01

QUANTITY SURVEY
SPECIFICATION OF
COMMON BUILDING
MATERIALS AND SIMPLE
CONSTRUCTION
DEEPLAXMI | 1905001 | B.ARCH | SEMESTER V
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PRESENTATION
HIGHLIGHTS
DEFINITION OF SPECIFICATION
GENERAL SPECIFICATION
-FOUNDATION AND PLINTH
-DAMP PROOF COURSE
-SUPERSTRUCTURE
-ROOFING
-FLOORING
-FINISHING
-DOORS AND WINDOWS
DETAILED SPECIFICATION
DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS OF
VARIOUS ITEMS OF WORKS
03 SPECIFICATION
Specifications specifies or describes the
nature and the class of the work, materials to
be used in the work, workmanship, etc., and is
very important for the execution of the work.

The cost of a work depends much on the

specifications. Specifications should be clear,
and there should not be any ambiguity
anywhere.

From the study of the specifications one can

easily understands the nature of the work and
what the work shall be.
 SPECIFICATION
Specifications depends on the nature of the
work, the purpose for which the work is
required, strength of the materials, as
availability of materials, quality of materials, etc.

Specifications are of two types:

General Specification or Brief specification
Detailed Specification

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 GENERAL SPECIFICATION
1. FOUNDATION AND PLINTH

First Class Second Third Class Fourth

Building Class Building Class
Ist class Building IInd class Building
brickwork in Ist class brickwork in lime Sun-dried
1:6 cement brickwork mortar over lime or kutcha
mortar over with lime concrete bricks in
1:4:8 cement mortar over mud mortar
concrete lime

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concrete
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2. DAMP PROOF COURSE

First Class Second Class Third Class

Building Building Building
1:1.5:3 cement 1:2 cement mortar of 2cm 1:2 cement
concrete of 1” thickness with standard mortar of 2cm
thickness with water proofing material thickness with
standard water standard water
proofing material material
mixed with
cement and of
bitumen
 3. SUPERSTRUCTURE

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

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4. ROOFING

Third Class Fourth Class

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

Second Class Fourth Class

First Class Third Class
Building Building
Building Building
2.5cm cement Kutcha floor
2.5cm cement Brick on edge
concrete over 7.5cm or earthen
concrete over floor over well
lime concrete. floor finished
7.5cm lime rammed earth
Verandah floor shall with cow-dung
concrete
be of brick tile over lapping.
lime concrete
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6. FINISHING

First Class Second Class Third Class

Fourth Class
Building Building Building
Building
Inside and outside Inside and outside shall Inside and outside
Inside and outside
shall be 12mm be 12mm cement mortar shall be plastered
shall be water
cement lime plastered 1:6. Ceiling with lime mortar
proof mud
plastered 1:1:6. shall be cement plastered and whitewashed
plastered
Inside and outside 1:3. inside and outside
whitewashe d with whitewashed
interior distempered
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7. DOORS AND WINDOWS

Third class
First class Second class Fourth class
building
building building building
chaukhat shall be of sal
chaukhat shall be chukhat shall be of Doors and
wood, and shutters of chir
seasoned teak wood. RCC or well seasoned windows shall
mango or other country
and shutter aslo shall sal wood, and shutters be of chir or
wood. Doors and windows
be teak wood. Doors of shisham wood or mango wood, or
shall be painted painted
and windows shall be deodar wood. Doors country wood.
two coats with ordinary
varnished or painted and windows shall be
paint over one coat of
two coats with high painted two coats over
priming.
class enamel paint one coat of priming.
over one coat of
priming.
DETAILED SPECIFICATION

The detailed specification is a detailed description

and expresses the requirements in detail.

The detailed specification of an item of work

specifies the qualities and quantities of materials,
the proportion of mortar, workmanship, the method
of preparation and execution and the methods of
measurement

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 DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS OF
VARIOUS ITEMS OF WORKS
1. EARTHWORK IN EXCAVATION IN FOUNDATION

Foundation trenches shall be dug out to the exact width of the foundation concrete all the sides shall be
vertical. If the soil is not good and does not permit vertical sides, the sides should be sloped back to
protected with timber shoring. Excavated earth shall not be placed within 1m of the edge of the trench

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 2. LIME CONCRETE IN FOUNDATION

Materials – All materials shall be as per standard specification. Coarse aggregate shall be of hard,
well-burnt or over burnt brick ballast of 40mm gauge.

Proportion – The concrete shall consist of 1 cu m of brick ballast, 0.3 cu m of surkhi and 0.16 cu m of
white lime in the proportion of 100:32:16 by volume.

Mixing – Mixing shall be done on clean water tight, masonry platform of sufficient size.

Laying and compacting – Concrete shall be laid slowly and gently in layers of not more than 20cm
and thoroughly consolidated to 15cm and 6 kg iron rammers.

Joint and consecutive layers – When joint in a layer of concrete are unavoidable, the ends shall be
sloped at an angle of 30 degree and junctions of different layers shall break joint.

Curing – The curing shall be done by spreading gunny bags or sand or keeping them wet by water-can
at regular interval.

Measurement – Measurement shall be taken in cu m for the finished concrete.

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 3. LIME CONCRETE IN ROOF TERRACING

Materials - Coarse aggregate shall be of well burnt or over burnt brick ballast of 25mm gauge.

Laying and consolidation - Surface shall be lightly sprinkled with water and then concrete shall be
laid slowly and gently in layers so as to have required slope and specified thickness after compaction.
Proportion- Concrete shall consist of 1cu m brick ballast, 0.36 cu m of Surkhi and 0.19 cu m of white
lime.

Finishing - As soon as beating has been completed the mortar that has come to top shall be softened
by addition of lime, ‘molasses’ and ‘bael fruit’ solution and smoothened by rubbing and pressing with a
trowel or float to a fine polish.

Curing - The concrete shall be kept wet for a fortnight. The wetting should be done by covering with
straw or sand watering frequently by water can or dividing into squares by mud kiaries which shall be
kept flooded with water.

Measurement - The measurement shall be taken for the finished work of superficial area in sq m
stating the average thickness.

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 4. CEMENT CONCRETE 1:2:4 16
Materials - Aggregate shall be of invert materials and should be clean, dense, hard, sound, durable, non-
absorbing and capable of developing good bond with mortar.

Proportion - The proportion of concrete shall be 1:2:4 as Cement: sand:stone: ballast by volume unless
otherwise specified.

Hand mixing - Mixing shall be done in masonry platform or sheet iron tray.
Machine mixing- stone ballast sand and cement shall be put into the cement concrete mixer to have the
required proportion.

Slump - Regular slump test should be carried out to control the addition of water and to maintin the required
consistency.

Formwork - Formwork centring and shuttering shall be provided as required, as per standard specifications
before laying concrete to confine to support or to keep the concrete in position.

Laying -Concrete shall be laid gently in layers not exceeding 15 cm.

Curing -After about two hours laying when concrete has begun to harden, it shall be kept damp by covering
with wet gunny bags or wet sand for 24 hours, and then cured by flooding with water making mud walls 7.5
cm.
 5. REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE (R.C.C)
Steel - Steel reinforcing bars shall be of mild steel or deformed steel of standard specifications and shall be
free from corrosion,loose rust scales , grease , paint ,etc.

Centering and shuttering - Centering and shuttering shall be made with timber or steel plate close and
tight to prevent leakage or mortar , with necessary props , bracings and wedges ,sufficiently strong and
stable and should not yield on laying concrete and made in such a way that they made on the concrete
surface. A coat of oil washing

Proportion of cement concrete -Cement concrete shall be of 1:2:4 proportion by volume for slabs,beams
and lintels ,and 1:1.5:3 proportion for columns unless otherwise specified.
Laying -Before laying the concrete,the shuttering shall be clean,free from
dust,dirt and other foreign matters

Finishing – if specified the exposed surface shall be plastered with 1:3 cement sand mortar not exceeding
6 mm thickness and the plastering shall be applied immediately after removal of the centering while the
concrete is green.

Measurement – measurement shall be taken in cu m for the finished work and no deduction shall be made
for the volume of steel.
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 6. DAMP PROOF COURSE 2.5CM C.C. 1:1.5:3

Damp proof course consists of cement, coarse sand an stone aggregate

of 1: 1.5:3 proportion with 2 percent of impermo or cem- seal or acco
proof by weight of cement or other standard water proofing compound

7. BRICK WORK I CLASS

All the bricks shall be of first class of standard specifications made of good brick earth thoroughly burnt,
and shall be of deep cherry red or copper colour.

8. BRICKWORK II CLASS AND III CLASS

For II class brickwork bricks shall be of second class and mortar shall be specified, may be kankar lime
or white lime and surkhi of 1:2 to 1:3 proportion. Mortar joints shall not exceeded 10 mm in thickness.
Bricks shall be soaked in water for at least 3 hrs before use. Other details are same as 7 above.

For III class brickwork bricks shall be of III class if otherwise not specified. Mortar shall be as specified
and mortar joints shall not exceeded 12 mm in thickness. Bricks shall be dipped into a tub of water

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before use.
 9. BRICKWORK IN MUD MORTAR
Bricks shall be specified, may be II class or II class. The mud should be
made of selected earth of tenacious nature so that it sticks and bind
bricks.

10. REINFORCED BRICKWORK (R.B. WORK)

Bricks shall be strictly of first class quality and selected first class bricks shall be used. Mortar shall
consist of cement and coarse sand of 1:3 proportion. Cement shall be fresh portland cement. Sand
shall be coarse of 5mm and down and sharp, clean and free from foreign matters.

11. PLASTERING CEMENT MORTAR OR LIME MORTAR

The joints of the brickwork shall be raked out to a depth of 18mm and the surface of the wall shall be
washed and kept wet for two days before plastering.

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 12. POINTING (CEMENT OR LIME MORTAR)
The joints of the brickwork shall be raked out to a depth of 20mm and
the surface of the wall washed and cleaned and kept wet for two days
before pointing.

13. LIME PUNNING

White stone lime and shell lime shall be slaked at site of work and mixed in the proportion of 3 of stone
lime and one of shell lime and thoroughly mixed sufficiently quantity of water in a drum.
Lime punning shall be applied on smooth plastered surface when the plaster has hardened.

14. 2.5 CM CEMENT CONCRETE FLOOR

The cement concrete shall be of proportion 1:2:4 or 1:2.5:3.5
as specified. Cement shall be fresh Portland cement of
standard specifications.
The course aggregate shall be hard and tough of 20 mm
gauge, well graded and free from dust, dirt, etc. The sand shall
be course of 5 mm maximum size and down, well graded,
clean and free from dust, dirt and organic matters.
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 15. MOSAIC OR TERRAZZO FLOOR
The mosaic floor consists of 2 layers, the bottom layer 2 cm to 2.5 cm
cement concrete 1:2:4 and the upper layer 6 mm thick consisting of a mix
of marble chips and cement in the proportion of 1:1.5, one part of cement
and 1.5 parts of marble chips

16. BRICK-ON-EDGE OR BRICK FLOORING OVER 7.5 CM LIME

CONCRETE:
The bricks shall be first class selected to have smooth face, good red colour and hardness.

17. WHITE WASHING:

Fresh white lime slacked at site of work should be mixed with sufficient water to make a thin cream.

18. COLOUR WASHING:

Colour wash shall be prepared with fresh slaked lime mixed with
the water to make the cream adding the coloured pigment to the
required quantity to give the required tint
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19. DISTEMPERING
The distemper shall be of best quality and the colour should be as
specified. The distemper should be mixed and prepared and water
added, as laid down in the instructions of the manufacturer.

20.SNOWCEM WASHING
Snowcem consists of a base of white cement mixed with finely powdered colouring pigment to have the
desired colour and with the addition of small quantities of other ingredients. It gives a water proof
surface. Snowcem is sold by the manufacturer in 50 kg drums, 25 kg drums and 5 kg tin of various
colours. The snowcem of the desired colour may be chosen.

21. DECORATIVE CEMENT COLOUR WASHING

For decorative as well as water repellant washing on the external surface of buildings, white cement
mixed with colour (pigment) and other ingredients may be used.
 22. PAINTING
The brand of the paint shall be specified and readymade paint of the
required colour should be used.

23.PAINTING STEEL AND IRON WORK

All rust scales, dirt, supplier’s delivery marks, oil, grease, etc. Shall be removed
by rubbing with sand paper before painting.

24.VARNISHING
Varnishing shall be done during dry weather and should not be allowed to be undertaken in rainy days.

25.FRENCH SPRINT POLISHING

Polish - pure shellac varying from pale orange to yellow colour,
free from resin, dirt, etc., shall be dissolved in methylated sprint
at the rate of 0.15 kg of shellac to 1liter of spirit.

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26. WOOD WORK (CARPENTER’S WORK)
All wood work of which the scantling exceeds 20 sq cm section which is
not specially moulded or carved comes under carpenter’s work.This
include all timber work in chaukhats of door and windows, in roof works as
beams, struts, ties, rafters, purlins in timber bridge etc.

27. DOORS AND WINDOWS

Timber shall be of the kind as specified, may be teak, shisham, sal, deodar, etc. The timber shall be of
best quality well seasoned and free from saps, knots, cracks and other defects.

28. GLAZING
Glass shall be of the best quality and free from bubbles, scratches and other imperfections. The
thickness of the glass be 3 mm or as specified.
 29. CENTERING AND SHUTTERING
Centering and shuttering shall not be removed before 14 days in general
Centering and shuttering shall be removed slowly and carefully without
any shock and vibration by slackening and removing the wedges
gradually in such a manner that no part of the concrete is disturbed or
damaged.

30.ASHLAR MASONRY
The stone shall be hard, tough, round, and durable of approved quarry. Stones shall be chisel dressed
on all beds to have perfectly square or rectangular faces so that they may be laid in perfectly horizontal
and vertical joints.

31.COURSED RUBBLE STONE MASONRY

The stone shall be hard, sound and durable of approved
quarry. Stones shall be hammer dressed on bed and top and
also on sides so that the stone will come to close proximity
and each stone can be laid in course.
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32. RANDOM RUBBLE STONE MASONRY

The stone shall be hard, sound and durable of approved quarry. Stone
shall be hammer dressed to secure close joint so that the stones when
laid will come into close proximity

33. MUD PHUSKA TEACHING WITH TOLD BRICK PAVING

Mud phuska terracing will be suitable on hot dry regions where the rainfall does not exceed 130 cm
poet annum and extremely hot temperature occurs during summer.

34. MADRAS TERRACE ROOF

Madras terrace roof shall consist of a layer of a lime concrete over a layer of brick-on-edge laid in lime
mortar, supported over beams or battens.
 35. ASBESTOS CEMENT CORRUGATED SHEET ROOFING

The sheets shall be of the best quality of approved manufacturers as

‘Everest’, Bigsix, Crownit corrugated, Ashoka corrugated or similar. The
sheets shall be free form cracks, chipped edges or corners and other
damages.

36. ASBESTOS CEMENT SEMI-CORRUGATED OR TRAFFORD SHEET

ROOFING
The detailed specification shall be similar to the above with the exceptions that the side overlap shall
be one corrugation 9 cm.

37. GALVANISED CORRUGATED IRON SHEET (G.C.I. SHEET) ROOFING

The corrugated iron shall be of the gauge as specified, 22 B.G.
(8 mm thick) or 24 B.G. (0.64 mm thick). The sheets shall be
free from rust and the zinc covering at the time of fixing shall
be in perfect condition.
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 38 ALLAHABAD TILE ROOF

The tiles shall be of Allahabad pattern well burnt, dark red in colour and
shall give a clear ringing sound when struck.

39.MANGLORE TILED ROOF

The tiles shall be of Manglore pattern double channeled, well burnt, dark red in colour and shall give a
clear ringing sound when struck. The tiles shall be sound, regular in shape and free from cracks and
shall not absorb water more than 1/6th of their weight.

40.EARTHWORK IN IRRIGATION CHANNELS AND ROAD

Centre line of channel or road or bank and its edges (toes) shall be marked correctly and neatly by
daghbelling.

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 41.CEMENT MORTAR
The proportion of cement and sand be as specified, may be of 1:2, 1:3,
1:4, 1:5 and 1:6. Cement shall be Portland cement of standard
specifications. Sand shall be clean and free from dust, dirt and organic
matters

42. WHITE LIME MORTAR

The mortar shall freshly slaked white lime and surkhi or sand or cinder,of proportion 1:1,1:2 and 1:3 as
specified.

43. KANKAR LIME MORTAR

The mortar shall consist of kankar lime alone or kankar lime and surkhi or sand or cinder in the proportion
of 1:1 or 1:2 as specified.

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 44. WHITE LIME
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Lime shall be of freshly burnt lime stone of approved quarry. Lime
should be fresh slaked. Unslaked white lime should be brought to the
site of work and slacked on pucca platform and slaked at site and
screened through a sieve of 9 meshes per sq cm

45. KANKAR LIME

Kankar lime should be made from “bichwa” kankar free from earth and other impurities. Kankar should be
burnt in kiln and then ground fine and screened through sieve of 25 meshes per sq cm and the residue on
the screen rejected. Kankar lime shall be clean and free from dirt, dust and foreign matters.

46. BRICK BALLAST

Brick ballast shall be broken to the specified gauge from dense over burnt or well burnt bricks or brick
bats of copper colors or deep cherry red color.
 47. SURKHI
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Surkhi shall be made from fully burnt bricks but not over-burnt bricks.
Surkhi shall be ground fine and after grinding, shall be screened
through sieve of 25 meshes per sq cm
Surkhi shall be clean and free from foreign matters. Surkhi shall be
stacked on brick platform and protected from earth dirt etc.

48. CINDER
Cinder should be made from coal ash and should be free from burnt clay, wood ash, dirt and foreign
matters. Cinders should be obtained from furnaces using coal fuel only. Cinder should be ground fine
and screened through sieve of 9 meshes per sq cm
Cinder shall not contain more than 10% of un-burnt carbon.

49.SAND
Sand shall be cleane hard, durable, angular, sharp and gritty
to touch and free from mica, salts, alkalies, organic and
vegetable matters. It should not contain more than 5% of
clay or silt. Sand should be perfectly dry before beingh
measured.
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50. DETERMINATION OF SILT CONTENTS OF SAND BY
FIELD TEST

Take a glass measuring cylinder fill half the cylinder with sample of sand add
clean water upto ¾” height of cylinder shake vigorously allow the contents to
settle for 3 hours. Coarse particle settle first at the bottom and gradually the finer
particles and finally the silt at the top. The height of the silt layer has a visible
above the sand is measured from the graduations of the cylinder and expressed
as percentage of the height of the sand below :-

Percentage of silt content = h/H of 100

If the percentage of silt content is above the allowable percentage, then the
sand should be washed to remove the silt.
REFRENCES 33

https://www.slideshare.net/SimarpreetSingh16/specificat
ions-of-buildings.

https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-are-
architectural-specifications
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