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TRANSFERRING LEVELS

Reasons for Transferring Levels

There are a number or reasons for the transfer of levels in substructure work. These include:
To establish the level of the ground for excavation (both oversite and trenches).
To ensure materials such as concrete and hardcore are laid to an accurate level.
To establish datum for bricklaying, e.g. DPC level.
To establish a level for concrete formwork, e.g. when constructing a concrete
raft foundation.

The following pages deal with the transfer of levels for work involving strip foundations and
raft foundations.
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Transferring Levels from the Datum to the Foundation (Strip)

During the process of setting out, as the proles are erected to mark out the excavation
lines and wall lines, a datum peg is positioned to mark a predetermined level, such as DPC
or oor level. This is the level from which the bricklayer or ground worker will transfer levels,
to control the depth of the foundations and brick footings.

To set the level of the top of a strip foundation, a spirit level and straightedge are placed
on top of the datum peg and held steady whilst adjusting it to the horizontal (level). A tape
measure or gauge lath is held vertically at the side of the straightedge, and a peg is driven
into the base of the foundation trench.

The aim is to set the peg to be at least the minimum specied thickness of concrete above
the base of the trench, whilst working a distance that is gauge from the datum peg. This
ensures that the distance is a multiple of brick courses and that any later adjustment for
gauge is minimal.

Spirit level and

straightedge
Datum peg

Gauge rod

Multiple of
brick courses
Concrete
thickness
peg
Concrete
thickness

Transferring levels from datum to foundation strip

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TRANSFERRING LEVELS

Having set the rst peg to gauge from the datum, the level must be transferred all around
the buildings foundation to provide a guide for the top of the concrete when poured.

Optical levels are most commonly used to do this (see the levelling section in the Setting
Out section). However, at times the, bricklayer will nd it more convenient to simply transfer
the levels around the trench by the use of a straightedge and spirit level.

The straightedge and spirit level are used as shown in the gure below. It is essential
to REVERSE the level and straightedge at each peg reading. This ensures that any
discrepancy in the straightedge or level is not repeated at every peg, but cancelled out at
every other reading.

Datum peg
Depth to be a multiple
of brick courses

Spirit level and

straightedge

Transferring levels around the foundation strip

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Another method of transferring levels around a trench is by the use of boning rods.

Boning rods are made from timber and are usually painted so that they are easily seen.

Boning rods are typically used in threes, the middle one being known as the traveller.

Two known level pegs are required to be placed at either end of the trench. Boning rods are
placed on both pegs and held upright. The other pegs can then be determined by sighting
in between the two xed boning rods onto the traveller as shown below.

Line of sight

Traveller
Boning rods
Levelling pegs

Use of boning rods within a trench

When all of the level pegs have been positioned, the bottom of the trench can be trimmed
to give the required depth of concrete, e.g. 225mm.
Soil must not be used to backll any depressions.
Extra concrete should be used in this case; so for economy, great care should be taken to
trim the trench base as accurately as possible.
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TRANSFERRING LEVELS

Transferring Levels from the Datum to the Foundation (Raft)

A simple raft foundation covers the whole of the base area of the building, with a substantial
thickening of the reinforced concrete slab at the edges, to support the walls. Other design
types exist but the principle of transferring levels for these remains the same.
A typical excavation for a raft foundation at the edge may look like the drawing below.

A typical excavation for a raft foundation at the edge of the foundation

As the edge of the slab must be supported above the ground, metal or timber formwork
must be xed temporarily at the side of the foundation trench to the height of the oor slab
which will be at datum level.

As the formwork stands proud of the surrounding ground it is generally necessary to

support it by strutting. This is to prevent the formwork moving when the concrete is poured.

Boning rods or sight rails (permanent horizontal rails often xed above the proles at
corners of the building when setting out) are set up, and the traveller is placed on top of the
formwork when xing into place to determine the top level.