Construction

Practices  & Quality

Control
Need for Quality Control :
▪ It measures and regulates
▪ Adequacy of the construction procedure
▪ Quality of selected materials
▪ Quality of workmanship
▪ Safety management
▪ Results of each completed task comply with the requirements for
project specifications and design
Major Construction Activities (in
sequence of occurrence) 
▪ Excavation and plain cement concrete
▪ Anti termite treatment and backfill
▪ Concreting and Reinforcement
▪ Brickwork, including mortar and plastering
▪ Water proofing
▪ Flooring
▪ Plumbing & Water supply
▪ Electrical works (external & internal)
▪ Painting
▪ Drainage works
 Major Control Points in
the various civil works: 
 Excavation and plain cement concrete
Pre-excavation
▪ Dressing, Marking ,Accuracy, Stepping, Stacking, Disposal, Obstruction, Serviceable
Materials, Levelling, Checking, etc.
▪ Existing sewer line and other services, if any, located in the layout should be identified.
▪ Proper remedial measures to be taken to prevent entry of water into the construction
site as well as dewatering arrangement to be made.
▪ Leveling and setting out of works including all intermediate levels should be checked
properly.
▪ Provision for proper lighting arrangement, site office, temporary shed for workers,
storage of building materials etc. are to be made.
 Post Excavation

▪Excavated materials should be staked away from the foundation edge

(at least 1 meter) and loose packets of soils, if any, should be identified
and marked.
▪No vehicles should be allowed to ply/park within 1 meter of excavated
area
▪Excess excavation carried out if any should be filled by PCC as per
instruction of Engineer in Charge
▪Appropriate shoring and shuttering arrangements for excavated areas,
as required/specified should be made to avoid collapse of the site
Plain Cement Concrete 
▪Shuttering, if required, to be provided properly without any gap in between and
should be checked for water tightness
▪ Anti-termite treatment should be finished before commencement of concreting
▪ All materials should be of specified brand and grade and should be
accompanied with manufacturer’s test certificate
▪ Sand and aggregate should be free from any impurities and should be washed
before use
▪ Proper storage methods should be ensured to prevent possible deterioration
and periodical visual inspection & usual site laboratory test to be conducted
before putting them into works
▪ Concreting should be in line and level and curing should be done as per
specification A
Anti-termite treatment
and Backfill 
▪ Chemicals for ATT are as per specification and within expiry date
▪ Record of stock and consumption of materials are to be maintained at sites
▪ Mixing is done as per manufacturer’s specified proportion
▪ ATT should be finished before commencement of backfilling with the
specified soil only
▪ Backfilling should be done in layers of 300 mm with proper watering and
compaction
Reinforced Cement Concrete

▪All materials should be as per specification and should be accompanied with

manufacturer’s test certificate and checked for compliance
▪Proper storage methods are to be ensured to prevent possible deterioration
▪Form-work should be as per required profile, line, level & finish and should be
sturdy to withstand weight of wet concrete, steel & live load & to be tested for
water tightness
▪Proper water cement ratio, vibration, deposition of concrete, location of
construction joint should be ensured
▪ Conduction of usual slump test, cube test, specified period of
curing, striking of forms etc. are to be maintained as per
specification
▪ Bar length should be as per bar bending schedule
▪ Reinforcement should be placed as per specified spacing and
diameter
▪ Lap length should be provided as per code specification
▪ Concreting should be done continuously and compaction of
concrete should be carried out continuously including proper
maintenance of construction joint
▪ Removal of shuttering should be as per provision of IS : 456-2000

▪ Line and level of concrete surface should be checked

continuously
▪ Defects, if any, to be identified and proper action to be taken for
rectification instantly
Brick masonry work 
▪ Bricks shall be of specified quality & size of bricks should conform to standards
▪ Bricks are soaked in water before use, for a period, for the water to just penetrate the whole
depth of the bricks.
▪ Alternatively, clean water spraying to be done to bricks soaked in stacks for a period not less
than six hours
▪ Only surface dry bricks are to be laid. Unless otherwise specified, English bond is to be
followed and for half brick wall - stretcher bond.
▪ Brick work should be cured for at least 7 days and at least 3 days before starting of plastering
works.
▪ Raking of joints to receive plaster and curing for the period as specified should be followed.
Plastering
▪ Masonry and concrete surface to which plaster is to be applied is clear, free
from efflorescence, damp and sufficiently rough and hacked, washed and well
watered before plaster is applied.
▪ Preparation of mortar of specified ratio and in requisite amount should be done.
▪ Provision of thickness pad and chicken mesh at masonry-RCC junction shall be
made.
▪All chasing, installation of conduit, boxes etc. are ensured before
commencement of plastering work.
▪ Curing is started as soon as the plaster has hardened sufficiently and is kept
continuously damp for proper curing for at least 7 days.
 Plas
terin
g
Tile Flooring 
▪ Sub grade concrete or RCC slab on which the tiles are laid are cleaned, wetted and mopped.
▪ Mortar is spread, tamped and corrected to proper levels and allowed to harden sufficiently to
offer a fairly rigid cushion for the tiles to set
▪ Over the mortar bedding, neat grey cement slurry (1.5 bags of cement in 100 lits of water) of
honey like consistency is spread.
▪ Tiles are soaked in water , washed, cleaned and are fixed in the grout one after another
▪ Joints are kept as thin as possible and in straight lines or to suit required pattern
▪Curing shall be done for at least 7 days & fixing of skirting should be done only after curing
period is over
▪Skirting is fixed using 1:1 mortar proportion and skirting joints are matched with joints of
flooring
▪Finished floor level of bathrooms and WC should be lower than the adjacent floor level by
approximately 18 mm
▪The finished work should not sound hollow when tapped with a wooden mallet y
T
Plumbing and water supply
 GI PLUMBING ON WALLS
▪ Take measurements of required lengths of pipe, make an assembly of pipes as per layout. Fix it on
the wall and ensure all heights and measurements
▪ Leakages to be checked through pressure testing
 GI DOWNTAKE
▪Mark all the GI lines on the wall in plumb as per layout and design, on completion of external
plastering
▪ Fix all the vertical GI pipes in line and level with proper clamping
▪ Minimum 3 clamps should be fixed one at centre and one at each joint for each pipe using drill
machine only
▪ Provide control valves for all the toilets, kitchen and master valve at terrace level as per design,
location and specification
 TERRACE
▪ GI work on the terrace should be done after water proofing of the terrace is
completed
▪ It should be laid as per given layout and design
▪ Preferably terrace looping pipes to be run 0.6 m above the water proofing level, on
the parapet wall with clamping
 SUPPLY OF WATER TO AND FROM UNDERGROUND WATER TANK
▪ Before doing the roadwork, lay the required water supply lines from the source such
as, municipal line, bore well, open well, treatment plant, up to the underground water
tank
▪ Lay the delivery lines from UGR to OHR
▪ Check the position of delivery lines, air vents, washout, drain pipes, manholes for
both the tanks
P
Drainage system 
▪ Drainage line to be constructed as per the design & layout
▪ Excavation to be done considering the invert level of chambers
▪The joints of the chambers should be packed with packing rope, soaked
in cement slurry and sealed with cement mortar to the cemented joints.
▪ Proper curing should be done at least for 7 days.
▪ Testing of drainage line should be done as per IS standards and defects
found if any should be repaired instantly and back filling work should be
done only after confirmation of no leakage in the line.
Painting
▪ Great skill of workmanship is required as painting affect the total appearance
of the building from inside and outside.
▪ Surface should be cleared with wire brush for dust, loose scales, etc. and
should be completely dried
▪ All gaps, cracks and undulations shall be filled and smoothened
▪ After preparation of surface, apply thick coat of primer to walls and ceilings
followed by filler (putty) in horizontal and vertical directions
▪ Apply first coat of paints after 24 hours on cleaning the surface
▪ Second coat and subsequent coats of paints if required, should be applied at
an interval of minimum 24 hours.
Building material tests for
Quality control 
 WATER
▪PH value - IS : 3025
▪Concentration of solids in water - IS : 3025
▪Sulphate impurities - IS : 3025
▪Organic/Inorganic solids - IS : 3025
▪Chloride content - IS : 3025
Building material tests for
Quality control 
 Cement
▪Fineness - IS : 4031 : 1996
▪Soundness - IS : 4031 : 1988
▪Setting time - IS : 4031 : 1966
▪Compressive strength - IS : 4031 : 1988
▪Consistency - IS : 4031 : 1996
▪Specific gravity - IS : 4031 : 1968
Building material tests
for Quality control 
 Sand
▪Fineness modulus - IS : 1607 : 1960
- IS : 383 : 1970

▪Silt content - IS : 2386 : 1963

- IS : 383 : 1970

▪Bulkage of sand - IS : 2386 : 190

▪Specific gravity & water absorption - IS : 2386 : 1963

▪Organic impurities - IS : 383 : 1988

Building material tests
for Quality control
 Coarse Aggregate
▪Sieve analysis for grading - IS : 383 -1963
▪Specific gravity & water Absorption - IS : 2386-1963
▪Soundness - IS : 2386-1963
▪Impact value - IS : 2386-1990
▪Crushing value - IS : 2386-1990
▪Stone metal-Abrasion test - IS : 2386-1990
▪Flaking index - IS : 2386-1963
Building material tests
for Quality control 
 Bricks
▪Test for water absorption -IS:3425-1992
▪Compressive strength -IS:3495-1992
▪Test for efflorescence -IS:3495-1992
 Steel
▪Mechanical properties such as 0.2% proof stress, % elongation, tensile
strength of reinforcing T.M.T. bars -IS:1608-1995
▪Reinforcing steel- Bend test - IS:1608-1995
Diaphragm Wall (Example for
Concreting )
Reinforcement Steel
Checklist : Excavation & PCC
Sr No Items Items Remarks
1 Good for construction drawings indicating levels available at Site
2 Proper safety precautions taken for site and public
3 Precautions taken for drawing and protecting site from flooding
4 Dumping ground established
5 Setting out and levels as per drawings
6 Intermediate levels checked
7 Post Excavation
8 Characteristics of excavated strata noted and deviations informed
9 Appropriate shoring and shuttering done
Checklist for Plain Cement
concrete works
Sr No Sr No Items Remarks
1 All levels and dimensions checked for correctness
2 Shuttering is as per plan and has no gaps in between
3 All materials are of specified brand and grade
4 Making of concrete has been done as specified
5 Slump and other tests carried out as specified
6 Honeycombing removed
7 Required number of samples have been taken for carrying out slump
tests, cube tests etc.
8 Concreting has been done as per specified line and level
9 Curing has been done as specified
10 Compaction has been done properly
11 Remedial measures taken for removal of defects
Checklist for Anti-termite
treatment
Sr No
& Backfill
Items Remarks
1 Chemicals for ATT are as per specification
2 Chemicals in use are within expiry date
3 Sufficient quantities of chemicals are available at site for ATT
4 Safety precautions have been taken for carrying out ATT
5 Record of consumption maintained at site
6 Filling materials/earth is as per specification
7 Anti-termite treatment has been carried out before commencement
of backfilling
8 Filling has been done in layers of 300 mm., watered and compacted as
per specification
9 Proper compaction method has been adopted
10 Filling has been done to the required levels
Checklist : Reinforced Cement
Concrete works 
Sr No Items Remarks
1 All specified materials available at site
2 Cement is of the required grade and not more than three months old
3 Shuttering checked for Staging& Propping, line and level ,dimensions
cleaning etc. and its quality approved
4 Application of oil & grease carried out
5 Mixer/Vibrator as specified available at site with adequate means to
run them during concretion
6 Cutout & Sleeves/Inserted
7 Surface of reinforcement is clean and free from rust
8 Bars have been provided asper structural drawings
9 Lap length & dowels provided as per code provisions
10 Pin bars & chairs/cover blocks provided as per requirements
Checklist : Reinforced Cement
Concrete works 
Sr No Items Remarks
11 Tying of bars has been done correctly
12 Service lines (Electrical, Plumbing, Others) if any, provided before
commencement of concrete
13 Availability/Arrangement of pumps etc., roper access & walkway
checked
14 Adequacy of vibrators/needle including diesel vibrator
15 Slump cone test cubes made
16 Safety & health measures taken before commencement
17 All necessary precautions taken before commencement of concreting
18 Samples taken for slump, cube tests etc. for each batch
19 Proper compaction done and checks on staging & scaffolding carried
out
20 Covering of green concrete carried
Checklist : Reinforced Cement
Concrete works 
Sr No Items Remarks

21 Surface finish checked

22 Construction joints provided

23 Decluttering started on vertical faces

24 Proper curing of concrete carried out

25 Defects notified and removed

26 Cubes and other test results will be intimated to the Engineer-in-charge

for further action
Checklist for Masonry, mortar and
Sr No
plaster
Items Remarks
1 Availability of material asper daily requirement checked
2 Quality check for bricks/blocks/sand cement carried out
3 Provisions kept for electrical and other services
4 Checking for line/level/right angle carried out
5 Mortar checked for mix proportion
6 Proper raking of joints
7 Seismic bands provided as per zonal requirements
8 Check cleaning of dead mortar and broken bricks/blocks etc.
9 Curing carried out as per requirements
10 Mortar for plastering as specified for each side of wall
11 Quality of cement and sand checked
12 Curing work done as per requirement
13 Preparation of surface
Checklist for Masonry, mortar
and plaster
Sr No Items Remarks
14 Curing
15 Check for hollowness
16 Check for cracks
17 Mortar mixing in tray
18 Addition of water proofing compound
19 Proper roughing of first code
20 Check for collection of mortar spills
21 Cleaning of dead mortar
22 Check of waviness
23 Check for grooves/drip molds
24 Application of cement slurry on concrete surface
Checklist for Masonry, mortar
and plaster
Sr No Items Remarks

25 Check for diagonal

26 Line wash after 3 days (within 5 days in case of near application )

27 Safety and health measures