
viii. By establishing right angles at ‘D’ and ‘G’ the corner ‘K’ can be located.
ix. Check the diagonals and erect profile boards.
x. Mark the position of the wall on the profiles with either nails or saw cuts.
Setting out is the process of transferring the dimensions from the working
drawings to the site on the ground.
Steel tapes should be used up to 30m.
Linen or plastic coated tapes should be avoided in measuring long distances
as they are liable to stretch.
Tools and materials
i. Panga
ii. Club hammer
iii. Pegs
iv. String
v. Nails
vi. Spike (sharp stick)
vii. Building Square
viii. Profile boards
ix. Pencil
x. Hand saw
xi. Spirit level
xii. Plumb bob
xiii. Tape measure
xiv. Claw hammer
xv. A sledge hammer of weight 2kg.
Page7
, Procedure of Setting out Circular Buildings
i. Centre peg c is driven in position (R + M) metres long from the reference
point S.
A nail is fixed at the top of the peg
ii. A string is measured equal to the length of the radius required and then
one end of it is tied to the centre peg while the other is fixed to a spike.
iii. The string is stretched and the wall boundary marked.
A uniform tension should be applied to the string while marking to maintain
the radius required.
iv. The pole positions are the marked around the circumference.
If the wall is to be constructed of bricks, blocks or stones, then the trench
width would have to be marked.
Later the wall thickness is marked on the foundation strip.
The marks for the trench and the wall width is done by repeating step (iii)
using the appropriate radii.
A trammel could be used to mark the width of the trench and the wall
thickness.
Advantages of Using a Trammel
i. A trammel could be used to mark the width of trench and wall thickness.
ii. There is no problem encountered because of tension.
Page7
Methods of setting out rectangular buildings
There are three methods of setting out namely:
i. The 3:4:5 methods
ii. The builder’s square method
iii. The use of leveling instruments
, The 3:4:5 methods
i. The reference points S1 and S2 are located on the site boundary.
ii. The positions of peg A and B are located by measuring the distances S 1A
and S2B and pegs driven in position.
iii. A string is stretched between A and B.
This is the baseline (face line) of the building.
iv. Along line AB the position of the corner ‘C’ is located
v. The right-angled corner of the building at ‘C’ is set out.
The setting out of a right angled corner may be done using different
methods.
a) Peg ‘C’ marking the corner of a building is driven in position.
b) A distance of 3 units from peg ‘C’ is measured along the baseline AB and
‘C1’ fixed in position.
Page7
c) Peg ‘C2’ is located by measuring 5 units from ‘C1’and 4 units from ‘C’
respectively, thus forming a right angle at ‘C’.
vi. A string is stretched from ‘C’ to ‘E’ through ‘D’.
The position of peg ‘D’ is located by measuring to width.
vii. Peg ‘G’ is located along baseline AB by measuring to length of the building.
viii. By establishing right angles at ‘D’ and ‘G’ the corner ‘K’ can be located.
ix. Check the diagonals and erect profile boards.
x. Mark the position of the wall on the profiles with either nails or saw cuts.
