What is Centre line method of estimate

What is Centre line method of estimate

This method is suitable only if the offsets are symmetrical and the building is more or less rectangular in shape. The centre line of the building is determined carefully after doing deductions for repeated measurements (as explained in the next problem). This centre line acts as length for the complete calculations of the estimate. If the deduction is not cared for the results of estimates may be wrong. All the walls should have the same section.

 What is Supplementary Estimate

What is Supplementary Estimate

This is fresh detailed estimate in addition to the original sanctioned estimate prepared when additional works are deemed necessary during the progress of a work to supplement the original works. The abstract of cost should show the amount of the original sanctioned estimate as well as the supplementary amount of the original sanctioned estimate as well as the supplementary amount for which sanction is required.

 What is Special repair estimate

What is Special repair estimate

If the work cannot be carried out of the annual repair funds due to certain reasons resulting in the genuine increase in cost, then special repairs estimate is to be prepared.
The reason of increase may be:-
(1) In case of a building-opening of new doors, change of floors, re-plastering walls etc.
(2) In case of roads-if the whole surface is full of corrugation & patches, then the total surface is to be scarified. The old metal is taken out, consolidation by adding more metal is done and top surface is repainted.

 What is Annual repair estimate

What is Annual repair estimate

In order to keep building and roads in perfect condition, annual repairs should be carried out as follow:-
(1) In case of a building-white washing, oiling and painting of doors and windows, cement plaster repairs (inside & outside), repairs of floors etc. In no case this annual repair amount should increase more that 11/2% to 2% of the capital cost of the building.
(2) In case of a road-filling patches, maintenance of berms etc.

 What is Detailed Estimate

What is Detailed Estimate

After getting Administrative approval on rough cost estimate, detailed estimates are prepared.
In this, the estimate is divided in to sub-heads and quantities of various items are calculated individually.
In the end of the detailed quantities, an abstract of cost giving quantities of each item and rate of every item according to the sanctioned schedule of rates shall be attached. In case of non-schedule rates i.e. rates which are not given in the sanctioned schedule of rates, proper analysis of rates shall be attached. If however the work proposed to be constructed is located in a remote place, the provision for the carriage of the material shall be added in the estimate to avoid any excess over the administratively approved estimate later on. Detailed specifications & report should also be attached with the estimate. Technical sanction is given on detailed estimate.
The detailed estimate shall also provide for the cost of approach road, water supply, electric installations and acquisition of land etc, so as to call it a comprehensive estimate.

 What is Cubic Contents Estimate

What is Cubic Contents Estimate

The cubic contents of a building means plinth area x height of the building. The height is taken from top of floor level to top of roof.
The cubic contents of the proposed building are multiplied with cubic rates arrived at for the similar construction i.e. total cost of construction divided by cubic contents = cost per cubic metre.
Documents attached are as in plinth area estimate.

(Administrative approval is granted on rough cost estimate)

 What is Plinth area Estimate

What is Plinth area Estimate

Plinth area of a building means Length x Breadth ( roofed portion only ) excluding plinth offsets. The estimates are prepared on the basis of plinth areas of the various buildings proposed to be constructed. The rates are being arrived at the dividing the total cost of construction with its plinth area. For example if total cost of a building is Rs. 1 lac and its plinth area is 50 sq. m. then plinth area rate =1,00,000 = Rs.2000/- per 50 sq.m. Using this rate as basis of the next construction, approximate or rough cost of the proposal can be arrived at by multiplying the plinth area of the proposed building with this plinth area rate.
The following documents are attached with the estimate.
(1) Line plan with brief specifications.
(2) Cost of various services added i.e. electric and water supply etc.
(3) North line should be shown clearly on line plan.

 What is Preliminary or Approximate estimate

What is Preliminary or Approximate estimate

This estimate is prepared to decide financial aspect, policy and to give idea of the cost of the proposal to the competent sanctioning authority. It should clearly show the necessity of the proposal and how the cost has been arrived at The calculations for approximate estimate can be done with the following data. The data can be had from a similar construction already complete in the nearby area, executed by the department.
For example: To calculate approximate estimate for a Hospital, per bed cost is calculated from the recent completed hospital and is multiplied with the number of beds required. Similarly for a house, per square meter plinth area is calculated and is multiplied with the proposed covered area. The specifications should also be same. For a road, expenditure of per kilometer length is taken, width also plays the role.
The following documents should be attached with it.
(1) Detailed report
(2) Site plan of the proposal
(3) It should also clearly mention about the acquisition of land, Provision of electric and water supply etc.

Types of estimate in building material and construction

Following are the types of estimate :

 ➤Preliminary or Approximate estimate

 This estimate is prepared to decide financial aspect, policy and to give idea of the cost of the proposal to the competent sanctioning authority. It should clearly show the necessity of the proposal and how the cost has been arrived at The calculations for approximate estimate can be done with the following data. The data can be had from a similar construction already complete in the nearby area, executed by the department.
For example: To calculate approximate estimate for a Hospital, per bed cost is calculated from the recent completed hospital and is multiplied with the number of beds required. Similarly for a house, per square meter plinth area is calculated and is multiplied with the proposed covered area. The specifications should also be same. For a road, expenditure of per kilometer length is taken, width also plays the role.
The following documents should be attached with it.
(1) Detailed report
(2) Site plan of the proposal
(3) It should also clearly mention about the acquisition of land, Provision of electric and water supply etc.

 ➤Plinth area Estimate (Based on Rough Cost)

 Plinth area of a building means Length x Breadth ( roofed portion only ) excluding plinth offsets. The estimates are prepared on the basis of plinth areas of the various buildings proposed to be constructed. The rates are being arrived at the dividing the total cost of construction with its plinth area. For example if total cost of a building is Rs. 1 lac and its plinth area is 50 sq. m. then plinth area rate =1,00,000 = Rs.2000/- per 50 sq.m. Using this rate as basis of the next construction, approximate or rough cost of the proposal can be arrived at by multiplying the plinth area of the proposed building with this plinth area rate.
The following documents are attached with the estimate.
(1) Line plan with brief specifications.
(2) Cost of various services added i.e. electric and water supply etc.
(3) North line should be shown clearly on line plan.

 ➤Cubic Contents Estimate (Based on Rough Cost)

 The cubic contents of a building means plinth area x height of the building. The height is taken from top of floor level to top of roof.
The cubic contents of the proposed building are multiplied with cubic rates arrived at for the similar construction i.e. total cost of construction divided by cubic contents = cost per cubic metre.
Documents attached are as in plinth area estimate.

(Administrative approval is granted on rough cost estimate)

 ➤Detailed Estimate

 After getting Administrative approval on rough cost estimate, detailed estimates are prepared.
In this, the estimate is divided in to sub-heads and quantities of various items are calculated individually.
In the end of the detailed quantities, an abstract of cost giving quantities of each item and rate of every item according to the sanctioned schedule of rates shall be attached. In case of non-schedule rates i.e. rates which are not given in the sanctioned schedule of rates, proper analysis of rates shall be attached. If however the work proposed to be constructed is located in a remote place, the provision for the carriage of the material shall be added in the estimate to avoid any excess over the administratively approved estimate later on. Detailed specifications & report should also be attached with the estimate. Technical sanction is given on detailed estimate.
The detailed estimate shall also provide for the cost of approach road, water supply, electric installations and acquisition of land etc, so as to call it a comprehensive estimate.

 ➤Annual repair estimate

 In order to keep building and roads in perfect condition, annual repairs should be carried out as follow:-
(1) In case of a building-white washing, oiling and painting of doors and windows, cement plaster repairs (inside & outside), repairs of floors etc. In no case this annual repair amount should increase more that 11/2% to 2% of the capital cost of the building.
(2) In case of a road-filling patches, maintenance of berms etc.

 ➤Special repair estimate

 If the work cannot be carried out of the annual repair funds due to certain reasons resulting in the genuine increase in cost, then special repairs estimate is to be prepared.
The reason of increase may be:-
(1) In case of a building-opening of new doors, change of floors, re-plastering walls etc.
(2) In case of roads-if the whole surface is full of corrugation & patches, then the total surface is to be scarified. The old metal is taken out, consolidation by adding more metal is done and top surface is repainted.

 ➤Revised estimate

 When the sanctioned estimate exceeds by 5% either due to the rate being found insufficient or due to some other reasons, a fresh estimate is prepared which is called a Revised Estimate. A comparative statement on the last page of the estimate is attached giving there in the reasons of the increase of cost in case of each item.

 ➤Supplementary Estimate

 This is fresh detailed estimate in addition to the original sanctioned estimate prepared when additional works are deemed necessary during the progress of a work to supplement the original works. The abstract of cost should show the amount of the original sanctioned estimate as well as the supplementary amount of the original sanctioned estimate as well as the supplementary amount for which sanction is required.

Weight of the Rod per meter length dia weight per meter

                                                         6mm = 0.222 kg

                                                         

                                                         8mm = 0.395 kg


                                                        10mm = 0.616 kg


                                                        12mm = 0.888 kg


                                                        16mm = 1.578 kg


                                                        20mm = 2.466 kg


                                                        25mm = 3.853 kg


                                                        32mm = 6.313 kg

 

                                                       40mm = 9.865 kg


                                                

Cement Manufacturing process in the cement industry

Following are the steps for manufacturing of cement

➤ Step 1: extraction of raw materials:

The raw materials needed to produce cement (calcium carbonate, silica, alumina and iron ore) are generally extracted from limestone rock, chalk, clayey schist or clay. Suitable reserves can be found in most countries. 

These raw materials are extracted from the quarry by blasting. They are then crushed and transported to the plant where they are stored and homogenized.

Step 2: Raw grinding and burning:

Very fine grinding produces a fine powder, known as raw meal, which is preheated and then sent to the kiln. The material is heated to 1,500°C before being suddenly and dramatically cooled by bursts of air. 

This produces clinker, the basic material required for the production of all cements.

Step 3: Cement grinding and shipping:


A small amount of gypsum (3-5%) is added to the clinker to regulate how the cement will set. The mixture is then very finely ground to obtain "pure cement". During this phase, different mineral materials, called "cement additives", may be added alongside the gypsum. Used in varying proportions, these additives, which are of natural or industrial origin, give the cement specific properties such as reduced permeability, greater resistance to sulfates and aggressive environments, improved workability, or higher-quality finishes.
 
Finally, the cement is stored in silos before being shipped in bulk or in bags to the sites where it will be used.

 

Quality Control of Concrete by pdca method



Quality Control
Specific quality control requirements for the work are indicated throughout the Contract Documents. The requirements of this section are primarily related to the performance of the work beyond furnishing of manufactured products.
 Quality is constantly checked by PDCA cycle i.e.,
   1. Plan
   2. Do
   3. Check
   4. Action

Quality control involves incorporating the following:
    1. Formulation & implementation of project specific quality plan
    2. Maintaining records for incoming material inspection
    3. Maintaining records for tests on construction materials
 
Material list of quality records
    1. Quality Plan
    2. Documents Control Sheet
    3. Internal & statistical quality   control document
    4. Mix design of concrete
    5. Tests reports of bricks, cement, steel, concrete & aggregates

At QC , an Inspection Testing Plan is received at the foremost .It is then the purchase list of equipments is prepared according to the ITP and the acceptance of the raw materials is done.

The basic raw materials used at site are listed below
1. Sand
2. Cement
3. Stone Chips
4. Admixture
5. Bricks
6. Adhesive
7. Waterproofing Components
8. Water Sealant

SAND:
In quality control, sand is checked for zone1, 2, 3 & 4 of which last two are of basic importance.
Zone 2 Sand: Used for Concreting
Zone 3 Sand: Used for Brick Masonry Work
  
Sieve Analysis
Sieve analysis determines the gradation or distribution of aggregates particular sizes within a given sample.

For zone 3 sampling the percentage passing of sand through 600 micron sieve should be between 60-79.It is checked for silt contents.

There are two methods of silt check

1.    By Volume Method
2.    By Weight Method

By volume method the silt content should be between 8% and by weight method it should be between 3%. IS code: 383-1970 & IS: 2386-1963.
For zone 4 sampling the percentage passing of sand through 300 micron sieve should be between 20-65.IS code: 1542-1992

CEMENT :
It is mainly divided in the following three parts
1. PPC - Portland Pozzolona Cement
2. OPC - Ordinary Portland Cement
3. PSC - Portland Slag Cement
N.B: Initital setting time of cement should not be less than 30minutes & final setting time should not be more than 10 hours
Some of the tests performed in QC for cement are:
1.    Consistency Test
2.    Compressive Test
3.    Initial Setting Time
4.    Final Setting Time


COARSE AGGREGATE:
Stone chips are coarse aggregate used in concrete mix. Sieve analysis is performed in site laboratory for stone chips. Stone chips are passed through IS sieves of perforations 40 mm ,20 mm, 10 mm, 6mm , etc and graded according to the IS code ref 2386(Part 3) (Procedure) and 383(Actual Criteria).



ADMIXTURE:
IS: 9103-1999 covers the following types of admixtures
1. Accelerating admixtures
2. Retarding admixtures
3. Water reducing admixture
4. Super plasticizer admixture   and
5. Air entraining admixtures

BRICKS:
The bricks at site are divided into two main categories namely
  1. Traditional or Standard Bricks
  2. Modular Bricks

As per CPWD specifications the size of traditional brick is (230x110x70) mm and the size of modular brick is (190x90x90) mm.
The strength of traditional brick is 3 N/mm

·       Brick Testing :
1.    Size & Shape
2.    Sharpness
3.    Cold Crushing Strength
4.    Water Absorption
5.    Soundness

Concrete:
    Concrete is the homogeneous mixture of Sand, Cement, Coarse aggregate and Water. Concrete is used to take load in compressive zone.
·       Mixing :
All concrete, whether plain or reinforced, ordinary or controlled, shall be mixed in a standard type of concrete mixer not less than two minutes. Materials for concrete shall be deposited into the drum while it is in rotation. IS code reference for mix design: 10262-2009


Properties of Concrete that should be checked at QC are
1. Workability
2. Durability
3. Segregation
4. Bleeding
5. Curing
6. Slump Test
7. Cube test


Workability
The term workability is used to describe the ease of difficulty with which the concrete is handled, transported and placed between the forms with minimum loss of homogeneity.
The workability, as a physical property of concrete alone irrespective of a particular type of construction, can be defined as the amount of useful internal work, necessary to produce full compaction.
If the concrete mixture is too wet, the coarse aggregates settle at the bottom of concrete mass and the resulting concrete becomes of non uniform composition.On the other hand, if the concrete mixture is too dry, it will be difficult to handle and place it in position. Both these conflicting conditions should be correlated by proportioning carefully various components of concrete mixture. The important in correction withworkabilty are as follows:

   ➤If more water is added to attain the required degree of workmanship, it results into concrete of low strength and poor durability.

➤   If the strength of concrete is not be affected ,the degree of workability can be abstained :
aBy slightly changing the proportions of fine and coarse aggregates, in case the concrete mixture is too wet ; and
b.By adding a small quantity of water cement paste in the proportion of original mix, in case the concrete mixture is too dry.

   ➤A concrete mixture for one week may prove to be too stiff or too wet for another work. For instance, the stiff concrete mixture will be required in case of vibrated concrete work while wet concrete mixture will be required for this sections containing reinforcing bars.

➤The workability of concrete is affected mainly by water content, water cement ratio and aggregate-cement ratio.

   ➤The workability of concrete is also affected by the grading, shape, texture and minimum size of the coarse aggregates to be used in the mixture
Durability
The durability of concrete is defined as its ability to resist weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion or any other process of deteriorations. Durable concrete will retain its original form, quality and serviceability when exposed to its environment.
Generally, constructionindustry needs faster development of strength in concrete so that the projects can be completed in tirmof before time. The demand is cleared by high early strength cement, use of very low W/C ratio through the use of increased cement content and reduced water content.With higher quantity of cement content, the concrete exhibits greater cracking tendencies because of increased thermal and drying shrinkage. As the creep coefficient is low in such concrete, there will not be much scope for relaxation of stresses.Therefore; high early strength concretes are more prone to cracking than moderate or low strength concrete.
Field experience have also corroborated that high early strength concrete are more crack-prone. According to a recent report, the cracks in pier caps have been attributed to the use of high cement content in concrete. Contractors apparently though that a higher than the desired strength would speed up the construction time, and therefore used high cement content.
Similarly, report submitted by National Cooperative Highway Research Programme(NCHRP) of USA during 1995 , based on their survey ,showed that more than,100000 concrete bridge deck in USA showed full depth transverse cracks even before structures were less than one month old.The reasons given are that combination of thermal shrinkage and drying shrinkage caused most of the cracks.It is to be noted that deck concrete is made of high strength concrete .These concretes have a high elastic modulus at an early age.Therefore,they developed high stresses for a given temperature change or amount of dying shrinkage.The most important point is that such concrete creeps little to relieve the stresses.

Segregation
Segregation can be defined as the separation of the constituent materials of concrete. A good concrete is one in which all the ingredients are properly distributed to make a homo generous mixture.If a sample of concrete exhibits a tendency for separation of say ,coarse aggregate from the rest of the ingredients then, that sample is said to be showing the tendency for segregation. Such concrete is only going to be weak ; lack of homogeneity is also going to induce al undesirable properties in the hardened concrete.


Bleeding
Bleeding is sometimes referred as water gain. It is a particular form of segregation, in which some of the water from the concrete comes out to the surface of the concrete, being of the lowest specific gravity among all the ingredients of concrete. Bleeding is predominantly observed in a highly wet mix, badly proportioned and insufficiently mixed concrete.
Due to bleeding, water comes up and accumulates at the surface.Sometimes, along with the water; certain quantity of cement also comes to the surface. When the surface is worked up with in the towel and floats, the aggregates goes down and the cement and water come up to the top surface.
  Method of Test for Bleeding of Concrete
A cylindrical container of approximately 0.01meter cube capacity, having an inside diameter of 250 mm and height 280 mm used. A tamping bar similar to the one used for slump test is used. A pipette for drawing off free water from the surface, a graduated jar of 100 centimeter cube capacity is required for test.
A sample of freshly mixed concrete is obtained. The concrete is filled in 50 millimeter layer for a depth of 250±3 millimeter (5 layers) and each layer is tamped by giving stokes, and the top surface is made smooth by toweling.
The test specimen is weighed and the weight of the concrete is noted. Knowing the total water content in 1 meter cube of concrete quantity of water in the cylindrical container is also calculated.
The cylindrical container is kept in a level surface free from vibration at a temperature of 27⁰C ± 2⁰C; it is covered with a lid. Water accumulated at the top is dawn by means of pipette at 10 minutes interval for the first 40 minutes and at 30 minutes interval subsequently till bleeding ceases. To facilitate collection of bleeding water the container may be slightly titled. All the bleeding water collected in a jar.



Curing
The concrete surfaces are kept wet for a certain period after placing of concrete so as to promote the hardening of cement. It consists of a control of temperature and of the moisture movement from and into the concrete. The term curing of concrete is used to indicate all such procedures and process.
Period of concrete depend on the type of cement and nature of work. For ordinary Portland cement, the curing period is about 7 to 14 days. If rapid hardening cement is used, the curing period can be considerably reduced.
Following are the purposes of the curing of concrete:
1. The curing protects the concrete surfaces from sun and wind
2. The presence of water is essential to cause the chemical action which accompanies the setting of concrete.
3. The strength of concrete gradually increases with age, if curing is efficient.th increase in strength is sudden and rapid in early stages and it continues slowly for an indefinite period.
4. By proper curing, the durability and impermeability of concrete are increased and shrinkage is reduced.
5. The resistance of concrete to abrasion is considerably increased by proper curing.

Following are the basic factors on which the evaporation of water from the concrete surface depends:
1. Air temperature
2. Fresh Concrete temperature
3. Relative humidity; and
4. Wind velocity

Slump Test
Slum test is the most commonly used method of measuring consistency of concrete which can be employed either in laboratory or at site of work. The apparatus for conducting the slump test essentially consists of a metallic mould in the form of a frustum of a cone having the internal dimensions as under:
         Bottom Diameter   :  20 cm
         Top diameter          :  10 cm
         Height                      :  30 cm
For tamping the concrete, a steel tamping rod 16 mm die, 0.6 meter along with bullet and is used. The mould is placed on a smooth,horizontal,rigid and non – absorbant surface.The mould is then filled in four layers,each approximates ¼ of the height of the mould.Each layer tamped 25 times by the tamping rod taking care to distribute the strokes evenly over the cross section.After the top layer has been rodded,the concrete is stuck off level with a trowel and tamping rod.The mould is removed from the concrete immediately by raising it slowly and carefully in a vertical direction.This allows the concrete to subside.Th subsidence is referred as SLUMP of concrete.The difference in level between the height of the mould and that of the highest point of the subsided concrete is measured. The difference in height in mm .is taken as Slump of Concrete.