Introduction

Heritage buildings are defined as existing buildings with significant cultural value to society.
It can be said that the cultural value of an existing building is as high as it is old.
Rehabilitation of heritage buildings has become an issue of great importance around the
world, particularly in the most developed societies. It is the result of the need to improve
existing buildings for new conditions of use, and also of the recognition of the importance of
conservation of the architectural heritage.

Our case history is focused on the most significant building of the Sangrur city. Development
Milestones in Sangrur city were established near-about 400 years ago. Maharaja Raghbir
Singh, who has been greatly influenced by the Jaipur city planning, reshaped the pattern of
Sangrur exactly on the lines of Jaipur city, he laid out gardens, erected public and religious
building, constructed metalled roads around the town. He also made the castle pucca. All the
main important buildings were made by Maharaja Raghbir Singh, i.e. Shahi Diwan Khana,
Baradari, Bamba House, Idgah, Lal Bagh, Banasar garden. The

Banasar Garden was constructed during 18th century. The Royal Foundry and Bamba House
were constructed in 1876. Railway station was laid down in 1901. Three oil depots i.e. Indian
Oil, IBP and Bharat Petroleum, were established in 1999.Our case is mainly on the most vital
building of the city i.e. Diwan Khana, which lies adjacent to Banasar.

Historical Background

Adjacent to Banasar, there is another important building known as Diwankhana. Here, Raja
of Jind used to hold Darbar during the princely times. At present there is a beautiful museum
wherein weapons and other important articles belonging to princely times have been
displayed. The splendour of Diwankhana and Baradari convinces one of the high attainments
in the field of art and architecture during princely times. This structure was used by the kings
of princely times, to hold official and personal meetings. Presently, this building has been
turned into a museum that displays weapons and several other articles of princely times. The
most attractive feature of this museum is its carved marble slabs.

Diwan Khana is now known as The Heritage Museum Complex .The part of the complex
except the museum part is in a high degree of distress and is suffering from serious structural
issues such as of settlement in the foundations manifesting in the form of longitudinal and
horizontal cracks, bulging of masonry, a large section of the roofs have caved in or collapsed
and the surviving section is in precarious condition. Another significant threat is the growth
of vegetation and roots of large ficus trees which are causing severe distress in the masonry
walls in the form of bulging and partial collapse and needs to be addressed immediately for
the emergency stabilization of the structure.

Given the extent of structural decay in the form of arch failure, large separation cracks as
well as the vulnerability of the structure to collapse, it is critical that the structural
consolidation of the palace building is addressed on priority. This would require a
combination of traditional and modern technologies such as grouting of the masonry with
lime mortar, introduction of helifix bars and beams to tie the structure together, erection of
mini piles to address the sinking foundation as well as monitoring of the cracks to determine
active cracks post intervention. Given the condition of the inner haveli building, this detailed
project report addresses two types of interventions. First and foremost, preparatory and
preventive conservation measures such as sorting of debris and salvaging reusable material,
erection of temporary propping systems to support the vulnerable area and clearing of the
area to undertake conservation planning and structural consolidation work, removal of
vegetation etc. This report also addresses in detail the method and technologies to be adopted
for the structural conservation and the overall conservation strategy.

Construction Materials
The whole complex is in brick masonry with at least three sizes of brick visible — the narrow
nanakshahi brick, a larger/wider brick dating back to colonial times and the common type
being used now also. In addition to these are the moulded bricks used in the circular columns
and flat brick tiles used in the roofing or paving. While the historic brickwork was in lime
mortar, new additions have used cement mortar. It is recommended that further investigations
are required to certain if there is use of mud mortar in the nanakshahi brick masonry. Most of
the finishes throughout Complex consist of either brick paving or lime concrete flooring and
lime plaster on the walls with plaster cornices/ moulds etc. There is a variety of structural
systems used in the Fort Complex such as brick on timber joists and planking, brick on metal
girders, reinforced brick concrete, jack arched ceilings, brick barrel vaults, reinforced
concrete slabs indicating the phases of construction.
Overview of Condition Assessment

Overall, the Heritage Complex is suffering from a high degree of structural distress in the
form of active settlement of the foundations, large masonry cracks, vegetation growth,
bulging and collapse of masonry and roofs is observed in a large section. The surviving part
of the structure is at a high risk of collapse due to missing structural members, accumulation
of debris and extensive root penetration of large ficus trees. Other issues of concern are
vandalism of structural members, neglect and disuse of the structure. The main concerns are
emergency stabilization of the structure to prevent further damage to the historic complex and
will stabilize the structure for a comprehensive restoration plan to be formulated and
executed.

Enumerated below are the critical issues that need to be addressed in carrying out the
emergency stabilization works.

Structural Issues

The large majority of the structure is in a very bad structural condition, with evidence of
major settlement cracks and vertical expansion/movement cracking. The size and expanse of
the rendered brickwork it is very common to find typical vertical cracking as found in various
locations. The stepped fractures are evidence of settlement to the structure, of which some
appear historical and mostly appear progressive and often relate to positions near the farm
land where the cause of the damage can be foundation movement resulting especially from
the drying shrinkage of clay subsoil.

1. Deterioration of Roofs - The most critical issue that needs to be addressed as part of the
emergency stabilization of the building is that of the advanced state of decay of the roof.
Overall the roofs are in severe distress where almost half of the roof has already collapsed
and the surviving half is highly precarious about to collapse. The main reasons for the
deterioration of the roofs is the vandalism of timber structural members, decay of timber
structural members due to water seepage or termite infestation resulting in sagging and
eventual collapse of the roof.

2. Collapsed Roofs - Large sections of the roof have collapsed resulting in making the
structure vulnerable to the natural forces resulting in extensive water seepage as well as
proliferation of vegetation in the form of large ficus trees and grass. The decay/vandalism of
structural members has led to significant structural deterioration at all levels and weakening
of the structural integrity of the entire structure. The debris from the collapsed roofs on the
lower floor not only increases the dead load and adds additional stress on the lower floor but
also allows for stagnation of rain water, tree growth due to pollination. Further structural
damage is being caused by the penetration of roots of the trees into the crevices of the
masonry, arches etc seen in the form of bulging of the masonry walls and causing stress into
the surrounding areas.

3. Roofs in a High Degree of Distress - Decay of structural members due to water ingress,
termite infestation, and vandalism has left the roofs vulnerable to collapse. Sinking of the
floor slabs is observed, separation cracks are visible along the floor slab indicating
differential settlement. The signs of severe deterioration are visible in terms of sagging of
members, splitting of members, horizontal cracks, arch failure and extensive water seepage
from the roof. Given the severity of the condition of the roof, the areas under severe distress
need to be stabilized on priority.

4. Settlement in Foundations- The signs of distress are evident in the failure of multiple
arches as well as latitudinal and longitudinal cracks seen in the eastern, bulging and partial
collapse of the masonry. This is primarily due to the large ficus growth that is going though
all the floors in rooms disconnecting the masonry wall from the structure. It is also important
to note here that the differential settlement is observed at the junction of the old and new
masonry .It is thus possible that the masonry was not tied to the historic wall in the first place
and thus moved out of plumb in the event of a severe distress.

5. Vegetation Growth - As mentioned in the previous section, vegetation growth is one of

the main reasons for the structural unrest in the building. There are three distinct types of
vegetation growth in the form of grass or shrubs, large trees in the courtyards and on masonry
and shrubs on the walls.
6. Termite Infestation- Another issue plaguing the building is that of termite infestation,
compounded by several factors such as absence of roof resulting in high moisture content,
availability of large quantities of wooden members and growth of vegetation providing
excellent flourishing conditions resulting in decay, weakening and eventually collapse of the
structure. On visual inspection, termite runs are visible on the walls in most of the spaces.
Termite attack on timber beams and sections has compromised the structural safety of many
of the roofs which are precarious or have already collapsed. It is therefore important to
conduct a scientific treatment for the removal of termites from the buildings.

7. Deterioration of Balconies- One of the most important character defining elements of the
Complex is the projecting timber balconies and trellises, which are in a severe state of
deterioration, some of the roofs of the balconies have collapsed, and in many cases the floor
slabs of the balconies have been removed. The decorative timber trellises, railings, louvers
etc have also disappeared. Some balconies are hanging precariously on I sections, while
others are on the verge of collapse such as the balconies on the northern facade on either side
of the main entrance gateway as well as the eastern facade along the road.

8. Water Ingress from Roof- A compounded effect of deterioration of the roof is water
ingress causing the rusting of metal structural members causing extensive seepage, sagging
and eventual collapse of the roof. This issue is of utmost importance as it is detrimental not
just the structural stability but also the architectural integrity of the Complex. Another issue is
that of water stagnation on roofs which have partially or completely collapsed as well as
aiding the proliferation of vegetation. The rain water is further entering the masonry walls
and causing further decay. It is therefore critical to address the issue of water seepage from
the roof to ensure that historic structure is temporarily protected from the vestiges of natural
forces until the roof is completely conserved as well as develop a strategy for the overall rain
water management from within the courtyards and away from the buildings.

INSPECTION AND ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS

Many parts of the fort are simply coming off of falling due to the dilapidated state of the
structure as it has not been use since independence. Trees have grown into the walls leading
to large structural distress in the walls. Only a small part, i.e. a museum is in good condition
whereas at many places the walls are cracked and shown deterioration and deformations. The
structural system for the monument as idealized is that the floors are supported on the walls
and in-turn the walls derive lateral support from the floors. The wooden structural members
of the floor have lost structural strength and are sagging of buckling or at many places it has
fallen. At many places it was observed that the weak floor if it falls may damage the floor and
therefore it was removed. The removal of the floors have left the walls with height around 50
feet laterally unsupported leading to buckling of walls.

The walls which are under severe cracks also indicate similar kind of structural failure. The
minor cracking which is observed may also lead to major cracking in the near future. At
places there is a massive growth of vegetation and trees on the wall, this along with growth
along with the slenderness of the all has led to the distress. The buckling of the wall and the
increase in stresses due to growth of tree has led to over stressing of the foundation leading to
settlement of the walls. Moreover the total load of the walls including the slenderness
bucking is causing shear failure in soil which was seen at many places where heaving of floor
was observed.

STRUCTURAL REPAIRS
1. Repair of the degradation of materials

a) Masonry

The repair of masonry elements is, in general, obtained through re-pointing the
cracks with mortar, or the injection of appropriate grout. Sometimes, the
appropriate solution will include the replacement of the deteriorated masonry
units. The composition of the mortar or the grout to be used (cement, resin, etc.)
will depend on the characteristics of the masonry, itself. Particular attention
should be given to the compatibility of the repair materials and the existing
masonry. For example, in the repair of masonry built with mortar that contains
gypsum, mortar or grout of cement should not be used, because of the reaction
between the gypsum and the cement. For the superficial repair of a masonry
element, chemical emulsions (silicates, etc.) can be used. The appropriate solution
should be analysed in each case, depending on the specific conditions. The
elimination of infiltration of water and the rise by capillarity of moisture in the
masonry, coming from the foundations is, in general, difficult to achieve. The
injection of hydro-active grouts, based on polyurethane resins is, sometimes,
adequate. When possible, the best solution will be, always, the elimination of the
source of contamination, through the adequate drainage and desalinization of the
soil.

b) Timber
Concerning the action of xylophages insects, preservative materials with
insecticide properties exist nowadays, and are adequate for timber protection.
Concerning the effect of moisture on the outside of elements of coverings and
of the floors embedded in walls, an adequate solution will be their protection
against the infiltration from rain water. When those elements have deteriorated
significantly they should be substituted by new ones. For the problem of the
existence of longitudinal cracking in timber elements, some solutions also
exist, such as the use of lateral fastenings or ties, or the injection with special
products (synthetic resins, etc.). When steel elements are used in this
strengthening, they should be adequately protected against corrosion. When
consolidating materials are used in timber, their compatibility should also be
verified.

c) Steel and iron

 The main problem with steel or iron elements is corrosion. Their repair
requires, firstly, the elimination of the rust, for which several techniques exist
(sand blast, etc.), then covering of the surfaces with appropriate products,
usually, paint. When there is a significant reduction of their sections, structural
elements should be substituted by new ones. Depending on the specific
conditions, reductions of more than 20%are, in principle, considered
significant.

2. Wall Repairs or Demolition- Restoration of the wall to the required state is very difficult
due to the massive deformations. Falling of such a massive wall may lead to damage to the
adjacent structural elements and therefore it is imperative that this wall is demolished in a
controlled manner with breaking from the top and ensuring that the crack propagation does
not lead to failure of large junk of wall.

3. Settlement control of the structure-The number of places wherever there is a distress

observed in the structure due to settlement of soil failure it is important that the soil strength
is improved as a priority to avoid any further distress at the time of restoration / demolition.
The settlement of soil failure is seen today and was not observed in the past when the
structure of occupied is because of the primary reason of neglect. The non-maintenance and
non-occupancy of the structure lead to sagging / failure of floors, lead to under supported
high walls becoming unstable and buckling leading to increase in stress on the foundation.
Moreover the vegetation and tress growth on the walls also added to the increase in stress on
the super structure in turn stressing the soil failure level leading to heaving and settlement of
soil and foundation.
The repair methodology proposed to arrest the settlement is soil grouting; soil grouting will
strengthen the soil and reduce the settlement potential of soil. Mainly three different type of
grouting can be adopted after preparation of geotechnical report and after ascertaining the
strength of the soil in present condition. Therefore it is imperative to conduct soil
investigation and prepare a geotechnical report of the site. After studying the soil report
appropriate and adequate soil grouting methodology can be adopted. The proposed different
soil grouting methods are given below. Primarily the method of soil grouting is similar i.e. by
drilling the soil and injects the soil with the grout but the grout material can be different and
they are

1. Cement Grout: Cementitious grouts are ideal (economical, effective, enduring, and
non-hazardous) for improving the soil character and function of many geotechnical
challenges. Once injected into the soil, the grout stabilizes weak soil structure,
imparting load-bearing compressive strength. The right soil-permeating cementitious
grout can geotechnical needs.
 2. Chemical grouting is a grouting technique that transforms granular soils into hard
stone like masses, by permeation with a low viscosity grout. The soils best suited for
this technique are sands with low fines content. Typically, a sleeve port pipe is first
grouted into a predrilled hole. The grout is injected under pressure through the ports
located along the length of the pipe. The grout permeates the soil and solidifies it into
a stone-like mass.

3. Compaction grouting is a method of soil stabilization where a low flow cementitious

grout is injected into the soil to form a grout bulb. The grout does not permeate soil
pores, but displaces the soil, and compacts the soil in the process.

4. Consolidation Grouting: Consolidation grouting is a method of soil stabilization

where a high flow, fine to micro fine cementitious grout, is injected into the soil.
Permeation of the grout into the soil fills available air voids, increasing soil cohesion.
Such a method of soil stabilization is particularly applicable in trench cuts through
granular subsoils.

4. Waterproofing-

The following waterproofing methods are commonly used in construction:

A. Cementitious Waterproofing

B. Liquid Waterproofing Membrane

C. Bituminous Membrane

D. Bituminous Coating

E.Polyurethane Liquid Membrane

A. Cementitious Waterproofing Method:

Cementitious waterproofing is the easiest method of waterproofing in construction. The
materials for cementitious waterproofing are easily available from suppliers of masonry
products, and they’re easy to mix and apply. This method is often used in the internal wet
areas such as toilets. This method is usually a rigid or semi-flexible type waterproofing, but
since it is used in internal areas such as toilets, it is not exposed to sunlight and weathering.
Thus cementitious waterproofing does not go through contract and expansion process.

B. Liquid Waterproofing Membrane Method:

Liquid membrane is a thin coating which consists of usually a primer coat and two coats of
top coats which are applied by spray, roller, or trowel. It offers more flexibility than the
cementitious types of waterproofing. The liquid cures into a rubbery coating on the wall. The
elongation properties of the coating can reach as high as 280%. The durability of the
waterproofing coating depends on what type of polymer the manufacturer use for the making
of the liquid waterproofing. Liquid waterproofing membrane can be of spray-applied liquid
membrane composed of polymer-modified asphalt. Polyurethane liquid membranes in
separate grades for trowel, roller, or spray are also available from various manufacturers.

C. Bituminous Coating Waterproofing Method:

Bituminous coating is a type of coating used for waterproofing and flexible protective coat in
accordance with its formulation and polymerization grade. Its flexibility and protection
against water can be influenced by the polymer grade as well as reinforcement of fiber.
Bituminous coating is also called as asphalt coating. The most common applications of
bituminous coatings include areas that are beneath screed wet. It is an excellent protective
coating and waterproofing agent, especially on surfaces such as concrete foundations.
Bituminous coating is made of bitumen based materials and it is not suitable for expose to
sunlight. It becomes very brittle and fragile when long exposure to the sunlight unless it is
modified with more flexible material such as polyurethane or acrylic based polymers. The
flexibility of the finished products always depends on the solid content of the polymer added
to the bitumen.

D. Bituminous Membrane Waterproofing Method:

Bituminous membrane waterproofing is a popular method used for low-sloped roofs due to
their proven performance. Bituminous waterproofing membrane have torch on membrane and
self-adhesive membrane. Self-adhesive compounds comprise asphalt, polymers and filler;
additionally, certain resins and oils may be added to improve adhesion characteristics. The
self-adhesive type has low shelf life as bonding properties of the membrane reduces with
time. Torch on membrane have exposed and covered types. Exposed membrane often has
mineral granular aggregate to withstand the wear and tear of the weathering and the other
types of membrane, contractor need to apply one protective screed to prevent the puncture of
the membrane.

E. Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing Method:

Polyurethane liquid membrane method of waterproofing is used for the flat roof area and
exposed to weathering. This waterproofing method is expensive. Polyurethane Liquid
Membrane can offer higher flexibility. Polyurethane is very sensitive to moisture content
present, therefore before application, one has to be very careful evaluating the moisture
content of the concrete slab, otherwise peeling or de-bonding of membranes may happen after
some time.
Photos taken at Site

1. Vegetation growth 2. Arch Failure

3. Material Degradation 4.Wall Cracks

5. Large Cracks 6.Surviving Part