Edited by: Tecnológico Superior Corporativo
Edwards Deming
July - December Vol. 8 - 2 - 2024
https://revista-edwardsdeming.com/index.php/es
e-ISSN: 2576-0971
Received: Febrary 09, 2024
Approved: May 20, 2024
Page 96- 108
Technical specifications for the construction of a
two-story building with reinforced concrete
Especificaciones técnicas para la construcción de un edificio
de dos pisos con hormigón armado
Liliana Lizbeth López López
*
María Fernanda Pico Núñez*
Luis Leonardo Zambrano Salazar*
Ambar Carolina Yépez Intriago
*
ABSTRACT
The objective of this experimental work is to develop
technical specifications that serve as a guide for the
construction of reinforced concrete buildings. To carry out
the project, technical visits were made to buildings under
construction and were complemented with bibliographic
research in books, codes and standards, contrasting the
field information with that obtained in technical
documents. Before preparing the technical specifications,
architectural, structural and hydro-sanitary and electrical
installation plans were obtained. With these plans, the
necessary components for the construction of the home
were determined, including civil works, coatings, finishes
and installations. Each technical specification includes: a
description, the execution procedure detailing the
requirements before, during and after the completion of
* Magister en Ingeniería Civil Mención Estructuras Metálicas
Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica
Principal Grupo de Investigación GeReNIS, mf.pico@uta.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8468-3026
* Magister en Ingeniería Civil Mención Estructuras Metálicas
Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica
ll.zambrano@uta.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5966-8123
* Magister en Ingeniería Civil Mención Estructuras Metálicas
Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica
ll.zambrano@uta.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5966-8123
* Magister en Mecánica Mención Manufactura
Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Mecánica
ac.yepez@uta.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8443-3269
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each component, the applicable regulations, safety
measures to protect workers and the unit, materials,
equipment, and labor. necessary. With this information,
the unit price analysis of each component was carried out.
The result acts as a guide that offers a clear description of
the execution methods of the components, complying with
the national and international regulations, codes and
standards used in Ecuador, ensuring adequate control both
in the execution and in the review of the construction site.
Key words: Construction, concrete buildings, technical
specifications, construction standards.
RESUMEN
El objetivo de este trabajo experimental es desarrollar
especificaciones técnicas que funcionen como guía para la
construcción de edificaciones de hormigón armado. Para
llevar a cabo el proyecto, se realizaron visitas técnicas a
edificios en construcción y se complementó con una
investigación bibliográfica en libros, códigos y normas,
contrastando la información de campo con la obtenida en
documentos técnicos. Antes de elaborar las
especificaciones técnicas, se obtuvieron planos
arquitectónicos, estructurales y de instalaciones
hidrosanitarias y eléctricas. Con estos planos, se
determinaron los componentes necesarios para la
construcción de la vivienda, incluyendo obra civil,
revestimientos, acabados e instalaciones. Cada
especificación técnica incluye: una descripción, el
procedimiento de ejecución detallando los requerimientos
antes, durante y después de la realización de cada
componente, la normativa aplicable, medidas de seguridad
para proteger a los trabajadores y la unidad, materiales,
equipo y mano de obra necesarios. Con esta información,
se realizó el análisis de precios unitarios de cada
componente. El resultado final actúa como una guía que
ofrece una descripción clara de los métodos de ejecución
de los componentes, cumpliendo con las regulaciones,
códigos y normas nacionales e internacionales utilizadas en
Ecuador, asegurando un control adecuado tanto en la
ejecución como en la revisión de la obra.
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Palabras Claves: Construcción, edificaciones de
hormigón, especificaciones técnicas, normas de
construcción.
INTRODUCTION
Since ancient times, mankind has fought an uphill battle for survival, seeking to obtain
shelter and erect spaces that provide security and shelter, in other words, a place to
live. Over the centuries, human beings have progressed and the demands to improve
their places of residence have increased significantly (Fitchen, 1986).
Activities such as surveying and inspection have been closely linked to man's efforts to
create and improve his environment. Regulations and legal codes emerged, one of the
most recognized being the Code of Hammurabi. This set of laws was written around
1760 BC, with the purpose of regulating various activities of daily life in ancient
Mesopotamia (Van De Mieroop, 2005). Among the provisions established were those
related to the construction of buildings of the time.
From the second half of the 19th century, a significant transformation began in the field
of building construction, driven by the adoption of new materials such as concrete and
steel. William Wilkinson, considered a pioneer in the discovery of reinforced concrete,
obtained a patent in 1854 for a system incorporating iron reinforcement, which
revolutionized housing construction in general (Palley, 2010).
Subsequently, in France, Edmond Coignet and De Tédesco published a method that took
into account the elastic behavior of concrete in tests, thus contributing to lay the
theoretical foundations of construction systems and their respective technical
specifications. These procedures were considered as execution memory (Coignet & De
Tédesco, 1984).
Since its beginnings, engineering has been a discipline dedicated to improving the living
conditions of mankind, focusing on satisfying fundamental needs such as the protection
and mobility of people and, consequently, their comfort. Progress in this science is
closely linked to the creation and updating of construction regulations, which seek to
ensure the safety and durability of structures over time. This has given rise to the
issuance of new codes and has generated the need to establish mandatory systems for
their application and follow-up, being this a common practice in several countries,
including ours.
The Ecuadorian Construction Standard incorporates new variables, such as life safety
and accessibility, seismic resistance and energy efficiency, among others, which are
fundamental requirements to consider during design to ensure excellence in
construction (MTOP, Norma Ecuatoriana de Consturcción, 2016).
However, there is often a lack of clarity in the application of these concepts during the
execution of activities, which makes it difficult to obtain the expected results. In many
countries, the advancement of these regulations has been accompanied by the
implementation of new construction processes. In the case of Ecuador, most of the
works are carried out without adequate technical direction and control, which is
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attributed in part to the lack of requirements by the sectional and national governments,
which approve incomplete designs and obvious flaws. In many cases, technical
specifications are insufficient and there is no adequate analysis of unit prices, resulting in
deficient projects and, as a consequence, in the deterioration of buildings (Rodas, 2013).
According to the 2015 Building Survey conducted by INEC (National Institute of
Statistics and Census), there is a 29.2% increase in building permits in the last 15 years
at the national level. In the province of Tungurahua, these permits represent 8.3% of the
total, placing it in third place nationally in terms of concentration of construction permits
(INEC, 2015).
The Building Survey also reveals that Reinforced Concrete is the most used material in
the construction of foundations, structures and roofs in Ecuador, which demonstrates
the predominance of this type of buildings in the country. Unfortunately, the true test
of a structure's resistance occurs during a seismic event. A few months ago, Ecuador
experienced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which revealed serious deficiencies in many
buildings. Upon inspection, it was determined that many buildings collapsed due to
construction defects. This problem is attributed not only to non-compliance with
construction standards and codes, but also to the informality of construction, where
responsibility falls on master builders rather than engineers or architects. In addition,
the lack of quality control of materials is a critical factor in construction.
To avoid these problems, it is essential to comply with technical specifications, which
are the provisions that regulate the materials used in a specific activity, as well as the
procedures for the execution of the works to ensure that they meet the established
requirements. Technical specifications can be considered as the "rules of the game" in
construction, since they indicate how the work should be carried out and what materials
should be used.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This project will use explanatory levels of research with a technical approach. The
approach will be explanatory because it will detail step by step the different construction
activities necessary for the execution of each component, always trying to follow the
guidelines and regulations in force.
In addition, it will have a technical approach, since it seeks to promote the unification of
construction processes and the control of the execution of works for two-story
reinforced concrete buildings.
The housing model for this research is a two-story reinforced concrete single-family
building. This construction presents a modern style architectural design. It consists
mainly of two floors: the first floor has an area of 116.60 m² and the upper floor has an
area of 100.15 m². In addition, it has a garage with capacity for two family cars. It also
has green areas, one located at the back and the other in front of the main facade. The
roof is tile, designed with four falls.
On the front façade of the house, there is the main door that gives access to the living-
dining room, as well as a secondary door that allows quick access to the kitchen from
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the garage. In addition, there are circular columns that support the garage roof and the
porch. The facade includes ten windows, between fixed and sliding; six of them are
square and the rest are rectangular.
On the right side façade, there is a sliding aluminum partition that provides access to the
dining room, in addition to two sliding windows and four fixed windows. The left lateral
facade has eight windows, two sliding and six fixed. The rear façade has twelve windows,
of which two are sliding and ten are fixed, in addition to a door that gives access to the
rear garden.
The first floor consists of four rooms: in the first room is the living-dining room with
parquet floor and a social bathroom. The second room includes the laundry room,
equipped with the necessary facilities for a washing machine, dryer and a small laundry
room, with high traffic non-slip porcelain tile floor. The third room is the kitchen, which
includes a breakfast area and also has high traffic non-slip porcelain tile flooring. The last
room is the guest room, which includes a private bathroom.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms with parquet floors. One of them is the master
bedroom, with a private bathroom, while the other two are standard bedrooms that
share a general bathroom. There is also a small living room on this floor. The house is
equipped with a U-shaped staircase, with an intermediate landing, for the connection
between the floors.
RESULTS
In order to prepare the technical guide, a structured plan was followed as follows:
- Technical information required for execution.
- Literature review (Ecuadorian Construction Code, NEC, ACI 318, INEN, ASTM).
- Development of technical specifications.
The results are shown below:
ITEM: STAKEOUT AND LEVELING
NEVI MTOP: Ecuadorian Road Standard. Ministry of Transportation and Public Works
of Ecuador. Section 2A.311 "Stakeout of Road Works - General Aspects". Topographic
stakeout corresponds to the set of operations aimed at marking on the ground the
location of engineering works, whose physical characteristics are contained in the
project plans (MTOP, Norma Ecuatoriana Vial NEVI-12-MTOP, 2013).
- Unit: Square meter (m2).
- Minimum materials: Stake.
- Minimum equipment: Minor tool 5% of M.O, Topography equipment.
- Minimum Qualified Labor: Topographer 2: Degree with more than 5 years of
experience (Estr. Oc. C1), Cadenero (Estr. Oc. D2), Master in execution of civil works
(Estr. Oc. C1).
ITEM: MANUAL LAND CLEARING.
NEVI-12 MTOP: Section 302 "Land clearing". Consists of extracting and removing from
the designated areas all trees, stumps, plants, weeds, brush, fallen timber, debris, garbage
or any other undesirable material as per the project or at the discretion of the Inspector.
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- Unit: square meter (m2).
- Minimum Equipment: Minor tool 5% of M.O.
- Minimum qualified labor: Laborer (Estr. Oc. E2 I and II), Senior Master in execution of
civil works (Estr. Oc. C1).
ITEM: MANUAL EXCAVATION
NEVI-12 MTOP: Section 303 "Excavation of earthworks and borrow pits". It consists of
the set of operations to excavate and level.
AASHOT: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
AASHOT-180-01: Method A "Modified Proctor". This method describes the procedure
for determining the relationship between moisture content and density of compacted
soils.
ASTM: American Society of Testing Materials or American Society for Testing Materials.
ASTM D1557-78: Method A "Modified Proctor". This laboratory compaction test
determines the relationship between moisture content and density of soils and soil-
aggregate mixtures. Degree of compaction at 95% of the maximum density determined
in the laboratory.
- Unit: Cubic meter (m3).
- Minimum materials: Water.
- Minimum equipment: Minor tool 5% of M.O.
- Minimum Qualified Labor: Senior Master in execution of civil works (Estr. Oc. C1),
Laborer (Estr. Oc. E2 I and II), Mason D2 (Estr. Oc. D2).
ITEM: MANUAL BACKFILL COMPACTED WITH ON-SITE MATERIAL
NEVI-12 MTOP: Section 303-1.02 "Tests and Tolerances". For control of compaction of
foundation soils at subgrade level, according to moisture-density tests.
AASHOT-180-01: Method A "Modified Proctor". This method describes the procedure
for determining the relationship between moisture content and density of compacted
soils.
ASTM D1557-78: Method A "Modified Proctor". This laboratory compaction test
determines the relationship between moisture content and density of soils and soil-
aggregate mixtures. Degree of compaction at 95% of the maximum density determined
in the laboratory.
- Unit: Cubic meter (m3).
- Minimum materials: Water.
- Minimum equipment: Minor tool 5% of M.O, Toad type compactor.
- Minimum Qualified Labor: Senior Master in execution of civil works (Estr. Oc. C1),
Laborer (Estr. Oc. E2 I and II), Mason D2 (Estr. Oc. D2).
ITEM: REMOVAL OF EXCAVATION MATERIAL
NEVI-12 MTOP: Section 303-2.01.2.4 "Excavation in Soil". Includes the excavation and
removal of all materials encountered during the work, in any type of terrain.
- Unit: Cubic meter (m3).
- Minimum equipment: 8m3 dump truck, front loader.
- Minimum qualified labor: Driver: Dumper (Str. Oc. C1), Operator: Front loader (Str.
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Oc. C1).
ITEM: CYCLOPEAN CONCRETE F'C= 180 KG/CM2 (60% S.H. - 40% P.), (INCLUDES
FORMWORK AND STRIPPING).
NEC-SE-HM 2015: Ecuadorian Construction Standard. Reinforced Concrete Structures.
- Section 9, "Quality Control of Concrete Works''.
- Section 9.2: Specifies the requirements for the acceptance of concrete materials such
as cement, aggregates, water, additives, etc.
- Section 9.3: Specifies the control of batching, measuring and mixing of the components
for site-mixed concrete.
- Section 9.4: Establishes all previous requirements before pouring concrete, whether in
excavations or foundations and in structures with formwork. It also presents the
minimum time for stripping vertical and horizontal elements.
- Section 9.5: Details the appropriate processes for concrete transport, concrete
pouring, concrete compaction, as well as the equipment and techniques that can be used.
- Section 9.6: Defines the proper curing process and materials used to reduce water loss
by evaporation.
- Section 10, "Requirements and standards to be met by construction materials".
- Section 10.1: Determines the requirements and standards to be met by the following
materials: hydraulic cement, aggregates, water, additives.
NTE INEN: Ecuadorian Technical Standard. Ecuadorian Institute of Normalization.
- NTE INEN 1855-2: "Concrete. Concrete prepared on site. Requirements". This
standard defines the specifications for the production of concrete prepared on site in its
fresh state.
- NTE INEN 152: "Portland Cement. Requirements". This standard establishes the
physical and chemical characteristics and requirements to be met by portland cement.
- NTE INEN 696: "Granulometric Analysis of Aggregates, Fine and Coarse". Establishes
the test method to determine the particle size distribution of fine and coarse aggregate
particles, by sieving.
- NTE INEN 872: "Aggregates for Concrete. Requirements". Establishes the
requirements of granulometry and quality for fine and coarse aggregate, to be used in
concrete.
- NTE INEN 1578: "Hydraulic Cement Concrete. Determination of Settling". Establishes
the test method to determine the slump of concrete in the laboratory or in the field.
- NTE INEN 1576: "Hydraulic Cement Concrete. Elaboration and Curing of Specification
Specimens for Testing". It establishes the procedures to elaborate and cure the cylinders
taken from respective samples of fresh concrete, used on site.
- NTE INEN 16: "Practical Guide for the Design and Construction of Formwork".
Establishes the procedures to guarantee the assembly of formwork.
- Unit: Cubic meter (m3).
- Minimum materials: Portland type cement, Washed sand, Crushed riprap, Ball stone,
Water, Hard formwork board 2.4m x 0.25m, Nails 2'' to 3 1/2'', Eucalyptus props 4 to
7 m, Formwork quarts.
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- Minimum equipment: Minor tool 5% of M.O, Concrete mixer, Vibrator.
- Minimum qualified labor force: Senior master in execution of civil works (Estr. Oc. C1),
Laborer (Estr. Oc. E2 I and II), Mason D2 (Estr. Oc. D2), Carpenter (Estr. Oc. D2).
DISCUSSION
The completion of this work provides training on the correct execution of the various
construction processes required to build a two-story reinforced concrete house.
The final result of this project provides a precise description of the methods to execute
the different components, complying with the regulations, codes and standards in force
in Ecuador, ensuring an efficient control of the work both in its execution and in its
revision.
The technical specifications presented in this document include a detailed description of
each component, explaining the preliminary activities required before starting
construction. In the execution phase, the work to be carried out is detailed step by step
and, subsequently, the necessary care to ensure the durability of the building over time
is described.
The various visits to construction sites allowed us to collect the essential information
to prepare this document, observing the set of activities necessary for the creation of
each technical specification and the unit price analysis. This allowed us to differentiate
each activity and its correct process, avoiding possible errors during construction.
In the creation of this technical manual, we have included a section on occupational
safety to provide information that protects the labor conditions of the workers. This
work is practical and based on a good control to avoid improvisation during the
execution of the project.
One of the main objectives of this project has been to optimize the execution of the
components so that, during construction, the work is carried out in a way that does not
present problems in the future.
On site, it is recommended to strictly comply with the regulations described in this
manual to ensure that the buildings provide safety and comfort to their inhabitants. It is
advisable to update the regulations included in this manual if modifications occur.
This technical specifications document is the result of a thorough analysis of the
components used for a reinforced concrete house. It may be necessary to include other
components, which should be developed by the contracting entity following the
established format.
Before using this manual, it is recommended to have the complete set of drawings
(Architectural, Structural, Hydrosanitary and Electrical) in order to develop the
necessary components according to the requirements of the house to be built.
It is recommended that all site personnel be familiar with the manual for the application
of good construction practices. Prior authorization from the contracting entity must be
obtained before starting the execution of each component. Likewise, upon completion
of the component, the contracting agency will conduct a final review and approval.
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REFERENCES
Coignet, E., & De Tédesco, N. (1984). Du calcul des ouvrages en ciment avec ossature
métallique. Mémoires de la Société des ingénieurs civils de France, (págs. 282-363).
Paris.
Fitchen, J. (1986). Building Construction Before Mechanization. Massachusetts: MIT Press.
INEC. (2015). Encuesta de edificaciones. Obtenido de Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y
Censos del Ecuador: https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/documentos/web-
inec/Estadisticas_Economicas/Encuesta_Edificaciones/2015/2015_EDIFICACIO
NES_PRESENTACION.pdf
MTOP. (2013). Norma Ecuatoriana Vial NEVI-12-MTOP. Obtenido de Ministerio de
Transporte y Obras Públicas del Ecuador: https://www.obraspublicas.gob.ec/wp-
content/uploads/downloads/2013/12/01-12-2013_Manual_NEVI-
12_VOLUMEN_2A.pdf
MTOP. (2016). Norma Ecuatoriana de Consturcción. Obtenido de Ministerio de
Transporte y Obras Públicas del Ecuador: https://www.obraspublicas.gob.ec/wp-
content/uploads/downloads/2016/04/MTOP_NEC-SE-DS.pdf
Palley, R. (2010). Concrete: A Seven-Thousand-Year History. Massachusetts: Harvard
University Press.
Rodas, B. (2013). Guía para la redacción de especificaciones técnicas particulares para
obras civiles. Estoa, 1(3), 45-52.
Van De Mieroop, M. (2005). King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography. New York: Wiley.
