SPECIFICATIONS AND MARKET SURVEY

Prof. Maulik Kakadiya

Department of Civil Engineering
Uka Tarsadiya University, Bardoli, Gujarat, INDIA
 What is Specification?
• Many a time it is not possible to furnish the information on the
drawings, regarding the quality of materials to be used and the
quality of workmanship to be achieved during construction, due
to Shortage of space.
• The technical drawings of a structure will show the proportion
and relative positions of the various components of the structure
• A Specification is a specific description of a particular subject. An
engineering specification contains detailed description of all
workmanship and materials which are required to complete an
engineering project in accordance with its drawings and details.
• This data regarding the materials and workmanship is conveyed in a
separate contract document which is known as the “Specification” for
the work.

• Thus the drawing with the specification “will completely define the
structure.” The “Specification” is furnished separately along with
drawing and is an essential part of all engineering contracts.
 Necessity/Object of Specifications
 The cost of an unit quantity of work is governed by its specification.
 Specification is an essential contract document and is required for Arbitration or court
cases.

 The necessity of specification is to verity and check the strength of materials for a
work involved in a project.
 Specification is necessary to specify the equipment's, tools and plants to be engaged
for a work and thus enable to procure them beforehand.
 A work is carried out according to its specification and the contractor is paid for the
same, Any change in specification changes the tendered rate.
 Necessity /Object of Specifications
 This also specifies the workmanship and the method of doing the work. Thus specification
of work serves as a guide to the supervising staff of the contractor as well as to the owner
to execute the work to their satisfaction.
 As the rate of work is based on specification a contractor can calculate the rates of various
items of works in a tender with his procurement rates of materials and labour. Thus
tender paper without specifications of works is baseless, incomplete and invalid.
 Specifications of work are required to describe the quality and quantity of different
materials required for a construction work and is one of the essential contract
documents. Thus a contractor can make a programme to procure the materials required
for a project and the owner can check the quality of materials conforming to the
specification avoiding dispute with contractor.
 Importance of specifications :
1. Sometimes, it is not possible to furnish the information on the drawings,
regarding the quality of materials to be used and the quality of workmanship to
be achieved during construction, due to shortage of space. Specifications provide
such useful data in a separate document.

2. The ‘drawings’ and ‘specifications’ form two important contract documents. In

case of discrepancy between the drawings and specifications, the provisions of
the specifications are given more legal strength and shall govern.
 Importance of specifications :
3. The rates of items depend on the specifications. If the specifications are rigid and demands
for superior quality, the rate of item will increase and vice versa.

4. Specifications are necessary during supervising the work.

5. The specifications of items are required by the contractor to fill the rates of items in the
tender document.
 Use of specifications :
 To describe the quality of different materials required for construction work.
 It enables the department, engineers, architect and contractor to define, procure and check
the material’s quality as per specifications.
 To specify the quality of workmanship and method of doing the same.
 Specifications are required to clarify the drawings.
 Specifications are helpful to the contractor in filling the
rates of various items in the tender.
 Use of specifications :
 Specifications of a work serves as a guide to the supervising staff of the
owner as well as the contractor to execute the work to their satisfaction.
 Specifications are necessary to verify and check the strength of
materials for a work.
 Specification is an essential contract document and is required for
arbitration (dispute between the contractor and owner) and court cases.
 Specification is necessary to specify the equipments, tools and plants to
be engaged for a work and thus enables to procure then before hand.
 Type of specifications :
 The specifications are broadly into two categories :

1. Brief or General Specification

2. Detailed Specification
 1. Brief or General Specification
 In general specifications, nature and class of works names of
materials and proportion that should be used in the various items of
works are described.
 Only a brief description of each and every item is given. It is
useful for estimating the project.
 Without going through the lengthy detailed specifications, general
information for the quantities of materials, nature and class of work
can be known from the general specifications, but they do not form
part of the contract document.
 General or Brief Specification : It is different for different classes of buildings
i.e.

◦ First Class
◦ Second Class
◦ Third Class
◦ Fourth Class
 General Specifications
(Foundation and Plinth)

First Class Second Third Fourth

Buildings Class Class Class
Ist class Buildings Buildings Buildings
brickwork in 1:6
Ist class IInd class Sun-dried or
cement mortar
brickwork with brickwork in kutcha bricks
over 1:4:8 lime mortar lime mortar in mud mortar
cement over Lime over lime
concrete concrete concrete
 General Specifications
(Damp Proof Course)
First Class Second Third Fourth
Building s Class Class Class
1:1.5:3 cement
concrete of 1”
Buildings Buildings Building
(2.5 cm) 1:2 cement 1:2 cement s
thickness with mortar of 2 cm mortar of 2cm
standard water thickness with thickness with ---
proofing material standard water standard
mixed with proofing water material
cement and of material
bitumen
 General Specifications
(Superstructure )

First Second Third Fourth

Class Class Class Class
Buildings Buildings Buildings Buildings
First class Second class Sun-dried or kutcha
brickwork with Second class bricks in mud mortar.
brickwork in brickwork in mud
1:6 cement mortar. Doors and window
mortar. lime mortar. openings provided
Lintels over Doors and window
Lintels over openings provided with arches of
doors and doors and second class
windows shall with arches of
windows shall second class brickwork in lime
be of RCC. be of RB. mortar or wooden
brickwork in lime
mortar or wooden planks
planks
 General Specifications
(Roofing)

First Second Third Fourth

Class Class Class Class

Buildings Buildings Buildings Building
Height of R.B. slab with Mud over bricks or s
rooms shall 7.5cm lime planks over wooden
concrete terracing beams Tile roof over
not be less
aove (Flat terraced bamboo and
than 12’. OR G.I. sheet
roofs over wooden wooden
Over RCC slab sloping roof
beams or Jack supports
insulation
layer should be arched roofs)
provided.
 General Specifications
(Flooring)

First Second Third Fourth

Class Class Class Class
Buildings Buildings Buildings
2.5cm cement Buildings
2.5cm cement Brick on edge
concrete over Kutcha floor or
concrete over floor over well
7.5cm lime earthen floor
7.5cm lime rammed earth
concrete finished with cow-
concrete.
dung lapping.
Verandah floor
shall be of brick
tile over lime
concrete
 General Specifications
(Finishing)

First Class Second Third Fourth

Buildings Class Class Class
Inside and outside shall
Buildings Buildings Buildings
be 12mm cement lime
Inside and outside Inside and Inside and outside
shall be 12mm outside shall be shall be water
plastered 1:1:6. Inside and cement mortar plastered with proof mud
plastered 1:6. Ceiling lime mortar and plastered
outside whitewashed with shall be cement whitewashed
plastered 1:3. inside
interior distempered and outside
whitewashed
 2. Detailed Specification
 The detailed specifications form a part of the contract document. Detailed
specification for a particular items specify the qualities, quantities and proportions of
materials, and the method of preparation and execution for that particular item of work
in a project.
 The detailed specifications of the different items of works are prepared separately and
they describe what the works should be and how they shall be executed and
constructed physical, chemical and electrical tests if any requires for the finished work
to ensure the desired strength or quality are specified in the detailed specification.
 They of machinery, equipments and special tools and plant their methods of operation
when involved during execution are described in the detailed specification.
 2. Detailed Specification
 The method and duration of protection of finished works as required
are specified in the detailed specification.
 This also specify the involvements and responsibility for auxiliary
works, incidental damage etc.
 During execution of the original work. While writing the detailed
specifications the same order of sequence as the work is to be
carried out, is maintained.
 Engineering departments maintain detail specifications for
different items of work those are followed to carry out work.
 How to write specification?
 Description of materials:
The quality and size of materials required to do an item of work shall be fully described for checking
up at site according to the bindings provided in the specification. The proportion of mixing or
treatment of materials if required before use shall be clearly described.

 Workmanship:

Complete description of workmanship, the method of mixing to the proportion, the method of laying,
preparation of base or surface, compaction, finishing and curing etc. specifically applicable to the item
of work shall be clearly stated in different clauses.
 How to write specification?
 Tools and plants (T.&P.):
The tools and plants to be engaged to carry out a work shall be described. The
method of operation and by whom to be supplied shall be stated.

of newwork:
The method of protection of new works against damage or the method of curing if
required, the test of completed work if necessary shall be described in
separate clauses.
 How to write specification?
 Expression:

While writing a specification Endeavour shall be made to express the requirements of the specification

clearly and in concise from avoiding repetition and unusual works. The style of tense shall remain

same throughout. The sentences shall be short, simple and concise. As the specifications are the legal

documents, terms such as suitable, proper used and works having more than one meaning shall be

avoided.

 Clause of the specification:

The clauses shall be arranged in the order in which work shall be carried out.
Relation with working drawing
with Specification writing…
 SPECIFICATIONS OF
EXCAVATION AND FOUNDATION
 EXCAVATIO
N
• EXCAVATION is the preliminary activity of the construction
project. It starts from the pits for the building
foundations and continues up to the handing over of the
project.
• For small buildings, excavation is carried out manually by
means of pick axes, crow bars. spades etc. In case of
large buildings and deep excavation, mechanical earth
cutting equipment can be used like Hydraulic excavator,
tractor / trucks.
• Deep excavation or the construction of basements
includes the construction of retaining walls, excavation,
the installation of struts, the construction of foundations
and floor slabs,etc.
 DEPTH OF EXCAVATION

• For Isolated footing the depth to be one and half

times the width of the foundation.
• For adjacent footings with clear spacing less than
twice the width (i.e.) one and half times the
length.
• 1.5m in general and 3.5 m in black cotton soils.
• For hard soils when the depth of excavation is
less than 1.5 m, the sides of the trench do not
need any external support. If the soil is loose or
the excavation is deeper, some sort of shoring is
required to support the sides from falling.
EXCAVATION WORKING PROCEDURE
 PRIOR TO EXCAVATION PROCESS
Preservation of Property,
Site clearance
Before excavation, the area coming under cutting
and filling shall be cleared of shrubs, vegetation,
trees and saplings of girth up to 30cm measured at
a height of one metre above ground level shall be
removed up to a distance of 50 metres outside the
periphery of the area under clearance. The trees
of girth above 30 cm shall be cut only after
permission of the Engineer-in-Charge.
Existing structures and services such as old
buildings, culverts, fencing, water supply pipe
lines, sewers, power cables, etc. within or
adjacent to the area if required to be
diverted/removed,
In case of archaeological monuments within or
adjacent to the area, the contractor shall provide
necessary fencing around such monuments as per
the directions of the Engineer-in-Charge
Antiques and Relics
Excavating operation shall be
conducted in such a manner that
all properties, facilities, utilities
and improvements on or near
the project site, which are to
remain in place, are not
damaged.
Any finds of archaeological
interest such as relics of
antiquity, coins, fossils or other
articles of value shall be
delivered to the Engineer-in-
Charge and shall be the property
of the Government.
Setting out
The Contractor shall layout, and
construct one or more
permanent bench marks in some
central place before the start
of the work, from which all
important levels for the
excavations will be set.
Blasting
Where hard rock is met with
and blasting operations are
considered necessary, the
contractor shall obtain the
approval of the Engineer-in-
Charge
EXCAVATION METHODS

1.FULL OPEN CUT METHOD can be further classified into:

• Slope open cut method
• Cantilever method
Slope full open cut method : excavation site is excavated with sloped sides and does not use
retaining walls or struts to obstruct excavation . In case of excavation not too deep the
cost remains cheap as there is no struts, but when excavation is deep and soil is loose and
firm ,a tremendous amount of excavated soil will be needed to backfill that turs whole the
process costly.
Cantilever method: though requiring the construction of retaining walls , does not
necessitate digging the slope and backfilling ,thus cost is low compared to full open cut
method.
2.BRACED EXCAVATION METHOD : Installing horizontal struts in front of retaining
walls to resist the earth pressure on the backs of walls is called braced excavation
method . The bracing system of the braced excavation method includes
struts ,wales
,end braces ,corner braces ,and center posts. The function of wales is to transfer
earth pressure on the back of retaining walls on to the horizontal struts . End or
corner braces can help shorten the span of wales without increasing the number
of struts.

3.ANCHORED EXCAVATION METHODS :braced method use struts to offer lateral

support against earth pressure. Anchored methods substitute anchors for struts
to counteract the lateral earth pressure . The construction procedure as follows:

Set out first Bore for Insert tendons Preload Proceed to Build the
Inject grouts anchors and second stage foundation of
excavation stage anchors into the bores
lock them of excavation building
 Excavation process

EXCAVATION IN ALL KINDS OF SOILS/ORDINARY/HARD ROCK

• All excavation operations manually or by mechanical means shall include excavation and ‘getting out’ the excavated materials.
In case of excavation for trenches, basements, water tanks etc. ‘getting out’ shall include throwing the excavated materials at
a distance of at least one metre or half the depth of excavation, whichever is more, clear off the edge of excavation.
• During the excavation the natural drainage of the area shall be maintained.
• In firm soils, the sides of the trenches shall be kept vertical upto a depth of 2 metres from the bottom. For greater depths, the
excavation profiles shall be widened by allowing steps of 50 cms on either side after every 2 metres from the bottom.
Alternatively, the excavation can be done so as to give slope of 1:4 (1 horizontal : 4 vertical).
• In case of excavation for foundation in trenches or over areas, the bed of excavation shall be to the correct level or slope and
consolidated by watering and ramming.
• Where hard rock is met with and blasting operations are considered necessary, the contractor shall obtain the approval of the
Engineer-in-Charge. Where blasting operations are prohibited or are not practicable, excavation in hard rock shall be done by
chiseling.
• In ordinary rock excavation shall be carried out by crowbars, pick axes or pneumatic drills and blasting operation shall not be
generally adopted.
 MEASUREMENTS

• The length and breadth of excavation or filling shall be measured with a

steel tape correct to the nearest cm. The depth of cutting or height of
filling shall be measured, correct to 5 mm, by recording levels before the
start of the work and after the completion of the work.
• In case of open footings up to the depth of 1.5 metres, around
excavation of 30 cm. beyond the outer dimension of footing shall be
measured for centering and shuttering.
• In case of open footings/Rafts at a depth of more than 1.5 metre, around
excavation of 75 cm shall be measured for centering and shuttering.
 EARTH WORK BY MECHANICAL MEANS
Excavators
• (i) Dipper–shovel
• (ii) Backhoe Transporting Equipment
(i) Dumpers
• (Iii) Skimmer
(ii) Vibratory Roller
• (iv) Dragline
• (v) Clamshell
Tractor–based
Equipment
• (i) Loaders
• (ii) Tractor Shovel
• (iii) Trench Digger
• (iv) Scraper
• (v) Bulldozer and
Angle-dozer
• (vi) Angledozer
 BACKFILLING
• The earth used for filling shall be free from all roots, grass, shrubs, rank
vegetation, brushwood, tress,
sapling and rubbish.
• Filling with excavated earth shall be done in regular horizontal layers each not
exceeding 20 cm in depth.
• All lumps and clods exceeding 8 cm in any direction shall be broken.
• Each layer shall be watered and consolidated with steel rammer or ½ tonne
roller. Where specified, every third and top must layer shall also be
consolidated with power roller of minimum 8 tonnes. Wherever depth of filling
exceeds 1.5 metre vibratory power roller shall be used to consolidate the filing
unless otherwise directed by Engineer-in-charge.
• The top and sides of filling shall be neatly dressed. The contractor shall make
good all subsidence and shrinkage in earth fillings, embankments, traverses
etc. during execution and till the completion of work unless otherwise
 PLANKING AND
STRUTTING
When the depth of trench in soft/loose soil exceeds 2 metres, stepping, sloping and/ or planking
and strutting of sides shall be done.
Types:
Planking and strutting shall be ‘close’ or ‘open’ depending on the nature of soil and the depth of
trench.
• Close Planking and Strutting - Close planking and strutting shall be done by completely covering
the sides of the trench generally with short upright, members called ‘poling boards’. These shall be
250x38 mm in section or as directed by the Engineer-in-Charge. The boards shall generally be
placed in position vertically in pairs. One boards on either side of cutting. These shall be kept
apart by horizontal wallings of strong wood at a maximum spacing of 1.2 metres cross strutted with
ballies.
• Open Planking and Strutting - In case of open planking and strutting, the entire surface of the
side of the trench is not required to be covered. The vertical boards 250 mm wide & 38 mm thick,
shall be spaced sufficiency apart to leave unsupported strips of 50 cm average width.
 CLOSED
PLANKING
Excavation for Concrete
Culverts
Neat trenches shall be excavated for
placing aprons, cut off walls and lower
portions of headwalls or wingwalls.
Excavations that are more than 1.5
metres deep and within a cofferdam in a
watercourse shall be shored, sloped
and/or stepped A maximum 1:1 slope
(angle not greater than 45 measured
from the horizontal plane) shall be
provided
Excavation for Abutments,
Approach Piers and Retaining
Walls
Excavation shall be kept to a
minimum. The limits of the excavation
shall not extend more than 1.0 meter
beyond the footprint of the footings
Excavation for River
Piers
Excavation shall be kept to the
minimum. The limits of the
excavation shall not extend more
than 1.0 meter beyond the footprint
of the footings.
Excavation for river piers shall be
isolated from the watercourse using
sheetpiling cofferdams. Sheetpiling
cofferdams shall be shored
REFERENCE-BHEL SCHEDULE OF RATES(2007)
FOUNDATION
S
• Foundation is the lowest part of a structure which provides a base for the super‐structure
and transmit the loads (live load, wing load) on the structure including the dead weight
of the structure itself to the soil below.
 SHALLOW FOUNDATION

• A shallow foundation is a type of foundation which transfers building loads to

the earth very near the surface, rather than to a subsurface layer or a range
of depths
• According to Terzaghi, a foundation is shallow if its depth is equal to or less
than its width.
SHALLOW
FOUNDATIO
N

SPREAD COMBINED RAFT OR MAT

FOOTING FOOTING FOOTING
 RAFT OR MAT FOUDATION
Consist of a thick reinforced concrete slab covering the entire area of the bottom of the structure (like a
floor). This type of foundation is useful for public buildings, office buildings, school buildings, residential
quarters etc, where the ground conditions are very poor and bearing power of the soil is so low that individual
spread footing cannot be provided

Why it is used
• Base soil has low bearing capacity or
• Column load are so large that more than
50% of the area covered by
conventional spread footing.
• Resist unequal settlement due to
earthquake.
• Quickness of construction work.
PROCESS

Method of construction of Raft Foundation:

• The whole area is dug out to the specified depth and 30 cm more wide than the area to
be covered.
• The bed is compacted and sprinkled over with water.
• Then a layer of lime concrete or lean concrete ( 1: 8 : 16 ) is laid to a suitable
thickness to act as a bottom cover.
• After this, the reinforcement is laid. The reinforcement consists of closely spaced
bars placed at right angles to one another.
• Then the cement concrete (1 : 2 : 4 ) is laid and compacted to the required thickness.
• The concrete slab so laid is then properly cured
• When loads are excessive, thick concrete beams running under the columns can also
be
constructed.
 DEEP FOUNDATION
If the depth of a foundation is greater than its width, the foundation is known as deep
foundation.
 In deep foundation the depth to width ratio is usually greater than 4 to 5.
 Deep foundations as compare to Shallow foundations distribute the load of the super structure
vertically rather than laterally.
 Deep foundations are provided when the expected loads from superstructure cannot be
supported on shallow foundations.
 PILE FOUNDATION

Pile foundations are the part of a structure used to carry and

transfer the load of the structure to the bearing ground located at
some depth below ground surface. A pile foundation usually consists
of a base of spread footing or grillage supported by piles at their
bottom. Piles distribute the load of structure to the soil in contact
either by friction alone or by friction combined with bearing at their
ends.

SUITABILITY :
This type of foundation is suitable under the following situations ;
When the soil is very soft and solid base is not available at a reasonable
depth to keep the bearing power within safe limits.
When the grillage and raft foundation are very expansive.
When the building is very high carrying heavy concentrated loads.
When it is necessary to construct a building along the sea shore or river
bed.
CLASSIFICATIO
N
 PRE-CAST PILE

Pre means before & cast means made. So precast pile refers to a
pile
that has made before it is being used.

PROCESS
• Steel form is used for the precast pile
manufacture.
• Before pore the concrete in to the
form, mobile or other kind of oil have
been used.
• cement, sand ,aggregate ratio is
normally 1:2:4 in pre cast pile.
• But to make the foundation stronger mix
ratio is used 1:1.5:3
• When the concrete pore in the steel form
 CURING
Pictures of Processing Precast pile
• After 3 days, pile have been covering
by the sheet.
• After 3 days of casting, steel form
would be removed.
• Then the piles would be prepare for 4
weeks curing.
• Then the piles are transported to the
site for driving
 Market survey

Market survey is the survey research and analysis of the market for a
particular product/service which includes the investigation into customer
inclinations.

Market surveys collect data about a target market such as pricing trends,
customer requirements, competitor analysis, and other such details.