QUALITY - It’s MEANING I N CI VIL WORK P ROJEC TS

Quality is a norm, sticking to which produces a good product which fulfills all

the requirements and standards. As such, civil work is a multi faced activity

and it requires very detailed and careful inspection of quality at every stage

of construction. A small point missed/ overlooked may result a disaster. It is

therefore necessary that all the engineers concerned with construction

industry should be aware of quality norms, substandard material,

malpractice as well as shoddy workmanship. There is an urgent need for

observance of quality in all aspects of construction viz quality of material,

quality of workmanship and a proper balance in

quality viz the quality desired with the increased competition, timely

completion and sound construction. The management has to have an

actual role in the process of quality construction whether it is a road, an

airport a multi stored residential, an office building or an industrial structure.

So quality management is highly needed.

Quality Management refers to all plans, process and activities that are

developed to achieve the intended degree of conformance in design and

execution of any project. The quality management system concept focuses

attention on the following aspects of the construction process:-

1. Construction is a one time activity.

1|Page
2. Construction is becoming more & more competitive.

3. Quality in construction starts from designing process to completion.

4. Quality is experience, so it should be done with complete

management.

5. Quality management is responsibility of project authority.

2 |Page
Quality management encompasses various project phases of planning

procurement construction & finished structure. It mobilizes technical

managerial organization all and manpower aspects of construction. The

result QMS matrix is

presented in the chart below:

Quality Planning Designing Procuremen Constructio Finished

t n Facility
Management
Technical
Managerial
Organizationa
l
Manpower

Quality Control
Concept:

Quality control refers to the technical process that gather, examine, analysis

and report the project is in progress and in conformance with the

performance requirement. Quality control mainly relates to four basic

functions.

i. Setting up of standards and

specifications.

ii. Evaluating materials processes and outputs through appropriate

tests, inspection etc.

iii. Appraising failures to these standards and acting when standard

are not being adhered to.

iv. Planning improvements in the standards and

specification.

3 |Page
 Various stages of quality control are listed
below.

 Incoming material control

 Pre-Construction and Planning Control.

 Construction Process Control.

4 |Page
 The detailed steps in the procedure depend upon the scope and
type of work and owners policy decision.

Quality
Managemen
t System

Technical Technical

Organizational Organizational

Manpower Quality Quality Manpower

Assurance

Manpower Manpower

Determine Performance
Standards of a facility

Design Option Set up

Select a Design Design tests

Formalize Specification

Plant & Diode Construction Organizational

Machinery Methods

Test Records Q Control Test Records

and Reports and Reports
3|Page Q- Assurance Q -Audit
 Procurement Procurement

Vendor Material Process Finished

STANDARDS & SPECIFICATIONS FOR MAKING & TRANSPORTING CONCRETE

Introduction

Concrete is the most versatile construction material used in civil

engineering structures. Its growing use in modern complex and large

projects including river valley projects merits the closest attention of

designers and constructors in order to achieve durability and design level

serviceability over the life span of the structure with minimum

maintenance and repairs. The need for quality management system

becomes an obvious and essential requirement.

Standards and
Specification

The quality of construction depends upon right materials used, the correct

methods followed ad produce and product of acceptable performance.

Quality control attempts to ensure just that much. The means of quality

control are tests, inspection supervision and analysis of date etc. quality test

are conducted in laboratories and inspection and supervision are carried

out on the site and the date analysis in done by experts in office.

Specificatio
n
4|Page
The project authorities prepare the process of working out specification of

various facilities where concrete will be used. However, the standards and

specifications for

5 |Page
concrete and its various ingredients are Universally standardized and

they are required to be in ingredients viz cement aggregates coarse

and fine, water admixtures and various aspects of concerning its

placement & final acceptance should be as per IS specification.

Sr. IS Title
No. No.

1. IS 226 Specification for structural steel

2. IS 269 Specification for ordinary and low heat port land

cement
3. IS 383 Specification for coarse and fine aggregates

4. IS 432 Specification for mild steel and medium tensile

Steel bars for concrete reinforcement

5. IS 456 Code of practice for plain and reinforcement

6. IS 650 Specification for standard sand for testing

7. IS 1489 Specification for Portland Pazzolona Cement

8. IS 1786 Specification for cold wanted steel high

strength deformed barms for concrete
reinforcement
9. IS 2502 Code of practice for bending and fixing of bars for
concrete reinforcement

10. IS 3025 Methods of sampling and test (Physical and Chemical)

for water used in industry

11. IS 4082 Recommendations on stocking and

storage of construction materials at site

12. IS 9103 Specification for admixtures for concrete

13. IS 10262 Recommended guidelines for concrete mix design

14. SP 22 Handbook on concrete mixes

15. SP 24 Explanatory handbook on Indian Standard

Code for plain and reinforcement (IS:456)
Coarse
Aggregate

Stone:- This shall be crushed or broken from hard stone obtained from

approved quarry. It shall, be hard strong dense and durable, clean and

fee from soft friable, thin, flat elongated dirt and any other foreign matter.

However, the total amount of deleterious substances such as coal, lignite,

clay lumps, soft fragments, foreign materials and other deleterious

materials in the stone aggregate shall not exceed

5% of its
weight.

Gravel:- In can either be river bed shingle or pit gravel. It shall be sound,

hard, clean, suitably graded in size with or without some broken fragments.

This shall be free from flat particles of shale, powered clay, slit, loam and

other impurities, however pit gravel shall have to be washed if it contains

soil material adhering to it.

Brick: It shall be obtained by breaking well burnt or over burnt dense

brick bats. It shall be homogenous in texture, roughly cubical in shape, clean

and free from dirt or any other deleterious matter.

Stacking: When stack piling, the aggregate shall not form pyramids

resulting in segregation of different sized materials. It shall be stacked

separately according to nominal sizes of coarse aggregates in regular

stacks of height not exceeding 150 cm.

Testing: Coarse aggregate shall be tested for the

following a. Determination of particle size and

shale

b. Estimation of organic

impurities c. Surface moisture

d. Determination of ten per cent fines

Value
Measurement The aggregates shall be measured in stacks and paid for after

making a deduction of 7.5 of the gross measurements of stacks in respect of

aggregates of nominal size 40mm and above. In respect of aggregates of

sizes below 40mm, no deduction shall be made from the gross

measurements of stacks.

Admixtures: When required, admixtures of approved quality shall be

mixed with concrete, as specified.

Transportation of
Concrete

Concrete from the mixer should be transported to the point where it

has to be placed as rapidly as possible by a method which prevents the

segregation of loss of ingredients. The concrete has to be placed before

setting has commenced. Attempts have been made to limit the time

to time between mixing and compaction within the forms. The

specifications however permit a maximum of two hours between the

introduction of mixing water to the cement and aggregates, and the

discharge if the concrete is transported in a truck mixer or agitator. In the

absence of an agitator, this figure is reduced to one hour only. All these

however presume that the temperature of concrete when deposited is not

less than 5 C or more than 32 C. it has now been established that delays in

placing concrete after the so-called strengths provided the concrete

retains adequate to allow full compaction.

The requirements to be fulfilled during transportation

are:
(i) No segregation or separation of materials in the
concrete and

(ii) Concrete delivery at the point of placing should be uniform and of

proper consistency
The prevention of segregation is the most important consideration in

handling and transporting concrete. The segregation should be

prevented and not corrected after its occurrence. The concrete being a

non-homogenous composite of materials of widely differing particle sizes

and specific gravities is subjected to internal and external forces during

transpiration and placing tending to separate the dissimilar constituents.

Segregation can be prevented by ensuing that the direction of fall

during the dumping or dropping or concrete vertical. When the discharge

it at an angle, the larger aggregate is thrown to the far side of the

container being charged and the mortar is collected at the near side thus

resulting in segregation.

The plant required for transporting the concrete varies according to the size

of the job and the level at which the concrete is to be placed. The

principal methods of transporting concrete from the mixer are:

i)
Barrows

a) Wheel barrows and handcarts

b) Power barrows or powered buggies or dumpers

ii) Tippers and

Lorries
iii) Truck mixers and agitator
lorries iv) Dump buckets
v) The monorail system or trolley or
rails.
SQC

Q. C. Functions in
Concrete

The qualify control of concrete comprises of the following four

functions:

i. Control of ingredients of concrete viz, cement, coarse and fine

aggregate, water and admixtures.

ii. Concrete mix proportioning or concrete mix design to attain the

required strength specifications.

iii. Concrete production and placement

operations. iv. Acceptance.

The responsibility of all the four functions is shared by contractor, the

department or client and the quality control staff. The functions are

discharged through an intricate network of testing, supervision and

inspection procedures performed in the prescribed manner.

Quality assurance in concrete includes are following basic

programmes;

i. Preparation of concerning manuals for workers, supervisors and

engineers.

ii. Providing training to all those involved in the concerning

function to discharge their responsibility and duties in the manners

prescribed.

iii. Preparation of a schedule of job description and job

specification and organizing charts focusing on the interface

between all persons and parties in concrete construction.

iv. Making quality a joint responsibility and accountability by

creating appropriate organizations for the purpose.

v. Setting up on internal and external quality audit systems.

Establishing and monitoring a good MIS (Management Information

System) procedure and computersing the same wherever possible.

vi. Providing the necessary resources physical, financial and personnel

as and when required.

The concept of quality assurance assumes that the contractor

is best qualified to perform, supervise and verify the work assigned to

him. Clients and authorize direct their efforts mainly to the audit function

whereby they make certain that the intended quality is in all respects

obtained and well documented. Where a client chooses to be involved

directly or indirectly, the degree of involvement is clearly formalized

through established and agreed Co ordination procedures. This may be for

the day to day control and monitoring of acceptance procedures.

Quality management system is based on the concept of

Engineering for quality rather than inspection of quality. It believes that

quality starts from design stage itself and permeates throughout

procurement, construction and acceptance stages. I hold that the quality

can neither be departmentalized nor compartmentalized and that it is a

matter of joint accountability and responsibility of everyone involved in the

construction process. For this purpose it integrates the quality control

processes and quality assurance program into one unified plan of action.

Test
s

Tests are used to determine the various properties of the materials, which

help in their selection as well as for ascertaining the quality of final product.

The test results are compared with the prescribed standards and
specification and judgments are arrived at. Proper methods of sampling,

prescribed procedures of testing, well qualified and trained personnel for

testing work and properly equipped laboratories are necessary.

What to
test

The manufactured goods such as cement and steel carry their suppliers

warrantee but this does not mean that they are not to be tested. In case

of materials like aggregate and water the properties may vary widely

over time and space and proper selection has to done to meet the

engineering requirements.

The raw materials are processed to obtain the final product. The processing

need to be tested and supervised carefully. Some intermediate process

may not be having tests and they cannot be tested and the inadequacies

if any can be known only when the final product is tested. In such

situation the testing of final product is important.

This helps to
ascertain:

i. Conformity to
Specification

ii. Validity of design

assumption

iii. Need of modification due to any

error

iv. Comparative position of work at different

sites.

The data analysis and interpretation becomes meaningful only if

observations are adequate and frequencies are numerous in relation to the

volume and importance of work.

All tests prescribed under ASTM, BS and IS for judging various quality

parameters of cement aggregates water and admixtures and the final

concrete are presented in table 1 and 2 The frequencies of tests and

samples required are shown in table 3 and 4

 TABLE 1

Tests for adjusting various parameters of cement aggregate and

concrete.

TESTS

A. TESTS FOR CEMENT CHARACTERSTICS

1. Setting Time

2. Soundness

3. Strength

4. Fineness and Grading

5. Chemical Composition

6. Specific gravity

7. Heat evolution

8. Water retention

9. False set

10. Adulteration

B. TESTS FOR EVALUATION OF CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGREGGATES

1. Petrography examination

2. Grading and surface area

3. Bulk unit weight

4. Specific gravity

5. Absorption and surface moisture

6. Chemical stability

7. Resistance to freeze and thaw

8. Abrasion resistance

9. Crushing

10. Impact Value

11. Sampling Aggregate
C. TESTS FOR WATER FOR CONCRETE MAKING (Test for impurities)

1. Organic

2. Inorganic

3. Sulfates (as SO4)

4. Chlorides

5. Suspended matter

6. Hydrogen ion concentration

7. Sea water

8. Sugar

D. TESTS FOR EVALATION OF CONCRETING PRACTICES

1. Bathing of concrete constituents

2. Proportioning

Sampling of fresh concrete

Analysis of fresh concrete

3. Mixing

Unit weight of concrete

Air content

Cement

Content Yield

4. Transporting

Moisture

Content

Segregation

Setting time
5. Placing

(Workability) Slump

test

Flow test
 Ball penetration test

6. Compaction Vee

bee test

Compaction

factor Bleeding

E. DESTRUCTIVE TESTS FOR CONCRETE STRENGTH

1. Standard for making test specimen

FieldLaboratory

2. Method of capping test specimen

3. Drilled core and sawed concrete specimen

4. Compressive strength test

5. Flexural Strength

test Third Point

Loading Center

Point loading

6. Splitting Strength (indirect tension)

7. Bond strength

F. NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTS FOR CONCRETE STRENGTH

1. Rebound hammer test

2. Penetration probe test

3. Vibration sonic

test Longitudinal

Flexural

Torsion

4. Ultrasonic Pulse velocity test

5. Pull out test
 G. TESTS FOR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ON CONCRETE

1. Durability test

2. Shrinkage and moisture test

3. Abrasion resistance test

4. Permeability test

5. Static modules of elasticity and Poission’s ratio

6. Alkali reactivity test

7. Creep of concrete in compression

TABLE-2

Tests Conducted on Concrete and its Ingredients (As per IS: 2386-1963)

Sr Cement Pozzolona Aggregates Aggrega Admixtures for Concrete

No during sources t e site
Coiners Fine lab Product Perfor Fresh Hard
Unlomity m State e
ance ned
Setting Gradin
Moisture Gradi Unit Unit Streng
1 Time g Grading Density
Content ng Weight Weight th
(Initial Fitness
Air Air
Pozzolon Specific Specific Specify Densit
2 Faise Set Colour ConteConte
a Gravity Gravity Gravity y
Activity nt nt
Akali Water
Akali Volum
Aggreg Water Ceme
Temperat Temperat Aggrega Moistur e
3. ate PH Value Requir n t
u re u re te e Charg
Reactiv Reaticit e ment Requir
conten e
i ty y e ment
t Modu
Water
Sound Soundne Soundne Settin
4 Soundness Requirem Chloride Temp. l e
n ess ss ss g Elastic
e nt
time ity
Strain
Impac Organic Impact Bleedi Bleedi
5 Fitness Fitness Dissolved Cap
t Imperils Value ng ng
a city
value Self Suspen
Compres Relative Crushin Crushin
6 and d ed Creep
si ve Designee g g
day Matter
Value value Streng Therm
Materia
Loss of Loss on Abrasi Abrasion t h al
7 l Finer
Ignition Ignition o n Value Devel Prope
Than
Value o rties
 Crushi Abrasi
Chemical
n g Buildin Volume on
8 Compositi
Rock g Charge Resist
on
Strengt sand ance
Deleteri
Particle o us Durabil Durab
9
Shape Substan i ty ility
ce
Patrograp
10 h ic
examinati
on
Unit
11 Unit Weight
Weight
Water Water
12 Absorp Absorpti
t ion on
Mica
13 Conte
nt

TABLE 3

FREQUENCIES OF TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED

Sr. Small Concrete Jobs

Name of Test Mass Concrete Remarks
No. and
R. C. C.
Also carry
out tests as
mentioned
1 Adulteration of One every 50 of One every 50 of in
cement cement Cement Appendices
M. N. P. and O
at this
i) Once a
Particle size analysis
2 day ii)
of aggregates
Additional in
Flakiness index of
3 As per above As per above
coarse
i) Once a i) Once a
Still test o
4 day ii) day ii)
line
Additional it Additional if
aggregate
Clay, line slit and
5 line dust in Once a week Once a fornight
aggregate
(sedimentation
Surface One per shift per One per shift per
6
moisture stock pile stock pile
 aggregate (Hot
place method)
Surface moisture
7 content in line Once a week Once a for Night
aggregate
(Laboratory method)
Bulking of One per shift per
8
fine stock pile
Specific gravity
9 and water One a week
absorption for
aggregate’s up to
Specific gravity and
10 water absorption for Once a week Once a for night
aggregates above
10 mm size)
Slump of One per every two
11 One a for night
cement hours working per
Slump of One per every two One per every two
12
cement hours working per hours working per
i) One per i) One per mixer
Density and air mixer per per mouth
13 week ii) Additional if
contents of
ii) Additional if source of
fresh concrete
source of aggregate
aggregate is changed
Compressive As directed by As directed by
14
strength of drilled design office design office
Laboratory One per month for
Nil
15 Permeability every mix proportion
a) Moulded One per month per Nil
Specimen b) Drilled 3m depth
One hole at 20m,
16 In-situ permeability distance per
working season for
full depth duly

TABLE 4

Size of Sample Required for Various Tests

Weight
Sr No. Purpose of test Material of Remarks
sample
About 100 kg of
the
1 Adulteration of Cement 1
samples shall be per
served in air light
Tests on Coarse 100
2
aggregate such Aggregate
 flakiness index,
surface moisture, Fine 40
bulking specific aggregate
gravity and water s
Cement
Complete mix Coarse
3
design of aggregat
concrete/mortar e Surkhi

Details of Tests

The detail information on the tests for measuring various characteristics types

of test, test specimen apparatus parameters derived significance /

application and

relevant ASTM, BS and IS standards is given as per list below.

Sr.
Item Table
No.
1 Cement 5

2 Aggregate 6

3 Water 7

4 Admixtures 8

5 Evaluation of concrete properties 9

6 Destructive tests for concrete strength 10

7 Non destructive test for concrete strength 11

8 Physical properties of concrete 12

TABLE 5

Significan
Test
Sr Type of Paramete c e/
Specimen/Appar Remarks ASTM BS IS
No Test r Applicatio
at us
Derived n
 Time
Quality Different
Setting Vicat apparatus or availabl control Type of C191 4550
1 4031
Time Gull more needle e for
on needles for C266 (3)
concret
cement initial and
e
supplied final
 Presence
Checks for
Le Chattier, Part Expansion of excess
developmen 4550
2 Soundness and Autoclave in gypsum, C-15 4031
t of serve (3)
test methods dimension lime or
cracks
s magnesi
Strength Loss of C190
Briquettes Load 4550
3 Strength of strength C109 4031
and cubes per unit (3)
cement due to C917
area
Specifi Uniformity
Fitness and Air permeability Rate of 4550
4 c in quality C114 4031
Grading or photo electric gain in (3)
surface of
strength
Percent of
Chemical various Quality Classificatio 4550
5 Compositi Chemical Analysis cement C114 4032
of n of cement (3)
on constituen cement
ts
Weight Uniformit 4031
Specifica 4550
6 Le Chattier flask per unit y in C118
ti on (3)
volume cement
Gravity
Mass 269
Calories connecti Simple
Heat Heat of n g cold 4550
7 of heat Laborator
evolutio solution weather (3)
evolved y Test
n method concerni
ng
Mortar made with Percent
Water Masonr Workability
8 cement in of water C91
retentio y of mortar
standard manner suction
n cement
False mix
Depth of Rate of
9 False set Vicat’s Apparatus penetrati setting, C359
setting
premature
on of
, stiffening
cement

TABLE 6

Tests for Evaluation of Characteristics of Aggregate

S. Tests Significanc Test Specificatio ASTM BS IS

No. Characteristi e of method n
cs Importance s requiremen
Visual t
Petrography Presence of C295 2386
1 Examinat 882
Examination Impurities D75 (vi)
i on
Workabilit
Max. and Min. C136
Grading and y of fresh State 812(I)
2 percent C125 2386 *I)
Surface area concrete Analysis 4101134
passing C33
Economy
Bulk Mix design Weighin standards
Max. and
3 C29 812(2) 2386(I)
unit calculation g Min. Unit
 and
classificati
on
Mix design
Specific calculatio Batting C127
4 n of 812(2) 2386(I)
Gravity metho C128
ensure d
uniform
C70
Absorption Quality
Drying Min. Percent C127 2386
5 and control 812 (4)
Method of water C128 *vii)
Surface of
C566
moisture concret
Strength
and C27
durability Max. expansion C289
Chemical of all Chemical of motor bar. C586
6
Stability structures Analysis Not reactive C88
To delete with cement C117
harmful alkalies C40
inorganic
Decides
Max. expansion
Resistance the Icing C290
7 of motor bar
to freeze porosity and ,
Not reactive
and thaw structures deciding C291
with cement
subject to test ,
Index of
agg.
Abrasion quality Mechani 2396(iv
8 Max. percent loss C131 812(3)
resistanc Soundness c al Test )
e and
crushing
Index to
agg.
Quality Std.
Crushing 812 (3) 2396
9 Soundnes Load Minimum value
Strength 882 (iv)
s and applied
crushing test
value
Index to
impact Std.
2396(iv
10 Impact Value value Impact Minimum Value 812 (3)
soundnes )
load
s in test
compassion
Influence Sampling
Sampling Max. & D75
11 s on test techniqu 812(I) 2430
aggregat Min. C702
result es
e samples

20 | P a g e
 TABLE
7
Tests for Water for Concrete
Making
(Tolerance Limit and Effect of
Ingredients)

Tolerance Limit (IS 456)

Sr. Influence and effect in
Ingredients Reinforce
No. Mass Concrete
d (Higher Value(H)/Lower value
Concrete
Concrete Max (L)
Adversely affect hardening
1 Organic 200 mg/I 200mg/I
of cornet
Greatly retard both setting
2 Inorganic 3000mg/I 3000mg/I
and strength
Sulphates
3 500 mg/I 500 Mg/I Reduces the 28 day strength
(as SO4) (H).
Enhances both hardening
Chlorides
4 1000 mg/II 2000 Mg/I and strength rate. Result in
(as CI)
Corrosion and deterioration
Suspended
5 2000 Mg/I 2000 Mg/I Adverse effect on strength
Matter
Hydrogen
6 concentrati More than 6 More than 6 Result for corrosion of steel (H)
on
7 Sea Water 35,000 ppm Reduction in strength (H)
Repaid setting but, reduction
8 Sugar 0.25 0.25% in strength, Retards setting time
(H & L value)

TABLE
8 Code of Practices for Admixtures and its influence

Sr.
Classification Purpose/Influences ASTM BS IS
No.
Improves durability
to freezing and C260
Air
1 thawing, surface C233 5075(2) 9103
entraining
scaling Reduces C226
admixture
segregation and C175
Increases strength
Water and slump of
2 5075(1) 9103
reducing concrete increase in
admixture drying shrinkage
Retarding and
3 Retarding Agents setting time of 5075(1) 9103
21 | P a g e concrete and grout
 To accelerate the
setting time and
Accelerating strength
4 D98, D345 5075(1) 9103
Admixture development early
removal of forms
increase the drying
Fine particles
combines with
Calcium 3812,
5 Pozzolona Hydroxide to form C219, C618 3892
1344
comentitious
properties, control
internal temperature
Improve slump,
reduce, water
6 Workability comment ratio, C618 4887
agents facilitated, placing
and finishing
Reduce the
Damp
capillary flow of
7 Proofing/Permea 743 2645
moisture through
b ility reducing
agent concrete that
is in contact with
To alter the
properties of grout for
8 Grouting agents specific like stabiles, C937
foundation, crack, fill
joints, seal oil walls
To entrain gas form
in concrete before
9 Forming Agent hardening applied C869, 796
for grouting in post
tensioning

TABLE
9 Destructive Tests for Concrete Strength

Type
Sr. Parameter Significance/
Type of Test Specim ASTM BS IS
No. Measured Applicati
en
on
Standard
1881
for making 1199
1 Influences to test C31 (4)
test
result 1881 1199
specimen a
(4)
Field b.
Method of
1881
2 capping Uniform loading in test C617 516
(4)
test
 Drilled
Cube
core and 1881
3 and Field Application C42 1199
sawed (4)
Cylinde
concrete
r C39,
Cube
Compressive Ultimate Strength in C513, 1881
4 and 516
Strength test failure compressio C873, (4)
Cylinde
load n C116
Flexural r
strength
test 1881
Ultimate C78,
Beam Module of repute (4)
5 failure C683 516
a. Third load ,
point Module of 1881
Beam repute quality C293
loading Ultimate
b. Center control
failure
Splitting Splittin Tensile strength 1881
6. Cylinder C496 5816
strengt g load of concrete (4)
h Bond
Cube Strength Comparing Concrete
7 Bond Strength s and betwee C234 2770
Mixes
Prisms n steel
and

TABLE 10

Non Destructive Tests for Concrete Strength

Paramet Applicatio
S Type
Type of er Paramet n/ Advanta Disadva I
N Specim ASTM BS
Test measur e r Significan g es n S
o. en
ed derived c e tages
1 Reboun Test Degree Strength Testing of Payable Variable C805 4408
d Specime of through concretru simple in results (4)
Hammer n or in rebound calibrati c tual operatio only
Test sills receive on members n quality
concret d of
e surface
2 Penetrati Test Dimensi Testing Portable Variable Variabl C803 4408
on Specime o n of concret simple in results e result (4)
n or in indentat e operatio only only
silu i on stractual n quality of quality of
concret surface surface
e concrete of
concret
3 Vibration Beams Resonan Quality Single Limited C215 1881
Sonic test Cylinder t control, specime to
s Beams frequen deterior n simple specially Do --do--
a. Cylinder c y of a tion of accurate made
Longit s Beams elasticity concret and specime
 b. Cylinders dynami resproduc
Flexur c --do— ti y --do--
al modules
c. Torsion of --do-- --do—
modules
of as
elasticit above
y in Poisson’s
4 Ultrasoni Test Velocit Compre Laborator Variabilit Special C597 4408
c Pule cubes y of s sive y test, y of preparati (5)
velocity concret pulse through testing of concrete on
test e time calibrati concret strength required,
member on e in silu can be Access
s for measure to two
strength d opposite
faces of
member
is
required
5 Pull Out Pull Put Failure
Test Interest load
fractur

TABLE 11

Tests for Physical Properties of Concrete

Parameter
Sr.
Test Derived Significance
No Types of test ASTM BS IS
Methods or
.
applications
Strength
Strength of C666
Durability Freeze and to
1 concrete for C671
Test thaw withstand
special C672
cycles standard
condition
Shrinkage Dimensions Relatives
Wet and C157 1881 6441
2 and measureme shrinkage in
dry process C827 (5) (11)
moisture n ts structural
Dry
Abrasion Depth of Industrial flooring C944,
3 abrasion 9284
resistanc abrade hydraulic C779,
test
e test d channel etc. C148
abrasion
material
tools
Water Amount
Permeabilit Water tank, 1881
4 absorptio of water C642 3085
y test fluid, retaining (5)
n method absorbed
Static
Strain
modules of Stress and Quality 1881
5 measurem C469
elasticity strain of (5)
e nts
and values concrete
 ratio

Performance
Alkali Mortar Elongation
6 of cement C227
reactivity bar in length
and
test method
Creep of Longitudina
Performance of
7 concrete in l Strain values C512
concrete
Compressio compressio
structure

INSPECTION & CHECKLISTS

Inspection

Inspection is the act of physical verification of the subject work on the site

and under normal day-to day working conditions. The inspection for quality is

done by quality control inspectors who are posted at al active sites and who

should be persons at deputy engineer and above levels. They are a member

of the quality control team and unrelated to the production process directly.

The duties of quality control inspectors are as under:

1. Check that the working is proceeding in accordance with the

specifications and bring the substandard work to notice of

concerned authorities.

2. Inspect personally and regularly the work in progress at sites.

3. Review the previous days “Daily QC” reports filed by the Field Quality

Control units and convey immediately to the concerned site in

charge and any adverse results and recommendation for

rectification.
4. Verify that the results of the tests received from labs have been duly

attended to and send them to seniors in the department.

5. Prepare daily report of inspection on the prescribed forms and send to

seniors in the department.

6. Check to ensure that QA manual for workers and supervisors are

available at hand at work stations that they are not in torn stage, that

they are easily accessible and that they are being referred to.

7. Check to ensure that copies of contract conditions particularly

regarding specifications and related matters are available at site

offices and are being referred to.

8. Check that all equipment plants are in proper working condition

and that they conform to IS specifications.

9. Investigate the case where the test results of input materials are

satisfactory but that of in process stage are not, or there is a

discrepancy in test results during in process and end product stage

and find out the causes of mishap. Investigate the human factor and

machine condition/capability more particularly.

Items to be Inspected

Following items must be covered during inspection of the inspectors:

 Inspection of the constituent material cement, steel, aggregate, and

water and admixture. The test results of these materials and their

condition of storing needs to be checked.

 Inspection of form work, embedded parts, ladder and gangway

plant and machinery.

 Inspection of concrete making and placing.
  Inspection of the end product.

Guidelines for concrete inspection are given below:

Sr. IS Title
No. No.

1. IS 226 Specification for structural steel

2. IS 269 Specification for ordinary and low heat port land

cement
3. IS 383 Specification for coarse and fine aggregates

4. IS 432 Specification for mild steel and medium tensile

Steel bars for concrete reinforcement

5. IS 456 Code of practice for plain and reinforced concrete

6. IS 650 Specification for standard sand for testing

7. IS 1489 Specification for Portland Pazzolona Cement

8. IS 1786 Specification for high strength steel

deformed bars for concrete reinforcement

9. IS 2502 Code of practice for bending and fixing of bars for

concrete
reinforcement

10. IS 3025 Methods of sampling and test (Physical and Chemical)

for water used in industry

11. IS 4082 Recommendations on stocking and storage of

Construction materials at site

12. IS 9103 Specification for concrete admixtures

13. IS 10262 Recommended guidelines for concrete mix design

14. SP 22 Handbook on concrete mixes

15. SP 24 Explanatory handbook on Indian Standard

Code for plain and reinforcement (IS: 456)

Supervision of
Concreting

Supervision is the third aspect of QC along with testing and

inspection. The supervision relates to the construction process and is to

be made by production group. It is the task of the engineers in charge of

construction that the contractors and workers executing the job know the

specifications, use the tested and certified materials are fully skilled to

do job they are engaged in and that tests are conducted at the

sated frequencies and according to prescribed procedures. The Supervisors

both from the side of contractors as well as the clients should be

conversant with above and know the techniques of supervision and of

preferring daily progress reports of work quality.

All resorts on QC activity eminating from laboratories, filed quality

control units, inspections of suppliers material stores, in process activity

finished product by QC inspectors and supervision as well as form the

corresponding personnel of contraction has to be as per procedure of MIS

laid down by authorities.

ASSURANCE OF
QUALITY

For assurance of quality following steps shall be taken:

1. PRELIMINARY

i. Plans and specifications availability at sites.

ii. Organization chart, job descriptions and work

assignments. iii. Permissible tolerance of measurements.

 iv. Provision of records and reports.

v. Contractor’s plant calibrations, equipment organization and

methods.

2. PROPORTIONING

i. Tests of aggregates
 ii. Proportioning of

mix iii. Mix

computations

iv. Grading of mixed aggregates; batch quantities;

yield, air v. Content

3. MATERIALS

i. General (applies to all materials)

ii. Identification; quantities (Used on hand); acceptability;

Uniformity; storage conditions, handling methods, waste;

schedule of testing

iii Cement

iv Sampling for laboratory

test v Protection from

dampness vi. Aggregates

vii. Acceptability tests

viii. Gradation; organic matter; deleterious undesirable substance;

soundness, resistance to abrasion; other

tests. ix. Control tests

x. Moisture; absorption; specific gravity; unit weight; voids

4. STOCKPILING:

i. Water

ii. Admixture

iii. Reinforcing Steel

iv. Size, Bending, surface

condition v. Accessories

vi. Fixtures

vii. Other materials

5. FORMWORK

i. Specified type of forms

ii. Excavation; foundations location, dimensions, shape,

drainage, preparation of surfaces.

6. FORMWORK

i. Specified type of

forms ii. Location

iii. Alignment provision for settlement

iv. Stability (bearing, shores ties and spaces)

v. Inspection of

openings vi. Preparation

of surfaces. vii. Final

clean up

7. GATEWAY AND LADDERS

i. Working platforms; location width, guardrails with no.

ii. Scaffoldings of adequate strength supported, properly

braced. iii. Suitable guards on all gangway and stairs.

iv. Ladders securely fixed

8. PLANT AND MACHINERY

i. Availability of Spare concrete mixers vibrators and other

machines. ii. Adequate electric and petromax lamps for

concerning at night.

iii. Adequate quantity of tarpaulin to cover concrete in case of

rains.
9. BATCHING AND MIXING OF CONCRETE

i. For each batch check the quantity of coarse aggregate,

find aggregate, cement and water quantity of water being

corrected from
 the viewpoints of dry wet conditions of the coarse and

the fine aggregate.

ii. Periodical checking of accuracy, serviceable condition

and cleanliness of all the measuring equipment.

iii. Checking that water/cement ratio is maintained at the

stipulated value. Further control over the amount of water

used shall be exercised in terms of slump/compaction factor

value.

iv. Physical checking of the quantities of the constituents per

batch periodically.

v. Checking of workability of concrete at frequent

intervals. vi. Checking cleanliness of the mixer

machine drum.

vii. Checking cleanliness and adequacy of chairs in the

area of concerning.

viii. Checking cleanliness and adequacy of chairs in the

area of concerning.

ix. Checking that concrete is placed and compacted before the

expiry of initial setting time of cement and left undisturbed

afterwards.

x. Checking that concrete is placed in even layers, each layer

being compacted before placing the next layer.

xi. Ensuring that concerning is carried out continuously

upto the construction joint.

xii. Ensuring that while concerning an old work, the surface is

chipped, cleaned with wire brush and wetted with a coat of

cement slurry, before laying new concrete.

xiii. Ensuring that while connecting an old work, the surface is

chipped, cleaned with wire brush and wetted with a coat of

cement slurry, before laying new concrete.

10. EMBEDDED PARTS:

i. Inspection of embedded parts and embedment

of lugs ii. Position and level of embedded parts

iii. Precautionary measures to keep the embedded parts in

position iv. Position, depth and size of bolt holes.

11. REINFORCEMENT IN PLACE.

i. Size (diameter; length; bends; and anchorage)

ii. Location (number of bars; minimum clear spacing minimum

cover)

iii. Splicing

iv. Stability (binding by wire; chairs and spacers)

v. Cleanliness (no loose rust, no oil, paint dried mortar etc.)

vi. Fixtures (location, stability,

cleanliness). vii. Opening shown on

plans

viii. Calibration of batting devices.

ix. Conditions of mixer speed of

operation x. Provision for continuous

placement

xi. Provision for curing

xii. Provision for protection against sun, rain, hot or cod

weather xiii. Adequate tools and men for compaction,

finishing and curing

12 CONCRETING
i. Working Conditions

Whether preparations completed, specified interval since

previous placement, lighting for night work, covering and

protection.

ii) Batching

Cement; aggregates; water; admixtures

 Check batching devices

Check yield of

concrete iii) Mixing

Minimum Time, batches delayed in mixer maximum time

loading number of revolutions of drum water used mixing

capacity of drum amount of concrete.

iv. Control of consistency

a. Observations of concrete being placed; tests;

adjustments of water or admixtures in mix.

b. Monitoring of air content

c. Concrete temperature

check d. Conveying

e. No segregation of materials; no excessive stiffening or

drying out time limits.

v. Placing uniform and dense concrete; continuous

operation; preparation of contract surface mortar bedding,

vertical drop, no dropping against forms or reinforcement;

little or no flow after depositing depth of layers water

gain rock pockets removal of temporary ties and spacers

disposal of rejected batches placing concrete under water.

vi. Contraction

joints a.

Location

b. Forming or tooling
 c. Dowels of ties (if any) in place and

aligned vii. Construction and hinge joints

 a. Location preparation of surface

b. Dowels or ties (if any) in place and

aligned c. Expansion and isolation joints

d. Joint filler material location, alignment stability freedom,

from interference with subsequent movement.

viii. Finishing of formed surfaces shallow surface layer of mortar

water gain no over working first floating alignment of surface,

final hard trawling plastic shrinkage cracks; rain.

ix. Schedule of testing

13. AFTER CONCRETING

i. Protection from damage impact overloading of

surfaces ii. Time of removal of forms

iii. Curing surface continuously moist; time of beginning curing;

length of curing period, in cold and hot weather required

precaution.

iv. Joints Clean and seal

v. Tests of concrete; Detailed

elsewhere vi. Records and reports

a. Records; materials mix computations, batching and

mixing, placing and cutting.

b. Reports; daily;

summary c. Diary

d. Photographs & video recording

14. SPECIAL WORK

i. Cold whether concerning

 Limiting temperatures and times outdoor, air enclosure,

materials, concrete Heating materials, contact surfaces,

and enclosures, Protection from drying carbonation and

carbon monoxide Tight enclosure or insulated forms

Removal of forms protection from too repaid cooling.

ii. Hot weather concerning

Cooling materials presetting aggregates and contact

surfaces protecting concrete. Limiting combinations of wind

relative humidity and ambient temperature.

iii. Filling under base plates

Preparation of base; proper mix; complete; filling of

voids

iv. Pressure grouting

Holes (depth, spacing, freedom from clogging) Material

(acceptability quantities used) injection (sequence, pressure

times, completeness of penetration no damage to structure)

v. Shotcrete.

Materials (acceptability quantities) condition of equipment

preliminary mixing, pressure (air, water) preparation of

surfaces application thickness no sagging, construction joints);

surface finish; surfing tests.

vi. Terrazzo

Thickness of layers; uniformity; curing dividing

strips
vii. Stucco

Mortar; preparation of backing surface; bonding to backing

surface;

uniform finishing curing each

layer.
viii. Architectural Concrete

Location and neat joining of molds; surface coating to avoid

sticking or staining curing Reinforcement near surface

support location & material. Vibrating to minimize bugholes

Colour and texture mockup protection against drip stains

surface repair; hole filling.

ix. Coloured Concrete

Pigments; matching of colors; through and intimate mixing of

colour with cement uniform application and trawling, curing.

x. Painting

Cleaning surface; neutralizing surface (if needed); uniform

application;

curing Portland cement

paints.

xi. Mass Concrete

Times and rates of placement, avoidance of high or non

uniform temperatures instrumentation embodiment, after

embedment care monitoring, analysis and interpretation

thermal stresses and temperature control bonding of

liters prevention of aggregate breakage.

xii. Air entertaining

Accurate measurement of air entraining agent; tests for air

content of Concrete, regulations of air content adjustment of

 mix of compensate for air avoidance of excessive mixing of

vibration ,avoidance of wet consistency; finishing.

xiii. Under water construction

Avoidance of flowing water; temperature; continuous

placement,
 operation of treme or bucket minimizing of wash; protection

from flowing water for several days.

xiv. Vaccum Concrete:

Final thickness of slabs; timing and duration of application of

vacuum uniformity of processing condition of mats.

xv. Prestressed Concrete;

Strength of concrete at time of prestressing;

sheathing of reinforcement, in specified, accurate

placing of reinforcement avoidance of obstruction of

excessive friction; measurement of tension by means of jack

pressure and/or lengthening of steel thoroughness of grouping, if

specified.

CREATING QUALITY ASSURANCE ORGANISATION/UNIT AT SITE

The chart enclosed shows the persons for the organization of quality

assurance and their hierarchy.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The Superintending Engineer who is head of the Quality Management

System

department may have the following duties and responsibilities.

i. Ensuring compliance by contractors with the plans,

specifications and contractual provisions regarding the quality in

 selection and processing of materials, and during construction and

acceptance stages of work.

ii. Monitoring and where appropriate, ensuring that the quality in the

project construction is maintained, where it cannot, prompt action is

taken rectify the situation.

iii. Coordination and monitoring of reviews approvals, and tests as

required by the specifications and contract.

iv. Stopping work and progress when quality concerns

override other considerations or when continuation of work will result

in sub-standard work.

v. Preparing check lists, manuals and guidelines on quality for

personnel at various levels of vertical hierarchy of the project and

making them available to all concerned.

vi. Arranging training in Quality Control and Quality Assurance through

expert consultants on a continuous basis, promoting Quality Circles,

and undertaking other measures to create awareness that Quality is

everybody responsibility.

vii. Supervising the work of laboratories and Field Q. C. units, receiving test

results and reports and providing feedback to the executing

departments.

viii. Providing technical back stopping and interface with executing

departments regarding all matters pertaining to QMS.

ix. Preventing backsliding on quality by taking timely corrective actions

through guidance inspections, training, and other suitable methods.

x. To be responsible for QMS department, its operations,

budget and performance.

E.E. / Chief Training Officer

i. To carry out training needs assessment surveys of personnel at various

levels of the project organization, contractors and their staff and others

concerned.

ii. To appoint training consultants, approve training programmes and

supervise the conduct of training courses.

iii. To maintain stock of training materials, technical literature and

training equipment.

iv. To evaluate training programmes from time to time.

v. To promote quality circles in the project organization and
contractors staff.

vi. To liaise with the other expert agencies in the subject and bring their

inputs to the project.

E.E. / Chief Research

Officer

i. To ensure that the central laboratory and the Full QC Units carry out

specified laboratory tests and that test record sheets are filled in

ad registers are maintained.

ii. To ensure that sophisticated tests are got carried out in

specialized and expert laboratories

iii. To examine all test carried out at specified frequencies not

variances if any and report the same to appropriate authorities.

iv. To organize proper upkeep and account of the equipment and

instruments.

v. To remain in constant touch with the execution of works, and

coordination relations with contractors

vi. To maintain and progress charts, submit daily placement reports to

higher authorities and suggest way and means to improvement the

standards of work.

Dy. E/
Inspector

Quality Control Inspector is the Project Authority contact with the job.

Through the inspection process he develops not only the knowledge of

specific problems but a general awareness of the attitude of contractors.

He can identity the problems areas and single out situations that require

Authority attention.

The organization proposed for the Quality Management department

recommends 5 inspectors each to look after materials, concerning

earthwork Rockwell and mechanical equipment. The Inspector must be

able to look upon and view critically

the particular phase of the project comprehend and interpret the

contract plans and specifications and prepare notices through his daily

inspections that certain phases of work are not begin done according to the

quality required or when other problems occur, he is to immediately report

these errors, violations or problems to the higher authority for further action.

The Guidelines for inspection have been given in Chapters 2, 3 & 4.

Deputy Engineer /Research

Officer

i. To remain in constant touch with the execution of works of the

project by inspection and frequently.

ii. To suggest ways and means to improve the standards of work in case

the test results indicate falling standards.

iii. To organize proper upkeep and account and calibration of the

equipment in the central and field laboratory at proper intervals.

iv. To organize test procedures and to submit daily reports on the quality

of works to higher authorities.

v. To maintain copies of approved design, reports plants, and

estimates specifications, extracts of inspection notes and data of

machinery used on works.

vi. To carry out at least a few of the important tests in a month personally

so that the deficiencies, if any are brought to light.

vii. To approve the instrumentation detailed plan showing the cable

lengths etc. and check the installation of a few representatives

instruments personally.
viii. Periodically inspect the stores of the department and of

contractors for checking storage and issued procedures from the

quality point of view and submit reports to higher authorities.

ix. To assess whether shuttering and centering and proper and

whether steel is provided as per drawing and design and should

also check and advice proper cover of concrete over reinforcement.

x. To inspect all other related operations prior to placement, during

placement and after placement is properly exercised.

Assistant Research Officer in charge of Laboratory

i. To ensure proper upkeep and maintenance on laboratory,

equipment in laboratory, core library the curing room, the store yard

of destructively tested samples etc.

ii. To ensure proper upkeep of records of all samples being tested

in the laboratory and ensure submission of test results in

prescribed forms of the Research Officer.

iii. To supervise the testing works of Research Assistants and

Laboratory technicians and to personally check representative tests to

get an insight into the efficiency of the work.

iv. To ensure correct method of sampling and testing.

v. To prepare monthly review of all the test results, and submit to

the R. O. vi. To conduct such other work as may be assigned by R.

O.

Research Assistant (Posted in Laboratory)

Shall perform important tests as prescribed in relevant standards, and as

directed by the superiors.

Research Assistants Posted in Field

i. To regularly supervise the work to ensure that material as per

approved specification are received at the site and O. K. cards issued

accordingly.
ii. To collect samples as per norms and frequency for testing the

mortar concrete etc.

iii. To keep watch over weighing of cement use of materials

as per specifications; cement bag containing lumps and time

barred should be rejected.

iv. To check mixing time and water cement ratio and mixing of air

entraining agents in required quantity.

v. To check bulkage of sand as required and conduct water

content test. vi. To attend to any other duties assigned to him by

the R.O or A. R. O.

Laboratory Technicians/Field Assistant.

i. To assist, Research Assistant whenever required in laboratory and

field work. ii. To perform tests in laboratory such as

a) Analysis of fine

aggregates b) Sit in

aggregates

c) Bulking in fine

aggregates d) Slump test

e) Collection of samples of concrete and mortars for filling

moulds for compaction test.

f) Numbering samples etc.

METHODS OF QUALITY ASSURANCE

Already listed above under heading assurance of quality

CONCLUSION

Quality assurance refers to the managerial processes which

determine the organization design, objectives and resources, the project

team, funding agencies, performance standards and feedback on the

project’s performance appropriate actions to deal with deviations and

all steps necessary for promoting quality awareness at all levels and in all

parts of the project organization.

A typical quality assurance programme addresses itself to the

following:

i. Organization structure of the project team and assuranc

quality e
department.

ii. Responsibilities and powers of the various personnel

involved.
iii. Identification of the coordination personal.

iv. Quality and its Programs.

v. Quality education and awareness.

vi. Quality circles

vii. Training

viii. Setting up to MIS for quality

ix. Resolution of technical differences and disputes.

x. Preparation of quality assurance manuals and their

checklists.
xi. Vendor survey procedure

xii. Vendor surveillance procedure.

Quality assurance provides protection against quality problems through

early warnings play an important role in the prevention of both internal

and external problems. The assurance is provided from objective

evidence but the type of

evidence but the type of evidence differs widely according to persons

requiring the assurance and the nature of the product.

It need not be emphasized that quality assurance is an essential

prerequisite for all construction projects. Over years the accent on quality

has graduated progressively from simple inspection to quality control to

quality assurance and to quality management. Whereas the limitations of

inspections are quite obvious, a quality control system includes testing of

raw materials at selection and processing stage, testing at various stages of

production, acceptance and the feed back.

Quality assurance goes much beyond the introduction of quality manuals,

auditing for quality and computerized MIS for it. It includes building

quality in the project design itself, planning and selection of equipment

performance maintenance of machines, improving worker skills and

technical/managerial Quality assurance demands on organizational

structure wherein co-ordination and interface between various parties to

constriction becomes possible from the lowest to the top

management level.

Quality assurance provides protection against quality problems

through early warnings to trouble ahead. Such early warnings play an

important role in the prevention of both internal and external problems.

The assurance is provided form objective evidence but the type of

evidence differs widely according to the person requiring the assurance and

the nature of work.

 Table 3.14

List of Equipment/Apparatus Required for Concrete Testing Laboratory

Sr. Laborator Laborator

Descriptio Remarks
No. y y
n
Class A Class B
IS Sieve sets 300, 20080, 40, 25, 20, 10,
1 6,2,4,5, 75 3.35, 2.36, 1.70 and 1.8
mm
2 Sieve Shaker
3 Cube Moulds 70.6, 100, 150 mm. *18) (12)
4 Cylinder Moulds 150/300mm
5 Beam Mould 100/100/500mm (6) (3)
6 Slump cone apparatus
7 Compaction factor apparatus
8 Flow tables
9 Air entertainment meter
10 Shrinkage tester
Sr. Laborator Laborator
Descriptio Remarks
No. y y
n
Class A Class B
11 Length compactor
12 Hot both
13 Vbee Consistometer
14 Table Vibrator
15 High frequency table vibrator
16 Vicat needle apparatus
17 Le Chaterlier Mould
18 Hot Plate
19 Graduated Mould
20 Concrete Placing and finishing tools
21 Trays, big (1000x500x50mm) and
small
22 Mortar Cube testing apparatus 200
Beakers 100cc, 1000cc Balance in
23
1kg and 200 kg capacity
 Crushing value apparatus
24
for aggregate
25 Stop watch
Standard hand tools and gauges
26
for metal work
27 Laboratory type concrete mixer
28 Curing tanks of various sizes
29 Blains air permeability tester
Cylinder Measures, metallic 3,15,
30
30 liter capacity
31 Capping apparatus for Cylinders
32 Electric oven 200 c 1mmx1mm1xmm
33 Electric oven 150, c, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5
Hydraulic jack with remote control
34
5.20, 50, 2001
35 Concrete test hammers
36 Compression testing machine 2000
37 Transverse testing attachment
38 Universal testing machine 400

Bibliography

NICMAR publication lesson book on Construction Quality Management

Butterworth-Heinemann publication, The Management of Construction by Lawrence

Bennett