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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 4, April 2017, pp. 629–635 Article ID: IJCIET_08_04_071

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=4

ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

A CASE STUDY ON REQUIREMENTS OF

QUALITY WORKMANSHIP IN

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Thamilarasu. V

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,

SRM University, Chennai, India

Rajprasad.J

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,


Ram Prasanna Pavan.T

Post Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering,


ABSTRACT

Construction building projects has complexity in its nature because it is related to

many factors such as quality, safety and resources. Quality workmanship is a

comprehensive approach to bolster the durability, serviceability and safety aspects of

the construction. Workmanship with higher standards is a positive and humanistic

approach to productive management designed to bring together all levels of workforce

and experience in an organization for setting standards of excellence and achieving

better outcomes. With the evolving competitive market scenario, quality workmanship

prepares the employees and workmen to meet the challenges of the changing time and

conditions. The purpose of this study is to check the effectiveness of the quality work in

view of improving quality, safety & reduction in wastage of resources in a construction

project. This study reviews the implementation of quality circle and analyses the

perspective of workmen and employees regarding quality of workmanship in

construction process. This paper reports a case study of a residential building

constructions of located in India and analysing the extent of quality workmanship

achieved. Improper compaction and honeycomb issues and handling of materials and

safety measures are found to be degrading the effectiveness of workmanship involved.

The defects are documented and the causes for that particular problem is analysed

upon. This study provides suitable remedial measures for rectifying the defects

occurred within the structure and acts as a tool in executing the corrections as soon as

possible.

Key words: Quality, Workmanship, Productive, Defects, Durability.

A Case Study on Requirements of Quality Workmanship In Construction Projects


Cite this Article: Thamilarasu. V, Rajprasad.J and Ram Prasanna Pavan.T, A Case

Study on Requirements of Quality Workmanship In Construction Projects.

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(4), 2017, pp. 629–635.

http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=4

1. INTRODUCTION

Construction has important role in their country’s development and prosperity. The

requirements of quality workmanship have been widely implemented in construction projects

throughout India. Quality is defined as “Fitness for the intended use”. Workmanship is may be

defined as “The quality of work that is done by a concerned person”. Negligence of personnel

at work is the major reason for most number of defects occurring in construction projects.

Building Research Establishment (BRE) indicates that 90% of building failures occur due to

improper execution in the workmanship defects, design and construction stages. They include

very poor communication, inadequate information, and irregular controls.

Durability and Serviceability are major concern in construction projects. These can be

ensured only through quality materials and quality workmanship, as they have a greater impact

over quality workmanship. The construction projects in India to introducing quality

workmanship due to clients argument they are providing quality assurance up to certain period.

The rate at which the work is accomplished is lower as the rapid rate of major defects in

building occurs as a result of poor quality materials and workmanship, identified as the prime

cause of defects in building projects. This will affect the quality of life of occupants and also

giving bad image of the parties involved in the construction projects. Poor supervision on site

also contributes to poor workmanship during construction and lack of experience and issue of

labour competency.

2. LITERATURE STUDY

Hanifi Binici et al. (2006) have reported the occurrence of many defects caused due to usage

of low quality of concrete and improper gradation of aggregates. The aggregate utilised is not

clean and the quantity of cement is not sufficient and heavy masonry building buildings

constructed using heavy rocks must be avoided. A.S.Ali et.al. (2011) investigated the

performance of construction projects and the development of workmanship through a

structured questionnaire among top personnel. Lack of experience and competency of labours

are the prime factors affecting the quality of workmanship. N.A. Othman et.al (2014), studied

the extent of workmanship among low cost housing. About 90% of the project failures occur

due to poor communication, inadequate checks and controls and lack of technical expertise

relating to the respective construction projects. Neha.V.Bagdiya (2015) improved the quality

and minimises the cost of construction examining the defects along the construction site

considered. Lack of maintenance and ineffective usage of materials are also found to be the

most primitive issues degrading the quality of many projects.

Thamilarasu. V, Rajprasad.J and Ram Prasanna Pavan.T


3. METHODOLOGY

The methodology adopted in this study is shown in the following figure.

Figure 1 Methodology flowchart

4. DATA COLLECTION

The defects arise due to the workmanship in construction projects are identified considering

various case studies pertaining to residential construction projects. The case studies were

considered with the percentile of defects found, which provides as a base for study. Three real

life case studies were considered and the site details were collected. The sites were surveyed

completely and the defects were photographed and documented.

Case 1: Brigade enterprises limited, Bangalore, India

The building under consideration is a residential structure having seven blocks, each of fifteen

floors. The structure is in its final stages of completion and the defects identified are

photographed and documented

Case 2: Jain Constructions, Chennai, India

Residential apartments in the southern part of Chennai, have a number of defects occurred due

to poor workmanship and the work went on to its final completion along with these defects.

This structure needs attention to its rectify flaws and the details of the defects are analysed to

administer suitable remedies so as to increase the building’s efficiency.

Case 3: SRMT Homes, Kakinada, India

The building under study includes both residential and commercial buildings which contains

many defects and finished work with low quality workmanship. This project needs to be

monitored in order to identify and rectify the defects caused before the completion of the entire

work.



Figure 2 Framework for poor quality workmanship

5. COMMON DEFECTS AFFECTING QUALITY OF WORK

Compaction Defects

Not utilising proper methods of compaction at the time of execution and hence affects the

quality of the finished product to a greater extent as seen n the pictures given below.

Figure 3 Compaction defects along the structure

Defects in the Reinforcement

Suitable measures are not adopted to prevent the chemical attack and providing proper ties and

joints leads to movement of steel over the concrete matrix and hence developed deteriorate in

the entire structure. The following figure shows the errors caused due to improper handling of

reinforcement at the construction site.



Figure 4 Defects in steel reinforcement in the construction

6. PLASTERING AND FINISHING ISSUES

Honey Comb Issues

The honeycomb issues governing the problems related to plastering from the case studies are

shown below.

Figure 5 Honeycomb issues

Plastering and finishing issues

Figure 6 Defects in plastering and finishing

Defects Due To Improper Shuttering Used In Construction

Presence of inadequate joints and the method of handling shuttering affect the efficiency of the

final product which deteriorates the life of the entire structure.



Figure 7 Defects due to improper shuttering during construction

7. DISCUSSION

Compaction Issues

Due to improper compaction techniques, partial expulsion of air and improper settling of

aggregates in the building component occurs and develops further with time. Proper internal,

external and surface vibration methods should be executed with skilled personnel and under

experienced supervision. In current scenario, needle vibration is found to be most effective,

economical method of compacting cement concrete as it comes in different sizes and the rate

of vibration is optimum compared to other compaction methods available.

Steel Reinforcement Issues

The quality and depth of concrete in the cover zone of the concrete component are of prime

importance in minimising the risk of reinforcement corrosion. Optimum size of cover need to

be provided as per the exposure conditions in which the structure is being executed. Coating of

reinforcement using epoxy resins is recommended as an effective method in preventing the

steel reinforcement from getting corroded.

Honeycomb Issues

Adopting appropriate design mix, optimum workability at the time of concreting, nominal

cover for the steel reinforcement and effective vibrating methods reduce the honeycomb

formation along the matrix to a greater extent. Surface pressure grouting with cement based

chemicals can be adopted to prevent honeycomb issues. Materials such as polymer-cement

slurry, epoxy resins, urethane and high-molecular-weight methacrylate (HMWM) are utilised

as the grouting materials.

Plastering and Finishing Issues

Improper adhesion due to low adsorption on the surface leads to development of issues during

plastering of concrete surfaces. The mix with limestone or aggregate containing traces of

granite indicates higher risk of failure as the thermal expansion property is very much lower.

8. CONCLUSION

Poor workmanship constitutes most of the defects and failures occurring in the building

structure. Out of all the structures, the residential building tends to be the victim of poor

workmanship during construction. Problems arising out of improper compaction techniques,

reinforcement issues, and other failures occur due to negligence of the supervision of the

concerned organisation. Optimum remedial measures are discussed to counteract the failures



and delicate supervision over the construction works is mandatory in achieving higher quality

workmanship in executing the proposed work. The workers employed in construction of well

trained and having good awareness on the concepts of quality workmanship.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I hereby acknowledge with deep sense of gratitude the valuable guidance, encouragement and

suggestions given by guide, company personnel and faculty of Civil Engineering Department

of SRM University, who has been a constant source of inspiration throughout this project work

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