BRICK WORK

The brick work shall be classified according to the class designation of bricks
used.
1. First Class Brick Work
First class brick work is made by using first class bricks and cement
mortar.
This brick work is used for load bearing walls.
It is made in rich mortar in which the cement and sand ratio is from 1:3
to 1: 6.
First class bricks are identified by their uniform colour and a ringing
sound when struck.
The bricks are equal in size and have even edges and surfaces.
These bricks do not chip and dont have any cracks.
First class bricks do not absorb water more than 1/6 of their weight.
There is no salty residue when the bricks are dry.
First class bricks have a minimum crushing strength of 105.kg. Per
sq.cm
2. Second Class Brick Work
Second class bricks work is made by using second class bricks and
cement mortar.
These bricks also have the property of first class bricks but are not very
regular or even in shape. These bricks should not be used for load
bearing walls for more than two storey buildings.
Second class bricks have minimum crushing strength 70.kg per sq.
meter.
3. Third Class Brick Work
This type of brick work is made by using third class bricks and cement
mortar or mud mortar.
Third class brick work is not made in any Govt. work.
Generally this type of brick work is made for temporary work in private
sector.
Soaking of Bricks

Bricks shall be soaked in water before use for a period for the water to just
penetrate the whole depth of the bricks.
BRICK WORK using mud mortar shall not be soaked.
They shall be removed from the tank sufficiently early so that at the time
of laying they are skin-dry.

Laying

Bricks shall be laid in English Bond unless otherwise specified

Bricks shall be laid on a full bed of mortar
Each brick shall, be properly bedded and set in position by gently pressing
with the handle of a trowel.
Inside face shall be buttered with mortar before the next brick is laid and
pressed against it.
Vertical joints in the alternate course shall come directly one over the
other.

Deviation from vertical within a storey shall not exceed 6 mm per 3 m

height.
Deviation in verticality in total height of any wall of building more than one
storey in height shall not exceed 12.5 mm
Deviation from position shown on plan of any brick work shall not exceed
12.5 mm.
Relative displacement between loads bearing wall in adjacent storeys
intended to be vertical alignments shall not exceed 6 mm
No part of the wall during its construction shall rise more than one metre
above the general construction level.
Bricks shall be laid with frog (where provided) up.
When top course is exposed, bricks shall be laid with frog down. The frog
shall be filled with mortar before placing the brick in position.

Joints

Specified thickness of joints shall be of 1 cm. Deviation from the specified

thickness of all joints shall not exceed one-fifth of specified thickness.

Curing

The brick work shall be constantly kept moist on all faces for a minimum
period of seven days.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding shall be strong to withstand all dead, live and impact loads
which are likely to come on them.
Single Scaffolding: Where plastering, pointing or any other finishing has
been indicated for brick work, single scaffolding may be provided, unless
otherwise specified.
Double Scaffolding: Where the brick work or tile work is to be exposed
and not to be finished with plastering etc. double scaffolding having two
independent supports, clear of the work, shall be provided.

Measurements

Brick work shall be measured in cubic metres unless otherwise specified

Dimensions shall be measured correct to the nearest 0.01 m
Areas shall be calculated to the nearest 0.01 sq. m and the cubic contents
shall be worked out to the nearest 0.01 cubic metres.

BASIC SPECIFICATION WRITING PRINCIPLES ("FIVE CS" OF GOOD

SPECIFICATION WRITING)
To effectively communicate requirements, specifications must be clear, concise,
complete, correct, and consistent. Some general guidance to ensure that a
specification meets these "five C's" of good specification writing is provided
below.
1. Clear

a. Specifications are a tool to communicate an owner's expectations

regarding the performance of the work to the contractor.
Specifications need to be understood by the contractor's employees
who will be doing the work. The purpose and effect of the
specification should be clear from its language, and the language
should convey only one meaning.
b. Visually appealing documents are easier to understand than
traditional blocks of text and help improve overall clarity. Replacing
blocks of text with headings, tables, and white space will help
create a clear and uncrowded presentation, in which main points
are readily apparent and related items are grouped together.
2. Concise. Concise specifications are essential to achieving quality and
efficiency in highway construction. Use of the following techniques will
help ensure concise language and phrasing.
a. Use of the active voice is preferred over the passive voice to directly
state essential directions and procedures. A specification's goal is to
be specific. Because the active voice clearly identifies the
responsible party and uses fewer words, it ensures greater
specificity than the passive. To convey directions to the contractor,
use of the imperative mood can lead to even more concise
statements. Used correctly, these techniques can add clarity, fix
responsibility, and simplify sentence structure by eliminating words.
See the attachment Voice and Mood in Specifications for more
information on this topic.
b. Short sentences that break up information into smaller, easier-toprocess units are better for conveying complex information. Long,
complicated sentences filled 56 with dependent clauses and
exceptions can confuse readers and obscure the main point. When
reviewing specifications, see if complex sentences can be broken
down into lists or individual sentences.
c. Eliminate or replace wordy phrases and adjectives and adverbs that
do not add to the meaning of the specification.
3. Complete
a.

Specifications should provide the information

necessary to enable a bidder to prepare a complete and responsible
bid and to enable the contractor to construct the project properly.
b. Specifications should be complete and should
complement and substantiate the applicable
typical sections, dimensions, and details shown
on the plans.
c. Omissions, ambiguities, or inconsistencies in the
plans or specifications are not the responsibility
of the contractor.

b. Correct
a. Specifications should be accurate and factual. Sources of data used in
the specification should be reliable and current. Careless statements
or statements based on unreliable data are frequently the cause of
contract administration problems and contractor claims. Legalistic
words and phrases may shorten or clarify specifications, but ensure
that usage is correct and that alternate interpretations cannot
contradict the intended meaning.
b. To ensure specifications are technically correct, research the
topic area thoroughly and consult subject matter experts as
necessary.
c. Consistent
a. Consistency in language selection, usage, format, and organization
will help prevent conflicts and ambiguities in specifications.
b. In addition to the need for consistency in writing specifications,
specifications must also be consistently enforced. Without
consistent enforcement, even a well-written specification becomes
ineffective.
EARTHWORK IN EXCAVATION IN FOUNDATION
Excavation

Foundation trenches shall be dug out to the exact width of the

foundation concrete and sides shall be vertical.

If soil is not good and does not permit vertical sides, the sides
should be sloped back or protected with timber shoring.

Excavated earth shall not be placed within 1m of the edge of the

trench

Finish the Trench

The bottom of the foundation trenches shall be perfectly levelled

both longitudinally and transversely and the sides of the trench
shall be dressed perfectly vertical from bottom up to the least
thickness of loose concrete so that concrete may be laid to the
exact width as per design.

The bed of the trench shall be lightly watered and well rammed.

Excess digging if done through mistake shall be filled with

concrete at the expense of the contractor.

Soft or defective spots shall be dug out and removed filled with
concrete or with stabilized soil.

If rocks or boulders are found during excavation, these should be

removed and the bed of the trenches shall be levelled and made
hard by consolidating the earth.

Foundation concrete shall not be laid before the inspection and

approval of the trench by the engineer in charge

. Finds

Any treasure and valuables or materials found during excavation,

shall be property of the government.

Water in foundation

Water if any accumulated should be baled or pumped out without

any extra payment and necessary precautions shall be taken to
prevent surface water to enter into the trench.

Trench filling

After the concrete has been laid, masonary has been constructed
the remaining portion of the trenches shall be filled up with earth
in layers of 15cm and watered and well rammed.

The earth filling shall be free from rubbish and refuse matters and
all clods shall be broken before filling.

Surplus earth not required shall be removed and disposed and the
site shall be levelled and dressed.

Measurement

The measurement of the excavation shall be taken in cubic meters

as for rectangular trench bottom width of concrete multiplied by
the length of trenches even though the contractor might have
excavated with sloping side for his convenience.

Rate shall be for the complete work for 30m lead and 1.5m lift,
including all tools and plants required for completion of the work.

For every extra lead of 30m and every extra lift of 1.5m separate
rate is provided.

Specification specifies or describes the nature and the class of the

work; materials used in the work, workmanship etc
*It helps in execution of work
*The cost of a work depends on the specifications
A Specification depends on:

Nature of the work

Purpose for which the work is required

Strength of materials

Availability of materials

Quality of Materials
Specifications are of two types:

1) General specification or brief specification It is a short descriptive

of various parts of work specifying materials, proportions,
qualities etc.
Example
Superstructure: I- class brickwork with lime mortar or 1:6 cement
mortar. Lintel over doors and windows shall be of RCC
2) Detailed specification It specifies the quantities and qualities of
materials, the proportion of mortar workmanship, the method of
preparation, execution and the method of measurement.
Example
RCC: Specifications for Steel, Centering and Shuttering,
Proportion of cement concrete, Materials for concrete, Mixing,
Laying, Curing, Finishing, Measurement
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR A FIRST CLASS BUILDING
Foundation and plinth-class brickwork in lime mortar over lime
concrete or 1:6 cement mortar over 1:4:8 cement concrete
Dpc- DPC shall be 2.5 cm(1) thick cement concrete 1:1 :3
mixed with one kg of Impermo per bag of cement or other
standard water proofing materials as specified and painted with
two coat of bitumen.
Superstructure- Superstructure shall be of first class brick work
lime mortar or 1:6 cement mortar. Lintels over doors and windows
shall be of RCC
Roofing- Roof shall be of R. C. C. slab with an insulation layer and
lime concrete terracing above, supported over R.S Joist or R. C. C.
beam as required. Height of rooms shall not be less than 3.7m (12
feet).

Flooring- Drawing room and dining room floors shall be mosaic

(terrazzo). Bathroom and W. C. floor and dado shall be of mosaic
(terrazzo). Floors of bedroom shall be colored and polished of
2.5cm (1) cement concrete over 7.5cm (3) lime concrete. Floors
of other shall be of 2.5cm (1) cement concrete over 7.5cm (3)
lime concrete polished.

Finishing- Inside and outside wall shall be of 12mm (1/2) cement

lime plastered 1:1:6. Drawing, dining, and bedrooms-inside shall
distempered, and others-inside white washed 3 coasts. Outside
shall be coloured snowcem washed two coats over one of white
wash.
Door and windows- Chaukhats shall be seasoned teak wood.
Shuttering shall be teak wood 4.3cm (1 ) thick panelled and
partly glazed as required, with additional wire gauge shutter. All
fitting shall be of brass. Doors and windows shall be varnished or
painted two coats with high class enamel paints over one coat of
priming. Windows shall be provided with iron grating or grills.
Misc- Rain water pipes of cast iron or of asbestos cement shall be
provided and finished painted. Building shall be provided with
1st class Sanitary and Water fittings and Electrical installations. 1
meter wide 7.5cm thick
Quantity take off

It is preliminary stage of estimation where the quantities of the

materials is calculated using working drawings.

It only gives quantities of materials required for a particular

project
Detailed estimate

It uses the quantity take offs reviewing the specifications for the
contract to estimate the cost involved in a project.

It includes cost of materials, the time required for and cost of

labor, the cost of equipment required and also the percent of
profit expected considering the investment, time period and scale
of the project.

SKILLS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A QUANTITY SURVEY AND

TURN IT INTO A DETAILED ESTIMATE

Be in a position to visualize the project through different stages

of construction and foresee the problems involved in it and the
cost involved.

Should have enough exposure to have knowledge in the handling

of material on site and economical methods of construction and
labor productivity to get accurate estimates.

Should have sufficient knowledge on labor operations

Be able to keep a database of cost of direct field cost (Material,

labor, equipment)

Should determine the costs of insurance, permits, office staff and

other similar costs.

Should manipulate and build various databases with the

modifications at every level.

CONCEPTUAL ESTIMATE
Estimates are developed by establishing a cost per usable unit from
past projects and multiply this cost by the number of units being
proposed
Example

Cost per bed for a hospital

Cost per apartment

Cost per pupil for a school

Cost per mile for a highway

* It can be done quickly in 10 to 15 minutes

* It provides an accuracy in the +/- 20% range
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE (VOLUME AND AREA)
Similar to conceptual estimate except

More information is required and

Costs are tabulated per square feet/ Cubic feet

1. The volume method

2. The area method
*Requires preliminary set of drawings with dimensions to get volume
and areas of the design
* Requires more information than conceptual estimates and less
information than detailed estimates
* It is primarily used to check whether the project , as designed is
within the owners budget.
* It takes slightly longer than conceptual estimates
* It provides an accuracy in the +/- 15% range
DETAILED ESTIMATE
It includes determination of the quantities and costs of everything
required to complete the project. This includes:
Material

Labor
Equipment
Insurance
Bonds
Overhead
Estimate of profit

The contractor must have a complete set of contract documents

Each item of the project is broken into parts and estimated.

Each piece of work to be performed by the contractor has a

distinct labor requirement that must be estimated.

* A detailed estimate must establish the estimated quantities and costs

of materials, the time required for and the costs of labor, the equipment
required and its cost, the items required for overhead and the cost of
each item, and the percent of profit desired considering the
investment, the time to complete and the complexity of the project.