CSEB Construction Manual

TABLE OF CONTENT

Page no
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. TOOLS REQUIRED 2
3. MASONRY TECHNIQUES (In Situ) 3
a. CSEB 3
b. Format of the block 3
c. Module of the block 3
d. How to Dimensions a Building 3
e. Door & Windows 4
4. FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION 5
a. Mark the foundation 5
b. Blocks flat soling 8
c. P.C.C Casting 8
5. PLINTH CONSTRUCTION 9
a. Bonds for plinth 9
b. Grade beam plinth 10
6. MORTARS & CONCRETES 11
a. Mixing & Preparation Procedure 11
b. Specification Data 11
c. Joint thickness 11
7. DAMP PROOF COURSE (DPC) 12
a. Work Procedure 12
b. Specification Data 12
8. CSEB WALL CONSTRUCTION 13
a. Principles for Block laying 13
b. Bonds Principles for Masonry 14
9. LINTEL 17
INTRODUCTION:

Bangladesh as a low-income country, the common people of Bangladesh can

only dream of building a decent shelter for themselves at a low cost.
Therefore, a need arises to find a feasible building material, which is not only
locally available and economical, but is also a way towards sustainable
development.

Bangladesh needs an alternative building material to Fired Clay Bricks (FCB),

Corrugated Iron Sheet (CI), concrete, wood, bamboo, etc. that is both cost
effective and environment-friendly. Compressed Stabilized Earth Block (CSEB)
can be a good alternative. CSEBs not only are 25-30% cheaper than FCB, but
also produce 70% less CO2 emissions per m2 wall than that of FCB. In addition,
there is no deforestation for firewood, neither any top soil depletion. For the
production of CSEB, mainly subsoil is needed and the abundant supply of
riverbed sand in this region can be used.

ECO-HOME SOLUTION LIMITED:

ECO-Home Solution Limited (EHS): (need to add, about EHS)

This manual deals with the wall masonry, mainly for Compressed Stabilized
Earth Block (CSEB), particularly for the design aspects and the mortar quality.
The most important is the bond pattern and the block laying quality to obtain a
good adhesion between the mortar and the blocks.
 Tools required

1. Measuring tape
2. Straight edge
3. Spirit level pipe
4. Plumb line
5. String
6. Nail
7. Trowel (karni)
8. Hand gloves (2 sets)
9. Pointing trowel
10. GI pipe to bend rebar
11. Hammer
12. Rubber hammer
13. Chisel
14. Bucket
15. Mixing box
16. Transparent water hose 10-20m
17. Pickaxe
18. Shovels
19. Rammer (dhurmus)
20. Grinder
21. Wheelbarrow
22. Hacksaw
23. Saw
24. Scaffolds
 MASONRY TECHNIQUES (In Situ):

Compressed Stabilized Earth Block (CSEB):

“Compressed Stabilized Earth Block” (CSEB) is the mix of soil, sand, cement and
water compressed, air dried, cured with water.

Format of the blocks:

- Normal format = it is the basic format giving the principal dimensions of

the full size blocks:
o Length X width X height = 295 X 140 X 90 (mm).
- Work format = it is the nominal format plus the mortar joint thickness.
o Mortar joint thickness (mt) = 15 mm.
o Length + mt X width + mt X height + mt = 310 X 155 X 105 (mm).
- Secondary format = it is a fraction of the nominal format length. The
most commonly used are the ¾ and ½ size.

Module of the block:

The module of a block is its size plus the mortar joint thickness. When one has
to select a blocks, always ask for the module: always prefer to select a module
based on numbers multiple of half or full block length with 15 mm mortar
joint. The module is an essential data to dimension a building.

How to Dimensions a Building:

For a strong and clean block work, we must follow the block module and the
dimensioning of the building must use the blocks module theory:

A = (310 X no. of blocks) – 15 mm (mt) = outside to outside of the wall

B = (310 X no. of blocks) + 15 mm (mt) = inside to inside of the wall

C = (310 X no. of blocks) = outside to inside of the wall

Door & Windows:
Its length and height should be the multiple of Full or Half Block.
Door: Width: (310 X 4) + 15 = 1255 mm, Height: (105 X 21) = 2205 mm.
Windows: Width: (310 X 4) + 15 = 1255 mm, Height: (105 X 13) = 1365 mm.
Foundation Construction:
1. Check if the ground is level using a water-filled pipe. This method can be
used at any time when checking if level is the same in foundations, walls,
beams etc.

2. Mark the foundation

Mark out all corners with strings attached to poles or rebar’s approx. 1 meter
outside the wall corners. Stick the poles deep in the ground so that the marks
can be used later the poles must not be disturbed until the wall works starts.

Tip: use the plumb line to find the exact place, if the plumb line is not available
tie a stone to a rope to find the exact place to put the pins.
3. Check if corners are 90 degrees (follow the 3:4:5) Measure 4 feet/800 mm
along one string, 3 feet/600 mm along the other string, the diagonal between
should be exactly 5 feet/1000 mm. If not, adjust your poles/strings in order to
get 90 the right proportions.
4. Check if the diagonals are equal
Measure the diagonals to check if the measurements are the same.

In the fig diagonals are should be equal for make 90 degrees corners. In this fig
diagonals (as same color) measurements are same for the perfect 90 degrees
corners foundation layout.
5. Mark out with a stick in the ground where to dig trenches for foundations.
Mark 37.5 cm from center string on each side of the string.
i.e. Normally 75 cm wide (295+15+140=450mm) for one and a half blocks
foundation & 150mm clear both side (150+450+150=750mm/75cm) or as per
drawings
Mark the dimensions of the foundation very accurately. It is important to
exactly mark the proper width of the trench.

Fig: 04 – Foundation & Trench

6. Dig 60 cm deep (320+76+90+114=600mm) and 75 cm

(150+450+150=750mm) wide trench (or as per drawings)
At the start of each day put up the strings to ensure you are digging the right
place. Level out both ground and trench. Compress/Ram (with a dhurmus) the
bottom of the trench.
Fill the trench with rough sand & broken CSEB pieces up to 10 cm (11.4 cm in
fig: 04) from bottom. Use a mixture of different sizes broken CSEB pieces to
avoid empty pockets in the foundation.
7. Blocks Flat Soling:

The construction process of Block Flat Soling is simple. BFS is done to make the
concrete bed smooth. The laying of Blocks on top of the earth or sand bed is
BFS, the common use of BFS is in ground & basement as concrete bed. The
process of making BFS is simple & almost all workers know it well & do it good.

8. P.C.C. Casting:

Plain cement concrete is the mixture of cement, fine aggregate (sand) and
coarse aggregate (brick chips) without steel. PCC is an important component of
a building, which is laid on the soil surface to avoid direct contact of
reinforcement of concrete with soil and water.

P.C.C Ratio: Cement : Sand : Aggregate = 1 : 3 : 4

This mixture ratio will produce a concrete mix of approximately 3000 psi.
Plinth Construction:

Plinth is as a rectangular slab or block that forms the lowest part of the base of
a column, statue or pedestal. Plinth of a building can also be describe as the
lowest part of the wall of a building that appears above the ground level.

Its main factions are,

1. To provide level surface for masonry works.
2. To prevent Moisture penetration in superstructure form sub structure.
3. To transfer load equally to foundation.
Bonds for Plinth:
Odd layer even layer
Mortars & Concretes:

“Stabilized Earth Mortar” (SEM) is a cement stabilized earth mortar used

mainly for laying masonry wall.

Mixing & Preparation Procedure:

- Measure out the dry components according to the specifications. Mix the dry
components 2 or 3 times.
- Water Content: Plastic mortar (show in figure). Add water according to
specification.
- Do not mix too much quantity at once.
- Use the mix within 20 min (according to the initial reaction time of cement)

Specification Data:

Cement : Soil : Sand = 1 : 2 : 6

Cement – 10% to 12.5% (1.5 times more than the 8% cement used in CSEB)

Soil – Dry crashed soil from EHS supply.

Sand – Coarse sand (0.2 to 2mm) sieved # 5 mm

Joint Thickness:

- It must be as thin as possible to reduce the shrinkage stress, which can

occur cracks in the wall later on.
- Mortar joint thickness we used 15 mm.
- The optimum joint thickness is 10 mm: a smaller one will give difficulties
to lay easily the blocks and a larger one will occur a too important
shrinkage stress.

Note: Use quickly the mortar! After ½ Hour, it will be spoiled!

Damp Proof Course (DPC):

The DPC is a special waterproof cement mortar plastered on the top of the
plinth/G.beam with a thickness 2.5 cm. A DPC ensure that a wall is protected
from water, which can be drawn up into the building by capillary suction. This
can cause erosion and peeling plaster at the base of the wall. Thus, this is an
important detail, which requires accurate work.

Work Procedure:

– Pour water on the plinth/G.beam before applying the mortar.

– Apply cement mortar 1:3 with a thickness 2.5 cm.
– Scratch the surface of DPC with a nail, to provide a good bond between
DPC & Wall.
– Use the cement mortar within 20 min.

Specification Data:

Cement : Sand + waterproofing compound = 1 : 3

DPC Thickness = 25 mm.

Note: If the masonry work does not proceed immediately after the DPC laid,
cure for 4 weeks (2 or 3 times daily). If the wall is build the following day, then
there is no need for curing; water from the wall construction above will cure
the DPC.
CSEB Wall Construction:

Principles for Block laying:

- Always soak the block into water just before laying it.
- Check that the previous layer was well soaked before: it must be very
humid.
- Lay the mortar without pressing it with the trowel: level it only with the
edge of the trowel.
- Always lay some mortar on the side of the previous blocks and then
press the new one: never fill the joint after laying the blocks (except for
the pillars, but the joint should be filed very tight with a plastic mix).
- Adjust the block very quickly and do not touch it afterwards.
- If a block is not laid properly, remove it: remove the mortar and redo the
laying.
- Follow all the basic guidelines of masonry: spirit level, plumb line, string
line, etc.

Note: A well-laid blocks is impossible to remove with one hand because it

sticks well to the mortar.
Bonds Principles for Masonry:

Do not forget the good crossing of the blocks between the odd and even
layers: never create a split joint even for 1 layer only!

Single thickness wall:

Odd layer even layer

Double Thickness Wall:

Odd layer even layer

Triple Thickness Wall:

Odd layer even layer

Lintel:

A lintel is one type of beam, which used to support the above wall when
openings like doors, windows etc. are necessary to provide a building
structure. The main function of the lintel is to take loads coming from above
wall and transfer its load to the sidewalls.
The width of lintel beam is equal to the width of wall.
Width = 140 mm, Thickness = 152 mm, Length = depends on wall lengths.

The most used material for lintel is RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete)
R.C.C Ratio: Cement : Sand : Aggregate = 1 : 2 : 4
Expected Compressive Strength at 28 days = 2133.5 psi

What should never be done during Lintel casting:

 Do not use nail on blocks.

 Shuttering or formwork should be accurate shaped.
 Clean the wall immediately after casting lintel or spilling concrete. It is
difficult to remove the concrete later!