SETTING OUT OF A BUILDING

Setting out of a building refers to the process of transferring the dimensions and layout of a
proposed structure from the architectural plans to the actual construction site. This critical step ensures
that the building is accurately positioned according to the approved design.

Setting out can also be referred to as a critical process in building construction that ensures the
accurate transfer of design specifications and dimensions from drawings and plans to the actual
construction site.

WHAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN A SETTING OUT SURVEY?

A typical set out survey provides the following information:

1. Coordinates and Levels: Accurate measurement and transfer of coordinates and levels from the
architectural plans to the construction site.
2. Position of Structural Elements: Clear markings indicating the exact positions of walls,
foundations, and other components.
3. Alignment with Boundaries: Ensuring that the construction aligns correctly with the property
boundaries to avoid legal and zoning issues.

IMPORTANCE OF SETTING OUT

I. Setting out ensures accurate construction, minimizing errors and costly reconstruction.
II. Setting out saves time and reduces costs.
III. Correct positioning of structural elements ensures enhanced safety on site through proper
setting out.
IV. Setting out facilitates effective communication among construction team members.

BENEFITS OF A SETTING OUT SURVEY

Setting out is essential in building construction, and it offers several benefits. Here are some key
benefits of the setting out survey in construction:

1. Precision in Construction Placement: Accurate marking of positions for foundations, walls,

columns, and other components ensures that the actual construction aligns perfectly with the
approved architectural plans.
2. Mitigation of Errors and Deviations: The survey helps prevent misalignments and discrepancies
that could lead to costly reconstruction and delays.
3. Compliance with Design Specifications: Setting out survey ensures that the construction adheres
to the specifications outlined by architects and engineers.
4. Alignment with Service Connection Points: Proper setting out is crucial for aligning service
connection points, such as plumbing and electrical systems, with precision. Misalignment in
these areas can lead to complications and additional expenses during and after construction.
5. Compliance with Regulatory Standards: By accurately placing structural elements and ensuring
proper alignment in adherence to legal and regulatory requirements, it reduces the risk of
violations and associated penalties.

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ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR SETTING OUT

 Dumpy level, tripod, and staff: This trio enables precise levelling and height measurements.
 Wooden pegs: Sturdy pegs facilitate marking key points.
 Builder’s square: Useful for checking the orthogonality of angles
 Hammers and nails: Securing pegs efficiently requires hammering skills.
 Measuring tapes: Precise distance measurement is crucial.
 Builder’s line and level: This combination ensures proper alignment and horizontal reference.
 Measuring rods: Additional tools for accurate measurement tasks.
 Crosscut hand saw: Cutting materials for marking purposes.
 Timber boards: Useful for creating temporary structures or markers.

METHODS OF SETTING OUT

There are different variety of methods used in setting out;

1. 3-4-5 method.
2. Builder’s square method.
3. The theodolite method.

THE 3-4-5 METHOD

The 3-4-5 method is a geometric technique used in construction and carpentry to ensure the accuracy of
right angles, particularly when laying out or measuring large areas. This method is commonly illustrated
by creating a triangle shape. One side is measured at three meters (the straight line), the second at four
meters (the perpendicular line) and the last at five meters (across).

Materials needed

Essential items for this task include:

 String
 Tape measure
 Three timber pegs or pins (one for each corner of the triangle)

Step 1: Place your first peg at the corner where you want the 90° angle to form (the corner where the
shorter sides connect).

Step 2: Using your tape measure, extend outward a distance of 3m from the first corner peg along the
straight line.

Step 3: Position the next peg at the end of the 3m measurement.

Step 4: Attach a string from the first peg to the second peg, ensuring it is pulled tight for accurate length.

Step 5: Using the tape measure, extend outward a distance of 4m on the perpendicular line from the
first peg.

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Step 6: Once more, place a peg at the end of the 4m measurement and attach a string from the first peg
to the new peg.

Step 7: Measure the distance between the second and third peg; this distance should be 5m.

Fig 1.1: Setting out using the 3-4-5 method

PROCEDURES IN SETTING OUT {Builder’s Square}

 Find the distance of the site building to the building line on working drawings.
 Place a peg in the ground at corner A and hammer a nail into the top of the peg.
 Repeat these steps to place a peg in the ground for corner B.
 Tie the string between pegs A and B. Measure the distance between A and B. (check that the
distance on the ground is the same on the drawing ) by measuring.
 Repeat these steps for corners C and D.
 Measure the diagonals A-D and B-C {the two diagonals should be equal}.
 Use the builder’s square to check that the corners are at right angles.

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Fig 1.2: Setting out using the builder’s square method

HOW TO USE A THEODOLITE

1. Mark the point at which the theodolite will be set up with a surveyor’s nail or a stake. This point
is the basis for measuring angles and distances.
2. Set up the tripod. Make sure the height of the tripod allows the instrument (the theodolite) to
be eye-level. The centered hole of the mounting plate should be over the nail or stake.
3. Drive the tripod legs into the ground using the brackets on the sides of each leg.
4. Mount the theodolite by placing it atop the tripod, and screw it in place with the mounting
knob.
5. Measure the height between the ground and the instrument. This will be used a reference to
other stations.
6. Level the theodolite by adjusting the tripod legs and using the bulls-eye level. You can make
slight tunings with the leveling knobs to get it just right.
7. Adjust the small sight (the vertical plummet) found on the bottom of the theodolite. The
vertical plummet allows you to do ensure the instrument remains over the nail or stake. Adjust
the plummet using the knobs on the bottom.
8. Aim the crosshairs in the main scope at the point to be measured. Use the locking knobs on the
side of the theodolite to keep it aimed on the point. Record the horizontal and vertical angles
using the viewing scope found on the theodolite’s side.

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WHAT IS EXCAVATION?

Excavation refers to the act of digging/removing soil, rock or other materials from the ground with
tools/equipment to create a stable and level ground for building or other infrastructures.

METHODS OF EXCAVATION

Excavation is done to receive the foundation that will be constructed for a building. This is done after
the setting out and marking out. Excavation can be done using two methods, the choice of the method
of excavation depends on the size of work. In small construction, it is more economical to use the
manual method, while large works will be economical to be executed using the mechanical method of
excavation.

 Manual method
 Mechanical method

Tools used in Manual Method of Excavation

The manual method of excavation involves the use of the following tools;

1. Pick-axes used to dig up the soil.

2. Shovels to remove the dug up soil
3. Spades to level the bottom of the excavation and to load into the wheelbarrow
4. Wheelbarrows to convey the excavated soil away from the excavation area.

Fig 2.1 : Hand tools used in Manual Excavation

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Equipment used in Mechanical Excavation

The mechanical method of excavation involves the use of mechanical plants which are capable of doing
more than one task. Examples of these are as follows:

1. Bulldozer: This is used to push the soil layer by layer to one side and pile it up nearby. A
bulldozer does not dig out or lift out the soil.
2. Excavator: This equipment digs down with a bucket on a jointed boom and scoops the soil
towards itself. Since the bucket is narrow it is useful for forming trenches. It can also deposit soil
on trucks or Dumpers.
3. Mechanical Auger: This digs pile holes. It is a large piece of equipment which has a large drill
mounted on a platform. The auger drills a hole in the ground and lifts out a column of soil.
4. Dump Truck: Used for the movement of soil over short distances. The body of the dump truck
tips forward and deposits the soil in the required position.
5. Tipper Truck: This is a road vehicle used to remove large amounts of excavated materials to
locations away from the site. The body of the tipper truck tips up and empties the soil at the back
of the vehicle.

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Fig 2.2 : Plants used in Mechanical Excavation

EARTHWORK SUPPORT

Methods of Earthwork Support

It is important to access how long an excavation can safely remain open without support for the sides. If
the weather is very dry then the lack of moisture may cause the soil to shrink, crack and fall in. Generally
the looser the soil the more it needs to be supported. If the soil is very wet then the sides of the
excavation may become unstable. In both cases it is better to provide temporary supports to the sides of
the excavation. Excavation on a confined site may also need support in case heavy loads are placed or
driven too close to the edges of the excavation.

Earthworks supports retain the size of excavation collapsed during the time the excavation will remain
open. The process of providing temporary support to the sides of an excavation is referred to as
timbering. It is sometime planking and strutting.
Timbering is to:
• Protect the operatives while working in excavation
• Keep the excavation open by acting as a retaining wall to the sides of the trend.
• Prevent drainage to adjacent structures that could be caused by excavation

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 • Enable work to proceed within the excavation without interruption.

Components of Timbering
Timbering is made up of the following parts:
1. Polings: These are vertical planks supporting the soil. In sand or gravel, they should be placed
close enough to form a continuous timber wall. Depending on the soil type and working
conditions, they may be placed about 900 mm apart. The purpose of the wailing is to keep the
soil on the sides of the excavation from falling in.
2. Wailings: They are horizontal timber strips supporting the polings.
3. Struts: These are the timbers that span across the trench between the wailings. The struts hold
the opposite walls of the excavation in place.
4. Wedges: These are the pieces of timber used to maintain the pressure of the polings against the
soil. If the soil expands or shrinks while the work is carried out, the wedges may need to be
adjusted again.

Factors to be Considered in Providing Supports to Excavation

i. The nature of the soil
ii. The depth of the excavation
iii. The width of the excavation
iv. The type of work to be carried out
v. The moisture content of the soil
vi. The length of time the excavation will be left open
vii. The method of excavation
viii. The support system used
ix. The removal of the support system
x. Moving materials into excavation
xi. The proximity use of the land adjacent to the excavation for stacking materials
xii. Vibration of soils from construction operation or vehicle using adjacent road

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TIMBERING IN VARIOUS TYPES OF SOILS

FOUNDATION

The function of the foundation is to transmit the load from the building finally to the soil. This, it must
do without excessive settlement and compression of the supporting soil layer.

Functional Requirements of Foundation

 Ability to carry loads with a minimum movement

 Adequate width to safely transmit the loads on it to the supporting soil layer.

Functions of Foundations

 Foundation provides suitable support and stability for building.

 Transmits to the ground all the loads that come on the building over a sufficient area of subsoil.
 Prevents the failure of the building or uneven settlement.

The selection of foundation types is influenced by

 The type of building

 The nature of the loading
 The site condition

Types of Foundation

Construction professionals typically categorize foundations as either deep foundations or shallow

foundations.

Shallow foundations: This type of foundation is used when the structural load is relatively low in
comparison to the capacity of bearing of the surface soil.

Types of shallow foundation

 Strip foundation
 Pad foundation
 Raft foundation

Strip Foundation

This type of foundation is commonly used to support load-bearing walls. Its purpose is to distribute the
weight of the wall evenly across the soil. Strip footings are suitable when the soil has good bearing
capacity, and they consist of a continuous strip of concrete. The minimum thickness of a strip foundation
is 150 mm. This may be greater where the projection of the edge of the foundation from the base of the

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wall is greater than 150 mm. typical strip foundation is as shown in figure below. The width of the strip
should be at least equal to three times the thickness of the wall it supports.

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Fig 2.3 : Typical Strip Foundation

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