Construction and Maintenance of Masonry Houses

NATURALHAZARDS
NATURALHAZARDS
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

OF MASONRY HOUSES
For masons and craftsmen
MARCIAL BLONDET
Editor
AUTHORS
PUCP
Director: Dr. Eng. Marcial Blondet
Construction: Eng. Iván Bragagnini
Structures: Mag. Eng. Gianfranco Ottazzi
Architecture: Arch. Mariana Bidart
Research Assistant: Eng. Nicola Tarque
Research Assistant: Eng. Miguel Mosqueira
Design and edition: Arch. Mariana Bidart
Art: Mr. Víctor Sanjinez
Translation: Eng. Gladys Villa Garcia
SENCICO
Technical Consultant: Ing. Carmen Kuroiwa
Technical Consultant: Ing. Gabriela Esparza
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF MASONRY HOUSES
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the following persons and institutions for their help in the elaboration of this
booklet:
- To PUCP students Miguel Baca, Joen Bazán, Michael Dueñas, Roberto Flores, Sandra Godenzi, Johan
Laucata, José Puente, Paúl Rojo and Carla Valdivieso. They visited various cities of the Peruvian
coast to collect information about informal constructions.
- To engineers Julio Arango, Antonio Blanco, Carlos Casabonne, Héctor Gallegos, Gerardo Jáuregui,
Alejandro Muñoz, Pablo Orihuela, Julio Rivera and Ángel San Bartolomé. All of them reviewed a
preliminary version of this booklet and contributed with valuable suggestions.
-To Professor Richard Klingner for his contributions to the second version of the booklet and for his
review of the translation from Spanish to English.
- To the Dirección Académica de Investigación (Academic Direction of Research) of the PUCP and to
SENCICO for the economic support given to carry out on-site activities and to develop this booklet.
- To the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) of California, U.S.A. for the funding of the
second printing of this booklet.
In appreciation
The authors wish to state that they have been inspired and have taken material from the following
excellent booklets about masonry construction:
- Gallegos, Ríos, Cassabonne, Ucelli, Icochea and Arango. 1995. Construyendo con ladrillo
(Building with Brick), CAPECO, Lima, Perú.
- Asociación Colombiana de Ingeniería Sísmica (Colombian Association of Earthquake

Engineering). 2001. Manual de construcción, evaluación y rehabilitación sismo resistente
de viviendas de mampostería (Handbook for construction, evaluation and seismic
rehabilitation of masonry houses). AIS, Colombia.
Second edition: January 2005

Version 3.0

For masons and craftsmen
© Marcial Blondet
© Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

University Avenue, San Miguel, Lima 32, Peru
Phone 626-2000
E mail: inveciv@pucp.edu.pe
© SENCICO
Canada Avenue 1568, San Borja, Lima 41, Peru
Phone 475-3821
E mail: din1@sencico.com.pe
Total or partial reproduction of this publication by any means is permitted al long as the source is
credited.
Printed in Peru
NATURALHAZARDS
For Virgilio Ghio C.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Natural Hazards ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 6

1 Natural hazards in Peru
2 Earthquakes
Chapter 2: The earthquake resistant house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 8

1 Adequate locations
2 Inadequate locations
3 The earthquake resistant house
4 Configuration of an earthquake-resistant house
5 The unsafe house
6 The safe house
7 Components of the building utilities
Chapter 3: Construction of a safe house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

18
1 Drawings and other administrative procedures
2 Cleaning and leveling the land
3 Layout
4 Construction of the foundation
5 Column rebar assembly
6 Walls
7 Pouring concrete in confining columns
8 Confining beams
9 Lightweight slab
10 Stairs
Chapter 4: Maintaining your house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 48

1 Cracked walls
2 Corrosion of reinforcing steel
3 Efflorescence
4 Wall moisture
Chapter 5: Plans for your house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 53

1 Why are drawings useful?
2 The design of your house
3 Sample house plans
References ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
82
Appendix ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 83
1 Quantity of walls in an earthquake-resistant house
2 Concrete types
3 Schedule of material quantities
NATURALHAZARDS
INTRODUCTION
Peru is located in a
seismic area. From
time to time
earthquakes occur
which affect
inadequately
constructed houses,
causing major
damage and in many
cases partial or total
collapse.
In this booklet we
will show you how
to build earthquake-
resistant houses.
Remember the
importance of
consulting a Civil
Engineer before
preparing your
drawings and
constructing your
house.
5
1 NATURAL HAZARDS
CHAPTER
1 Natural hazards in Peru

Many regions of our country are
vulnerable to natural hazards
such as avalanches, floods or
earthquakes. It is important to
understand the effects of these
natural phenomena to decide where
and how to build safe houses.
Avalanches
Major movement of earth, mud and rocks
that occurs when significant rain has
fallen over the mountains.
Earthquakes
Strong movements
that occur inside the earth´s crust and
that produce strong vibrational movement
in the soil which supports houses.
Ravines
El Niño phenomenon
The El Niño phenomenon is
responsible for warming of
sea water, which
results in
substantial rain
in the coastal Floods
and highland
areas of our Are produced when a
country. river overflows its banks.
When this
phenomenon occurs,
avalanches, floods and
landslides are more
frequent.
6
NATURALHAZARDS
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
2 Earthquakes
Z 1
Earthquake risk is not the same in all

locations. That is why the National
Construction Code has divided Peru in
three seismic regions. The region of
greatest seismic risk is the coast.
Z 2
BRAZIL
PA
CI
FI
C
O
CE
AN
Z 3
Seismic regions
according to the National
Construction Code:
Z1 Low seismicity
Z2 Medium seismicity
Z3 High seismicity
What type of damage can earthquakes produce?
Earthquakes can produce significant damage

to inadequately designed and constructed
houses. For example, parapets can fall,
window glass can break or walls can crack.
Houses with severe structural problems can
collapse, causing major material loss, serious
injury to its occupants and even the
regrettable loss of lives.
7
2 THE EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT HOUSE

CHAPTER
1 Adequate locations
Safe places to build houses are those located

far from areas where natural hazards
may occur. The best location is flat
terrain, with stable and strong
ground consisting of rock or gravel.
Stable ground
I WILL
2 Inadequate locations SHOW THE PLACES
WHERE YOU MUST NOT
BUILD YOUR HOUSE
BECAUSE IT IS
DANGEROUS
In canyons
or steep
hillsides.
8
NATURALHAZARDS
THE EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT HOUSE
In landslide
areas. Over
non- compacted
filled soil.
Extraordinary flood level
In flood-prone areas
(due to rise in river level).
Over river beds or
irrigation ditches.
Over
sanitary waste
landfills or construction clearings.
In volcanic areas due to

sand boils and steam
venting from
the soil.
Phreatic water table
Steam rises
9
3 The earthquake-resistant house

A confined brick masonry earthquake-resistant
house is designed and constructed so that Lightweight slab
its walls are able to resist earthquakes. Transmits all the load it
Its plan view must be simple and bears (self-weight, partition
symmetrical. Its bearing walls walls, furniture, persons, etc.)
must be well constructed to the walls. The slab is connected
and must always be to the walls, so it permits both
elements to work together during an
confined by reinforced
earthquake.
concrete columns
and beams.
Confining beams
and columns
These are
reinforced
concrete elements
surrounding
the walls.
Walls
These are the most
important elements of a
masonry structure. They
are used to transmit all
the vertical load from
the lightweight slab to
the foundation and to
resist seismic forces.
The walls must be built
with structural brick
and must be confined by
concrete beams and
columns. Only confined
walls are able to resist
earthquakes.
Foundation
Transmits all the loads from the
structure to the ground.
Plinth
Transmits the loads from the walls to the foundation.
This element confines and protects the first floor walls.
Recommendations
Walls confined by beams and columns resist earthquakes. If you want your house to be
earthquake-resistant, we recommend that it should have the greatest possible quantity of
confined walls in both directions.
Partition walls, made with lightweight hollow clay tile, are used only to separate rooms inside the
house.
10
NATURALHAZARDS
4 Layout of an earthquake-resistant house

If you want your house to resist earthquakes successfully, your design must have a
good shape and an adequate distribution of walls.
...AND HOW
HERE TO BUILD AN
I WILL SHOW EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT
YOU EXAMPLES OF HOW HOUSE
NOT TO BUILD…
NO YES
Irregular Symmetrical
The shape of your house

has to be as symmetrical as
possible, both in plan view
as well as elevation.
Lightweight slabs must
not have too many openings.
Look for symmetry in

your house when you build the
walls. You must try to have the
same number of walls
in both directions.
Inadequate plan layout Adequate shape
11
NO YES
The plan length of your
house should not be
greater than 3 times its
plan width.
h th
idt wid
hew e
es
t th
es
3 tim tim
an 3
th W an
re idt th
Mo h ss
Wi Le
dth
Poorly proportioned plan Well proportioned plan
Build window and

door openings up
to the level of the
collar beam and
locate them in the
same position
on every floor.
Poor location of Good location of

window and door openings window and door openings
The adequate location

of second floor walls
is very important.
Always build second
floor walls exactly
over first
floor walls.
Improperly located walls that do not Properly located walls

rest over other walls
12
THE EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT
NATURALHAZARDS
HOUSE
NO YES
It is important for
slabs to be well
proportioned and to
have the same shape on
every floor.
Slabs of different shape on The same shape of slab on

every floor every floor
A A
Openings
weaken the walls.
Do not include
openings longer
than half the
length of the wall.
(The distance A
must be less
than half the
distance L).
L
Inadequate opening proportions Adequate opening proportions
Confined walls are the elements

that resist earthquakes.
Your house must have
a similar number of
walls in both
directions.
Few confined walls in Many confined walls in both

the short direction of the house directions
13
5 The unsafe house

THIS DRAWING
SHOWS THE MOST
COMMON ERRORS IN HOUSES
UNQUALIFIED MANUAL LABOR THAT HAVE NOT BEEN BUILT BY
PROFESSIONALS. THESE HOUSES
ARE NOT SAFE DURING
EARTHQUAKES
POOR-QUALITY MATERIALS
Columns and beams Exposed

with voids in reinforcement
the concrete bars
Insufficient Many openings in
number of Non-uniform roof slab.
resistant walls in joints
both directions Cantilevers.
Irregular shape
in plan view
Many
openings
in the
walls
Walls
without tie
columns.
Footing
over loose soil or
sanitary waste
Excessively long walls No vertical continuity of openings landfill
14
NATURALHAZARDS
6 The safe house
QUALIFIED MANUAL LABOR

THIS DRAWING SHOWS
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A
Civil Engineer or Architectural engineer WELL-DESIGNED,
SAFE HOUSE
Master
Craftsman
GOOD QUALITY OF MATERIALS
Use good-quality materials. “Saving

expenses” by purchasing doubtful
quality materials, never pays.
Well proportioned house

dimensions
Well-located and
well-proportioned door and
Many confined window openings that
Second-floor walls walls in both reach the roof slab
supported over directions
first floor walls
Columns
and beams
without All
air pockets walls plumb
in concrete
Uniform
thickness of
mortar joints
between bricks Confined walls Footing over firm soil
15
7 Components of the Building Utilities BE CAREFUL

WHEN INSTALLING
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN
A well conceived house should have functional YOUR HOUSE TO PREVENT
ACCIDENTS
electrical and plumbing utilities. Here are the
main components for each installation process.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Octagonal distribution box Electrical circuit
Main Electric meter

switchboard
From main
power
source
Outlet circuit
BE CAREFUL
WHEN INSTALLING
WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEM THE WATER SYSTEM
TO PREVENT LEAKS.
Shut-off valve From main

water
source
Water
meter
16
NATURALHAZARDS
SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
Ventilation
Kitchen drainage
To main
drainage
system
Inspection
Trap box
Ventilation
Bathroom drainage
Trap
17
3
CHAPTER
CONSTRUCTION OF A SAFE HOUSE
1 Drawings and permits (or other administrative procedures)
Once you buy your parcel of land in an

adequate location, you must design your
house. If it is possible, get advice
from an engineer or an architect for
the design of the house and the
drawings. You can approach your
local municipality to obtain help
with your drawings and to
find out if your house can
also be used for a
business. Remember that
the construction of your
house must be formalized
by registering it in your
town hall.
2 Cleaning and leveling the land
Before starting work, clean the ground well.

Remove all trash, construction debris,
organic material and loose soil.
Organic material is
bad for construction.
18
CONSTRUCTION OFNATURAL
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Leveling the land

The construction site
must be level, and
above the drainpipes Reference level
for your area. Less More Natural
1m than 1 m than 1 m terrain
To level the site
you must cut and
fill the ground, so
that ultimately it is Cut Fill
completely flat at the Desired finished ground level
required level.
Use 1,5 m high “Run the level”
stakes
Use a ½”
diameter Fill the hose with clean water
transparent hose and verify that there are no
with maximum bubbles.
length of 10 m
Place stakes along the perimeter
of your site and verify that they
are plumb.
Use a stake to identify a

reference point level such as the
level of the street. Mark a height of
1m above the reference level on this
first stake.
Using the water level inside

the hose, mark the height of the
first stake on all the other stakes.
Cut and fill
After marking all

the stakes,
measure on Fill and cut the terrain until
the distance between the
each one the mark and the ground
distance between is 1 m
the mark and the
level of the
natural terrain.
Rammer
Na t u Fill
ral t
erra When the distances
in
measured are greater
Cut than 1 m
When the
distances
measured are less
than 1 m
To fill the ground,
place layers of soil 30 cm
thick. Wet each layer with
water and compact well with a rammer.
19
3 Layout
The layout is used to show the position
on the ground where the foundation
of your house will be constructed.
Construct several guideposts from
wood stakes. Guideposts
Place the guideposts

according to the
drawing dimensions
so they define the
edges of the
building footing.
Locate the center of each

footing and extend strings
Straight angle from each end of the
(90 degrees) guideposts limiting the width
of each footing.
4
3
Use 3-4-5 triangles to

5 verify that all walls are
perpendicular (that is, all
corners are right angles).
Lime
Use the strings as

guides and mark the width of the
footing on the ground with chalk or lime.
20
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
4 Construction of the Foundation
Continuous footing
In the following drawing you can Plinth
see the minimum required
footing dimensions. Finished floor
10 cm
minimum
30 cm
Slab on grade
10 cm
10 cm
Compacted
filling ground Footing width
For houses up to two
stories with bearing
walls:
Natural - For hard soil like rock

terrain
80 cm
and gravel, minimum 40 cm

minimum
- For clay soil or clay

50 cm
sand, minimum 50 cm
Footing - For sandy soils, minimum
70 cm
To determine your soil

type, go to the next page.
Width
Stepped footing
Construct stepped footings 50

cm
when the terrain is sloped.
10 cm minimum
10 cm minimum
50 cm minimum
50 cm minimum
Recommendations
Hard soils such as rock or gravel are the best foundation soils. Gravel is made up of different size
stones and course compact sands. Sometimes it is difficult to excavate these soils with a shovel and
you have to use a large drill.
Find out about the footings of nearby houses. If nearby houses have settled under their weight, then
your foundation should be wider and deeper than that of your neighbors.
21
If your soil is not gravel or rock, how can you recognize what type it is?
You can do this simple test.
Dig a hole
in the Place a portion of Shake
ground 1 the soil the bottle
meter deep sample in a strongly until
and take out a transparent the mix is
sample of bottle uniform.
soil. until it is
one third
full. Add
another
third
of water and
one spoonful
of salt.
Measure
Let the the height
mixture of sand,
settle clay and
for SILT
silt.
24 CLAY
hours. SAND
If more than half is sand,

the soil is SANDY
If more than half is clay, the
soil is CLAY
Excavating the foundation trenches
Dig out the

foundation
trenches using the
The inner sides chalk marks as
of the trenches guidelines.
must be as
vertical as
possible.
The trenches must

be clean and free from If it is difficult to
any organic components. level the bottom of
the trench, you can
pour a poor
concrete mix
The bottom (1:10) so that the
must be leveled, bottom of the
clean and
without loose trench is level.
soil.
22
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Before pouring the footing
Standing column reinforcing bars Placing installations

Have the utilities and plumbing for your
Assemble the house ready before laying the foundations.
1 @ 5 cm reinforcing bars for The pipes must never pass through any
4 @ 10 cm each column. Then reinforced concrete element such as
stand the assembly in columns, beams or roof joists.
place where the column
will be. On page 26
you will find details. Pipes crossing continuous
footings must have a diameter
less than 15 cm (6 in.)
rest @ 25 cm
To assure that
the steel
assemblies are
always vertical, 15 cm minimum
fasten them with
# 8 wire. 15 cm maximum
4 @ 10 cm 10 cm minimum
Plinth
1 @ 5 cm
2 @ 15 cm Assembly stirrups
The steel bars of

Footing the columns rest
on the bottom of If it is necessari for pipes to
the foundation and
must be bent with pass over the footing, try to
an anchorage make sure that all of them
length of 25 cm cross at the plinth..
Concrete spacer 25 cm 15 cm minimum
Wetting the
trenches
Wet the trenches before

pouring concrete for the
foundation.
Always leave some

tolerance in the
footing so that pipes
are not trapped.
Tolerance
Recommendations
You can leave holes in the foundation for the pipes, using larger-diameter pipes. Before pouring
concrete for the foundation, fill the pipes with sand and seal them temporarily.
Never leave sand bags in the foundation to provide holes for crossing pipes.
23
Pouring concrete for the foundation

It is better if you rent a small-capacity mixer to
prepare concrete. This will help control quality
and save materials. Pre-assing the people
who will help you mixi and pour the concrete.
Do not place big stones

near the columns.
Pour concrete for the foundation Leave approximately 30
with wheelbarows. As cm on each side of the
pouring continues, column free of
drop big stones big stones.
in the
foundation
trenches.
Be careful
to ensure that each
stone is completely
covered by concrete.
Concrete for the foundation
Foundations are made of simple
concrete.
1 bucket of cement
Remember that the concrete
10 buckets of must not remain rotating in the
aggregate mixer for more than
3 minutes.
30% in volume of big
stones (maximum size
10 in.)
1 1/2 buckets of
water
Steel reinforcement Slab on

grade
in the plinth
10 cm
Plinth beam
10 cm
If your soil Minimum
is sandy or reinforcement M inimum
clayish, it 4 Ø 3/8 in. 30 cm
is better
to place steel
reinforcement
in the plinth.
¼ in. 80 cm
stirrups every
20 cm
24
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Concrete for the plinth

You can hand mix the concrete for the plinth. Clean a flat area where the mix will be
prepared. A concrete floor is desirable. Mix the dry materials and then add water. If the
mix is not workable, you can add a little more water. Wet the forms with water before
pouring. To pour the concrete you can use buckets or wheelbarrows. Remember not to
place big stones in areas near columns.
Concrete for plinth in Concrete for plinth in loose

firm soil soil (sand or clay)
The plinth does not require Build a reinforced plinth to
steel reinforcement. prevent cracking of the walls
due to settlement of the
ground soil.
1 bucket of cement 1 bucket of cement
8 buckets of aggregate
2 buckets of aggregate
25% in volume of
medium size stones
(maximum size 4 in.) 4 volumes of crushed
stone (maximum size
3/4 in.)
1 1/4 buckets of
water 1 bucket of water
The plinth
When you finish pouring concrete on the plinth,

scratch the upper surface with a nail so that
the mortar of the first layer sticks well.
Construction
joints
If you need to stop pouring

concrete on the foundation or
the plinth, leave a
diagonal joint with
exposed stones.
25
5 Column rebar assembly
Maximum free height: 2.40 m

0m
4.5
s:
u mn
Dimensions col
een
etw
eb
tanc
dis
m
ximu
Ma
Collar
beam
e
g rad
on
lab
Column o fs
v el
Le
Wall
The minimum cross section of

concrete columns has to be
25 cm x the wall width.
Footing
The minimum
covering
for steel
reinforcement
is 2.5 cm
measured to
Reinforcement the stirrup.
Minimum reinforcement
for columns is 4 j 3/8 in.
Plan view
steel bars. Column
stirrups are ¼ in. and
have to be placed with
the following spacing: Header wall (long Stretcher wall
direction of brick (long direction
1@ 5 cm + 4 @ 10 cm perpendicular to the of brick parallel
+ the rest @ 25 cm on plane of the wall) to the plane of
each end. The distances the wall)
between stirrups are
measured starting
from the plinth upwards Stirrup bending
and from the collar Correct Incorrect
beam downwards.
7.5
cm
Try to alternate the

position of the
stirrup‘s hook, so that
it is not located in the It is very important that the hooks stay
same corner of the in the interior of the column, so that
column. they work adequately.
26
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Rebar splices in columns
NO YES
Never lap splice 4 bars
in the same-cross
section along the
column because this Splice half The minimum
weakens the column. the bars at concrete
one height of covering for
the column the stirrup
and the rest is 2.5 cm
at a different
height.
100 % splices in 50% splices in

one cross section one cross section
Steel Splice
length
3/8 in. 40 cm
H/3
1/2 in. 50 cm
Height (H)
H/3
Splice
length
Protect the
protruding rebar
Splice
length
splice length with

weak concrete 1:10
5 cm
Tie with #16 wire
H/3
Splice
length
Connect the steel bars If you build only the first floor,
within the central third of leave protruding rebar for future
the free height of the construction of the second floor.
column.
Recommendation
Never weld steel reinforcing bars.
27
6 Walls
Preparing the bricks The mortar

The day before building the walls, To prepare
clean the bricks and water them mortar use one
for 20 minutes. Then, bucket of
let them rest. cement with 5
buckets of
First, clean coarse
dry mix river sand.
the cement
and the sand.
Then add water as

you continue with
the construction
of the walls.
First course
Before setting the first layer, place the
bricks without mortar to determine
the brick setting pattern.
Place guide bricks at Straightedge
the ends of the walls
and connect them Wooden
temporarily with a straightedge
string. This will
help with the
alignment of
the bricks
in every
layer.
Wet
the upper
part of the
plinth with a
cement paste.
Place
straightedges
to control the
The upper width of
part of each layer has horizontal
to be level. joints.
Recommendation
Always use fresh mortar. Do not use mortar that is starting to harden.
28
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Plumb-bob
Constructing the wall
Hand
For the construction of the first course, place mix uniformly level
over the plinth using a bricklayer’s trowel. Set the
bricks over the mix and verify that their edges touch
the strings that connects the guide bricks.
To set successive layers, place the mix over the
immediately below and fill the vertical joints completely. Trowel
Placing the mortar
Use a small wooden

board to prevent the
escape of mortar
at the joints.
Placing the bricks
To better set the brick

hit it lightly with
the handle of
the
trowel.
Horizontal and vertical Level

joints control
Do not leave joints
Use the
more than 1.5 cm thick.
plumb-bob
Joints that are too thick
at every layer
will weaken the wall.
to make sure
1 to 1.5 cm the wall
is vertical.
1 to 1.5 cm
29
Daily progress
Do not raise the wall more than 1.20 m high each working day. If you raise a greater
wall height, it might fall because the mortar mix will still be fresh.
1.20 m
Column-wall connection
Leave toothed edges at the sides

2.5 cm
of the wall next to every column to

5 cm
provideVadequate confinement for

Detail of the
the wall.
toothed wall
edge
If you decide not to leave a toothed wall

edge, place 2 # 8 wires every two layers
anchored 50 cm inside the wall.
50 cm 50 cm
25 cm 25 cm
In the foundation and the
plinth do not place big stones
near columns.
30
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Electrical installations in the walls NEVER

WEAKEN THE
Embed electrical conduit inside false columns WALL BREAKING IT TO
that are formed between toothed walls, PLACE ELECTRICAL
CONDUIT OR
without steel and filled with 1:6 concrete. ACCESSORIES
Pipe Electrical switch
Outlet
25cm
Drain and ventilation pipes
Embed the drain and ventilation

pipes inside false columns that are
formed between the toothed walls. #8 Wire
Place #8 wire every three layers
and wrap the pipes with #16 wire.
#16 Wire
Fill the false
columns with
1:6 fluid concrete.
31
7 Pouring concrete in confining columns
Formwork and pouring

After the walls are built, attach formwork to the walls for the confining columns. It is
better if you use a portable concrete mixer to prepare concrete for columns. Use buckets
to carry the concrete mix from the mixer to the upper part of the formwork.
Carefully pour the concrete inside the forms.
To prevent the
appearance of air
pocket in columns use a Vibrate concrete
concrete mix with less with a long rod
stone in the first to prevent
batches. air pockets.
Lightly hit
the form
externally
with a
rubber
hammer.
Concrete for columns
1 bucket of cement
2 buckets of coarse
sand
4 buckets of crushed
stone
(maximum size ¾ in.)
1 bucket of water
Use braces
to hold
the forms.
Use a
plumb-bob
to verify that the
formwork is vertical.
32
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Formwork removal
After pouring concrete into the columns,
leave the forms up for 24 hours.
Then carefully remove the forms and
use them again for other columns.
Curing
Cure concrete after removal of the

forms from the columns. Curing
consists of watering the concrete
elements at least 3 times a day to
improve hardening of cement.
Cure every
concrete element
for at least
7 days.
Recommendation
If a column has a large number of voids, immediately break and remove the concrete, carefully clean
the steel bars, replace the formwork and pour again the concrete again.
33
8 Confining beams
The confining beams of your house are

important because they help confine the
walls.
Collar beams are the beams on top
of the walls.
Minimum reinforcement
Minimum reinforcement of all beams is: 4
steel bars Ø 3/8 in. with 1/2 in. stirrups
spaced 1@ 5 cm, 4 @ 10 cm and the rest
@ 25 cm from each end.
W
wid all
th
Roof
thickness
Deep beams
Deep beams are used to resist

the weight of partition walls or
of the roof. They transmit the
load to columns and walls. The
depth of this beams is greater Second floor
than the thickness of the slabs. hollow clay
tile partition
wall
Lightweight slab
The minimum
depth of this
beams is the free
span divided by 14.
Deep beams usually
do not have a
wall underneath.
Deep beam
Minimum concrete covering is 3 cm
34
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Flat beams
Second-floor
Flat beams are inside the partition wall of
hollow clay tile
slabs and help to
transmit the weigh of Lightweight slab
partition walls to the
columns and bearing
walls. It is better not to
have flat beams longer
than 4 m.
Flat beam
Second floor partition wall
Reinforcement of flat beams of hollow clay tile
Stirrups are Ø 1/4 in.’ spaced 1@ 5 cm, 4@ 10

cm and the rest @ 25 cm
Reinforcement for beam Reinforcement for beam

spans up to 3 m spans up to 4 m
Minimum beam cross section Minimum beam cross section
2 Ø 1/2 in.’ 3 Ø 3/8 in.’
20 cm
20 cm
2 Ø 1/2 in.’ 3 Ø 1/2 in.’
30 cm 50 cm
Rebar splices in beams Upper rebar splice: at the

center of the free span
Be careful when you splice
reinforcement bars in
beams. Upper
reinforcement bars must be Lower rebar splice: at the first or third part
spliced at the center of the of the free span.
beam span. Lower
reinforcement bars must Free span
be spliced near the ends
L\3 L\3 L\3
of the beam.
Recommendations
Stirrups are measured from the inner face of the wall.
Minimum concrete covering for deep beams is 3 cm measured from the stirrup and for flat beams is
2.5 cm
35
Beam-column connection
Carefully place reinforcement bars at
beam column intersection. When you
pour concrete in these areas, vibrate
Tie steel bars with
concrete extensively with a rod so that #16 wire at
no air pockets are formed. beam-column
intersections
Detail of plan view
In case the beam is not continuous,

bend the steel bar horizontally.
>
< cm
15
Rebar bending length
in beams has to be 15 cm
cm
15
MORTAR
CUBE
#16 wire to
Spacers for beams fix rebar
3 cm
To keep beam reinforcing bars in horizontal position,

place mortar cubes 3 cm side under them.
Longitudinal
cm
rebar
3
Use equal strength concrete

for the mortar and beams
Distance between mortar cubes: (proportion 1:4)
Approximately 1.5 m
3 cm
36
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Incorporating lintels into the beam

Door and window openings should go up to collar-beam level. Here are three ways of
making lintels over these openings.
Alternative 1 (highly recommended)

Beam with greater depth and confinement columns.
1/4” stirrups @ 15 cm Collar beam
Alternative 3
Opening that goes up to the bottom of
the collar beam.
Reinforcement
< > am
Opening span be
llar
Co
20 cm minimum
Confining column
Aditional reinforcement for lintel beams ing

en
Op span
Opening span Reinforcement
0.80 m to 1.50 m 2 Ø 3/8 in.
1.50 m to 2 m 2 Ø 1/2 in. Standard

Minimum 25 cm collar-beam
reinforcement
If the opening
Alternative 2 span is less
Beam with greater depth without confinement columns. than 1 m, you do
not need to
place additional
reinforcement to
1/4 in. stirrups @ 15 cm Collar beam the collar beam.
1/4 in. stirrups @ 15 cm
Supplemental
Minimum 25 cm collar beam
reinforcement
Reinforcement If the opening span
is up to 1.5 m, add
one additional 1/2 in.
< > rebar to the lower
Opening span reinforcement of the
collar beam.
1/4 in.
stirrups
1 additional @ 15 cm
Ø 1/2 in.
20 cm 20 cm
37
Beam rebar assembly

Place the steel reinforcement bars of the collar Concrete for beams and
beams on top of the walls after removing the slabs
formwork from the columns.
Pouring of beams 1 bucket of cement

All beams (collar, deep and flat) and lintels
are poured simultaneously with the slabs. 2 buckets of coarse
sand
NEVER 4 buckets of crushed

STOP POURING stone
CONCRETE IN BEAMS (maximum size 3/4 in.)
LEAVING HORIZONTAL
JOINTS!
1 bucket of water
No !
Pipes/Plumbing in beams
Never bend beam rebars to pass drainage pipes.
NO YES
Bent rebars Straight rebars
38
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
9 Lightweight slab
Slab components
Lightweight slabs are formed with parallel

reinforced concrete joists spaced at 40 cm.
Hollow bricks 30 cm wide and 15 cm
high are placed between
the joists. On top of this,
a concrete slab 5 cm
Upper slab thick is poured.
Use lightweight slabs
20 cm thick for roofs Collar
up to 4.5 m long. beams
The joists are placed
parallel to the shortest
span to be covered by
the roof.
Hollow ceiling
bricks
Steel rebar
for temperature
Upper steel rebar

Lower steel rebar
Component dimensions
The hollow ceiling bricks must be perfectly

aligned and the slab has to be level.
Joists do not
Upper steel rebar Joist have stirrups.
Hollow ceiling brick Steel rebar for Upper slab
temperature
5 cm
20 cm
15 cm
Minimum Lower steel rebar

concrete 30 cm 10 cm 30 cm 10 cm
covering = 2 cm
Temperature steel Prepare mortar cubes

Temperature steel reinforcement is placed (2.5 cm per side) and use
reinforcement at mid height of the upper them as supports for
slab. joist reinforcement
To prevent cracking of the upper bars.
15 cm 5 cm
slab due to temperature effects, you

have to place 1/4 in. steel bars
every 25 cm, perpendicular to the
joists.
Mortar cubes (2.5 cm per side)

NO! Temperature steel reinforcement must not be
in contact with the ceiling bricks.
39
Slab formwork
Prepare slab formwork with wooden boards at least 1
in. thick for each joist bed. Support the boards over
2 in. x 4 in. wooden beams which rest upon
vertical wooden 2 in. x 3 in. posts.
Minimum
dimension
of board
1 in.x 6 in.
2 in. x 4 in.
wooden
beams
Vertical
wooden
2 in. x 3 in.
posts
cm
75
90 cm Bricks or wedges
Slab on grade
NO YES
Never support lightweight The slab on grade should be

slab formwork over constructed before placing slab
non-compacted soil. formwork. If there is no slab on
grade, then the ground soil must be
well compacted and leveled.
Recommendation
Never use inadequate materials such as cement bags, bricks or cardboard as formwork.
If you do, concrete elements will be distorted.
40
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Connection between confining beam and joist rebar

Tie joist upper reinforcement bar to confinement beam reinforcement with #16 wire.
10 cm
Joists steel
reinforcement bars
Splices of joist rebars Steel Splice

length
If you have to splice the lower reinforcement bars in 3/8 in. 40 cm

a joist, do it in the extreme thirds of the free span.
1/2 in. 50 cm
NO
Never splice lower

reinforcing bar at
the center of
the joist.
YES
Splice lower
reinforcing bar at
extreme thirds of span.
Splice
length
Span/3 Span/3 Span/3
Span
41
Steel reinforcement necessary for each single

0.60 m 0.60 m span joist in a 20 cm lightweight slab system
1Ø 8 mm 1Ø 8 mm
1Ø3/8 in.
0.90 m 0.90 m
< >
Span = 3 m 1Ø8 mm 1Ø8 mm
1Ø1/2 in.
1Ø3/8 in.
0.80 m 0.80 m
< >
Span = 4 to 4.50 m
Steel reinforcement necessary for each two span joist in a 20-cm

lightweight slab system
0.60 m 0.30 m 0.60 m 0.60 m 0.30 m 0.60 m
1Ø 8 mm 1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø8 mm
1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø3/8 in.

1Ø 8 mm
< > < >

Span = 3 m Span = 3 m
0.30 m 0.70 m 0.70 m 0.30 m

0.70 m 0.80 m
1Ø 8 mm 1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø 8 mm 1Ø 8 mm
1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø3/8 in.

0.70 m 0.70 m
< > < >

Span = 3 m or 3.5 m Span = 4 m
0.80 m 0.20 m 0.80 m 0.80 m 0.30 m

0.80 m
1Ø8mm 1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø1/2 in. 1Ø8 mm
1Ø3/8 in. 1Ø3/8 in.

1Ø 8 mm 1Ø 8 mm
0.70 m 0.70 m 0.70 m 0.70 m
< > < >
Span = 4 m Span = 4 m
Recommendations
If you have to build lightweight with long spans, consult an engineer. Lightweight slabs of great
spans must be adequately designed to ensure their strength and safety.
42
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Pipes in lightweight slab

Water and drainage pipes must not cross lightweight slab joists. Pipe paths should be
parallel to roof bricks alignment.
NO YES
Incorrect piping location Correct piping location
Pipe
Pipes must not cut
roof joists.
Joist
Roof bricks
Roof bricks
Joist
Pipe
If you cannot
prevent pipes from
crossing joists, place a
double joist in the
20 oub t
D ois
crossing area.
cm le
j
Do not place light

centers in the
joists.
Place light
centers in the roof
bricks.
Recomendation
Find out in your area which entities provide public water and drainage service as well as electric
service and ask about the procedures you must follow so that your house can have connection to the
public water and drainage system and access to an electrical connection.
43
Before pouring the slab

Before you pour the concrete slabs, verify that all water and drainage pipes do not leak.
Lid
Drainage post
Temporarily block the pipes

with a lid and leave open only one end.
Fill the pipe with water and after 4 hours
verify that all pipe connections are dry and that
there has not been any water leakage. In water
Verify
connections pipelines, it is advantageous to make this leakage test
under pressure.
Lid
Place a wooden board to To start pouring slabs, first

walk over. Do not wet the bricks and the
step directly beams formwork.
over the
bricks.
Once again verify

that the forms are level,
and verify that the vertical posts
have not moved or lost stability.
44
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
Pouring slabs and beams
Fill the lightweight slab and beams simultaneously because it is important that they work
together. Start pouring collar beams, then joists and finally the upper slab. It is better
you rent a mixer. This will help reduce the pouring time for your slab and save materials.
It is desirable to use a
vibrator during pouring of
slabs and beams. In case it is
not possible, carefully use a
rod to manually
vibrate the
You must be very careful if you use a concrete.
vibrator. The vibrator must be inside
the concrete in a vertical position
for a minimum of 3 seconds
without touching the
steel bars.
Pour the
concrete
carefully
and try not
Wooden to step over
board water or
electric pipes.
Use buckets to carry concrete
from the mixer to the beams or slabs.
Concrete for beams and

slabs
While pouring
beams, lightly
hit the form
1 bucket of cement laterally with
a rubber hammer to prevent
the formation of air pockets
2 buckets of coarse in the concrete.
sand
4 buckets of crushed
stone
(maximum size 3/4 in.)
1 bucket of water
Recomendation
Once the concrete slab is finished, the formwork must remain in place to support the slab for
at least 14 days.
45
Prepare wooden pieces 5 cm wide to use

them as guides while finishing the
upper slab.
Use a wooden or metal straightedge

to smooth and flatten the concrete
mix. Once you have reached
the desired level, remove
the wooden guides and
fill the holes with
concrete.
Constantly
verify that the
slab surface is level.
Partial pouring of the slab

L/3
If you must stop
pouring concrete in
the slab, make the
construction joint near
the ends of the slab.
Never make the
construction joint at
the center of the slab.
L
Curing the slab

The slab must be constantly cured.
Curing must start as soon as possible.
Do not wait until the next day to
start. Form closed areas
limited by sand piles over
the slab and fill them with
water. You must cure the
slab for at least 7 days.
Do not
wait until the
next day to start curing.
Do not work over the slab
for at least 2 days after pouring.
46
A SAFEHAZARDS
HOUSE
10 Stairs Variable with

minimum 1 m
Typical detail of two-span stairs 30 cm
cm 13 cm
60
First span
Ø3/8”@20 cm
Minimum
25 cm
cm
60 Thickness = 13 cm
Wall
Ø3/8 in. @20 cm
Maximum
18.5 cm Ø3/8 in. @30 cm Slab on grade
Minimum concrete covering = 2cm

70 cm
50 cm
Second span
Ø3/8 in. @20 cm
60
cm
Beam or
supporting Thickness = 13 cm
wall
Ø3/8 in. @30 cm
60
cm
Wall
13 cm
Ø3/8 in. @20 cm
Concrete for stairs 30 cm
Variable with
minimum 1 m
1 bucket of cement
2 buckets of coarse
sand 5 cm long pipes
4 buckets of 3/4 in.

crushed stone
For installation of the

stair handrail, leave 2 electrical
1 bucket of water conduits 1/2 in. diameter and 5 cm
long in the formwork of each step.
Recomendation
When you pour stairs be careful to see that all reinforcing bars have adequate concrete cover.
47
CAPITULO
4
CHAPTER
MAINTAINING YOUR HOUSE
This chapter contains recommendations Repair of wall cracks

for the maintenance and solution of some
If any wall of your house has diagonal
problems typical brick houses. If the
cracks not more than 1.5 mm thick and
problems or defects of your house are
the concrete of beams and columns is not
more serious, such as foundation
severely damaged, you can repair the
settlement or severe cracking of walls or
wall in the following way:
concrete elements, we suggest that you
consult an engineer to solve them.
Remove
1 Cracked walls mortar from
cracked joints
Cracks or fissures in walls may have and eliminate
several causes, such as use of all loose
poor-quality materials, inadequate material. Try
constructive practices, deficient structure not to hit nearby bricks.
with too few confined walls in both
directions or inadequate foundation over
soft or loose soils. If your house has
been poorly constructed and has some of
these defects, it is possible that many
of its elements will fail when an
earthquake occurs. Clean
cracked joints
thoroughly
with
Frequent cracks types in brick pressurized water.
house walls Let water
drain during 15 minutes.
Diagonal cracks
Refill the joint

with new 1:4
(cement:sand) mortar.
Apply and compact
the mortar until you
completely fill the joint.
Corner Flexural
cracks cracks
Recommendation
If the walls of your house are severely cracked or have significant vertical cracks at the corners, it is
possible that your house is in danger. Get professional assistance as soon as possible to solve the
problem.
48
NATURAL
MAINTAINING YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
Replacement of deteriorated bricks
If any wall has broken or deteriorated bricks, you

can replace them in the following way: Deteriorated brick
Carefully remove
the damaged brick.
Clean up the
mortar that
remains in
the hole.
The new brick

must be the same
size as the
Get a new damaged brick.
good quality
brick to
replace the
removed brick.
Thoroughly we the bricks in the

wall adjacent to the new brick and
place new 1:4 (cement:sand) mortar
along the edges of the hole.
Carefully place the new brick.
To finish, fill any remaining spaces
around the new brick with mortar.
Recommendations
If you need to replace more than one deteriorated brick, start with the lowest brick.
You can cut the new bricks so that they fit better in the openings left by the damaged bricks.
49
2 Corrosion of reinforcing steel
When concrete covering is too thin or has

air pockets and fissures through which
moisture penetrates, corrosion of the
steel reinforcement is produced. You can
prevent this problem if you carefully
construct the beams and columns
of your house.
Thoroughly clean the

rusted bar with a steel
Air pockets brush. To eliminate
residues softly
sandpaper
the steel.
Exposed steel
If beam and column steel reinforcement in

your house is not too corroded, you can
repair the problem the following way:
Apply cement paste to

old concrete so that
new concrete will easily adhere.
Carefully break all Completely fill the hole left by

deteriorated concrete the removed concrete
until you get a rugh with 1:4
undamaged surface. (cement:sand)
mortar.
Carefully align
the surface
of the new
concrete
with the existing
surface. Cure the new
concrete for 7 days
watering it every 8 hours.
50
MAINTAININGNATURAL
YOUR HAZARDS
HOUSE
3 Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a white or yellowish

deposit that appears in brick or concrete
walls. Efflorescence appears when Prepare a cleaning solution with one
construction materials or foundation soils volume of hydrochloric acid and 20
contains salts that are dissolved in water. volumes of water. Apply the solution
Water raises through the wall until it to the wall with a paintbrush
reaches the surface and then evaporates, and let it stand for
15 minutes.
leaving salts crystals at the wall surface as
stains.
Never put
more hydrochloric
acid because it is
extremely
corrosive.
Wall efflorescence
Rinse the wall surface with abundant

water.
Moderate efflorescence does not affect
wall strength.
To clean walls with moderate

efflorescence you can do the following:
If your ground soil or your wall are damp or

are subject to moisture intrusion, it is possible
that efflorescence will reappear.
Clean the affected
area with abundant
water and a strong brush.
Recomendation
Try to prevent moisture penetration into the walls of your house so that efflorescence will not
appear again.
51
4 Wall moisture
Damp walls are almost always caused

by leaking water pipes.
To repair water leakages and thus
prevent moisture accumulation in your Shut off the main water valve to your house
walls, you can do the following: so that water does not pass through
the damaged pipe.
Remove the damaged
element
(accessory)
or damaged
portion
of pipe.
Break the
wettest surface
of the wall until
you find the
leaking pipe.
Replace the damaged elements

with new ones. Let the new
connections dry completely.
Wait a couple of days to
verify that there
are no more
leakages.
Patch the wall with mortar

(cement:sand) 1:5.
Thoroughly clean
the pipe and locate the
place where it is leaking.
A broken pipe or a
defective connection
between pipes or
accessories can cause
leaking.
52
NATURALHAZARDS
CAPITULO 5
CAPITULO
5 PLANS FOR YOUR HOUSE
CHAPTER
1 Why are drawings useful?

Before you start construction you must WHO CAN
have drawings which show the HELP ME
appearance of your house to be and how DESIGN
MY HOUSE?
you will build it. Architectural drawings
are scaled representations of how your
THE BEST IS TO
house will look, how many rooms it has CONSULT AN ARCHITECT OR
and how they are located. Structural AN ENGINEER. IF YOU DO NOT
drawings indicate the locations and HAVE A PROFESSIONAL HANDY,
YOU CAN CONSULT THE NEAREST
dimensions of the bearing walls, slabs MUNICIPALITY.
roof reinforcement and dimensions
and steel reinforcement of beams and WHICH
columns. Finally, mechanical, electrical YOU NEED TO HAVE DRAWINGS
THE FOLLOWING DRAWINGS: DO I NEED?
and plumbing drawings show the 1)ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS
route of water and sewage pipes (PLAN VIEW AND MAIN ELEVATION)
and of electric conduits. 2) STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS
(FOUNDATION AND ROOFS)
3) MECHANICAL,ELECTRICAL AND
PLUMBING DRAWINGS
Drawings are
useful because:
They help you determine

if your house will satisfy your
present and future family
requirements.
They permit you evaluate

precisely the cost of materials
necessary for construction.
They enable you to

program construction stages of
the house according to your
economic resources.
They enable you to

program accurately the
construction of each stage,
eliminating improvisation. This
way later you will not regret a
poor design that will cause
demolition or alteration of
walls or require changing the
position of doors.
53
2 The design of your house
A well-designed house has the following

characteristics:
It is earthquake-resistant. To achieve
this it must have a sufficient quantity of
confined walls in both directions (See
Chapter 2 and Appendix).
It responds to your family’s present

and future needs.
It is easily constructed in stages.
All rooms have natural illumination and

ventilation.
Bedrooms are well located, far from Kitchens and bathrooms

the noisiest areas, such as kitchen, dining with natural illumination
and living rooms. and ventilation.
It has a patio or laundry.
It has a garden where you and your

family can grow flowers, trees or
vegetables.
Houses with gardens.
54
NATURAL
PLANS FOR YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
3 Sample house plans
Sample Plan 1: Corner house

Here is a two-story house plan for a 8m x 8m ground corner property.
8.00
First floor
2.20 1.95 3.85
2.10 Patio
Bathroom
Kitchen
Closet
2.00
8.00
Dining room Living room

3.90
Second floor
Bathroom
Bedroom
Bedroom Bedroom
Architectural drawings
Scale 1:100
55
Sample plan 2: House between party walls

8.00
This is a two-story
house plan for a 3.79 3.79
8m x 20 m ground
property between
party walls. In this
house it is possible
to use one of the
first-floor rooms as 3.63
workshop or store
(if your area zoning Garden
allows for it).
3.64
Laundry Terrace
2.00
20.00
4.00 Kitchen-dining room Multiple use
0.80
Closet
2.10
Bathroom
Living-dining room Multiple use

5.00
Architectural drawing
First floor
Scale 1:100
56
PLANS FOR
NATURAL
YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
Bedroom Bedroom
Bathroom
Bedroom Bedroom
Second floor
Scale 1:100
57
Sample plan 3: House between party walls
Here is a two story house plan where a different family can

live on each floor. This house has all the drawings
necessary to build it over hard soil (rock or gravel).
Remember it has been designed to have only
two floors.
58
NATURAL
HOUSE
Main elevation
0.25
2.40
5.45 0.25
2.40
0.15
Section A-A
0.25
Opening schedule
Width Height Sill height
2.40
D-1 1.00 2.20 0
0.90 D-2 0.80 2.40 0
D-3 0.70 2.40 0
5.45 0.25 D-4 1.00 2.40 0
D-5 1.00 2.40 0
W-1 2.00 1.30 0.90
W-2 1.20 1.30 0.90
2.40 W-3 0.60 0.60 1.00
0.15
Rear elevation
0.25
1.50
0.90
5.45 0.25
2.40
Section
Elevations
0.15 Scale 1:100
59
8.00
3.45 4.00
Garden 2.55
+- 0.00
Terrace Laundry
+ 0.15 2.15
W2 D4 W2
4.25
Bedroom Kitchen-dining room
D2 D5
Ventilation duct 20.00

2.55
W3 Bathroom Dining room
D3
D2
Bedroom Living room
+ 0.15 5.50
W2 D1 W1
A A'
+- 0.00 + 0.15 3.50
First floor
Scale 1:100
60
NATURAL
HOUSE
8.00
3.45 4.00
2..55
Terrace Laundry
2.15
W2 D4 W2
4.25
Bedroom Kitchen-dining room
D2 D5
20.00
2.55
W3 Bathroom Dining room
D3
D2
Bedroom Living room
+ 2.80 5.50
W2 D1 W1
Balcony
3.50
Second floor
Scale 1:100
61
+ 5.45
Roof floor
Scale 1:100
62
NATURAL
HOUSE
Construction
by stages
Garden
You can build this house in
several stages. For example,
you could build the house in Terrace Laundry
5 stages according to this
sequence:
Bedroom Kitchen
Bathroom Dining room
Bedroom Living room
Garden
First stage Second stage
Third stage
Terrace Laundry
Bedroom Kitchen
Bathroom Dining room
Bedroom Living room
Balcony
Fourth stage Fifth stage Scale 1:200
63
3.74 4.26
4.00
3 3
8
C-6 C-6 C-6
3 3
2.55 3 3 2.55
3 3
2cm joint
2 2 C-6
C-6 2cm joint
7
C-6 C-5 C-6
2 C-6 2
4 4 3 3 2.15
2.15 3
3
1 C-1 4 C-3 4 C-2 1 C-1 1

C-1 C-1
6
1 4 4 1 1
4.25 1 1 3 3 4.25
3 3 SOG + 0.10
1,49
1 4 4 1
C-4 C-4
5 C-4 C-1
1 4 4 C-4 1
20.00 2 2 2.55
2.55
Foundation C-6 3 3
widening 1.04
1 4
C-4 C-4 C-1 C-6
4
1 4
SOG + 0.10
2 2
2.60
3 3 2.60
3 3 1 1
C-6 C-1 C-6

3
1 1 3 3
3 3
2.40
1.37 2.40
1 C-1 4 C-2 1
C-1 C-1
2
C-6 C-3 4
1 1.00 1 1.12
2cm joint
1.26
C-6
C-5 3.50
3.50 Stair
foundation 3 3
3 3
3
C-6
1 C-6
C-6 3
Foundation drawing A 3.74 B 4.26 C

Scale 1:100
64
NATURAL HOUSE
0.24 0.14
0.15 Grade + 0.10 m 0.15 Grade + 0.10 m

0.10 0.10
0.10 0.10
0.80 0.80
0.50 0.50
SECTION 1-1 SECTION 2-2
0.14
0.15 Grade + 0.10 m 0.15 Grade + 0.10 m
0.10 Grade +- 0.00 0.10

0.10 0.10
0.80 0.80
0.40 0.50
SECTION 3-3 SECTION 4-4
Foundation detail drawing

Scale 1:25
65
COLUMN SCHEDULE
C-1 C-2 C-3

0.24 x 0.25 0.24 x 0.40 0.24 x 0.24
4 ø 3/8 in. 6 ø 1/2 in. 4 ø 3/8 in.
Typical stirrups Typical stirrups Typical stirrups
C-4 C-5 C-6

0.24 x 0.25 0.24 x 0.24 0.14 x 0.25
4 ø 1/2 in. 4 ø 1/2 in. 4 ø 3/8 in.
Typical stirrups Typical stirrups Typical stirrups
Typical stirrups
ø 1/4 in. 1@0.05 + 4@0.10 + R@0.25
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
PLAIN CONCRETE:
FOUNDATION:
Cement, aggregate 1:10 + 30% clean large stones, maximum size 10 in.
PLINTH:
Cement, aggregate 1:8 + 25% clean medium size stone, maximum size 4 in.
REINFORCED CONCRETE:
Concrete:
Columns,beams, slabs f'c = 175 kg/cm 2
Steel fy = 4200 kg/cm2
LIVE LOAD:
First-floor roof 200 kg/m2
Second-floor roof 100 kg/m 2
MORTAR:
Cement : coarse sand 1:5
Joint thickness 1.00 cm
BRICK TYPE:
Structural, good quality
CONCRETE COVER REQUIREMENTS:

Confining columns 2.5 cm
0.40 m columns 3.0 cm
Confining beams 2.5 cm
Flat beams and lightweight slabs 2.5 cm
Deep beams 3.0 cm
66
PLANS FOR
NATURAL
YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
0.25 0.25
0.20 Second-floor slab

1@0.05
4@0.10
2.40
Rest @ 0.25
4@0.10
1@0.05
0.20 First-floor slab
1@0.05
4@0.10
2,30
Rest @ 0.25
4@0.10
1@0.05
0.15
0.35 0.15 Plinth
0.10
Assembly stirrups
@0.25
0.80 Continuous footing
Column detail
0.25 0.25 Scale 1:25
67
2.55
Rises Rises Rises Rises

Pa B1(.24x.40) Pa B1(.24x.40) Pa Pa
See parapet
7
connection
Rises0.50
1ø8mm
1ø8mm
Pa detail
TB1 C
2.15
CB-2
CB-2
1 1 0.50
1 2 2 1
6
1 1 0.50 1 2 2 1
1ø8mm
0.70 0.30 0.70 0.70 0.30 A 0.80
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
4.25 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
0.70 0,70
CB-2
CB-2
CB-1
3 4 4 3
5
Duct,only 3 4 4 3
6 6 B4(.24x.40)
joists pass 7 7
20.00 B
0.60 0.20 0.40 0.80
0.70 0.30
CB-2
2.55
CB-2
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 2 2 4 1ø3/8in.
3 0.70 5 0.70
4
3 4 5
CB-2
CB-2
2.60
CB-1 A
3 TB1 TB1
CB-1
0.70 0.80
CB-2
0.30 0.70 0.70 0.30

CB-2
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.

2.40 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
0.70 0.70
1 1 1 0.50
2 B2 B2(.24x.40)
1 1
CB-2
1 8 8 D
Solid slab
B3(.24x.40)
1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in.
See stairs
3.50
1.00
A 3.74 B 4.26 C
Slab formwork drawing 8.00
First floor - Scale 1:100
68
NATURAL
HOUSE
2.55
2.15
1 1 1 2 2 1
6
1 1 1 2 2 1
0.70 0.30 0.70 0.70 0.30

A 0.80
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
4.25 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
CB-2
CB-2
0.70 0.70
CB-1
3 4 4 3
5
Duct, only 3 4 4 3
joists pass 6 6 B4(.24x.40)
7 7 B
CB-2
20.00
CB-2
0.60 0.20 0.40

0.70 0.30 0.80
2.55
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 2 2 4 1ø3/8in.
3 0.70 5 0.70
4
3 4 5
CB-2
CB-2
2.60
CB-1 A
3 TB1 TB1
CB-1
CB-2
0.70 0.30 0.70 0.70 0.30 0.80

1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
CB-2
2.40 1ø3/8in.
1ø3/8in. 1ø3/8in.
0.70 0.70
1 1 1 0.50
2 B2 B2(.24x.40)
1 1 1
CB-2
3.50
A 3.74 B 4.26 C
8.00
Slab formwork drawing
Second floor - Scale 1:100
69
4Ø1/2in.
4Ø3/8in.
Ø1/4in.:1@0.05,
rest @ 0.15
4Ø3/8in.
Ø1/4in.:1@0.05,
4@0.10, rest @ 0.25
Beam details
Scale 1:25
70
2Ø1/2in. 2Ø1/2in.
typ
typ
typ
2Ø1/2in. 2Ø1/2in.
Ø1/4in.:1@.10, 4@.15, rest@ .25 Ø1/4in.:1@.10, 4@.15, rest@ .25
Ø1/4in.:1@.10,rest@.15
B1-(0.24 x 0.40)
See Section 1-1 2Ø1/2in.

typ
typ
2Ø1/2in.
Ø1/4in.:1@.10,rest.@.15 Ø1/4in.:1@.10,4@.15,rest@.25
PLANS FOR
B2-(0.24 x 0.40)
typ = typical
NATURAL
71
Beam details
Scale 1:25 and 1:50
HOUSE
YOURHAZARDS
72
2Ø3/8in.
1'
typ
Beam details
Scale 1:25 and 1:50
typ
typ
2Ø1/2in. 1'
Ø1/4in.:1@.10,4@.15,rest@.25
B3-(0.24 x 0.40)
2Ø1/2in.
1'
Continues CB-1
typ
1' Continues CB-1

2Ø1/2"
Ø1/4in.:1@.10,4@.15,rest@.25
typ = typical
B4-(0.24 x 0.40)
PLANS FOR
NATURAL
YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
FFL=+2.75
B2
0.30 ø3/8in.@0.20
B3
0.20 0.60
SECOND SPAN
Slab
Hook
3Ø3/8in.
6ø3/8in.@0.20
0.60 Stretcher wall
ø3/8in.@0.30
0.13
filled step
0.13
6Ø3/8in.@ 0.20
typical 0.30
6Ø3/8in.
1.00
1.00
Filled step
0.60
typical 0.30
FIRST SPAN 0.13
0.72
6Ø3/8in.
6ø3/8in.@0.20
0.176
0,13
0.80
ø3/8in.@0.30 0,14
0.26
6ø3/8in.@0.20
Grade +0.10 Slab on grade
0.50
0.70
Stair detail
0.50 Scale 1:25
73
1/2in.
1/2in.
1/2in. 1/2in. 1/2in.
3/4in.
3/4in. pipe goes up
3/4in.
3/4in.
From main water system From main water system
Plumbing - water supply drawings

74
PLANS FOR
NATURAL
YOURHAZARDS
HOUSE
1/2in.
1/2in.
1/2in.
1/2in. 1/2in.
3/4in. pipe arrives
Plumbing - water supply drawings

75
2in. drainage
pipe enters
2in. ventilation
PVC SAP ø2in. pipe goes up
.
% 2in
1.0 ø
e= P
op SA
Sl VC
P
.
% 2in
PVC SAP ø2in. 2in. drainage
1.0 ø pipe enters
e= AP
S
Sl VC
2in. ventilation
P
op
pipe goes up
n.
2i
4in. drainage
ø
P
pipe enters C
SA
PV
R.B. 10in. x 20in.

2in. ventilation ø 2in. L.L.= 0.00
pipe goes up B.L.= - 0.40
%
ø 4in.
.0
=1
e
ø 4in.
op
ø 4in.
Sl
ø 2in.
PVC SAP ø4in.

Slope=1.0%
R.B. 10in. x 20in.

L.L.= 0.00
B.L.= - 0.60
N.P.C. ø6in.
To public sewer system
Plumbing-sanitary sewer drawings

76
NATURAL
HOUSE
2in. drainage
ø 2in. pipe comes down
2in. ventilation
pipe goes up
2in. drainage
pipe comes down
ø 2in. 2in. ventilation

pipe goes up
2in. drainage
pipe comes down
ø 2in.
2in. ventilation
pipe goes up
ø 2in.
ø 4in.
ø 2in.
Plumbing-sanitary sewer drawings

77
c d
2Sc,d
T-1
S S
S 3b
S b
Doorbell goes up
S
Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
Phone line enters

Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
TV antenna enters
TV Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
2Sa,3b TV
S Network feeder goes up

a Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
First floor meter Wh Wh Second floor meter
FROM ELECTRIC NET SYSTEM

Electrical drawings
First floor
Scale 1:100
78
NATURAL
HOUSE
c
d
2Sc,d
T-2
S S
S 3b
S b
Arrives doorbell
S Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
Phone line enters

Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
TV TV antenna enters
TV Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
2Sa,3b
Network feeder enters

a Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
Electrical drawings
Second floor
Scale 1:100
79
Plumbing component legend
WATER SUPPLY LEGEND DRAINAGE LEGEND
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
DRAINAGE PIPE
M WATER METER
VENTILLATION PIPE
COLD WATER PIPE
45º ELBOW
RIGHT ANGLE BEND
SIMPLE SANITARY "Y"
45º ELBOW
DOUBLE SANITARY "Y"
RIGHT ANGLE BEND GOES UP
"P" TRAP
T
REGISTER BOX 12" x 24"
STRAIGHT T WITH RISE
FLOOR BRONZE THREADED
UNIVERSAL JOINT REGISTER
GLOBE VALVE FLOOR DRAIN
CONCENTRIC REDUCER
CHECK VALVE
SPRINKLING VALVE
Electrical component legend
UNIFILAR DIAGRAM T-1 Y T-2.
2 x 15 A
C-1 2-1 x 2.5mm2 TW
Ø 15mm PVC-L LIGHTING
C-2 2 x 15 A
Wh 30A 2-1 x 2.5mm2 TW + 1 x 2.5mm2/T
2 - 1 x 10mm2 THW Ø 15mm PVC-L OUTLET
C-3 2 x 15 A
Ø 20 mm PVC-SAP
To ground pit Ø 15mm PVC-L RESERVE

From public power grid
See detail
80
NATURAL
HOUSE
L E G E N D
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
WALL LIGHTING OUTLET

P WALL OCTOGONAL PULL BOX OF GALVANIZED IRON (G.I.)
FºGº 100 x 30 h=2.20 OVER FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL
SQUARE PULL BOX (G.I.) 100 x 30
ROOF LIGHTING OUTLET IN OCTOGONAL BOX 100 x 30
BIPOLAR DOUBLE OUTLET WITH UNIVERSAL TYPE CLOVIS G.I. BOX

100 x.55 x 28 h= .30/1.10 OVER FINISEHED FLOOR LEVEL RESPECTIVELY
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SWITCHBOARD, UPPER EDGE h=1.80
OVER FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL
Wh FOR INSTALLATION OF KHW METER
ONE-POLE SIMPLE, DOUBLE, TRIPLE SWITCH IN G.I. BOX 100 x 53 x 28 h = 1.20
S 2S 3S OVER FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL
COMMUTATION SWITCH IN 100 x 43 x 28 BOX, h = 1.20
S3 OVER FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL
DOORBELL PUSH BUTTON IN 100 x 53 x 28 BOX, h = 1.20
.
EXTERNAL TELEPHONE WALL OUTLET IN 100 x 53 x 28 BOX, h = 1.20
DOORBELL IN G.I. OCTOGONAL 100 x 55 x 28 BOX, h = 1.20 OVER FINISHED
FLOOR LEVEL WITH 220v 60 Hz Ø 20mm PVC-SEL TRANSFORMER
WALL OR ROOF EMBEDDED PIPING, Ø INDICATED IN UNIFILAR DIAGRAM
FLOOR EMBEDDED PIPING, Ø INDICATED IN UNIFILAR DIAGRAM
FLOOR EMBEDDED PIPING, Ø 15 mm TELEPHONE
X FLOOR EMBEDDED PIPING, Ø 15 mm TV
FLOOR EMBEDDED PIPING, Ø 15 mm DOORBELL
TV TV ANTENNA OUTLET and/or CABLE, G.I. 100 x 55 x 28 BOX, h = .30

GROUND PIT
Concrete lid 0.40 x 0.40 x 0.05 m
Frame with 0.05 x 0.05 x 0.08 m

.10
Concrete parapet
.40 Ground conducter bare Cu

Ground pit detail
PVC - SAP tube
Cooper connector contact lenght

throughout the ground rod
3.00
Magnesium sulfate - topsoil

SO4 Mg SANKGEL
Cooper rod min Ø15 mm L=3.00 m
.80 Resistance < 0.25 ohm
81
REFERENCES
- Arnold C. y Reitherman R. 1987. Configuración y diseño sísmico de edificios

(Configuration and seismic design of buildings). Editorial Limusa. México.
- Lesur L. 2001. Manual de albañilería y autoconstrucción I y II (Handbook of

masonry and self construction I and II). Editorial Trillas. México.
- San Bartolomé A. 1994. Construcciones de albañilería –Comportamiento sísmico y

diseño estructural (Masonry constructions – Seismic behaviour and structural design).
Fondo Editorial de la PUCP. Lima, Perú.
- Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje. 2003. Construcción de casas sismorresistentes de

uno y dos pisos (Construction of seismic resistant houses of one and two floors).
Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Colombia.
82
NATURALHAZARDS
APPENDIX
1 Quantity of walls in an earthquake-resistant house

Your house has to have an
adequate number of confined
Vulnerable house
walls in both directions in order Few confined walls in the direction
to resist earthquakes. parallel to the street.
Earthquake
Earthquake
HOW
CAN I CALCULATE
HOW MANY CONFINED
WALLS I MUST
HAVE IN EACH
DIRECTION?
THE REQUIRED
NUMBER OF WALLS
DEPENDS ON THE TYPE
OF SOIL WHERE Resistant house
YOU WILL BUILD
YOUR HOUSE
Adequate quantity of confined
walls in both directions
Earthquake
Earthquake
83
Wall calculations
To calculate the number of walls needed for a house with a
maximum of two stories, follow the indicated steps:
Classify the soil of the place where you will build

your house. On page 22 you can learn how to
determine the soil type.
Determine the minimum wall density needed in

each direction, according to your soil type. Use the
following table:
Type Minimum
Description wall density
of soil
required
(%)
Hard Rock
1.0%
Gravel
Intemediate Hard clayish 1.2%

Blando sand
Soft or Loose sand 1.4%

loose Soft clay
Calculate the roof area covering each floor in square meters.
Calculate the required horizontal area of confined walls for each floor.
REQUIRED MINIMUM
HORIZONTAL AREA
OF CONFINED WALLS = WALL DENSITY
x
ROOF COVERED AREA 1st FLOOR
+
IN 1st FLOOR 100
ROOF COVERED AREA 2nd FLOOR
REQUIRED MINIMUM
WALL DENSITY
HORIZONTAL AREA
OF CONFINED WALLS = x ROOF COVERED AREA 2nd FLOOR
IN 2nd FLOOR 100
84
NATURAL
APPENDIX
HAZARDS
Example
Suppose that your house will be
constructed over a compact gravel- Required horizontal area Floor 1
coarse sand soil and that it will have 70
m² of roof covering area in the first (1/100) x (70 + 50 m2) = (1/100) x 120 m2 = 1,20m2
floor and 50 m² in the second floor.
Wall density required for hard soil is
1%. To calculate the horizontal wall area necessary in the
second floor, you only have to consider the roof area
To calculate the horizontal wall area covering the second floor. That is, the wall area
needed in the first floor, consider the required for the second floor will be:
roof covering areas of the first and
second floors. That is, the wall area
required by the first floor will be: Required horizontal area Floor 2
(1/100) x (50 m2) = 0,5 m2
Verify that the total horizontal area of confined walls in your house in each
direction is greater than the required area. In the evaluation only include walls
made of structural brick whose length is greater than 1 meter and that are confined by
reinforced concrete beams and columns. Do not include walls less than 1 meter in
length. Also do not include unconfined walls or partition walls because these elements
are not capable of resisting earthquakes. For each direction of your house
evaluate the area of each confined wall and then add up the areas of all
the walls. To calculate the horizontal area of each wall in m² multiply
its length in meters by its thickness in meters.
th
ng
Le
Example
Horizontal wall area Thichness

3 m x 0,14 m = 0,42 m 2 14 cm = 0,14 m
Then verify that the horizontal

area of confined walls in every
floor of your house and for each
direction is greater than the
required area that you calculated
in the previous step.
Total horizontal wall area (m²) > Required horizontal area (m²)
85
Example of wall calculation in the direction parallel to the street

As an example, we will analyze the house proposed in Chapter 5. This house is located
over hard soil and has 115.7 m² of roof area covering in the first floor and 98.7 m²
covering the second floor, which gives a total roof covering area of 214.4 m².
For this soil type, the required

wall density in each direction is
1%. Therefore, the quantity of
walls for our first floor has to be:
W7 1 x 214.4 m² = 2.14 m²
0.14
100
1.50
We will calculate the areas of
W5 W6 our confined walls:
0.24
W1= 1.50 X 0.24 = 0.36 m²
1.50 1.50 W2= 2.82 X 0.24 = 0.68 m²
W3= 2.82 X 0.24 = 0.68 m²
W4= 3.14 X 0.24 = 0.75 m²
W5= 1.50 X 0.24 = 0.36 m²
W6= 1.50 X 0.24 = 0.36 m²
W7= 1.50 X 0.14 = 0.24 m²
The total confined wall area is

2.82 3.14
3,43 m² which is greater than
0.24 0.24 2.14 m², so we have satisfied
W3 W4 minimum wall density.
Remember that these walls
have to be confined in all
four sides.
W2
0.24
2.82
Recommendation
It is desirable to have several walls

longer than 2.70 m
How many of the required walls
must be long depends on the type of
soil where your house is located:
W1 Hard soil
0.24 At least three walls must be
longer than 2.70 m.
1.50
Intermediate or soft soil

At least four walls must be longer
than 2.70 m.
86
NATURALHAZARDS
APPENDIX
2 Concrete Types
Reinforced concrete elements:
columns, beams, slabs, stairs
Primary plastering
Scratch coat
Secondary plastering
1 bucket of cement Finish coat 1 bucket of cement
5 buckets of 1 bucket of cement 2 buckets of
coarse sand coarse sand
5 buckets of
Add water coarse sand 4 buckets of
until the mix ¾in. crushed stone
is workable Add water
until the mix
is workable 1 bucket of
water
Slab on grade
1 bucket of cement
9 buckets of mixed
gravel/coarse sand
1 1/4 buckets of Plain concrete for plinth
water
Plain concrete for
foundation 1 bucket of cement
1 bucket of cement Mortar to lay 8 buckets of

bricks aggregate
10 buckets of mixed
gravel/coarse sand 25% medium size
1 bucket of cement stones (maximum
30% large stones size 4in.)
(maximum size 10in.)
5 buckets of
coarse sand 1 1/4 buckets of
1 1/2 buckets of water
water Add water
until the mix
is workable
Recommendation
Moisten all aggregates the previous day.
87
3 Schedule of WITH THIS TABLE

material quantities YOU CAN CALCULATE THE
QUANTITY OF MATERIALS
NECESSARY FOR
The quantities of materials CONSTRUCTION
shown includes 3% loss.
Required Quantity of Quantity of

material material m³ material
for 1 m³
X in my = needed for
house my house
Continuous
Cement 2.8 bags
footing
Mixed gravel 0.90 m³
/coarse sand
X =
Big
0.32 m³
stone (10in.)
Water 116 liters
Cement 3.7 bags

Simple
plinth Mixed gravel
/coarse sand 1.00 m³
X =
Medium size
stone (4in.) 0.26 m³
Water 124 liters
Reinforced Cement 7.2 bags

plinth
Coarse sand 0.44 m³
X =
Crushed
stone(3/4in.) 0.9 m³
Water 175 liters
Columns, Cement 7,2 bags

confining
beams and
slab
Crushed 0.9 m³
X =
stone(3/4in.)
Water 175 liters
88
APPENDIX
NATURALHAZARDS
Required Quantity of m² Quantity of

material material X in my = material
for 1m² house needed for
my house
Slab on grade
Cement 0.4 bags
(10 cm
thickness)
Mixed gravel
/coarse sand 0.124 m³ X =
Water 14 liters
Header Cement 0.4 bags

wall
Coarse sand 0.07 m³ X =
Jumbo cored
utility brick 59 units
(10x14x24cm)
Stretcher Cement 0.2 bags

wall
Coarse sand
0.03 m³
Jumbo cored X =
utility brick 36 units
(10x14x24cm)
Holow clay
tile 36 units
(10x12x24cm)
Cement 0.63 bags

Lightweight slab
Crushed 0.008 m³
stone (3/4in.)
Water 17 liters X =
Hollow
ceiling brick 8.4 units
(15x30x30cm)
Hollow
(15x30x25cm)
Hollow
(12x30x25cm)
89

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NATURALHAZARDS

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

- Asociación Colombiana de Ingeniería Sísmica (Colombian Association of Earthquake

Second edition: January 2005

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF MASONRY HOUSES

© Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

For Virgilio Ghio C.

Chapter 1: Natural Hazards ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 6

Chapter 2: The earthquake resistant house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 8

Chapter 3: Construction of a safe house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Chapter 4: Maintaining your house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 48

Chapter 5: Plans for your house ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 53

1 Natural hazards in Peru

Earthquake risk is not the same in all

What type of damage can earthquakes produce?

Earthquakes can produce significant damage

2 THE EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT HOUSE

Safe places to build houses are those located

Extraordinary flood level

In volcanic areas due to

3 The earthquake-resistant house

4 Layout of an earthquake-resistant house

The shape of your house

Look for symmetry in

Inadequate plan layout Adequate shape

Poorly proportioned plan Well proportioned plan

Build window and

Poor location of Good location of

The adequate location

Improperly located walls that do not Properly located walls

Slabs of different shape on The same shape of slab on

Confined walls are the elements

Few confined walls in Many confined walls in both

5 The unsafe house

Columns and beams Exposed

6 The safe house

QUALIFIED MANUAL LABOR

GOOD QUALITY OF MATERIALS

Use good-quality materials. “Saving

Well proportioned house

7 Components of the Building Utilities BE CAREFUL

Octagonal distribution box Electrical circuit

Main Electric meter

Shut-off valve From main

SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM

1 Drawings and permits (or other administrative procedures)

Once you buy your parcel of land in an

2 Cleaning and leveling the land

Before starting work, clean the ground well.

Leveling the land

Use a stake to identify a

Using the water level inside

Cut and fill

After marking all

Place the guideposts

Locate the center of each

Use 3-4-5 triangles to

Use the strings as

4 Construction of the Foundation

Natural - For hard soil like rock

and gravel, minimum 40 cm

- For clay soil or clay

To determine your soil