Construction Procedure for Building Finishing Work

A strict implementation of a Construction Procedure for Building Finishing Works ensures that building finishing works is carried out safely in accordance with good working practice as per specification. This procedure is intended to provide general application guidance and establish controls during preparation and installation.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Civil Superintendent / Supervisor

Ensure full compliance by all civil foremen, craftsmen, labor, equipment operator regarding execution of the work in accordance with the project requirements, procedure, ITP and specifications. Confirm the availability of all materials, tools, equipment, and required personnel who will carry out the work. Ensure that the necessary permit required prior to any work is on hand.

2. Quality Control Inspector 

Conduct inspection in accordance with this procedure and ITP. Monitors daily building activities and verify compliance to the specifications. Prepares quality records and final acceptance documentation where required.

3. Safety Supervisor 

Check the work areas for any unsafe conditions. Ensure that all safety requirements have been adequately addressed and the work is carried out in accordance with the safety procedures.

4. Engineering Department 

Provide technical support to site operation group, IFC drawings, procedures, material specifications standards and technical specifications. Likewise, they are responsible for customer’s review of drawings, data and resolution of technical work execution problem.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Concrete, concrete reinforcing steel and concrete accessories shall be furnished and installed in accordance with approved procedure.

EXECUTION

1. SANITARY EQUIPMENT

a) Toilet and bath accessories shall be as per approved material submittal conforming to approve manufacturer and material specifications unless otherwise indicated. 

b) Install accessories using the appropriate fasteners recommended by the manufacturer.

c) Install the units level, plumb and firmly anchored on required location and heights mentioned on specifications unless indicated on Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

d) Adjust accessories for smooth operation and verify that mechanisms are functioning properly. Replace damage or defective items.

e) Clean and polish exposed surfaces according to manufacturer’s recommendation.

2. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

a) Installation of equipment should be as per correct alignment and elevation indicated on drawings.

b) Start equipment and operating components to ensure proper operation. Remove malfunctioning units, replace with new units, and retest.

3. MASONRY BRICKWORK

a) Concrete masonry unit (CMU) to be used shall be as per the size requirement shown on the Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

b) Hollow Load-Bearing Concrete Masonry Unit shall conform to ASTM C 90, Grade N and Non-Load Bearing Concrete Masonry Units per ASTM C 129 may be used if available.

c) Concrete masonry units should be laid staggered and must be aligned in vertical and horizontal direction. The joint thickness should be 10mm to 12mm wide unless otherwise indicated.

d) The height of masonry to be laid per day should not exceed the required height shown on the Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

e) Masonry mortar for setting block wall shall be in accordance with ASTM C-270 Type S with corresponding proportion as follows:

• Cement: 1 part (by volume )
• Hydrated Lime : 1 part (by volume)
• Sand : 4 part (by volume)
• Water: sufficient to make a plastic mix that can be trowelled and will develop a complete bond
• Mortar Plasticizer: Dosage as recommended by the manufacturer

f) Masonry mortar shall not be mixed in advance of the time it is to be used in the work. Mortar that is not used within one hour shall be discarded. Re-tempering of mortar in which cement had started to set will not be permitted.

g) Reinforcing steel to be used shall be as per the size shown on Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

h) Provide lintel where indicated on Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

i) Provide continuous horizontal reinforcement where indicated on drawings.

4. METAL SHEET ROOFING AND SIDING WORK

a) Exterior walls and roof shall be insulated steel panels/siding complying with specification unless otherwise indicated.

b) Panel/siding profile shall be “as per approved” type as produced by approved manufacturer.

c) Exterior coating finishes for insulated steel wall panels/siding, flashing, trim, fascia, gutters, gutter cradles and downspouts shall be per specification. Paint color shall be "as per approved paint code color" or approved equal.

5. PLASTERING WORK

1. Preparation

a) Clean plaster bases and substrates for direct application of plaster, removing loose material and substances that may impair proper adhesion.

b) Etch concrete and concrete unit masonry surfaces indicated for direct plaster application and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

c) Apply bonding agent on concrete and concrete unit masonry surfaces indicated for direct plaster application and the material shall conform to ASTM C 932 or approved equal complying to manufacturer’s recommendation.

d) Install temporary grounds and screeds if required to ensure accurate rodding of plaster to true surfaces.

2. General

a) Plaster materials i.e. base coat shall be as per the following types unless otherwise indicated:

• Portland Cement per ASTM C 150, Type I
• Portland Cement per ASTM C 150, Type II for Sulfate Resistance Application
• Masonry Cement per ASTM C 91, Type N for Sulfate Resistance Application

b) Sand aggregate shall conform to ASTM C 897 and potable water shall be used for mixing.

c) Plaster mixes and compositions shall comply with ASTM C 926 for base and finish coat mixes.

d) Proportion materials for respective base coats in parts by volume per sum of cementitious materials for aggregates to comply with the following requirements for each method of application and plaster base indicated. Adjust mix proportions below within limits specified to attain workability.

d.1) Two-Coat Work over CMU:

• 1 part Portland Cement, ¾ to 1-1/2 parts lime, 3 to 4 aggregate

d.2) Job-Mixed Finish Coats: Proportion materials for finish coats in parts by volume for cementitious materials and parts by volume per sum of cementitious materials to comply with the following requirements:

• 1 part Portland Cement, ¾ to 1-1/2 parts lime, 3 parts sand or,
• 1 part Portland Cement, ¾ to 1-1/2 parts lime, 2 parts perlite

e) Mechanically mix cementitious and aggregate materials for plasters to comply with applicable referenced standard and with plaster manufacturer’s recommendations.

f) The thickness of plaster should be 20mm thick unless otherwise noted.

g) Curing time for plastering work should be overnight after application of succeeding coat.

6. DOOR and WINDOW

a) Exterior doors and frames shall be steel as per specification.

b) Finish hardware shall be installed in locations and by methods recommended by manufacturer.

c) Hardware shall be installed accurately and securely and in strict compliance with manufacturer’s recommendation.

                               

d) Louvers shall be as per specification. Paint finish shall match wall finish.

e) All exterior doors, frames, and louvers shall be finish painted as per specification requirements. Paint color shall be approved by owner.

7. ACOUSTICAL TILE SUSPENDED CEILING

a) Material to be used shall be lightweight ceiling frame as per approved material submittal.

b) Acoustic board size shall be "as per approved size" unless otherwise indicated on drawings.

c) Suspension support shall be galvanized as required by the type of ceiling to be used.

8. PLUMBING

a) Plumbing materials to be used shall be as per approved material submittal.

b) Layout and installation of plumbing system shall be as per Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

c) Pipe opening should be provided with caps. Caps should not be removed until fixtures are installed and final connections have been made.

d) Plumbing system should be tested as per the mark up Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID) and hydro-test matrix provided by the Contractor. 

e) Where tests show leak, lines affected should be repaired and re-test to be done on affected lines if applicable.

9. ACID RESISTANT CERAMIC TILE

a) Size and color of ceramic tiles including adhesive and joint sealant to be used shall be as per approved material submittal.

b) Ceramic tiles to be used shall be acid resistant type unless otherwise indicated on drawings.

c) Before tiling, the surface shall be roughened and adequately prepared to attain proper bonding.

d) Maximum thickness of joints for acid resistant tile should be 3mm wide.

10. RAISED FLOORING

a) Size and color of access flooring material and accessories to be used shall be as per approved material submittal.

b) Prior installation of access flooring, the sub-floors should be clean and dry. Any unevenness and irregularities of the sub-floors should be rectified prior installation of access flooring.

c) The entire access floor system shall be constructed in accordance with Access Floor Materials and Assemblies Standards and with NFPA Standards No. 75 and No. 101. 

d) All components of the floor system, other than its wearing surface and vinyl edge shall be anti static and of non-combustible construction.

e) The access floor system, exclusive of floor covering shall have a maximum flame spread rating of 0, a maximum smoke density factor of 10 and a maximum rating of 0 for fuel contributed when tested in accordance with ASTM E-84 Rev. B.

f) Installation of access flooring should be as per project Specification.

11. FINISH CARPENTRY AND COUNTER TOPS

a) Materials to be used shall comply to one of the following "listed approved" manufacturers for High Pressure Decorative Laminate materials.

b) Toilet room vanity tops and kitchen/coffee room counter tops indicated on drawings shall be monolithic design “as approved code” produced by "approved manufacturer", 13mm (1/2”) thick including backsplash, side splash and apron, in pattern and color “specified color code” or approved equal unless otherwise indicated.

c) Materials for woodwork if required shall comply with AWI woodworking standard and relative requirements stated on project specification.

12. PAINTING

a) Paint materials and blasting abrasives to be used should be as per approved material submittal.

b) Blasting and coating equipments e.g. air receivers, high pressure blasting hose, blasting pot, etc. should be check for suitability and safe operation with latest test inspection certificate attached.

c) Blasting nozzles should contain an operational deadman control valve.

d) Surface preparation and DFT requirements should be as per coating specification and paint manufacturer’s recommendation.

e) Coating shall not be applied if any of the following conditions exists:

• Substrate surface temperature is less than 10°C or more than 60°C unless the coating is specifically designed for this purpose
• Substrate surface contain oil, grease, dirt loose paint, loose rust, mill scale or other contaminants
• Substrate temperature is less than 3°C above the dew point
• When adverse weather conditions exist such as wind blown sand or rain etc. that could contaminate the coating during application, or where the spray pattern is disturbed during spray application.
• The relative humidity is above 85% (95% for inorganic zinc) or as per contract specification

13. WATER PROOFING (ROOF DECK) 

a) Water proofing membrane shall be as per approved material conforming to the details shown on Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings.

b) Substrate shall be clean of dust debris and moisture and other foreign material detrimental to the installation of protective membrane.

c) Substrate shall be clean of dust debris and moisture and other foreign material detrimental to the installation of protective membrane.

d) Surface of concrete deck shall be primed with asphalt primer at a rate of 0.3 L/m² and primer allowed to dry.

e) Surface of concrete deck shall be primed with asphalt primer at a rate of 0.3 L/m² and primer allowed to dry.

f) Prior to installing final surfacing and insulation, roof leak test shall be performed to the following conditions;  

• Roof shall be filled with a 50mm depth of water on any part of the roof maintained for 24 hour.
• Interior of the building shall be inspected for leaks during and after the test
• Leaks, if any, shall be repaired and test repeated until no leakage is found.

QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE

All Stages of work shall be inspected in accordance with the approved Project Quality Inspection and Test Plan (ITP).