Buildings, building construction: India
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Contents |
Liabilities of the builders
2018, Maharashtra: Architects liable for flaws
Clara Lewis, Architects to be liable for bldg flaws, March 8, 2018: The Times of India
Architects and other professionals associated with building construction will be held liable for structural flaws in a building for 10 years from the date of issue of completion certificate.
The state urban development department said liability is being fixed as the World Bank, in its observations in its report ‘Doing Business, 2017’ “marked high importance to the provision of latent defect liability period in quality control index and Mumbai’s Development Control Regulations do not provide for it.
The notification holding architects, license surveyor, structural engineer, site supervisor/ engineer, construction company including contractor, sub-contractor, consultants appointed for various activities responsible for structural defects was issued. The notification said it will be applicable for buildings with a built-up-area 750 sq metres and above for 10 years from the date of granting an OC. They will not be liable only in case of natural calamities and damage due to war and riots.
Low cost/ quick- to- build housing, buildings
Reinforced thermocol house in TN/ 2018
From: Ram Sundaram & Sindhu Kannan, How TN govt built a house using reinforced thermocol in 40 days, October 18, 2018: The Times of India
Can Endure Earthquakes, Costs 30% Less Than Regular Buildings
A two-floor structure adjacent to the police officers’ mess in Egmore may not attract your attention, but did you know it is made of thermocol? No, it’s not an art installation promoting recycling, but a house the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation (TNPHC) has built in 40 days. It is the government’s first ‘modular panel’ structure constructed using reinforced thermocol panels instead of bricks.
The building cost ₹15 lakh, which is 30% less than what is spent using conventional construction methods. The technology involves manufacturing of individual modules or panels at an offsite facility and then assembling them at the building site, said Reddy Udaybaskar from Beardsell Limited which has taken up similar projects for Karnataka, IIT-Jammu and Indian Railways. “Unlike conventional buildings, the load is evenly distributed in modular buildings. Also, the entire weight is 25% less thereby eliminating the need for columns and beams,” he said.
Construction for the building began in February 2017 when the realty sector was hit hard by shortage of sand. M Kumar, chief engineer, TNPHC, said soon after the foundation was laid, vertical panels were erected as per the building plan alongside scaffolding and edge confinement work. Subsequently, the floor and roof panels were erected parallel to the ground and were coated with concrete.
Within a week, a team of eight workers supervised by two engineers laid the concrete roof and arranged slabs to enable construction on the first floor. After 20 days, the plastering work began. Inner wall putty work, partition, plumbing, electronthick, but walls of the modular structure are 125mm-130mm thick leaving more carpet area for the users, Kumar said. Since thermocol is an insulator, the room remains cool during summers and vice-versa, said engineers involved in the project. Kumar said the building is flame-retardant and resistant to earthquakes and drilling.
On the flip side, alteration work cannot be carried out in the last minute. This means the position of fans, lights, and kitchen and bathroom accessories cannot be changed once the individual thermocol panels are assembled. Also, columns and beams become inevitable in case of multi-storeyed buildings. “The technology has become popular but is yet find takers in Tamil Nadu where most see thermocol as a packing material. Very few consider that thermocol is reinforced with high tensile steel for this project,” Reddy said.
