Quality Control

Resource Person: Col. Farooq

Construction is the area, about which everybody has 50% knowledge. If a house is constructed
beautifully it is praised till it lasts and if the house is badly constructed, the people engaged in
its construction will be blamed not for once but for ever. Site supervisor has to ensure quality
because labor is expert but illiterate because he don’t have knowledge that what is the strength
of cement. Cement will get strength when it remains 24 days in water. This training aims at to
tell you new things as well as review of previous knowledge.

Quality of brick

1. Absorption
Strong brick will absorb less water
Weak brick will absorb more water
2. Strength and size
Brick should be straight
1500 psi should be the power of brick

Q. How many times has you test bricks? How many bricks you take for test from a lot?

A. 5 bricks from a lot.

5 bricks are not enough. Take 7 to 9 bricks.

Bricks have 10% to 20% absorption capacity. Test of every lot is necessary. Its site supervisors
task to ensure lab test by going there. Lab test should be the base of approval or rejection of
bricks.

Any other method to test the bricks? Share your experience.

1. Sound test 2. Shape of the brick

3. Size of the brick 4. Falling from height

Concrete

Everything can be replaced. Broken glass can be replaced with new; door can be replaced with
new. But wall once build cannot be rebuild, roof once build cannot be rebuild. If DPC is not of
good quality then you cannot stop seepage by any means. Do not burry pipe unless checked by
pressure test to avoid seepage. Always ensure slump test before concreting. Slump test after
concreting the roof is useless. Do not allow concrete until slump test prove the quality of
concrete.
Steel

In steel you can check its diameter and its weight. There are strength and bend tests of steel.
Demand samples before use.

Cement

Cement cannot be stored for more than 3 months.

Main things that need to be tested before use are bricks, concrete and steel.