NEPAL ENGINEERING

COUNCIL
LICENSE EXAMINATION PREPARATION COURSE
FOR
CIVIL ENGINEERS

on
Building Technology

Prepared by : Er. Laxman Baral

1. Basic Civil Engineering

1.3 Building Technology

A. Building Construction Technology

• Brick and stone masonry
• Carpentry
• Painting
• Plastering
• Concrete roofing
• Flooring
• Damp proof course
B. Building by laws

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Brick Masonry
• Brick units bonded together with mortar to form different structure.
• Strength of brick masonry depends upon:
❖Quality of bricks
❖Mortar used
❖Bonding of bricks

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Orientation of bricks in wall Standard Shapes

Squint brick

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Types of bond in brick masonry
A. Stretcher Bond

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Types of bond in brick masonry
Features of stretcher bond

• Simple
• Useful for half brick walls, partition walls, cavity walls
• No header in walls
• Weak bond is developed
• Should not be used for walls with thickness more than half brick thick

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Types of bond in brick masonry
B. English Bond

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Types of bond in brick masonry

Features of English Bond

• Consist of header and stretcher in alternative courses

• Strongest of all bonds
• Noticable continuous vertical joints are not seen
• Work progress is faster
• Minimum thickness of wall is one brick thick

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Types of bond in brick masonry
C. Flemish Bond

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Types of bond in brick masonry

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Types of bond in brick masonry
Features of Flemish Bond

• Consists header and stretcher alternatively in each course

• Partly continuous vertical joints in the structure is seen
• Slow progress of work
• Provides good appearance
• Minimum thickness of wall is one brick thick

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Types of bond in brick masonry
D. Rat Trap Bond

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Types of bond in brick masonry
Features of rat trap bond :

• The shiner and row lock are placed alternatively in each course
• Cavity is formed in between the bricks
• 20-35% saving in bricks and 30-50% saving in mortar can be made
• Walls have approximately 20 % less dead weight
• For 1 cu. m of masonry, 470 bricks are required in comparison to
conventional walls that require 550-560 bricks
• Reinforcement bars can be inserted that increases the ductility of wall
• Proper heat and sound insulation because of cavity
• Good workmanship is required
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MCQs
1. What is a brick called when it is split into two halves along longitudinal direction ?
a. King closer
b. Queen closer
c. Half bat
d. Squint
2. Which of the following is the most strongest bond?
a. Flemish bond
b. Rat trap bond
c. English bond
d. Stretcher bond
3. What is the bond called when the alternative courses have header and stretcher?
a. Flemish bond
b. Rat trap bond
c. English bond
d. Stretcher bond
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Stone Masonry
• Stones used as building units is called stone masonry
• Stones are cheap, durable and easily available
• Stones help to maintain thermal comfort
• Stone masonry has longer span
• Attractive in appearance

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Requirements of stones in stone masonry
• Hard
• Durable
• Tough
• Sound
• Free from cracks
• Free form loose and soft materials

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Types of stone masonry
Rubble masonry Ashlar masonry

Random rubble masonry Ashlar fine masonry

Square rubble masonry Ashlar rough tooled masonry

Dry rubble masonry Ashlar rock or quarry faced masonry

Polygonal rubble masonry Ashlar chamfered masonry

Ashlar block in course masonry

Ashlar facing masonry

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Rubble masonry
Masonry in which undressed or roughly dressed stones are used.

A.Random rubble masonry :

Undressed or hammer dressed stones

Uncoursed random rubble masonry coursed random rubble masonry 18

 Rubble masonry
B. Squared rubble masonry
Rubble masonry in which the face stones are squared on all joints and
beds by hammer dressing or chisel dressing

Uncoursed square rubble masonry Coursed square rubble masonry 19

Rubble masonry
C. Dry rubble masonry :
• Rubble masonry in which stones are laid without use of the mortar
• Mostly used in retaining works of less height and in boundary walls
• Height should not exceed 6 m

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 Rubble masonry
D. Polygonal rubble masonry
• Stones are dressed at joints to form a polygonal shape

Rough picked rubble masonry Close picked rubble masonry

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Ashlar masonry
• Stone masonry in which finely dressed stones are laid in cement/lime
mortar (or even without a mortar)
• Joints are regular and have uniform thickness
• Dressing increases the cost of masonry

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Ashlar masonry
A. Ashlar fine masonry
• The stones are fine tooled on all sides
• Heavy wastage and high labour requirement

Coursed and uncoursed fine ashlar masonry 23

Ashlar masonry
B. Rough tooled ashlar masonry
• All sides of stone are rough tooled and dressed with chisels

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Ashlar masonry
C. Rock or Quarry faced ashlar masonry
• similar to rough tooled ashlar masonry except that the face contain
chisel marks

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Ashlar masonry
D. Chamfered ashlar masonry
• The edges of the stones are chamfered at an angle of 45 degrees.

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Ashlar masonry
E. Block in course ashlar masonry
• Coursed stone masonry having intermediate property between rubble
and ashlar masonry.

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Ashlar masonry
F. Ashlar facing
• Masonry in which the facing is made of ashlar masonry and the back
of the wall contain rubble masonry or brick masonry.
• Used to economize the cost of construction

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Carpentry
• Carpentry is the activity of
making and repairing the
things out of woods
• The wood extracted from the
trees for carpentry works is
called timber

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Methods of sawing timber
A. Ordinary or flat sawn
• Parallel cuts made throughout the length of log
• Easiest and economical methods
• Causes warping and twisting of planks
• Most common type of sawing

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Methods of sawing timber
B. Quarter sawing
• Log divided into four quarters and flats are
cut out of each quarter with decreasing
lengths

• Useful for timbers not having distinct

medullary rays

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Methods of sawing timber
c. Rift or radial sawing
• Timber cut parallel to medullary rays and
perpendicular to annual rings
• Have greater decorative effect

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Methods of sawing timber
D. Tangential sawing
• Boards or planks sawn tangentially to annual
rings
• Useful for joists and beams
• Not suitable for flooring to be used as planks

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Types of carpentry
A. Rough carpentry
• Specializing in planning, building and
maintaining structures of building
rather than providing polished finish
to minute details ( dealing with the
basic skeletal framework)
• Cosists of assembling elements like
posts, beams and rafters

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B. Joister
• Process involving construction of
floor joists to fix the floor surfaces
• Required less detailed work

C. Trim carpentry
• Carpentry specializing in
moldings/design of specific
elements of rooms (detailed
finishing)
• Includes elements like cornices,
skirting, boards, etc.
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D. Cabinet carpentry
• Carpentry specializing in building
cabinets for kitchens, laundry
rooms, bathrooms etc.

E. Ship carpentry
• Carpentry primarily focused on ship
and boats building

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F. Furniture carpentry
• Carpentry specializing in making furniture, door and windows

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Types of Wood Joints

( most common; less important ( doors, windows, photo frame) Tongue and groove joint
works ) ( flooring panels)

Lap joint Dado joint Rabbet joint

( frame structure, furnitures) ( cabinets , book shelves ) ( cabinets ) 38
Types of wood joints

Mortise joint

Dowel joint Dovetail joint ( stronger alternative to butt

( strongest joint; mostly ( Drawers; moving items) joint)
furniture)
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MCQs
1. What is the most common type of sawing timber ?
a. Flat sawing
b. Quarter sawing
c. Radial sawing
d. Tangential sawing
2. What is the wooden member called which is used as a beam in the floor?
a. Floor plank
b. Floor panel
c. Floor timber
d. Floor joist
3. The wood mostly used for the boat construction is
a. Shisham wood
b. Sal wood
c. Teak wood
d. Willow
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MCQs
4.The joint in which the interlocking pins are of trapezoidal shape and
used mostly in the parts that are being pulled apart is called…………
joint
a. Butt Joint
b. Mortise joint
c. Dowel joint
d. Dove tail joint

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Painting
• Paint is a liquid material applied on timber, metal or masonry surfaces
in order to protect and decorate them.

Functions of Paints
• Prevent decaying
• Prevent corrosion
• Prevent negative atmospheric actions
• Provide decorative and attractive
surfaces
• Provide hygienic and clean
environment

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Constituent of paints

a) Base : Body of paint (Eg: white lead, read lead, zinc white)
b) Vehicle/liquid medium : Dissolves base and pigment ( Eg: linseed
oil)
c) Pigment : Provides color to paint
d) Solvent/thinner : Reduces the consistency of paint ( Eg: Turpentine,
naptha, petroleum )
e) Drier : Helps in quick drying of paint ( Eg: Lead acetate, red lead,
etc.)

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Types of paints
Paints Distinct Characteristics
Aluminum Can withstand extreme atmospheric actions
Anticorrosive paint Corrosion resistant ; Primarily contain red lead
Asbestos paint Most fire resisting paint
Bituminous paint Non corrosive paint, used in iron works under water
Bronze paint Reflective surface ; contain nitro-cellulose lacquer as vehicle
Cellulose paint Painting of cars and aero planes
Casein paint Extracted from milk products
Cement paint White cement added with water as vehicle
Enamel paint Made by adding white lead or zinc white with a vehicle which is a varnish
Rubber base paint Resistant against chemicals and water
Emulsion paint Polymer dispersed in water; Resistant against alkalis and can be washed easily
Plastic paint Used in showrooms, display rooms and auditoriums
Silicate paint Very hard surface and durable
Luminous paint Shines in darkness, can be used to paint the road markings 44
 Defects in Paints
a. Blistering: swelling of paint film resulting in loss of adhesion.
b. Flaking : Detachment of paint film from surface.
c. Crazing : formation of small hairline cracks
d. Cracking: formation of cracks through the entire layer of paints. f

e. Alligatoring : sliding of one layer of film over another.

f. Chalking : conversion of paint film into powder.

a. b. C. D e
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Application of paints
A. Painting on new wood works

• Preparation of surface ( seasoning, cleaning, rubbing with sand paper)

• Knotting ( covering the knots with suitable material like gypsum, lime
, etc.)
• Priming
• Apply first coat
• Apply finishing coat

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Application of paints
B. Painting on old wood works

• Preparation of surface ( cleaning, rubbing with sand paper)

• Application of coats ( Desired no. of coats )

C. Painting on metal
• Preparation of surface ( cleaning, removal of rust)
• Treatment of surface with phosphoric acid to prevent rusting.
• Application of prime coat
• Application of under coat
• Application of finishing coat ( Desired no. of coats)
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Application of paints
C. Painting on masonry works

• Preparation of surface ( cleaning)

• Making repairs
• Sealing the rough surfaces
• Application of prime coat
• Application of final coat

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MCQs
1. Which of the following is used as drier in paint ?
a. Linseed oil
b. Lead acetate
c. White lead
d. Turpentine
2. Which of the following paints is mostly used in auditoriums?
a. Cellulose paint
b. Plastic paint
c. Silicate paint
d. Luminous paint
3. What is the process of covering the knots during the painting called?
a. Cleaning
b. Knotting
c. Priming
d. Coating
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MCQs
4.Which acid is applied on the metallic surface before the application
of paints to prevent corrosion?
a. Sulphuric acid
b. Nitric acid
c. Phosphoric acid
d. Carbonic acid

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 Plastering
• Process of covering rough surface of walls, column, ceiling and other
components of building with mortar

Types of plaster:
a. Lime plaster ( lime, sand, water)
b. Cement plaster ( cement, sand,
water)
c. Mud plaster ( earth, sand, straw,
water)
d. Surkhi plaster ( surkhi , sand , water)
e. Bajra plaster ( dal, lime, earth,
water)
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Plastering
• Cement mortar generally used for masonry = 1: 6
• Cement mortar generally used for internal plaster = 1: 5
• Cement mortar generally used for external plaster = 1: 4
• Cement mortar generally used for plastering of ceiling = 1: 3

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Concrete roofing
• Roof constructed of cement concrete
• Reinforced with cold deformed rebars
• Maximum spacing of rebars:
minimum of a. 300 mm
b. 3 x effective depth
• Size of bars usually used in roofing = 10 mm
• Maximum size of aggregates used in slab
and lintel = 15 mm
• Time of removal of fromwork for slabs
a. span less than 4.5 m = 7 days
b. span from 4.5 to 6 m = 14 days
c. span greater than 6 m = 21 days 53
Flooring
• Floors are horizontal elements of a building dividing building into
different levels.
Types of flooring:
a. Basement floor
Floor provided below the ground surface in basement of building

b. Ground floor
Floor resting on ground level ( or slightly above the ground
representing plinth)

c. Upper floor
All floors lying above the ground floors 54
Types of flooring
• Mud flooring
• Muram flooring (Disintegrated rock with binding materials)
• Brick flooring Muram Terrazzo
• Stone flooring
• Cement concrete flooring
• Tiles flooring
• Marble flooring
• Terrazzo flooring ( composite material made up of cement and marble chips)
• Mosaic flooring ( made of small pieces of broken tiles or marble arranged in
definite patterns) Mosaic
• Timber flooring
Planks
Parquet
• Rubber flooring
• Cork flooring ( made of corks of wood, used in libraries for sound insulation)
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Cork
MCQs
10 . Ratio of cement : sand in mortar used for plastering of ceiling is
a. 1:6
b. 1:5
c. 1:4
d. 1:3
11. Which of the following is not a type of Inorganic building materials?
a) Mud
b) Gypsum
c) Wood
d) Lime

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Damp Proof Course
• Dampness is the penetration of moisture content inside the building
through walls, floors, roofs, etc.

Sources of dampness
• Damp arising from soil through soil below the floor or adjacent to
wall
• Moisture penetrating walls through rain
• Moisture penetrating into building through defective civil engineering
construction ( leaking pipes, leaking roofs, etc.)

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Water proofing and damp proofing
Water proofing
• It is the treatment of surface to prevent the
passage of liquid water in presence of hydrostatic
pressure
• Water flows on account of the piezometric head
• Higher the water table, higher will be the amount
of water percolation
Damp proofing
• It is the treatment of surface to prevent the
passage of liquid water in absence of hydrostatic
pressure
• Water flows does not depend on the piezometric
head
• Water flows through capillary action

• Two types of water proofing :

A. Positive side water proofing :
water proofing provided on same side (interior)
of structure
B. Negative side water proofing:
water proofing provided on opposite side
(exterior) of structure

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Materials used in Damp proofing
A. Bitumen
B. Mastic Asphalt ( Mixture of bitumen with sand and mineral fillers)
C. Asphalt ( Bituminous concrete)
D. Metal Sheets
E. Mortar
F. Stones
G. Plastic sheets
H. Cement concrete

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Methods of damp proofing in buildings
A. Treatment of foundation against
gravitational water
• Prevention of percolating water from adjacent
ground
• Open drain provided parallel to external wall
• Outer wall is made above the the ground level to
prevent the entry of surface water.
• Open drain is covered with gratings

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Methods of damp proofing in buildings
B. Damp Proof Course in Basements
• Prevention of water from below the
basement of the building
• DPC layer is provided on the foundation level
along with drain pipes
• RCC slab is provided at the bottom
• Asphalt tanking is provided ( vertical asphalt
layers provide on the walls along with the
horizontal DPC)

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Methods of damp proofing in buildings
C. Damp Proof Course in ground
floor
• Compaction of subsoil
• Concreting of floor
• Provision of plinth beams all around
the masonry
• Provision of mastic asphalt in case
of high water table.

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Building By Laws
National building codes:
• National building codes are the norms that provide regulations and
guide lines for construction of buildings in all areas of Nepal.
• There are 23 volumes of National Building codes in Nepal

Building by laws:
• Building by laws are the rules set forth by the government authorities
to regulate the architectural and construction aspects of buildings
and the elements around the building
• Prepared by the local authorities
• Building by laws should be in accordance with the national building
codes.
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Categories of buildings as per NBC
Cate Features Approval of map and design
gory

A • Buildings built with international state-of-art • Concerned engineer appointed by GoN

technology • Structural design is necessary

B • Plinth area more than 1000 sq. feet • Civil engineer or architect
• More than 3 floors including ground floors • Structural design is necessary
• Structural span . 4.5 m

C • Plinth area less than 1000 sq. feet • A person who has passed certificate level in
• Up to 3 floors including ground floors civil engineering or architect from
• Structural span . 4.5 m recognized institution

D • Small houses , shades made of baked or

unbaked brick, stone, clay, bamboo
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Building By Laws
Purpose of building by laws:

• Ensure uniform development

• Affirm public safety against noise,
fire, health hazards, etc.
• Prevent haphazard development of
towns
• Ensure optimum utilization of
spaces

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Terms related to building by laws:
A. Ground coverage : Plinth Area of building/ Area of plot * 100

B. Floor area ratio : Total area of all floors / Area of plot

C. Setback: Minimum distance from the property boundary, public property

or the road boundary to be left for building construction.

D. Right of way : The width of the road as designated by the existing rules
and the guidelines of the government.

E. Building line: The line beyond which the building is to be constructed is

called building line

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F. Built up area : The sum of all floor areas in the building .

Permissible height of Building: Maximum two times the spacing between the buildings

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Terms related to building by laws:

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Source: Kirtipur Municipality
Some key points in building by laws
• Maximum height of boundary wall = 4 feet
• Distance to be left from boundary wall to the building wall containing
windows in Kathmandu valley = 5 feet
• Maximum ground coverage for hospital building = 35%
• Maximum ground coverage for University building = 30%
• Floor height to be maintained in terai region = 3.6 m
• Floor height to be maintained in hilly region = 3.2 m
• Width of road for national highway = 50 m

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1. Which of the following line is usually parallel to the plot boundaries and laid down in
each case by the Authority, beyond which nothing can be constructed towards the site
boundaries?
a) Property line
b) Building line
c) Plot line
d) Control line
2. Which of the following building material have high Seismic resistance and flexibility of
nailed joints.
a) Husk
b) Bamboo
c) Timber
d) Ply
3. The temporary framework is known as __________ and it is useful in construction
demolition, maintenance or repair works.
a) Grouting
b) Scaffolding
c) Shoring
d) Underpinning
4. In which of the following type of construction, the square or rectangular blocks of
stones are used?
a) Rubble masonry
b) Rock Masonry
c) Ashlar masonry
d) Brick masonry
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5. A wall may be defined as that component of a building, whose width is
_________ times its thickness.
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
6. A window should be located on which of the following side of a room as seen
from the point of view of fresh air?
a) Western
b) Eastern
c) Southern
d) Northern
7. Which roofs are preferred in areas having heavy rainfall?
a) Pitched roofs
b) Flat roofs
c) Terraced roofs
d) Curved roofs
8. The apex line of a pitched roof is known as ________
a) Purlin
b) Ridge
c) Hip
d) Valley
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9. The flooring in which the small pieces of broken tiles or marble are arranged in definite pattern is called
a. Terrazzo flooring
b. Muram flooring
c. Mosaic flooring
d. Cork flooring
10. If the water proofing is provided in the interior of the structure, then it is called :
a. Positive side water proofing
b. Negative side water proofing
c. Neutral side water proofing
d. Interior side water proofing
11. Total no. of volumes of building codes available in Nepal are
a. 15
b. 23
c. 20
d. 17
12.The rules set forth by the government authorities to regulate the architectural and construction aspect of
building is called
a. Building codes
b. Building guidelines
c. Building regulations
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d. Building by laws
13. The FAR of building is the ratio of total floor area of the building with
a. Area of ground floor
b. Plot area
c. Ground coverage of building
d. Half of the ground floor area
14. NBC has categorized the buildings in Nepal in …… categories
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
15. Height of boundary walls to be provided is
a. 5 feet
b. 4 feet
c. 6 feet
d. 10 feet
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THANK YOU

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