Skip to main content

Setting out of a building


A building is set out in order to accurately define the outline and width of the excavation and to determine the center line of the proposed building walls, so that construction according to the building professionals drawing (the architectural plan) plan can be transfer into the ground, this building process is called setting out of building. The center line method of setting out is generally preferred and adopted
Setting out can be a very complex engineering process but with need experience its quite easy. Experienced engineer and surveyors are those involved in setting out of structures, in large projects, services of land surveyors are required for more accurate transfer of levels and angles in setting out with the aid of a Theodolite to decided point around the building area

But we are going to concern ourselves with the most common setting out method
·         Setting out using pegging
·         Setting out using blocks.


But here, we will be discussing Setting out using pegging

Site Example:

A rectangular site of 15m by 30 m or 50ft x100ft  





STEPS

         i.            Site clearance

       ii.            Obtain the architect or building plan

      iii.            Get the necessary materials ready (i.e. pegs, nails, rope or line, hammer, tape, marking tool etc)

     iv.            Firstly, take note of the four corners where we have the proposed columns/pillars or as case might be.

       v.            Establishing the four corners in relation to the dimension of the building floor plan by pegging it.

     vi.            After establishing these four corners insert nails at the centre- top of each peg and then run rope round the 4 pegs.

    vii.            Taking just one side measure the setback from back of fence to the end of building lines in that particular angle, then come to the front and measure the setback also as given on your drawing plan.

  viii.            After this go back to the rear or you may use the front as a point mark depending on which setback is more important to you
Measure the setback from fence establish this two points with pegs then put a rope to cross both pegs and make them form a right angle or 90 degrees. To determine if your rope are at right angle put a checker popularly called ‘square’ by bricklayers, this will direct you if you need to shift the other rope that can be varied since one is already fixed to form a base mark (i.e. the rope running through two pegs from the rear to the front either on left side or the right side.

     ix.            After establishing a right angle, do your measurement to correspond with what is on plan and then use the square at the other end to now establish the other two points. When establishing these points be conscious to place your peg at 1m or 3 ½ ft behind your building line i.e. where blocks will actually pass through.
       x.           
After this, nails peg at 3m interval round under the rope marking your building line, then nail tie rods (flat thin wood) on top round the entire area.

     xi.            establish each room measurement by nails ( you require four nails at each measurement, two to establish the two sides of block you are going to place later on then the other two at both ends to serve as the points where you will excavate ,the length of this is usually three times the width of the block you are using that is if you are using a 9“ block then expect to excavate or dig a trench of 27” wide.

    xii.            From the plan details, the width of excavation to be done is also marked by line with pegs at appropriate positions. The excavation width is then marked by lime or by with furrow with spade.

  xiii.            The digging or excavated depth depends on the type of foundation as recommended by your structural engineer.

  xiv.            Next is casting of concrete bed/base.

   xv.            After casting of foundation, use the nails on your profile board to determine where your blocks will follow Set blocks, 3-4 or more coaches/courses and partitions in reference to site topography

  xvi.            Filling and backfilling of the trenches and inside trenches

xvii.            Casting your ground floor slab or oversite concrete or German floor.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Construction Procedure of Surface Road Side Drainage-PART 1 (with picture)

Surface water ( i.e., rain water) that falls on the ground surface such as; open field, paved areas or road surface, roof tops etc are channeled to a main drain naturally or through a constructed channel which is referred to as drainage. Procedure for construction of a common drainage (trench) (1m x 1m U drainage) (reinforced). includes; I.       Marking Of Alignment: The surveyor marked out the alignment for the trench to be dug. II.       Digging/Excavation: The surveyor marked out the dept of the trench to be excavated with a mechanical excavating machine. For a 1m x 1m drainage, the mathematical process of obtaining the required dept is to sum together the dept of the required drain + base + blinding. For dept:  A drain of dept1000 mm, base of 150 mm and blinding of 50 mm. Hence 1000mm + 150mm + 50mm = 1200mm (1.2 m) So an excavation of 1200mm (1.2m) is required from the to level of the road surface. For width:

Construction Procedure of Surface Road Side Drainage-PART 2 (with picture)

  V.        Next step is laying of concrete base on the blinded surface and the positioned reinforcement. A concrete base of 150 mm is to be laid or cast on the blinded floor, concrete grade C20 of ratio 1:2:4 is allowed (See concrete grading and mix ratio). A guiding panel is placed into position to guild in the laying of the concrete base in order to achieve a uniformly alignment base edge, thickness and width, also to manage concrete material while pouring. The base is cast with the U shape reinforcement bottom in between the concrete base achieving concrete cover below and above.   VI.        After setting and drying of the concrete base, next is to position the side wall panel form work. The floor base is marked to give the required one meter (1000 mm) internal width where the panel will be positioned. The panel wall spacing is 100mm, and wall height of 1000mm (1 meter), the panel is lubricated, clipped and prepared to accept the Concrete.