Basement Construction - Report Example

Basement Construction Basement Construction Introduction The construction of the basement at the north end of the workshop iscritically important as it can significantly enhance the sustainability of the workshop; provide greater adaptability and flexibility of space. For example, the basement of a building structure can aid in maximizing the usage of the available space, improving the buildings thermal efficiency and providing a stable construction base for the entire building. A number of innovative basement construction techniques that can allow for the sound construction of basement and prevention of ingress of water are currently available (Holmes, 2006, p.95). According to experts, a properly designed and well constructed basement not only provide an added value to the workshop but can also enhance its development potential, attraction and sustainability. The present report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the appropriate methods and techniques of constructing the basement at the north end of the workshop with particular focus to site investigation techniques, basement construction, procedures of excavation, problems and dewatering as well as the potential waterproofing techniques for the project. Site Investigation Techniques Basement construction is a complex process that requires carrying out a comprehensive site investigation using a diverse number of techniques. Generally, appropriate and consistent site investigation techniques is critically important in ensuring that reliable, accurate and representative data about the ground conditions of the construction site is collected during the project’s site assessment process. On the other hand, in appropriate site investigation techniques may result in inadequate date leading incorrect dimensioning of the basement foundation, wrong choice of the foundation solution, unnecessary expenses as well as numerous potential health safety issues. Fig 1: Site Plan, Sections and Elevations Generally, using appropriate site investigation techniques may help determine a number of relevant ground data such as geotechnical information of the site for basement construction, obtaining relevant hydrological data including the potential ingress of water, potential health and safety issues as well as the water and other problems that may be faced during the basement construction process. Some of the main appropriate site investigations that can be used in the present basement construction project at the north end of the workshop include: Soil and rock sampling Ground water sampling Laboratory analysis of soil within the locality Soil and Rock Sampling Soil and rock sampling is one of the potential site investigation techniques that can effectively be used to ensure sound construction of the basement. The technique particularly involves carrying out geological observations or interpretations and sample collection. For example, geological observations and interpretations normally encompasses reviewing existing geologic information of the area from different sources such as published geologic reports and maps, relevant reference materials and personal or previous company experience of the site vicinity. In addition, geologic observation can also be undertaken by drilling soil borings in the construction site using coring methods. For instance, drilling can generate soil and rock cuttings that can be logged and effectively interpreted to provide a description of the underlying rock type as well as the potential geologic structure. This is critical in both designing and implementing the site assessment, and can also be integrated with other site findings or correlated with the local geological environment. On the other hand, sample collection techniques appropriate for the construction of the basement at the north end of the workshop include collecting soil and rock samples to determine the underlying soil lithology. Fig 2: Collection of soil samples Ground water sampling A number of ground water sampling techniques can be used during site investigation to determine or measure the pressure and flow of underground water in the site. For example, standpipe piezometers can be used observe ground water movement in the area and assess the potential water leakage. In most cases, ground water sample collection involves collecting various samples within the site to help determine the nature of the underground water in the area. This particularly allows for better assessment of the potential watering issues. In this regard, it is also important to have a proper understanding the local geologic environment before beginning the construction of the basement as this may help predict some of the potential problems and develop appropriate solutions. Fig. 3: Ground water sampling Initial Sections Basements are often constructed in buildings for purposes of commercial activities spaces, car parking or storage. In residential constructions, the basement shown is an important application; the basement in these buildings provide for valuable additional spaces. These additional spaces are may be constructively belted into appropriate games rooms, laundry areas, parking and games rooms without necessarily increasing the heights specifications of the buildings by the architects. A well designed basement involves the selection of both environmental and construction control systems. These two entities of shown design provide the necessary control of the external environmental factors to enable the required internal building and construction environment achievement. An imprecise criterion as per environmental control has been frequently adopted in order to increase efficiency of various basement design and construction. Each and every construction design needs to be tailored to the precise basement design circumstances. This research paper explains the ethical architectural design of the construction of a basement shown. Construction Procedure The process of basement construction begins with excavation of the site after which the temporary support walls are then installed. Next, dewatering and waterproofing of the basement construction site is undertaken and the construction of the basement floor is then begun. The next step involves constructing the walls of the basement and the other interior finishes including secondary walls are then completed. Finally, the roof is then backfilled and ground surface restored to its original. Basement excavation may be apprehended by the following methodologies; ground excavation by shoring and the ground excavation by battering. First technique that is the ground excavation by shoring may take place in the form of discrete concrete or steel piles. These shoring materials stabilise the soil excavation for a temporary period of time during which the basement rectification is undertaken; through to the erecting of a permanently incorporated basement structure (Koel 2000). The basement excavation in impervious soil structures may consist of contagious piles which are closely attached to each other in secant piles where the soft and hard piles overlap each other. Secondly, the ground excavation by battering involves a perimeter footing of a basement wall slightly above water table. A vertical bar cover for positioning purposes must therefore be rectified by a hydrophilic water stop. This ultimately reduces the presser exerted on the basement shown by the crustal layer. Removable plywood as well is screwed of face of basement walls to enhance a flash flooding condition. A well-structurally designed basement construction must start with solid and strong soils. The foundation, footings must revolve around the use of strong impervious materials; the whole basement construction must be in a solid ground or undisturbed soil. Undisturbed soil per se, is soil that has been in a place for thousands of years. These soils are suitable for construction due to their Mother Nature gravitational compact. The basement construction must settle on a tightly packed soil particle. In cases where soils structure is loosely packed, precast concrete foundation systems are used in the basement construction to give the buildings a stronger foundations and shapes (Puller 2003). Lastly, for a well-structured basement foundation, the soils must be firstly inspected and tested before the footings are poured. Alternatively, concrete block may produce a strong basement in most locales. There are a number of health and safety concerns that should be observed during the basement construction phase. Generally, the contractors involved in the construction of basements must ensure they plan their work properly and install sufficient and temporary supports when excavating the foundations of these structures. These warnings follow the prosecution acts envision in the structural design of basement. When constructing a basement, for example, it must have a proper support to prevent the ground from collapsing or to stop people from falling into the construction site’s pits. Basement conversions are significant civil engineering projects; if insufficient building and construction methods are used to support underpin excavators, then the people’s lives can be put in jeopardy. This ultimately is the reason as to why contactors must follow all the established engineering principles. These principles include the installation and design on construction sites for adequate temporarily works and protection of lives. Fig. 4: Construction of a building basement Water proofing Techniques Water proofing of the basement involves applying a special membrane to the basement wall in order to help bridge cracks that may have occurred in the basement wall thereby preventing any potential water leakages into the basement. Generally, the basement walls require an adequate protection to prevent it from water or moisture ingress. This consequently protects the basement building structures from steel reinforcement corrosion, mould and mildew development, and damage of stored goods as well as sick building syndrome development. Reinforced concrete, conventional concrete masonry walls and concrete walls that are with direct contact with ground cannot prevent water or moisture ingress. These basement materials are porous and will develop cracks even in incorporate joints construction (Koel 2000). On the other hand, painting of these materials would therefore minimise water ingress. The corrosion caused by water ingress would additionally be reduced by the use of non-corrosive materials in the basement shown construction. Lastly, the outstandingly adopted structural design method of water/moisture ingress of basement prevention is the application of waterproof membrane system. The waterproof membrane system is however not 100% guaranteed; this is as a result of basement steel reinforcement corrosion when in contact with the following conditions; above 50% relative humidity in the air and electrified system’s relative corrosion agent gases. Fig 5: Water proofing of the basement Dewatering Procedures Ground water held in the soil is one of the challenges likely to face the construction of the basement at the north end of the workshop. For example, the water in the soil not only increases the tendency of the soil to slide but can also present significant health safety problems to the construction workers. According to Holmes (2006, p.106), some of the potential dewatering procedures that can be undertaken to keep out ground water from the basement during excavation and construction include: Constructing diaphragm walls Sheet piling Appropriate grouting to the sub soil of the site Sump pumping Use of bored wells Well point systems Generally, owner-designed dewatering systems are specially adopted in the construction of basement shown in the plan. This design may be advantageous to the owner’s engineer in relation to pre-design of the watering system and take solely risks to dewatering effectiveness. The dewatering techniques in structural construction and design of a basement shown must often be a permanent part of the structures; such that a relieved dry-docks or under-drain becomes an entity of the deeper building’s basement slab. It is normally advisable to remove the basement well-points when their use is no longer required and allow the water soil water table to collapse naturally (Puller 2003). Pipe under drains are usually left as dewatering agents in the basement constructions. The under drain pipes procedure of dewatering is often desired a better dewatering procedure especially in cases where there is a local regulations in the basement shown construction. Fig.6: Dewatering through Sump Pumping Potential Health Safety Issues and Problems There are a diverse number of potential health safety issues and other problems that are likely to be encountered during the construction of the basement shown at the north end of the workshop. For example, the deep excavations during the construction of the basement may potentially local ground movements leading to land slides thereby endangering the lives of both the construction workers as well as the people using the nearly buildings. The other important potential health safety hazards include falling from height, lifting operation accidents, slips, falls and trips (Holmes, 2006). Finally, ground water leakage into the basement can also pose a serious health safety issues to the construction workers. Conclusion and Recommendations In conclusion, based on an analysis of the site, elevation and requirements of the basement at the north end of the workshop, a top down (downward) construction method is the most suited technique for the substructure construction of the basement. Unlike the conventional upward method, this technique will offer numerous advantages to the basement construction some of which may include reduced working space requirements, time saving and elimination of most of the basement construction problems such as sludge and ground water leakage among others. However, based on the basement plan, sections, elevation an d site layout, the choice of the construction technique or method for the basement is likely to depend on a number of factors some of which may include the site conditions, the potential costs, requires performance of the basement as well as the personal preferences of the project stakeholders. References Holmes, R.2006. Introduction to Civil Engineering Construction. London: McGraw Hill publishers. Koel, L. (2000). Construction print reading. Albany: Delmar Publishers. Puller, M. (2003). Deep excavations: A practical manual. London: Thomas Telford. Read More