Machine excavation and material extraction
Once the stakeout is done, the machine proceeds with the excavation of as much earth as possible.
For this purpose, the total amount of earth to be excavated will be calculated by means of topographic plans and the projection of the new building. This volumetric computation is performed when there is a topographic survey of the terrain under analysis.
Contract and measurement method
The excavation of virgin earth material and the respective extraction and hauling off the ground consist of a single item within the unit price analysis.
The earth excavation contract with the contractor will then be based on the projected volume. This projected volume must be multiplied by a swelling factor according to the type of terrain to be excavated.
- 10% swelling for loose terrain
- 15% for compact sand
- 20% to 25% for clays and clays with gravel
- 30% to 40% for rocky material
- 20% to 70% for demolition debris
Many times when the projected volume is not available, the earth extraction contract is made by machine on the number of dump trucks that leave the land. However, under this model, there is no amount calculated a priori that allows a budget for the work to be made for the excavation item.
Excavation by hand
Excavation by hand is done after all the earth excavated by machine has been removed. This type of excavation (by hand) is carried out for the footings and retaining walls sector.
Although a certain percentage of footing excavation can be done by machine, care must be taken that the machine does not exceed the footing offset depth, since if this happens, the accidentally excavated soil would have to be filled in and compacted, running the risk. that the compacted soil does not remain the same as the naturally consolidated soil.
Although a certain percentage of footing excavation can be done by machine, this excavation must be fully budgeted as if it were by hand. This is because the volume that the machine will help excavate the pit where the footing will go cannot be estimated and in the end, the profiling of the hole must always be done by hand. Therefore, the worst case is adopted, which is that everything is excavated by hand.
Types of excavation by hand
Soft ground excavation
As its name says, it is the excavation of organic soil, sand, or loosely compacted clay.
Hard ground excavation
It consists of the excavation of overconsolidated clay soils or gravelly and rocky soils. This type of excavation is more expensive than the previous one.
Excavation with exhaustion
In cases where the water table is high, and when excavating water must be pumped to allow the workers to work, this pumping must be included in the excavation costs.
Excavation at high depths
There is another type of excavation at high depths where more than one person is already needed to accomplish the job, as well as equipment such as ladders, shirts or rings to support the ground, and even winch, depending on the amount of material to be extracted.
Filling and compacting
Finally, for metric computations, the filling and compaction of the earth must also be measured, referring to the voids to be filled after the foundations have been emptied.
It consists of the adaptation of the construction environment to the minimum needs for habitability and work
In this sense, the installation of works is carried out by building temporary environments of different use according to the needs of the construction.
- The most commons are:
- Deposit
- Porter or Caregiver Room
- Bath
- Environment or cover for tools and clothes of Workers
- Perimeter fence
Finishing and improvisation of environments
Most of the time while excavating the land and building the first floor slabs, the environments mentioned above will be highly improvised.
Even at the time of demolishing the old environments prior to the excavation, materials are recovered that can be used to build the environments of the worksite.
When environments are built for the installation of tasks, it is normal to build them on the internal perimeter of the land, since this sector often does not harm the construction of the building.
Bath position
The bathroom is usually accommodated as close as possible to the old chambers of the land, corresponding to the old house or demolished property. This is done to prevent sanitary pipes running through construction and disrupting regular work.
Electrical installations
Electrical installations in the field are usually the elements relegated to the last place in importance, however, it is one of the main inputs in construction.
The cables derived from the electric power meter usually do not have the necessary insulation, or they tend to be routed on the floor and without the necessary support.
A recommended way to have this issue available is through a board like the one shown:
Cost
Construction site preparation
What is a rebar coupler?
Rebar couplers are used in reinforced concrete structures to the connection steel bars that replace a normal rebar lap joints. The rebar couplers are very useful for reinforced concrete structure columns and walls. The rebar coupler comprises a piece of rebar furnished with a string, and a coupler sleeve at the correct end as seen toward an establishment. In development joints, rebar couplers can be utilized to supplant all bits of the rebar experiencing the form work. Rebar couplers are utilized for joining rebars with a full tensions capacity. The closures of bars to be joined are furnished with strings, and the bars are joined utilizing a coupler sleeve that moves the power on the rebar across the association.
Type of rebar coupler
What is a rebar coupler?
There are all sorts of risks associated with construction projects, from natural disasters like fire and wind storms to vandalism, arson, and theft. As a contractor, you have a responsibility to ensure you and your employees are protected with the right types of insurance coverages.
Contractor’s
all-risk coverage, also called builder’s risk coverage, is insurance that
protects the building during its construction. It helps protect against damages
and losses that might occur. Most of the time policies are written to cover the
completed value of the building.
As a
general contractor, you are not always required to obtain this coverage, as the
building owner normally gets it to protect their interests. However,
contractors can be held responsible for any losses that occur due to their or
their employees’ negligence. Therefore, it is a good idea to have some form of
liability insurance along with your own contractor’s all-risk coverage with the
appropriate endorsements, such as:
- Coverage for you and your
employees’ equipment and tools.
- Coverage for leased or rented
equipment.
- Coverage for crane rental, along with riggers and hook liability protection.
Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure you, your employees, and your equipment and tools are adequately insured, no matter what type of coverage the building owner has obtained.
SNRN 2/22/2021 Admin Bandung IndonesiaThe Importance of Insurance for Your Construction Project
The construction area is one that is shockingly inclined to
mishaps because of the high-hazard nature of the work. Working at tallness and
working with incredible hardware makes this kind of work more hazardous than
different occupations.
Did you know, for instance, that 3% of construction laborers
support a business related injury every year – and these details are only the
ones that really get revealed? In 2015/2016 a sum of 43 laborers were lethally
harmed in the construction area (details from HSE).
With figures like these, it's not difficult to see that more
security is required for laborers in this industry and that construction
protection is vital. Just as ensuring laborers in the event that they need to
go on vacation through injury or disease as far as pay, should an extreme
mishap happen, construction obligation protection will cover other fundamental
viewpoints like public risk, items responsibility just as monetary misfortune
and lawful costs.
Picking a decent construction protection strategy and the
proper extra cover is truly significant so don't race into settling on a
choice. You could quickly choose the least expensive cover and afterward
discover when it is past the point of no return that you weren't covered to the
level that you had thought you were. With regards to your wellbeing, choosing
the correct cover is a higher priority than some other part of protection, so
ensure that you work with an expert construction protection supplier like
Tradesman Saver.
Individual mishap cover is basic in this profession, as you
can see from the details, and throughout the span of your vocation, you're
probably going to be needing it because of some type of injury. It likewise
covers you for infection, so you don't need to stress over how you will take
care of the bills on the off chance that you are down and out for some time.
Suppose you broke your wrist playing sport and couldn't work for a while.
Except if you have the applicable protection cover, this could have colossal
monetary implications for you.
In construction, taking out open responsibility cover is
likewise a savvy move. If you somehow managed to be prosecuted for a physical
issue of an individual from the general population, or harm to public property,
the expenses related would be immense. Just as paying your lawful costs, you
would have to pay out remuneration in the event that you are considered to be
at risk. Expenses can undoubtedly run into the large numbers relying upon the
conditions of the case, so it's impossible that your business could bear to
take care of the expenses without protection.
On the off chance that a client endures monetary misfortune,
they may wish to guarantee against you. Once more, this can wind up being
expensive and is undeniably more normal than you may might suspect, so you need
to be taking out a cover that incorporates this.
Kinds of protection Covers in Construction Industry
Different kinds of cover that you can alternatively take out
incorporate business' risk. Regardless of whether you have only one representative,
manager's obligation protection ought to be a need for you. In the event that
your laborer gets harmed while working for you, there are monetary results.
From one side of it, they may set in a pay guarantee against you and relying
upon the earnestness of the injury, expenses could run high. The exact opposite
thing that you need as a business is to question claims with your laborers, so
setting up boss' responsibility will assist with securing your set up and keep
a decent connection with them.
You shouldn't compromise with a protection however when it
comes down to construction protection, you truly can't bear to commit errors.
SNRN 2/22/2021 Admin Bandung Indonesia
Why Is Construction Insurance Important?
What is the lap length?
It is the length provided to overlap two rebars in order to safely transfer load from one bar to another bar and alternative to this is, to provide mechanical couplers.
What are the general rules for lap length?
For the different diameter of bars
When the bars of different diameters are to be spliced the lap length is calculated considering the smaller diameter bars.
Suppose you are constructing a column, from bottom 20 mm diameter bar is coming and from here 16 mm diameter bar has to be spliced then for calculating lap length 16 mm diameter should be considered and not 20 mm.
What is the minimum lap length?
For direct tension, the straight length of the lapping bar shall not be less than 15d or 20 cm. While in the case of compression lapping should not be less than 24d.
What is the difference between lap length and development length?
Lap length is provided to safely transfer stresses from one bar to another, while development is needed to safely transfer the stresses from steel bar to concrete to make a continuous structure.
Where lap length is provided in column?
The bending moment at the middle portion of the column is zero it means the middle portion of the column is least stressed. Hence, lapping should be provided in the mid-section of the column.
What is Lap Length?
The theory is the weight of the earth rest on the heel of the footer of the retaining wall and thus the force downward counteracts the weight of the earth pushing forward on the wall. Wall is then able to retain the earth or medium.
What are the main functional and structural differences between sheet piles and retaining walls?
Talking about structural difference, retaining walls are generally concrete structures which is erected above the ground level and it has backfill on one side(generally), while sheet in sheet piles metal sheets are placed beneath the structure below ground surface in order to increase the drainage length hence avoiding ... They have good driving qualities and are designed to provide the good strength for low weight. The interlocking system facilitates easy positioning of the piles (pitching) and driving, as well as providing a close-fitting joint to form an effective water seal.
What is toe and heel in retaining wall ?

Reinforcing Bar Couplers
Good design must not only be safe but must aim to save construction costs, time and materials. The following procedures should help to achieve this and an ‘educated’ client will recognize the importance of funding this work with a realistic fee.
1.Decide the Location of Columns & Foundation and Type of Loads Acting on Them
On the building plan, the position of columns and loadbearing walls should be marked, and any other induced loadings and bending moments. The loads should be classified into dead, imposed and wind loadings, giving the appropriate partial safety factors for these loads.
2.Estimate Allowable Bearing Pressure of Soil Using Ground Investigation Report
From a study of the site ground investigation (if available), the strength of the soil at various depths or strata below foundation level should be studied, to determine the safe bearing capacity at various levels. These values – or presumed bearing values (from any standards or codes) in the absence of a site investigation – are used to estimate the allowable bearing pressure.
3.Decide Depth of Foundation
The invert level (underside) of the foundation is determined by either the minimum depth below ground level unaffected by temperature, moisture content variation or erosion – this can be as low as 450 mm in granular soils but, depending on the site and ground conditions, can exceed 1 m – or by the depth of basement, boiler house, service ducts or similar.
4.Calculate Foundation Area
The foundation area required is determined from the characteristic (working) loads and estimated allowable pressure. This determines the preliminary design of the types or combination of types of foundation. The selection is usually based on economics, speed and buildability of construction.
5.Determine Variation in Vertical Stresses
The variation of vertical stress w.r.t depth is determined, to check for possible over-stressing of any underlying weak strata.
6.Calculate Settlement
Settlement calculations should be carried out to check that the total and differential settlements are acceptable. If these are unacceptable then a revised allowable bearing pressure should be determined, and the foundation design amended to increase its area, or the foundations should be taken down to a deeper and stronger stratum.
7.Cost Control
Before finalizing the choice of foundation type, the preliminary costing of alternative superstructure designs should be made, to determine the economics of increasing superstructure costs in order to reduce foundation costs.
8.Consider Time
Alternative safe designs should be checked for economy, speed and simplicity of construction. Speed and economy can conflict in foundation construction – an initial low-cost solution may increase the construction period. Time is often of the essence for a client needing early return on capital investment. A fast-track programmed for superstructure construction can be negated by slow foundation construction.
9.Variation in ground condition
The design office should be prepared to amend the design, if excavation shows variation in ground conditions from those predicted from the site soil survey and investigation.
Design Procedures for a Building Foundation
As we all know that civil engineering can’t be isolated from other engineering fields. For the betterment of human life civil engineering require electrical engineering, architectural engineering. Hence all important aspects of civil engineering are taught as elements of civil engineering in all over the world.
This particular book with title “Basic Civil Engineering” covers all the basic definitions, terminologies and everything related to civil engineering. The book is written in very simple English and is very handy for students to learn civil engineering.
Contents
UNIT - I: CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS 1–70
1 TRADITIONAL MATERIALS 3–32
2 MORTARS 33–38
3 CONCRETE 39–54
4 METALS AS BUILDING MATERIALS 55–58
5 MISCELLANEOUS BUILDING MATERIALS 59–69
UNIT - II: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 71–136
6 BUILDING PLANNING 73–81
7 FOUNDATIONS 82–91
8 SUPER STRUCTURES 92–127
9 DAMPNESS AND ITS PREVENTION 128–132
10 COST EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES 133–135
UNIT - III: SURVEYING 137–236
11 INTRODUCTION TO SURVEYING 139–148
12 LINEAR MEASUREMENTS AND CHAIN SURVEYING 149–175
13 COMPASS SURVEYING 176–194
14 PLANE TABLE SURVEYING 195–208
15 LEVEL AND LEVELLING 209–225
16 MODERN TOOLS OF SURVEYING 226–236
UNIT - IV: MAPPING AND SENSING 237–268
17 MAPPING AND CONTOURING 239–246
18 Drawing Contours 246
19 REMOTE SENSING AND ITS APPLICATIONS 266–268
UNIT - V: DISASTER RESISTANT BUILDING 269–287
20 DISASTER RESISTANT BUILDINGS 271–281
21 DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING 282–285
22 INDIAN STANDARD CODES 286–287
SNRN 11/06/2020 Admin Bandung Indonesia