HOW TO SET-OUT HOW TO SET-OUT A BUILDING ?A BUILDING ?

LECTURE BY : PN. NORSUZILAWATE BINTI ZULKAPLI

BCT 303 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2

CHAPTER 4 : SETTING-OUT BUILDING LINE

Building ProfilesBuilding Profiles

How to establish the building line (profile, How to establish the building line (profile, perimeter of a building) and ensure it is perimeter of a building) and ensure it is square and level. square and level.

Suitable for square or rectangular Suitable for square or rectangular buildings. buildings.

1. 1. Peg the four outside corners:Peg the four outside corners:

Determine the location Determine the location of the building in relation of the building in relation to other buildings and to other buildings and boundaries (as usually boundaries (as usually shown on the site-plan shown on the site-plan or other relevant plan), or other relevant plan), and place pegs in the and place pegs in the ground marking the four ground marking the four corners of the building. corners of the building.

Check to see if the pegs are square and form an exact Check to see if the pegs are square and form an exact rectangle. This can be done by making sure that: rectangle. This can be done by making sure that:

1).1). Line Line AA-CCAA-CC and line and line BB-DDBB-DD are parallel. are parallel. Line Line AA-BBAA-BB and line and line CC-DDCC-DD are parallel. (as are parallel. (as shown in the drawing below) shown in the drawing below) 2).2). The distance between peg The distance between peg AAAA and peg and peg BBBB is is the same as the distance between peg the same as the distance between peg CCCC and and peg peg DDDD. . 3).3). The distance between peg The distance between peg AAAA and peg and peg CCCC is is the same as the distance between peg the same as the distance between peg BBBB and and peg peg DDDD. . 4).4). The distance between peg The distance between peg AAAA and peg and peg DDDD (the diagonals) is the same as the distance (the diagonals) is the same as the distance between peg between peg BBBB and peg and peg CCCC. .

Check to see if the pegs are square and form an Check to see if the pegs are square and form an exact rectangle :exact rectangle :

2. Hammer in the stakes and mark 2. Hammer in the stakes and mark the height: the height:

Cut 12 stakes 600 (2ft) long, out of 50x50 (2x2) stock (or similar). Cut a Cut 12 stakes 600 (2ft) long, out of 50x50 (2x2) stock (or similar). Cut a point at one end of each stake so they can be easily hammered into the point at one end of each stake so they can be easily hammered into the ground. ground.

Position the twelve stakes as shown in the diagram (3 at each corner) and Position the twelve stakes as shown in the diagram (3 at each corner) and hammer them firmly into the ground. hammer them firmly into the ground.

Note: If the ground is sloping, then the stakes will need to be longer at the Note: If the ground is sloping, then the stakes will need to be longer at the lower corners to compensate. lower corners to compensate.

2. Hammer in the stakes and mark 2. Hammer in the stakes and mark the height: the height:

The stakes should be at least 600 (2ft) out The stakes should be at least 600 (2ft) out from the building line to allow room to dig from the building line to allow room to dig the corner footing holes. If a machine is the corner footing holes. If a machine is required to dig the footings, then the required to dig the footings, then the stakes will need to be further out from the stakes will need to be further out from the building line. building line.

2. Hammer in the stakes and mark 2. Hammer in the stakes and mark the height:the height:

Make a level mark on all twelve stakes Make a level mark on all twelve stakes beginning approx 150 (6") above ground level, at beginning approx 150 (6") above ground level, at the corner where the ground is the highest (if the the corner where the ground is the highest (if the ground is sloping). Keeping the batter boards ground is sloping). Keeping the batter boards close to the ground saves the need for bracing. close to the ground saves the need for bracing. The height is only a reference height, so it does The height is only a reference height, so it does not really matter if the marks are slightly higher not really matter if the marks are slightly higher or lower, as long as they are all level. The or lower, as long as they are all level. The water level method water level method is one way of finding is one way of finding accurate levels. accurate levels.

2. Hammer in the stakes and mark 2. Hammer in the stakes and mark the height:the height:

3. 3. Fixing the batter boards to the stakes: Fixing the batter boards to the stakes:

Once a level line has been established and Once a level line has been established and marked on all twelve stakes, proceed nailing marked on all twelve stakes, proceed nailing batter boards to the stakes, so that the top of the batter boards to the stakes, so that the top of the batter board is flush with the level line marked batter board is flush with the level line marked on the stakes. on the stakes. The batter boards (8 in all) can be 100x25 (1x4) The batter boards (8 in all) can be 100x25 (1x4) or 150x25 (1x6), and of boxing grade or low or 150x25 (1x6), and of boxing grade or low grade stock. Depending upon how far the grade stock. Depending upon how far the profiles are set back from the building line, each profiles are set back from the building line, each can be about 1500 (5ft) long. can be about 1500 (5ft) long.

4. 4. Put up the string line:Put up the string line:

Run a taut string line from batter board to Run a taut string line from batter board to batter board, passing directly over the batter board, passing directly over the pegs. Fix to each batter board between 2 pegs. Fix to each batter board between 2 nails, which will act as guide nails. nails, which will act as guide nails.

4. 4. Put up the string line:Put up the string line:

This will now show the approximate This will now show the approximate building line and perimeter of your project, building line and perimeter of your project, but more exact measurements are but more exact measurements are needed. needed.

5. Parallels and Diagonals: 5. Parallels and Diagonals:

The following exercise is the same as in The following exercise is the same as in STEP 1. where the pegs on the ground STEP 1. where the pegs on the ground were checked to ensure they were parallel were checked to ensure they were parallel and square. This time, the string line and square. This time, the string line directly above the pegs needs to be directly above the pegs needs to be checked so that it is also parallel and checked so that it is also parallel and square. square.

5. Parallels and Diagonals:5. Parallels and Diagonals:

Check that the distance between the string line Check that the distance between the string line at point at point AAAA and and BBBB and the distance between and the distance between DDDD and and CCCC are equal. If not, make any are equal. If not, make any necessary adjustments by moving the string line necessary adjustments by moving the string line in or out along the batter board and adjust the in or out along the batter board and adjust the guide nails accordingly. The distance between guide nails accordingly. The distance between AAAA and and CCCC and the distance between and the distance between BBBB and and DDDD, also need to be equal. Make any necessary , also need to be equal. Make any necessary adjustments adjustments

5. Parallels and Diagonals:5. Parallels and Diagonals:

Once the perimeters are parallel, the diagonals Once the perimeters are parallel, the diagonals need to be measured to ensure that the building need to be measured to ensure that the building line is square.line is square.Do this by measuring the distance between Do this by measuring the distance between AAAA and and DDDD and the distance between and the distance between BBBB and and CCCC (the diagonals). Make any necessary (the diagonals). Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the diagonals are equal adjustments to ensure the diagonals are equal and if adjustments are required, re-check the and if adjustments are required, re-check the parallels again, since altering the diagonals will parallels again, since altering the diagonals will also change the parallels. also change the parallels.

5. Parallels and Diagonals:5. Parallels and Diagonals:

When the building lines are parallel and When the building lines are parallel and the diagonals are equal, the building line is the diagonals are equal, the building line is then square. You now have a level, square then square. You now have a level, square building line to work from. building line to work from.

5. Parallels and Diagonals:5. Parallels and Diagonals:

NOTE 1. In this example, the height of the string NOTE 1. In this example, the height of the string line, which borders the perimeter of the building, line, which borders the perimeter of the building, is a "datum" or reference height. This means it is is a "datum" or reference height. This means it is not a specific height for anything particular, not a specific height for anything particular, therefore any specific building height can be therefore any specific building height can be measured down from, or up from the string line. measured down from, or up from the string line. For example: if the string line is 200 (8") above For example: if the string line is 200 (8") above ground level where the ground is at its highest ground level where the ground is at its highest point, and the foundations are to be 150 (6") point, and the foundations are to be 150 (6") above ground, then the foundations will be 50 above ground, then the foundations will be 50 (2") below the string line all the way around. (2") below the string line all the way around.

5. Parallels and Diagonals:5. Parallels and Diagonals:

NOTE 2. If the profiles are high enough off the NOTE 2. If the profiles are high enough off the ground to allow sway movement, then the ground to allow sway movement, then the profiles will need to be braced. See below. profiles will need to be braced. See below.

INTRUMENTS using in setting outINTRUMENTS using in setting out

PEGSPEGS

PLUMB BOB PLUMB BOB

CARPENTER LEVELCARPENTER LEVEL

USING CARPENTER LEVEL :

MEASURING TAPEMEASURING TAPE

SETTING OUT RIGHT ANGELS – SETTING OUT RIGHT ANGELS – the 3-4-5 methodthe 3-4-5 method

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Setting out a right angle Setting out a right angle

Step 1Step 1 In Fig. 2 la, the In Fig. 2 la, the base line is defined base line is defined by the poles (A) by the poles (A) and (B) and a right and (B) and a right angle has to be angle has to be set out from peg (C). set out from peg (C). Peg (C) is on the Peg (C) is on the base line. base line.

Step 2Step 2

Three persons hold the tape the way it has been Three persons hold the tape the way it has been explained above. The first person holds the zero explained above. The first person holds the zero mark of the tape together with the 5 m mark on mark of the tape together with the 5 m mark on top of peg (C). The second person holds the 3 m top of peg (C). The second person holds the 3 m mark in line with pole (A) and peg (C), on the mark in line with pole (A) and peg (C), on the base line. The third person holds the 4 m mark base line. The third person holds the 4 m mark and, after stretching the tape, he places a peg at and, after stretching the tape, he places a peg at point (D). The angle between the line connecting point (D). The angle between the line connecting peg (C) and peg (D) and the base line is a right peg (C) and peg (D) and the base line is a right angle (see Fig. 21b). Line CD can be extended angle (see Fig. 21b). Line CD can be extended by sighting ranging poles. by sighting ranging poles.

The endThe end