MVPS’s College of Architecture, Nashik

QUANTITY SURVEYING & SPECIFICATION WRITING I

FOURTH YEAR B ARCH (2019)

SUBJECT CODE: 4201958(Theory)

Unit 6: Specification writing (MATERIALS &

Workmanship)

Faculty’s
Prof. Name Photograph
Asst Prof. Niketa Kothavale 1.65”X1.85”

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GENERAL SPECIFICATION OF A FIRST CLASS BUILDING

(a) Foundation and plinth - Brickwork in foundation and plinth shall be of the first class brick in cement or lime
mortar over cement or lime concrete.

(b) Filling - Foundation trenches and plinth shall be filled up with coarse sand.

(c) Damp proof course - D.P.C. shall be 2.5 cm thick cement concrete or 2 cm thick cement mortar with 5% pudlo by
weight of cement or other standard water proofing material.

(d) Superstructure - Superstructure shall be of the first class brickwork in cement mortar.

(e) Roofing - The roof shall be 10 cm R.C.C. slab with 10 cm average lime terracing over it,

(f) Flooring - Mosaic flooring shall be provided in drawing room, dining room, bath room and W.C. Bed room floors
shall be coloured and polished. Floors of others shall be 2.5 cm cement concrete over 7.5 cm lime concrete, polished.

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KEY WORDS / (7) Doors and windows - Door and window frames shall be of well seasoned sal
GIST OF THE wood and shutters of 4.5 cm shisham or deodar wood, panelled. They shall be fitted
TOPIC: with iron fittings. Doors and windows shall be painted with two coats.

• Classification (8) Miscellaneous - Rain water pipes shall be of cast iron. Electrification, sanitary and
water supply fittings may be provided.
• Characteristics

• Physical properties

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GENERAL SPECIFICATION OF A SECOND CLASS BUILDING

(1) Foundation and plinth - The brickwork in foundation and plinth shall be of 1st class brick with lime mortar over
lime concrete.

(2) Filling - Foundation trenches and plinth shall be filled up with earth.

(3) Damp proof Course - D.P.C. shall be 2cm thick cement mortar with 5% pudlo by weight of cement or other
standard water proofing materials.

(4) Superstructure - Superstructure shall be of 2nd class brickwork in mud mortar.

Roofing:—The roofing shall be flat terraced roof or Jack arch roof or R.B. roof.

(5) Flooring - The flooring shall be 2.5 cm cement concrete over 7.5 cm lime concrete.

(6) Finishing - The inside walls shall be plastered with lime or cement mortar, outside walls shall be pointed or
plastered with lime or cement mortar. Inside shall be white washed three coats, and outside colour washed two coats
over one coat of whitewash.

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KEY WORDS / g) Finishing - Inside and outside shall be 12mm cement plastered. The inside of
GIST OF THE drawing, dining and bed rooms shall be distempered and the rest portions white washed
TOPIC: three coats. The outside shall be colour washed over three coats of white wash,

• Classification (h) Doors and windows - Doors and window frames shall be of seasoned teak wood
and shutters of 3cm thick teak wood panelled. Brass fittings shall be provided. Doors
• Characteristics and windows shall be varnished with French polish.

• Physical properties (I) Miscellaneous - Rain water pipes shall be of Asbestos cement or cast iron, finished
with paint. All sanitary, water-supply and electrical fittings shall be of first class
materials.

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KEY WORDS / SPECIFICATION WRITING (MATERIALS)

GIST OF THE
TOPIC:
BRICK (IS: 1077 -1966)
• Classification
a) Classification of Brick
• Characteristics b) Characteristics of Bricks
c) Size
• Physical properties d) Absorption quality
e) Crushing strength
f) Protection
g) Measurement

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CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS
1. First Class Bricks: These bricks are table moulded and of standard shape and they are
burnt in kilns. The surface and edges of the bricks are sharp, square, smooth and
straight.

2. Second Class Bricks: These bricks are ground moulded and they are burnt in kilns.
The surface of these bricks is somewhat rough and shape is also slightly irregular.

3. Third Class Bricks: These bricks are ground moulded and they are burnt in clamps.
These bricks are not hard and they have rough surfaces with irregular and distorted
edges.

4. Fourth Class Bricks: These are over burnt bricks with irregular shape and dark
colour. These bricks are used as aggregate for concrete in foundations, floors, roads
etc.

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CHARACTERISTICKS OF BRICKS

• Bricks shall be sound, hard, well-burnt, uniform in size, shape and colour,
homogeneous in texture, giving a metallic ringing sound, free from flaws,
cracks, holes, lumps or grit and arises should be square, straight and sharply
defined

• The bricks shall be well burnt locally available from good brick earth and
shall be of uniform size (9”xCompressive strength of bricks .

• Shape of bricks - They shall have regular and uniform size, sharp
straight and right-angled edges. They shall have smooth
rectangular faces with parallel sides and sharp corners.

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CHARACTERISTICKS OF BRICKS

Brick construction materials  - Bricks shall be constructed from suitable soil and kiln
burnt. 
They shall be well burnt throughout but not over-burnt.

Brick size - Good quality bricks shall have

uniform size.

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CHARACTERISTICKS OF BRICKS
Brick colour - They shall be of uniform deep red, cherry or copper colour, thoroughly well burnt without being verified
and regular in shapes.

 Brick appearance -  bricks shall show a fine-grained, uniform, homogeneous and dense texture on fracture and shall
be free from lumps of lime.

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CHARACTERISTICKS OF BRICKS
• Water absorption - After immersion in cold water for 24 hours, absorption by weight shall not exceed 15 percent of
the dry weight of the brick when tested.

• Brick cracks- Good quality bricks shall be free from cracks, flaws and nodules of free lime as per Indian standard.

•  Brick soundness -   They shall give a clear metallic ringing sound when struck by a mallet and shall not break when
dropped on the ground on their flat face in a saturated condition from a height of 600 mm.

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CHARACTERISTICKS OF BRICKS

Efflorescence - Efflorescence in bricks shall be within limits (Not more

than 10% of the exposed area of the brick shall be covered with a thin
deposit of salts)

DELIVERY AND STORAGE OF BRICKS –

All bricks and blocks shall be carefully unloaded and stacked. They shall be
unloaded by hand or machine onto a reasonably dry and level site and not
tipped from vehicles.

They shall be stacked on level ground in regular tiers directly as they are
unloaded to minimize breakages and counting of bricks, it is preferable to limit
the height of stacks to 1.5m

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Sampling and Tests –

Samples of bricks shall be subjected to the following tests :

(a) Dimensional tolerance.
(b) Water absorption.
(c) Efflorescence.
(d) Compressive strength.

Lot: A collection of bricks of same class and size, manufactured under relatively similar conditions of production. For the
purpose of sampling a lot shall contain a maximum, of 50,000 bricks

Sample: A collection of bricks selected for inspection and/or testing from a lot to reach the decision regarding the
acceptance or rejection of the lot.

Defective: A brick failing to meet one or more of the specified requirements.

Mode of Measurement - Brass

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KEY WORDS /
GIST OF THE STONE (IS: 1124 -1957)
TOPIC:
a) Classification of Stone
• Classification b) Characteristics of Stone
c) Sample
• Characteristics d) Absorption quality
e) Crushing strength
• Physical properties f) Protection
g) Measurement

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Geological classification of Rocks:

1) Igneous rocks: These rocks are formed when the magma from the earth comes out of the surface or cools inside
near the surface of the earth.
e.g.- Granite

2) Sedimentary rocks: Originally formed mainly in sea water, or lakes, from the remains of animals and plants, also
from transportation and deposition of rock products.
e.g. - Sandstone, limestone

3) Metamorphic rocks: form from when pre-existing rocks are exposed to elevated heat and pressure.
e.g. - Marble, slate

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Characteristics Of Stone

Parameters in selection of a good construction stone

1. Chemical composition of stone 4. Resistance to fire

2. Strength and hardness 5. Bio-Deterioration
3. Durability 6. Appearance
7. Susceptibility to being quarried in large sizes.

• The stone shall be of the type specified such as granite, trap, limestone, sand stone, quartzite, etc.

• It shall be obtained from the quarries, approved by the Engineer-in-Charge.

• Stone shall be hard, sound, durable and free from weathering decay and defects like cavities, cracks, flaws, sand holes,
injurious veins, patches of loose or soft materials and other similar defects that may adversely affect its strength and
appearance.

• As far as possible stones shall be of uniform colour, quality or texture.

• Generally stone shall not contain crypst crystalline silica or chart, mica and other deleterious materials like iron-oxide
organic impurities etc.
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Quality Tests conducted on Stones:

To ascertain the required properties of stones, the following tests can be

conducted:
(i) crushing strength test.
(ii) water absorption test.
(iii) abrasion test.
(iv) impact test.
(v) acid test.

Size of Stones –
• Stones used should be small enough to be lifted and placed by hand.
• The length of stones for stone masonry shall not exceed three times the
height and the breadth on base shall not be greater than three-fourth of the
thickness of wall, or not less than 150 mm.
• Height of stone for rubble masonry may be upto 300 mm.

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Dressing –
Each stone shall be hammer dressed on the face , Hammer dressing shall
enable the stones to be laid close to neighbouring stones.
bushing in the face shall not project more than 40 mm on the exposed face

Courses
The masonry shall be carried out in regular courses of height not exceeding
50 cm.
In case of masonry using mortars will not be raised more than 60 cm in
height.

Thickness of Joints
The joint thickness shall not exceed 30 mm at any point on the face.
avoid excessive bed thickness
No pinning is allowed to avoid excessive joint thickness

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Mortar
The mortar used for joining shall be as specified.

Laying
• Stone shall be laid on their natural bed with close joints.
• No dry work or hollow spaces shall be allowed.
• every stone whether large or small shall be carefully selected to fit
properly the intersections between the large stones.
• Bond stone and headers shall be properly laid into the work and shall be
marked by the contractor with white lead paint.
• The masonry work in wall shall be carried up true to plumb.
• The masonry in structure shall be carried uniformly.

Bond Stones
Though bond stones shall be provided in walls upto 600 mm thickness, a set
of two or more bond stones overlapping each other by at least 150 mm shall
be provided

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Raking out joints

All the joints on the faces to be pointed or plastered shall be racked out with racking tool to a depth of 20mm while the
mortar is still green.

Quoin and Jamb Stones

The quoin and jamb stones shall be of selected stones neatly dressed with hammer or chisel to form the required angle

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Joints
Stones shall be so laid that all joints are fully packed with mortar and chips. Face joints shall not be more than 20 mm
thick.
The joints shall be struck flush and finished at the time of laying when plastering or pointing is not to be done.

Scaffolding
The supports shall be sound and strong, tied together by horizontal pieces over which the scaffolding planks shall be
fixed.
Single scaffolding having one set of vertical support shall be allowed.
The holes left in masonry work for supporting scaffolding shall be filled with cement concrete.

Curing
Masonry work in cement or composite mortar shall be kept constantly moist on all faces for a minimum period of seven
days.

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Protection
Green work shall be protected from rain by suitable covering. The work
shall also be suitably protected from damage, mortar dropping and rain
during construction.

Measurements
The length, height and thickness shall be measured correct to a cm.
The quantity shall be calculated in cubic metre

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CEMENT
KEY WORDS /
GIST OF THE
TOPIC: Cement (IS: 3466)
• Classification
a) Use
• Characteristics b) Characteristics of Cement

• Physical properties c) Storage

d) Marking
e) Sampling & Testing
f) Measurement

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Use

• Cement mortar for Masonry work, plaster and pointing etc.

• Concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels,beams,weather-shed,stairs,pillars etc.
• Construction for important engineering structures such as bridge, culverts, dams, tunnels,light house, clocks, etc.
• Construction of water, wells, tennis courts, septic tanks, lamp posts, telephone cabins etc.
• Making joint for joints, pipes, etc.
• Manufacturing of precast pipes, garden seats, artistically designed wens, flower posts, etc.
• Preparation of foundation, water tight floors, footpaths, etc.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF CEMENT
Colour
• The colour of cement should be uniform.
• It should be typical cement colour i.e. grey colour with a light greenish shade.

Physical properties
• Cement should feel smooth when touched between fingers.
• If hand is inserted in a bag or heap of cement, it should feel cool.

Presence of lumps
• Cement should be free from lumps.
• For a moisture content of about 5 to 8%,this increase of volume may be much as 20 to 40 %,depending upon the
grading of sand.

Strength
• A thick paste of cement with water is made on a piece of thick glass and it is kept under water for 24 hours. It
should set and not crack.
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Setting Time of Cement- Cement sets and hardens when water is added. This setting time can vary depending on
multiple factors, such as fineness of cement, cement-water ratio, chemical content, and admixtures. Cement used in
construction should not have an initial setting time less than 30 min.

Heat of Hydration - When water is added to cement, the reaction that takes place is called hydration. Hydration
generates heat, which can affect the quality of the cement.

Tensile strength – The minimum tensile strength of OPC should be 175 kg/cm2 after 7 days.

• Portland cement may be grey or white.

• This type of cement use in construction when there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or ground water.

• Lime saturation Factor is limited between i.e. 0.66 to 1.02.

• Insoluble residue not more than 1.5%.

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Storage - The cement shall be stored in such a manner as to permit easy access for proper inspection and
identification, and in a suitable weather-tight building to protect the cement from dampness and to minimize
warehouse deterioration.
• Stacks on raised platform, and shall not be more than 12 bags high to prevent lumping of cement under pressure.

Manufacturer’s certificate - The manufacturer shall satisfy himself that the cement conforms to the
requirements of this standard and, if requested, shall furnish a certificate to this effect to the purchaser or his
representative, within ten days of testing of the cement.

Packing - Jute sacking bag , multi-wall paper sacks , light weight jute .
• Bags shall be in good condition at the time of inspection.
• The net quantity of cement per bag shall be 50 kg subject to provisions.
• The net quantity of cement per bag may also be 25 kg, 10 kg, 5 kg, 2 kg or 1 kg bearing the manufacturer's name
or his registered trademark, if any.
• The words 'masonry cement' and the number of bags (net mass) to the tonne or the nominal average net mass (see
8.2) of the cement shall be legibly and indelibly marked on each bag. Bags shall be in good condition at the time
of inspection.

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Marking- Each bag of cement shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following:
a) Manufacturer’s name and his registered trademark
b) The words ‘Ordinary Portland Cement, 53 Grade’ or ‘Ordinary Portland Cement, 53-S Grade’, whichever is
applicable.
c) Net quantity, in kg
d) The words ‘Use no Hooks’
e) Batch/control unit number in terms of week, month and year of packing
f) Address of the manufacturer
g) Type and percentage of performance improver(s) added, in caseof addition of performance improvers.

• BIS Certification Marking - The use of the Standard Mark is governed by the provisions of the Bureau of Indian
Standards Act, 1986

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Sampling - The samples shall be taken within three weeks of the delivery and all the tests shall be commenced
within one week of sampling.
• The manufacturer or the supplier shall afford every facility, and shall provide all labour and materials for taking
and packing the samples for testing the cement and for subsequent identification of cement sampled.

Testing –
1. Field test: There are four field tests may be carried out to as certain roughly the quality of cement such as
colour, physical property, and strength of the cement.
2. Laboratory tests: Six laboratory tests are conducted mainly for assessing the quality of cement. These are:
fineness, compressive strength, consistency, setting time, soundness and tensile strength.

Mode of Measurement - Bags

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. To know How to write specification for different materials in details.

2. To understand various properties about material while writing the specification

in detail

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THANK YOU

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