INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT CONDUCTED

AT
NGARWE BUILDING AND ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS

LIMITED

PRESENTED BY: CONCEPTA KHASINDE SHIMAKA

ADMISSION NO: 7935
INSTITUTION: SHAMBERERE TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
COURSE: DIPLOMA IN BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
DURATION: APRIL – AUGUST 2023
 Table of Contents
ATTACHMENT REPORT........................................................................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................................................iv
Dedication............................................................................................................................................................v
Acknowledgement..............................................................................................................................................vi
FOUNDATIONS.....................................................................................................................................................1
Shallow Foundations........................................................................................................................................1
Individual/Isolated footing...............................................................................................................................1
Combined Footing............................................................................................................................................2
Strip footing, spread footing or wall footing....................................................................................................3
Raft/Mat Foundation........................................................................................................................................3
EXCAVATION WORK.............................................................................................................................................5
Hydraulic rock breakers...................................................................................................................................5
Backhoe excavator...........................................................................................................................................5
STEEL FIXING........................................................................................................................................................6
Steel fixing of beams and columns...................................................................................................................6
Column frame..............................................................................................................................................6
Beam frameworks............................................................................................................................................7
Plinth Beam......................................................................................................................................................8
Roof Ring Beam................................................................................................................................................8
Procedure of Beam placement.........................................................................................................................8
Setting out of the building................................................................................................................................9
Setting out of the building................................................................................................................................9
Erection of Building profile.............................................................................................................................10
Levelling of the set out ground......................................................................................................................10
Setting the dumpy level.................................................................................................................................11
Setting of the building profile.........................................................................................................................11
Marking and identification of column positions.............................................................................................11
Building profile...............................................................................................................................................12
Fixing of column base reinforcement.............................................................................................................12
Concreting of the column basement..............................................................................................................12
Backfilling of spaces between walls and columns..........................................................................................13
Compaction of Earth in room partitions.........................................................................................................14
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 Placement of ground slab..............................................................................................................................14
Reinforced concrete retaining walls...............................................................................................................14
Reinforced concrete retaining wall under construction.................................................................................15
Construction of column kickers......................................................................................................................15
SUPERSTRUCTURE..............................................................................................................................................15
Columns construction....................................................................................................................................15
Crank length...................................................................................................................................................16
Hacking of columns and walls........................................................................................................................17
Plastering of columns.....................................................................................................................................17
Construction of room partitions.....................................................................................................................17
Shear wall construction..................................................................................................................................17
Flooring of rooms...........................................................................................................................................17
Making of garter steel frame work.................................................................................................................17
Concreting of roof ring beam and garters......................................................................................................17
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................................................18

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ATTACHMENT REPORT

An attachment report submitted as part of the requirements for fulfilment of the Diploma in
Building Technology. It contains details obtained from the construction site.

iii
ABSTRACT

The following report was written by Concepta Khasinde as a requirement for partial
fulfillment of Diploma in Building Technology of Shamberere Technical Training Institute.
The report was based on a practical external attachment carried out on a construction site.
The aim of the attachment was to familiarize with the building activities as a preparation for
the career. The attachment involved going through the construction sites while undertaking
various activities involved in the construction of structures. The structures so covered here in
this report is a residential building

The Areas so covered in the report involve among others;

 Excavation work
 Foundation layering
 Construction of retaining walls
 Steel fixing of beams and columns
 Plastering and finishing

The report is a professional report and is recommended for upcoming engineers and has basic
starting information for an engineer. The report is limited to the activities and tools related to
construction and are tools so used could vary from the workshop tools to improvised ones. The
report is open for correction based on technical advancements in the field of civil engineering
and construction

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Dedication

I dedicate this report to my family members who have stood by me in all circumstances and
advised me to keep working towards achievement of my goals.

v
Acknowledgement
I do acknowledge the help of Wikipedia and Pinterest in downloading definition of technical
terms and some images featured in the report. I also acknowledge Ngarwe Building and
Engineering Contractors Limited for giving me a chance to be attached at their firm.

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FOUNDATIONS
Foundation is a critical stage of building
construction. Two major types of foundations are
usually found:
 Shallow Foundations
 Deep Foundations

Shallow Foundations
This type of Foundations does not exceed the safe bearing capacity of the soil. It is also
called open footing. When constructing a shallow foundation, you first excavate the earth
till the bottom of the footing, then build the footing. There are four types of shallow
foundations namely;
a) Individual / Isolated footing
b) Combined Footing
c) Spread footing, strip footing or wall footing
d) Raft / mat foundations

Individual/Isolated footing
It is usually recommending when the load of the building is carried in a sing column.
It is usually square or rectangular and is used when the loads from the structure are carried by
columns

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Combined Footing
It is usually most appropriate when the column is spaced closely and the soil has a low bearing
capacity.
Usually done when two or more columns are close enough and their isolated footings
overlap each other.

2
Strip footing, spread footing or wall footing
It is used for structures with more load bearing and boundary wall construction.
Are those whose base is wider than a typical load- bearing wall foundations. The wider
base of this footing type spreads the weight of the structure over more area and provides
better stability.

Raft/Mat Foundation
Are types of foundations which are spread across the entire area of the building to support
heavy structural loads from columns and walls.
They are usually very suitable for weak or loose soil areas. They are usually used alongside
individual footing to improve the stability and for economical purposes.

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EXCAVATION WORK.
Excavation generally means work involving removal of soil or rocks from a site to form an
open face, hole or cavity using tools, machinery or explosives.
Excavation works include:
 Open excavation
 Potholing
 Trenches and Retaining walls
 Shafts and drives.
The choice of whether to use machinery or tools depends primarily on the nature of the ground,
size is of work/ site and safety. For a small construction site tools would be most appropriate
but for a large commercial site, machinery would be most appropriate.
The types of machinery so used in the excavation works include:
 Hydraulic rock breakers
 Backhoe excavator

Hydraulic rock breakers

A breaker is a powerful percussion hammer fitted to an excavator for demolishing concrete
structures or breaking rocks. It is powered by an auxiliary hydraulic system from the excavator
which is fitted with a foot operated valve for this purpose. Demolition screws employ the rock
breaker for jobs too large for jackhammering or areas where blasting is not possible due to safety
or environmental issues.

Backhoe excavator
Is another widely used equipment suitable for multiple purposes, the name itself telling that the ho
arrangement is provided on the backside of the vehicle while loading bucket is provided on the front.
This is well useful for excavating trenches below the machine level and using front bucket
loading, unloading and lifting of materials can be done.

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STEEL FIXING
Steel fixing of beams and columns
Column frame
Beams and columns are made up of two components, longitudinal bars and stirrups/ lateral ties/
links joined onto each other by the use of binding wires. The beams and columns were fixed and
then transferred to the site for placement. Rectangular beams and columns are usually made a
up of four or more longitudinal bars while circular columns are made up of six or more
longitudinal bars. The bars at the corners of lateral ties should usually be of a typical diameter
while those in the middle could be of a lesser diameter depending on the desired strength of the
structure.
To make stirrups, nails were fixed on wood at measured intervals as per the desired size of the
stirrup width and length. The metal pieces are then curved to form stirrups.
The smallest size of lateral ties as per the best Engineering practices should be at least of diameter
8mm
- y8.

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Beam frameworks

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Plinth Beam
This is also called ground beam. It is the beam placed on the ground level before placement of
ground slab.

Roof Ring Beam

This is the beam placed on the upper side of the building before roofing is done.

Procedure of Beam placement

Beam framework is placed above the wall and positioned such that it is in line with the wall and
crosses the columns appropriately. Formwork is constructed along the wall throughout the
length. The position of the bean framework is adjusted using the spacer blocks which also
ensure that the steel bars do not get exposed to atmosphere to prevent corrosion of the
reinforcement. Concrete is poured in the formwork and vibrators used to compact it. The
formwork is then removed after 24 hours when the concrete has already set.

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Setting out of the building
The structure so to be constructed was to be based on an already an existing one. The building
(coral ridge A) was to be a mirror image of another (coral ridge B) a predetermined mirror line.
A Mason’s line is used to extend lines from the walls of the adjacent buildings. Where the lines
meet dimensions from each building are taken. The distance from the corners of the buildings
are also taken.

Setting out of the building

The readings so obtained are transferred to the opposite side of the mirror line where the new
building is to be constructed. Where the ground is at a lower level, a Mason’s line is run across
and a plumb line dropped along that line to determine the position of the wall.
Using dimensions Desired and using a Mason’s square, the corners of the building are
marked using metal pegs and lines running along.

9
The so obtained boundaries of the building are then marked by the use of lime and their
outline is supposed to be pronounced such that in case of backfilling, or excavation, the lines
would be clearly visible by the driver in the excavator.

Erection of Building profile

Vertical wooden strips are erected throughout the proposed structure and railings joining the
strips attached. After correct layout of the building corners start center marking of Columns.
Using a steel tape distance of columns were being measured and nails fixed for each centre of
the column on one side.

Levelling of the set out ground

Setting up of the dumpy level- The tripod is set by viewing the platform on which the dumpy
level is to be placed. Foot screws are used to adjust it until the spirit bubble is central
Levelling- The foundation was supposed to be 1500mm below ground level (reference level).
The floor of the turtle cay was to be used as a reference level. A reading of 1500mm was taken
above it and there reading was transferred to the outer wall by the use of aw hose pipe filled
with water.

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Setting the dumpy level
The levelling staff is held with its bottom at the mark on the outer wall and a reading taken from the

dumpy level. The reading was taken then added ti the 1500 distance up to the foundation level.
The reading so taken was 1200mm when added to 3000 gives 4200. Therefore, any point on the
set ground should be leveled to 4200mm for the foundation to be level. The levelling staff is
then placed at different points on there set ground. The dumpy level readings are taken from
different points on the set ground
Where a reading is greater than 4200, the place has to be backfilled to reach the 4200 level.
Where the reading is smaller, excavation is done in order to reach the 4200 mm mark. This is
done using an excavator

Setting of the building profile

A profile is a wood enclosure on a set ground to be constructed on. Since the markings made on
there ground could fade from effect of weather elements, a more permanent way has to be
designed to make sure the coordinates of the building are not lost. A profile is usually a distant
outward as compared to the drawn marking on the ground. Mason’s line is run along the lengths
of the building and fastened on the profile using nails. The lines intersect at the corners of the
building.

Marking and identification of column positions

From the plan of the structure, the exact positions of the columns are marked after running
lines along the length and the width of the building. They are usually spotted where the lines
intersect. After being spotted, a plumb bob is dropped and the center noted on the ground. Half
the dimensions of the columns are measured in all directions from and the vertices of the
columns marked using metal pegs.

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Building profile

Fixing of column base reinforcement

Metals of dimensions y16 diameter are bent in accordance to the column dimensions. They are
then arranged on the column base in such a manner that they cross at right angles to cover the
whole area. They are then joined using binding wires to make sure they erect upright.

Concreting of the column basement.

A column metal framework is erected on the basement such that it is centrally placed. It is then
checked for vertical straightness and fixed so that it doesn’t get displaced from its position.
Formwork is constructed around the column basement and checked for its vertical straightness
also. A class 20 (1:2:4) concrete is then cast and allowed to set to form the desired column
basement.

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Backfilling of spaces between walls and columns
After concreting of column basement, a Masonry wall is constructed all round and hardcore
backfilled after position of lift and staircase has been identified and blinding done on it. After
hardcore, murrum is then topped and compacted and a space is left for placement of plinth
beam and the ground slab.
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Compaction of Earth in room partitions.
This is done using a plate compactor. This is a hand operated machine that vibrates while
moving on top of the earth material thus compacting the soil and filling any void space hence
improving structural stability.

Placement of ground slab

A 500-gauge damp proof membrane DPM is placed above the murram/ rubble and a BRC
mesh placed on top of the polythene sheet after placement of the slab metals framework.
The ground slab is then cast by pouring of the concrete which is compacted using vibrators.

Reinforced concrete retaining walls

A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil,
when there is a desired change in ground elevation that exceeds the angle of repose of the soil. It
is used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides.
In the stated site itwas done because the structure started below the ground level. It is mostly
made of reinforced concrete to increase its strength.

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Reinforced concrete retaining wall under construction

Construction of column kickers

After the column basement is made the framework of the column sticks out and for the column
to be constructed, the column has to be erected sticking up from a well dimensioned base.
Timber is cut out and joined to form a rectangle as per the dimensions of the column so stated
in the construction plan The kickers are then cast by pouring concrete in the so formed
formwork.

SUPERSTRUCTURE
This is the part of the structure that is above ground level. It usually comes after the ground
slab and includes columns walls and beams.
Columns construction

Formwork was made up around the kickers sticking out vertically upwards. Vertical
straightness of the column is checked using the plumb bob. The wood forming the formwork is
supposed and fastened using tie rods to prevent the formwork from bulging out when casting
concrete into the formwork. The formwork is then supported from the lateral sides to prevent it
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from collapsing when casting the concrete.
Crank length
Crank length is a slight bending in bars at the lap so that it maintains a clear cover even at the lap
position. The rule that is generally practiced is that the slope of crank 1:10 and minimum length
of crank 300mm is used.
Formula of crank length = (d1 + d2 + 5) ×10mm
Where; d1- diameter of smaller
bar d2- diameter of
largest bar.

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.

Hacking of columns and walls.

It is the process of indenting the smooth concrete surface to make it rough so that we can
achieve the required bond strength with all the types of plaster work or tile work. It is done
either manually or mechanically depending on the concrete work types of structural members
and site conditions. In manual hacking, a Mason’s hammer, axe or chisel is used as a hacking
tool. Here the hacked surface looks erratic with uneven depth.

Plastering of columns
Where proper compaction USI vibrators was not achieved, dents could be formed. This may
expose the reinforcement to atmosphere and could be corroded. This is done by covering the
dents by using motar until the dimensions of the columns are uniform.

Construction of room partitions

There were two types of blocks used in construction of partition walls. The walls from column
to column were constructed using rectangular coral blocks. While the partition walls in the
rooms were constructed using hollow blocks. Coral blocks ensure strength is maintained while
the hollow blocks reduce the dead weight of the structure

Shear wall construction

Are the vertical structural elements which resist the horizontal forces acting on a building
structure. Can also be defined as a wall which are reinforced and made of braced panels to carry
lateral forces.
Thickness of a shear wall for regular buildings can generally be in the range of 150mm to 400mm.

Flooring of rooms
The floors were floored using tiles where cement paste is sprayed on the slab and tiles lay. The
tiles are lay. The tiles are pressed against the cement paste to expel air bubbles below it. This
was done throughout the room partitions

Making of garter steel frame work

D10 steel bars of dimensions 1450mm are cut and 100mm and 50mm bent from both sides.
The remaining portion was bent at 90 degrees to make 600mm height of garter and 700mm
garte6 base. These bars are fixed on the upper side of the ring beam and framework erected
awaiting concreting.

Concreting of roof ring beam and garters.

Concrete mix of class 20 is made using a tilting drum mixer and poured into a bucket of the
backhoe machine. The bucket is raised to a considerable height from which concrete injected into
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the beam using spades. Concrete flows into the columns until they are full before the beam and
garters.

REFERENCES
1. www.constrofacilities.com

2. www.aboutcivil.org

3. https:/basiccivilengineering.com

4. https:/the constructor.org

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