• Quality control in construction typically involves insuring compliance with

minimum standards of material and workmanship in order to insure the

performance of the facility according to the design. These minimum standards are
contained in the specifications described in the previous section. For the purpose
of insuring compliance, random samples and statistical methods are commonly
used as the basis for accepting or rejecting work completed and batches of
materials. Rejection of a batch is based on non-conformance or violation of the
relevant design specifications. Procedures for this quality control practice are
described in the following sections.

• Total quality control is a commitment to quality expressed in all parts of an

organization and typically involves many elements. Design reviews to insure safe
and effective construction procedures are a major element. Other elements include
extensive training for personnel, shifting the responsibility for detecting defects
from quality control inspectors to workers, and continually maintaining
equipment. Worker involvement in improved quality control is often formalized in
quality circles in which groups of workers meet regularly to make suggestions for
quality improvement. Material suppliers are also required to insure zero defects in
delivered goods. Initially, all materials from a supplier are inspected and batches
of goods with any defective items are returned. Suppliers with good records can
be certified and not subject to complete inspection subsequently.
• Total quality control is difficult to apply, particular in construction. The unique
nature of each facility, the variability in the workforce, the multitude of
subcontractors and the cost of making necessary investments in education and
procedures make programs of total quality control in construction difficult.
Nevertheless, a commitment to improved quality even without endorsing the goal
of zero defects can pay real dividends to organizations.

Material Testing

Cement

Cement Testing
Cement testing is performed to determine if there would be any alterations / loss of
material when in its solid state. Methods of testing include the subjection to a high
temperature to determine loss of material, compressive strength and fineness among many
others to ensure they meet the requirements of relevant international standards.

Chemical analysis

Chemical analysis of cement involves testing the material for all the chemical
requirements stated in the relevant international standard, which would normally involve
such tests as general chemical composition. Conducting the suite of testing ensures that
cement supplied does indeed meet the standard required.

Compressive strength
This test is used to determine whether cement meets the compressive strength
requirements of international standards. The test consists of casting a number of standard
cubic specimens in laboratory conditions, using standard sands and then testing them for
compressive strength after the required curing period has elapsed, normally 28 days.

Fineness
The fineness of cement has a significant effect in its physical properties when used in
concrete. Generally the finer the cement powder, the more rapid the concrete will set, as
there is an increase in its surface area.

The measure of fineness is usually undertaken by sieving, and the result assessed against
the cement standard for compliance.

Heat of hydration
The chemical reaction that takes place between cement when mixed with water is
exothermic. The intensity of this reaction is measured in this test. The value of heat of
hydration can be important where the cement maybe incorporated into concrete which
will be poured in large volumes. In such cases there can be a considerable build up of heat
as the reaction takes place, which, if excessive, could caused cracking in the structure.

Soundness
The main purpose of the soundness test is to assess the possible risk of late expansion due
to hydration of uncombined calcium oxide and magnesium oxide. The test uses apparatus
known as Le Chatelier apparatus, which magnifies any expansion during heating to a
value that can be measured.

Engineers are testing the cement of a

concrete mix being poured for a freeway.
They place a sample into a container
which is weighed to determine the amount
of water. This test ensures that the
concrete is of the highest quality before it
is placed on the freeway.

Aggregates

Aggregates Testing
Aggregates testing is carried out to determine their suitability for inclusion in concrete.
Chemical and mechanical testing is performed during the design of the concrete and on
the finished products to see whether it will withstand various elements.

Different tests under aggregates test

• 10% fines value
• Alkali aggregate reactivity
• Alkali reactivity-chemical
• Alkali reactivity
• Chloride content
 • Clay lumps and friable particles
• Clay silt and dust/ passing 75um
• Compaction fraction
• Crushing value
• Drying shrinkage
• Flakiness and elongation index
• Impact value
• Lightweight pieces
• Organic impurities effect on mortar strength
• Organic impurities
• Particle size distribution
• Sand equivalent value
• Shell content
• Soundness
• Specific gravity and water absorption
• Sulphate content

Finishes: General

Finishes include both interior and exterior coatings. Interior finishes include paint and
whitewash on concrete, masonry, metal, and wood. Exterior finishes include camouflage
coatings for concrete; and, paints for concrete, metal, and wood. Also included in this
section are graffiti removal, and signs and stenciling. Finish coatings at the fortifications
are utilitarian and follow typical military painting patterns. Of special note are the
concrete coatings developed for camouflage. These coatings were prototypical and
represent early experiments in camouflage techniques. Although in poor condition, many
examples of camouflage coatings remain. Some recent attempts to paint out graffiti have
altered the appearance of some fortification structures.

Causes of Deterioration:
• Improper or inadequate surface preparation.
• Moisture infiltration behind paint layers.
• Weathering and the hostile marine environment.
• Incompatibility between primer and finish coats.
• Improper paint application.
• Improper paint selection.
• Use of poor quality paint materials.
• Uneven paint coverage.
• Paint application during adverse weather conditions.
• Over painting.

Identification:
• Presence of mildew.
• Chalking.
• Crazing.
• Cracking.
• Intercoat peeling.
 • Solvent blistering.
• Wrinkling.
• Peeling.
• Alligatoring.
• Fading.
• Suction spotting.
• Flaking.

Inspection and Testing:

Inspection and testing are critical to identify historical paint coatings and colors.
Historical mix design is documented in engineering reports and coordination between
historical descriptions and formulae with extant finishes is essential to preserve original
coating materials. To accomplish the preservation of existing historical coatings and to
restore fortifications to their appropriate appearances, it is recommended that a master
paint schedule be developed. The extent of the paint work at each fortification should be
documented. Samples should be taken and matched to standardized paint chips.
Coordinate all paint investigation and removal with applicable regulations concerning
hazardous materials, especially lead-containing paints.

Finishes on Wood & metal coatings

Wood
Wood materials include windows, slab doors, interior wood doors, and trim. Wood
materials are limited at the fortifications. The most common wood elements are the slab
wood doors built to metal frames.

Treatment
• Remove all loose paint, mildew, and other foreign materials from wood. Use
sanding, scrappers, or other hand-held devices to remove paint. Removal to bare
wood is preferred. However, removal to a stable paint layer is acceptable.
• After paint removal, wipe wood down with solvent to remove dust.
• Paint with an anti-fungal primer.
• Lightly sand dry primer and wipe down with solvent before applying finish coats.
• Apply two finish coats of approved anti-fungal paint.

Notes:
• Use a paint system from a single manufacturer.
• Do not paint brass, bronze, wrought iron, or cast iron. Wrought iron door closures
and hinges are best treated by wiping with solvent and applying microcrystalline
wax. See Doors and Windows: Hardware.
• Consider the use of high-performance coatings such as urethane or epoxy.

Tensile Testing

What is Tensile Testing?

• A tensile test, also known as tension test, is probably the most fundamental type of
mechanical test you can perform on material. Tensile tests are simple, relatively
inexpensive, and fully standardized. By pulling on something, you will very
quickly determine how the material will react to forces being applied in tension.
 As the material is being pulled, you will find its strength along with how much it
will elongate.

Why Perform a Tensile Test or Tension Test

• You can learn a lot about a substance from tensile testing. As you continue to pull
on the material until it breaks, you will obtain a good, complete tensile profile. A
curve will result showing how it reacted to the forces being applied. The point of
failure is of much interest and is typically called its "Ultimate Strength" or UTS
on the chart

Slump Test
• Although the slump test does not directly measure the work needed to compact the
concrete, it gives a reasonable indication of the how easily a mix can be placed
and is simple to perform. The test is only suitable for reasonably workable,
cohesive mixes. Very stiff mixes do not settle enough for useful measurements to
be made and uncohesive mixes tend to shear or collapse. A slump of less than 25
mm (1 in.) indicates a stiff concrete and a slump of more than 125 mm (5 in.)
indicates a very runny concrete.

Compressive Strength Test

• mechanical test measuring the maximum amount of compressive load a material

can bear before fracturing. The test piece, usually in the form of a cube, prism, or
cylinder, is compressed between the platens of a compression-testing machine by
a gradually applied load.
Flexural Test

• A test used for composite

evaluation in which tensile,
compressive and shear stresses
act simultaneously. Data from
the test for one composite
material may not be comparable
to test data for another material
and does not represent a
fundamental performance
characteristic of that material.
Flexural test data are primarily
useful for quality control.

Concrete Beam Test

FORMING

CONCRETE POURING

CLEANING
OBSERVATION

REBAR NECKING

PUMP SET-UP

FRAME SET-UP
 LOADING

CRACKING

FAILURE

Soil boring test

Is not a quality control test but an investigation
of the soil and strata to ensure that an
appropriate and safe foundation for the building is designed to suit the actual soil
conditions of the project site.