Basic Construction Training Manual for Trainers - baixardoc

Basic Construction Training Manual

for Trainers

Heini Müller

Basic Construction Training Manual

for Trainers

Heini Müller

References of sketches

1. Elementary course on Building Construction and Materials

SATA

2. Brick work Manual

Laurie Baker

3. Building Construction Manual

SKAT

4. Joints in Masonry

Module MM13

Habitat Polytech, Richmar

Impessum

Author: Heini Müller

Copyright: Skat Foundation, St.Gallen, Sw itzerland

2004, 1st edition, 200 Copies

Copyright waiver: Permission is granted to use the material found in this volume for educational

and development purposes. Acknow ledgement is requested.

Layout: Martin Läng, Alex Büchi; Skat Foundation

SRCSwiss Red CrossP.O. Box 2699Rainmattstrasse 10CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland

http://www.redcross.chemail: [email protected]

SEWASelf Employed Women‘s AssociationSewa Reception CentreOpp. Lok Manya Tilak Baug, BhadraAhmedabad 380 001, India

email: [email protected]

Skat Foundation Vadianstrasse 42CH-9000 St. GallenSwitzerland

http://www.skat.chemail: [email protected]

Swiss SolidarityB.P. 132Rue des Maraîchers 8CH-1211 Genève 8Switzerland

http://www.bonheur.chemail: [email protected]

Foreword

The devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001 caused tremendous damage to the lives and

property of the population living in the northern and northwestern districts of Gujarat. In the

wake of this humanitarian tragedy a large number of local, national and international organisa-

tions engaged in relief and rehabilitation operations.

A diverse range of strategies was adopted to meet the urgent needs of the suffering population

to rehabilitate their lives and reconstruct their houses. In line w ith its principles, Sw iss Red

Cross promoted a process-oriented and community-centred approach, taking into consideration

the actual needs of the people and the specific conditions of the area. Accordingly, the rural

villagers, especially women, were identified as a pro-active force building on their own strength

rather than becoming passive recipients of external aid.

After a participatory assessment in three remote villages Antarnesh, Bakutra and Gadsai of

Patan district, Sw iss Red Cross decided to contribute to the rehabilitation of the lives of nine

hundred families, through providing them w ith new, earthquake save houses, kitchens, toilets

and water harvesting systems, called Naya Ghar (New housing). This infrastructure-focused

improvement was mainly seen under the aspect of securing people’s livelihood by creating

employment opportunities in the building sector.

The follow ing complementary organisations were engaged in the Sw iss Red Cross and Sw iss

Solidarity supported Naya Ghar’ Project:

n SEWA, (Self-employed Women’s Association) w ith its w ide network of more than 500‘000 members in Gujarat was selected as the main local project implementing partner organisation.

n DA (Development Alternatives), an India based NGO, in cooperation w ith Skat Consulting from Sw itzerland, were selected to ensuring the practicability and quality of the construction work.

The earthquake unfortunately proved that local construction techniques and skill did not prevent

houses from collapsing during the incident. This clearly indicated the urgent need to improve

on both, construction technologies and especially on construction skill.

For this reason the „ Basic Construction Training M anual for Trainers“ has been developed by

Skat in close cooperation w ith field based SEWA construction engineers to ensure that their

needs and expectations are met. This Training M anual is the summary of basic practical con-

struction know-how that is of crucial importance to transfer appropriate and new skills to local

masons, supervisors and SEWA members in building earthquake resistant houses. It w ill help

construction trainers to pass on relevant skills in constructing houses and improving infrastruc-

ture in a practical manner, and offers a w ide range of essential information.

Beside the Swiss Red Cross and Swiss Solidarity supported Naya Ghar Project, this „ Basic Con-

struction Training Manual for Trainers“ w ill also serve other SEWA construction related projects.

All partners actively involved in the creation and application of this Training Manual hope that

trough it the new skills acquired by local masons, supervisors and SEWA members w ill lead

to an better building standard and quality, preventing further loss of lives and property in this

earthquake prone part of India.

Peter Eppler

Programme Coordinator

Sw iss Red Cross

General Introduction

When Gujarat has been hit by the horrifying earthquake in January 2001, international help

for the reconstruction of houses and creation of livelihood was soon at hand and warmly

welcomed by the needy one.

The concerned government authorities and non-governmental organisations launched re-

construction activities w ith an astonishing sw iftness. The resulting focus of construction

activities in Gujarat was demanding a huge number of skilled construction manpower that was

regrettably not always easy at hand.

This Basic Construction Training Manual for Trainers is tailor made for the specific capacity

building / training needs of SEWA for the earthquake reconstruction programme that is,

financed by the Sw iss Solidarity Fond and implemented in partnership w ith Sw iss Red Cross

and technically coached by Skat_consulting.

This manual is specifically focussing on the practical implementation level and provides a w ide

range of essential information as well as dos and don’ts for trainers to communicate to masons

and supervisors during theoretical and on the job trainings. It also contains photos and sketches

/ draw ings that add clarity to the context. These photos and sketches have been collected from

various reference sources and are therefore, not of uniform character in its present form.

This manual is divided into five separate modules. Module one explains the overall and

essential parts of a building. Module two provides information about the quality benchmark

and testing methods of building materials that are most commonly used in housing construc-

tion in Gujarat. Module three describes the skilled working principles for; Mortar, Concreting,

Brick masonry, Stone masonry, Curing, Plastering and Flooring. Module four describes

essential working safety measures to avoid occupational accidents. And finally, Module five

provides a list of literature where useful information regarding earthquake save house designing

and construction principles are described.

The merit of this manual lies in the modular structured documentation of information from a

practitioner for practitioners that allows the design of various combination of required practical

training.

A very tiny fraction of active masons in Gujarat have received formal masonry training. Practical

construction skill and information are transferred in an informal way. Because of this system,

some practices that are actually w rong have now become “ good practice standard” and

therefore some present construction qualities are not up to professional quality standards in

Gujarat.

There is a genuine need and high demand for formal building construction training by masons.

SEWA has recognised this as a high priority and expressed the necessity of professional and

practical construction training material for their construction related programmes. This Basic

Construction Training Manual for Trainers is the resulting outcome of their expression.

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MODULE 1:

Basic Building Parts .................................................................. 7

MODULE 2:

Building Material and Quality Standards .......................... 19

MODULE 3:

Principles of Construction .................................................... 33

MODULE 4:

Safety .......................................................................................... 83

MODULE 5:

Earthquake resistant construction practices .................. 89

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Various parts of a building (Floor, wall, openings, roof, stair)

Basic Building Parts MO

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Basic Building Parts

Content

1. Building...................................................................................................... 10

1.1. Foundation ................................................................................................. 10

1.2 Plinth .......................................................................................................... 11

1.3 Damp proof course (DPC).........................................................................12

1.4 Plinth beam ................................................................................................12

1.5 Floor ...........................................................................................................13

1.6 Walls ...........................................................................................................13

1.7 Openings.................................................................................................... 14

1.8 Stairs ..........................................................................................................15

1.9 Roof ............................................................................................................16

1.10 Surfaces / Finishes ....................................................................................16

2. Service facilities ........................................................................................ 17

2.1 Water supply ..............................................................................................17

2.2 Drainage and sewerage ............................................................................17

2.3 Garbage disposal ......................................................................................17

2.4 Electricity....................................................................................................17