Quality assurance in construction
activity relates to proper design, use of adequate quality materials and
components supplied by various vendors, proper execution of work by the
contractor during construction and finally proper care during the use of
structure including timely and periodic maintenance and repair by the user or
owner.Hence, for quality structure every one starting from the planner,
architect, designer, contractor, supplier of materials and the owner become
responsible. Only then the final structure will have satisfactory strength,
serviceability and long durability ensuring advantageous lower life cycle cost.Most apartment buildings are made of RCC frames. The properties of the
completed structures should be consistent with the user requirements and
assumptions made during planning and design. This could be achieved only by
proper quality assurance measures.
Quality assurance involves both
technical and organizational aspects.The apartment project should have an
explicit Quality Assurance Plan.This plan should identify key elements
necessary to provide fitness of structure and the methods by which it is
provided and quantitatively measured. This will give all the stakeholders, the
confidence that the realized project will work as per norms in service, thus
fulfilling the user needs.This will involve quality checks (audit) of both
inputs and outputs.Inputs are in the form of materials, machinery and
manpower.Workmanship in all stages of batching, mixing, transportation,
placing, compaction and curing should be explicitly checked and recorded.
The quality of the final product
will be satisfactory only if approved plants and machinery, and equipments for
the process are used. All these should form part of the quality assurance plan.To ensure that the inputs comply with design an inspection procedure should be
set up covering materials, records, workmanship and construction.Tests should
be made on reinforcements and constituent materials of concrete in accordance
with Bureau of Indian Standards.There should be clear instructions on
inspection standards.
The elements should be checked against the design detail
with due allowance for dimensional tolerance.The output is in the form of
concrete and elements of the structure in place.To ensure proper performance
each step in construction should be inspected before the next step is taken.
This should be followed as the work progresses. Care should be taken to see
that elements critical to workman- ship, structural performance, durability and
appearance are identified for special inspection.The system to verify the
quality should include the individual parts of the structure especially the
identified critical ones. Immediately after stripping the formwork, all
concrete shall be carefully inspected and any blemishes or defects rectified
before proceeding with further work.
Supervision
Supervision at each step is a part
of the plan. It is not possible to alter concrete dimension once placed. Hence
constant and strict supervision is a must during the progress of work.This
should include all aspects of concreting such as proportioning, mixing, placing
and curing. Supervision is of extreme importance to check the reinforcements
and its relative disposition before being covered by concrete. Each and every
contributor to the project should make and implement a quality assurance plan
with respect to the project. Supplier, contractor and sub-contractor's
participation should be covered by the overall plan. The individual agency's
Quality Assurance Plan should fit as a part of overall plan. The plan should
define the tasks and responsibilities of all agencies involved. It should state
adequate checking procedures and the organizational set-up for documentation.
The owner should have a periodic maintenance plan to ensure long and
trouble-free service from the quality structure. Maintenance is also required
to keep the structure in a fit condition to resist unexpected over-loading due
to disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones. Such maintenance scheme will
also reduce the life cycle cost of the structure.
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