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1.5 SELECTION OF SITE FOR BUILDINGS :-

1. The soil of site should have good bearing capacity. Hard strata should be available
at reasonable depth, around 1.2m to1.5m depth from ground level.
2. The site should be on elevated ground. It should have slope towards front street to
afford good facility of drainage.
3. Sites nearer to ponds ,pools of water, water logged areas must be avoided as they
remain in damp condition .
4. Sites near to high voltage power transmission lines are avoided.
5. Sites very nearer to big shopping complexes , markets, railway station ,airport are
avoided
6. The surrounding of site should be pleasing and calm.
7. The orientation of site should be such that it receives natural light and air in
plenty.
8. The location of site is such that the common facilities like school, transportation,
medical facilities etc are within reasonable range.
9. Sites in developed colonies should be preferred.
10. The layout of the colony should be approved by local authorities. This will help in
getting essential facilities like water , drainage ,electricity, telephone connection The following are the basic component parts of a residential building:-

etc easily. 1. Foundation

1.6 COMPONENTS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING 2. Plinth

Building component means any subsystem, subassembly, or other system designed for use in, 3. Walls and columns

or as part of, a structure, which may include structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and 4. Sills, lintels and chejjas

fire protection systems and other systems affecting health and safety. 5. Doors and windows

The basic function of a building is to provide structurally sound and environmentally 6. Floors

controlled spaces to house and protect occupants and contents.A building is combination of 7. Roofs

various components. A Civil Engineer should have good knowledge of execution of each and 8. Steps, stairs and lifts

every component with respect to design layouts given by Architect. 9. Finishing work
10. Building services.
11. Parapet

The functions of these elements and the main requirement of them are discussed below-
1. Foundation:
Foundation is the most important part of the building. Building activity starts

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with digging the ground for foundation and then building it. It is the lower most part of the  Chejja is the projection given outside the wall to protect doors and windows from
building. It transfers the load of the building to the ground. Its main functions and the rain. They are usually made with R.C.C. In low cost houses stone slabs are
requirements are: provided as chejjas. The projection of chejja varies from 600 mm to 800 mm.
(a) Distribute the load from the structure to soil evenly and safely. Sometimes drops are also provided to chejjas to improve aesthetic look and also to
(b) To anchor the building to the ground so that under lateral loads building will not move. get additional protection from sun and rain.
(c) It prevents the building from overturning due to lateral forces. 5. Doors and Windows:-
(d) It gives level surface for the construction of super structure.  The function of a door is to give access to different rooms in the building and to deny
the access whenever necessary. Number of doors should be minimum possible. The
2. Plinth: size of the door should be of such dimension as will facilitate the movement of the
 The portion of the wall between the ground level and the ground floor level is called largest object likely to use the door.
plinth. It is usually of stone masonry. If the foundation is on piles, a plinth beam is cast to  Windows are provided to get light and ventilation in the building. They are located at
support wall above floor level. At the top of plinth, a damp proof course is provided. It is a height of 0.75 m to 0.9 m from the floor level. In hot and humid regions, the
usually 75 mm thick plain concrete course. window area should be 15 to 20 per cent of the floor area. Another thumb rule used to
 The function of the plinth is to keep the ground floor above ground level, free of determine the size and the number of windows is for every 30 sq. m of inside volume
dampness. Its height is not less than 450 mm. It is required that plinth level is at there should be 1 sq. m window opening.
least 150 mm above the road level, so that connections to underground drainage 6. Floors:-
system can be made.  Floors are the important component of a building. They give working/useful area for
3.Walls and Columns:- the occupants. The ground floor is prepared by filling brick bats, waste stones, gravel
The function of walls and columns is to transfer the load of the structure vertically and well compacted with not less than 100 mm sand layer on its top. A lean concrete
downwards to transfer it to foundation. Apart from this wall performs the following functions of 1 : 4 : 8, 100 mm thick is laid. On this a damp proof course may be provided. Then
also: floor finishing is done as per the requirement of the owner.
(a) It encloses building area into different compartments and provides privacy.  Cheapest floor finish for a moderate house is with 20 to 25 mm rich mortar course
(b) It provides safety from burglary and insects. finished with red oxide. The costliest floor finish is mosaic or marble finishing. Other
(c) It keeps the building warm in winter and cool in summer. floors are usually of R.C.C. finished as per the requirements of the owner.
7. Roof:-
4. Sills, Lintels and Chejjas:-  Roof is the top most portion of the building which provide top cover to the building. It
 A window frame should not be directly placed over masonry. It is placed over 50 should be leak proof. Sloping roof like tiled and A.C. sheet give leak proof cover
mm to 75 mm thick plain concrete course provided over the masonry. This course easily. But they do not give provision for the construction of additional floor. Tiled
is called as sill. roof gives good thermal protection. Flat roofs give provision for additional floors.
 Lintels are the R.C.C. or stone beams provided over the door and window Terrace adds to the comfort of occupants. Water tanks can be easily placed over the
openings to transfer the load transversely so as to see that door or window frame is flat roofs.
not stressed unduly. The width of lintels is equal to the width of wall while
thickness to be provided depends upon the opening size.

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8. Step, Stairs and Lifts:-  The sanitary fittings are to be connected to stone ware pipes with suitable traps and
 Steps give convenient access from ground level to ground floor level. They are chambers. Stone ware pipes are then connected to underground drainage of municipal
required at doors in the outer wall. 250 to 300 mm wide and 150 mm rise is ideal size lines or to the septic tank.
for steps. In no case the size of two consecutive steps be different. Number of steps  Many carpentry works are required for building service. They are in the form of
required depends upon the difference in the levels of the ground and the floor. showcases, cupboards, racks etc.
 Stairs give access from floor to floor. They should consist of steps of uniform sizes.  Electric supply is essential part of building services. The building should be
In all public buildings lifts are to be provided for the conveniences of old and provided with sufficient points for supply of lights, fans and other electric gadgets.
disabled persons.
 In hostels G + 3 floors can be without lifts. Lift is to be located near the entrance. 11.Parapet:-
Size of the lift is decided by the number of users in peak hours. Lifts are available  The parapet is a minor wall around the edge of a roof, balcony, terrace, or stairway,
with capacity 4 to 20 persons. usually covering the roof’s perimeter. It protects the top and pre-built structures from
10. Finishing:- corrosion and degradation.
 Bottom portion of slab (ceiling), walls and top of floor need smooth finishing
with plaster. Then they are provided with white wash, distemper or paints or tiles.
The function of finishing work is:
o Give protective cover
o Improve aesthetic view
o Rectify defective workmanship
o Finishing work for plinth consists in pointing while for floor it consists in
polishing.
 Building Services:-
 Water supply, sanitation and drainage works, electric supply work and
construction of cupboards and show cases constitute major building services.
 For storing water from municipal supply or from tanker a sump is built in the house
property near street. From the sump water is pumped to overhead tanks placed on or
above roof level so as to get water all the 24 hours. Plumbing work is made so as to
get water in kitchen, bathrooms, water closets, sinks and garden taps. For draining
rain water from roofs, down take pipes of at least 100 mm diameters should be used.
Proper slopes should be given to roof towards down take pipe. These pipes should be
fixed at 10 to 15 mm below the roof surface so that rain water is directed to the down
take pipe easily.

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