Name : Chin Khang Wei

Student ID : 0320728

Subjects :

Measurement 1 (QSB 60104)

Building Material (BLD 62003)

Construction Technology 1 (BLD 60104)

TECHNICAL SITE VISIT TO SEMI-D HOUSE

LOCATED IN

SEKSYEN 2A, ANTARA GAPI, HULU SELANGOR

Our Site Itinerary

Introduction

This project requires us to attend an on-going construction to site survey. Hence, under the

supervision from our dear lecturer, Ms Ang and Ms Azrina who arranged the visit, we went to a

semi-D site in Antara Gapi, Hulu Selangor with our classmate. It is indeed a pleasant experience

exploring and learning new things together.

From the site, we are to identify various of the building elements. Apart from that, we need to

observe as well as to record the construction process and their details such as the specification of

the material used. Not forgetting to enjoy ourselves on the site and experience how a construction

is like outside our book.

After the visits, we have to come out a report with what we see, experience and understand there.

Objective

To show the importance of the site visit, this project is integrated with our Measurement 1 (QSB

60104), Construction Technology 1 (BLD 60104) and Building Materials (BLD 62003), carrying 10%

for each module.

At the end of this assignment, we are to

- Comprehend the basics of the construction process

- Witness the usage of construction equipment on site

- Explore and identify various types of building materials and technology

- Explain the construction of buildings and the scientific principles that

underpin the design and construction

- Experience the construction site including the safety precautions

- Understand the future job’s scope and role in the industry

- Acknowledge teamwork in construction industry by understanding the roles

of architects, project manager, engineers, contractor and others in a site.

Our site visit at Antara Gapi, Hulu Selangor Our Assignment Brief

The Construction Site

Date and Time of Site Visit : 19th November 2015 (8.00am – 12.00pm)

Project Type and Function : 96 unit of Double-Storey (40’x80’) Semi-D Housing Lot

Location and Area : PT 613 – 891, Seksyen 2A, Antara Gapi, Bdr Sg. Chik, Hulu Selangor.

Approximate Cost : RM 44, 000,000

Project Manager : Mr. Mohd Sobri Bin Haji Abdul Majid

Contractor : Siak Siong Constrution Sdn. Bhd. – Grade G7 (CIDB)

Project Period : 2 years (currently 40% upon its completion)

Starting and Finishing Date : 8 July 2014 – 4 July 2016

Our Journey

As we told for our assignment, we gathered at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus’s bus stop. We

are taking busses to get to our site. After marking the attendance and a small briefing, our class are

Name card shared by Mr Mohd Sobri, the

project manager of this site

The layout plan of the project, planning of 96 units of

Semi-D Bangalow

The construction details printed

outside the site

The Work Schedule and working list of the site

separated into two groups into different busses. Each groups is under guidance and supervision of

Ms Ang and Ms Azrina. I am the first batch, so I am following Ms Ang in the same bus.

We were told to wear proper attire for the site visit for our safety precautions. Ms Azrina is so

worried about us as she keep reminding us for our safety gear before the site visit. She even make

sure all of us brought the correct attire when she is marking our attendance in the morning.

Fortunately of her kind reminder, all of us are wearing long pants, covered shoes, most importantly

safety helmets.

The journey was around 65 km distance from Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, taking us about

an hour and half to reach there. We sat near Ms Ang in the bus during the trip, hence we have the

chance to interact with Ms Ang and ask about the future life as a Quantity Surveyor. She gave us lot

of advice, story and insight about this profession.

Upon arrival, we were briefed by the project manager, Mr Mohd Sobri, followed by the site safety

officer, Mr Afizi. They briefly explained about the construction project and the site surrounding to

us. They want each of us take extra precaution on our surroundings to avoid any potential danger

especially we are on our first time on site visit. Then, we split into smaller group lead by Mr Mod

Sobri and Mr Afizi.

From the briefing, we knew that their scope of works including the site clearance, earthwork,

construction of bored pile, piling and pile cap work. They are currently on the stage for constructing

basement slab, beams, retaining wall, ground floor slab, brickwork, staircases and roofing.

Technical Observation

Consider to the clay soil condition, safety and comparatively high intensity of semi-D load, this

construction is applying pile foundation.

Pile foundations have 2 major components which are the pile caps (pad footing) on top of either

single or a group of piles. Pile foundations are deep foundation for better load bearing capacity on

any type of soil surfaces. The piles are formed by long, slender, columnar elements usually made of

steel or reinforced concrete. Pile foundation principally used to transfer loads from a

superstructure through weak and compressible strata onto less compressible and stiffer soil.

The piles on this site are classified as friction piles (most of the pile-bearing capacity is developed by

shear stresses along the sides of the pile). These piles are driven piles, prefabricated off site and

then driven into the ground. These driven piles are useful in offshore applications, stable in soft

squeezing soil and can densify loose soil.

However, according to Mr Mohd Sobri, strip foundation is also used for Type 2B due to soil

condition and slopping of land. Mr Afizi also stated that, the difference of these foundations was

primarily based on cost effectiveness of the project.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pile Foundation

Advantages Disadvantages

Finishing work is neat and clean. Pile might break or crack during piling drive.

Not affected by soil movement. Require Heavy Machinery.

Can be driven into very long length. Incurring higher cost.

Construction operations (piling) not affected by ground water.

Displacement of soil during piling drive may lift adjacent piles or damage adjacent structures.

Designed to withstand high bending and tensile stresses.

Time consuming as it needs to let it settle after driven piling.

In this project, the piles are all precast from the factory. Precast Concrete Piles are cast, cured and

stored on the site before they are installed in the field by driving. These precast piles are usually

15m to 24m long and can be specifically designed for a wide range of loads. Typical loads that these

piles can carry are 222kN to 524kN provided the maximum stress in concrete is not more than 33%

of 28-day strength.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Precast Concrete Piles

Advantages Disadvantages

Lesser in cost of manufacturing compare to bored piles.

These piles are heavy and required special equipment for handling and transportation.

Defects in piles can be easily identified after the removal of forms and can be repaired during driving.

Sufficient care must be taken at the time of transportation to prevent damages.

Can be driven even under water. Length of the pile is often limited depends on the transportation facilities.

A Piling Simple Diagram Friction Piles uses the surface friction The pile on the site

Better quality control on the piles as compared to bored cast in situ piles.

It is not possible to increase the length of the pile once constructed.

Can be constructed into various cross-sectional shapes as per requirement.

Pile Driving creates a lot of noise and vibration pollution.

How is a pad footing is constructed?

1) The pad footing is the cap after piling and sits on the top of the piles. Hence, driven piling is

required before constructing the pad footing with a hydraulic pile driver.

2) The pile surface above the ground was later hacked off to expose its reinforcement bar

ready to receive pad footing.

3) It started with pegging the site with correct position around the piles based on the engineer

drawing.

4) Excavation commences, until down to the desired level with soffit of footing allowance for

thickness of lean concrete. An extra space is also required as the labour working spaces. According

to Mr Afizi, the excavation on the site takes longer time due to the soil condition and recent rainy

seasons. Retention wall was also built along time after the excavation, as this site is on the slope.

The piles after piling driven,

exposing the top waiting to be

hacked off

Excavation after piling to receive pad footing, water

pump needed to pump out the surface water

Retention wall between the upper and lower ground for

safety and firmness when constructing pad footing

5) A layer of lean concrete was laid to prepare a clean and firm base for the pad footing. Lean

concrete provides a uniform surface for the pad footing and act as a protection layer separating

between the foundations with the soil.

6) Four-sided Formwork was sawn and hammered based on the size of the pad footing

required.

7) Spacer blocks are placed before the reinforcement bar been laid. This is meant to provide

sufficient concrete cover lifting up the reinforcement bar on the next step. The reinforcement bars

have to be in the middle of the concrete to provide extra strength and fire resistance to the pad

footing.

8) Mr Afizi mentioned that they are using high tensile rebar, both 12mm diameter and 16mm

diameter. The reinforcement bar were bent and tied to form a basket or a cage in advanced. The

whole “basket” is then lowered and placed inside the formwork. The steel “basket” has to make

sure it sits properly on concrete cover to avoid touching the lean concrete.

Steel “basket” or “cage” for the pad footing Workers bending bars to form necessary shape for the

pad footing

The steel bar bending and cutting machine used to do

anchoring, hooking, bending and so on Small iron wire used to

tied up between the

stirrups and the main bars

to stay and from the

shape

9) Stump reinforcement bars are then erected for the column stump with stirrups. The length

of the reinforcement bars should be extended beyond stump level and act as starter bars for

column above the ground.

10) Extra wooden plank is set on top to provide necessary addition ties to formwork.

11) The concrete was then poured into the formwork. Mr Afizi said they were using Grade 30N

concrete for the pad footing. All of the concrete was prepared from the factory and delivered on

the site with a call. Compacting and vibrating the concrete is needed to have even surface during

this process.

12) Concrete will let it alone to set and curing to avoid excessive loss of water during hardening.

Mr Afizi and his workers have to prepare extra plastic sheets to protect the pad footing from the

recent rains. The evaporating process also takes a longer time due to recent moisty rainy season.

When the concrete has gained sufficient strength, formwork can be dismantled. The pad footing is

readily to be used.

What are the materials involved in constructing a pad footing?

- Formwork

Plank wood is the material used for the formwork constructing pad footing. It is more

economical and easily sawn and shape to desired shape.

- Hammer

Hammer was used to nail the formwork together to receive concrete. After the concrete is

hardened, the formwork was stripped with the same hammer as well.

- Lean Concrete (Grade 30N)

Grade 30N was prepared on site and poured after the excavation to form a lean concrete

about 50mm thickness. It is the protective barrier and provide smooth surface for the pad

footing.

Sawn formwork with hardened concrete, the pad footing is

completed and ready to use

- Concrete (Grade 30N)

The grade of pad footing concrete is the same as the lean concrete. Due to large volume of

concrete required, the Grade 30N concrete is prepared off site and delivered to site when

necessary. The concrete cover is also made from the pieces of the same concrete.

- Reinforcement Bars

High tensile 12mm and 16mm in diameter was used to reinforce the pad footing structure.

- Reinforcement Bars Cutter and Bender

The workers bend and cut all the reinforcement bars in the site with this machine.

- Concrete Truck

The concrete truck from the IJM factory was delivered to the site keeping the concrete fresh

along the journey.

- Excavator and Bull Dozer

Excavator was used for excavation for the work and bulldozer move the excavated material

away from the pad footing.

- Concrete Vibrator

This machine is to ensure the even spread of the concrete in the pad footing formwork to

guarantee his strength after hardening.

Reinforcement bar with smaller diameter, 12mm Reinforcement bar with larger diameter, 16mm

We are lucky as the worker is operating the

excavator, hence, we got the chance tho see this

“monster” performs.

Reflection

I believe all of our classmates truly learned a lot in this site visit as I do. From this site visit, I have

experienced how it feels like to be in the construction site for the first time and this was pretty

exciting. This site visit aids me to visualise the items that need to be measured and understand by

using all of my five senses. It is wonderful to see the real object in front of me rather than referring

only form the book and Internet. Both Mr Mohd Sobri and Mr Afizi were so much patiently

answering each of our questions and bring us through the process of constructing the semi-D house.

I also see that safety is important on the site no matter you are a veteran or a novice. Danger can

happened anywhere without noticing. This is also the good place to talk to some of the officer

involved on the site to get more insights and experiences on this very field that I am going to

contribute in the future. I notice that teamwork is important and vital at a site when different

professions come together interact to work on the project, to build a safe and beautiful building for

the public.

Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to Ms Azrina who helped arranging this

opportunity for us. Not forgetting Ms Ang, Mr Mohd Sobri and Mr Afizi explain, and sharing what

they know to us.

Mr Mohd Sobri, project manager is giving explanations

and guidance on the site

The contractor prepared drinks after our site visit, saviour

under the hot sun, thank you!

A group photos after our site visit with Mr Mohd Sobri Our interview session to the worker there to get to know

more the life in construction site

Computer Rendering Proposal

for the overall site

Type 1 Proposed Image Type 2A (Upper Level)

Proposed Image

Type 2B (Lower Level)

Proposed Image Type 3 Proposed Image

Proposed Ironmongery and

Door Knob for all the Semi-D

Proposed Floor Tiles and

Colour of Wall for the Semi-D