BASIC CONSTRUCTION DATA

1. Thumb Rule for Concrete Volume:

The volume of concrete required = 0.038 m3/square feet area
Example:-If Plan Area = 40 x 20 = 800 Sq. m.
So, for the plan area of 800 Sq. m. the area the total volume
of concrete required = 800 x 0.038m3 = 30.4m3
2. Thumb Rule for Steel Quantity for Slab, Beams, Footings & Columns
Following are some important thumb rules for steel calculation for slab,
beam, column, and footings.
Steel required in residential buildings = 4.5 Kgs – 4.75 Kgs / sq. Ft.
Steel required For Commercial buildings = 5.0 Kgs-5.50 Kgs/Sq. Ft.
3. Percentage of Steel in Structural Members
Following are thumb rules for reinforcement in concrete members,

• Slab – 1% of the total volume of concrete (Slab steel

calculation thumb rule
• Beam – 2% of the total volume of concrete
• Column – 2.5% of total volume of concrete
• Footings – 0.8% of the total volume of concrete
Example:
How to calculate the steel quantity of slab having the Length, width, and
depth of the slab is 5m x 4m x 0.15m
Step 1: Calculate the Volume of Concrete:

• The Total Volume of Concrete for given Slab = 5 x 4 x 0.15= 3m3

Step 2: Calculate The Steel Quantity Using Formula:

• Thumb rule to estimate Steel quantity of above slab = Volume of

Concrete x Density of Steel x % of Steel of Member
• Steel weight required for above slab = 3 x 7850 x 0.01 = 235 Kgs
4. Thumb Rules For Shuttering Work
Shuttering costs are taken as 15-18% of the total construction of the
building. Shuttering work is done to bring the concrete in Shape. The
Thumb rule to estimate the shuttering required is 6 times the quantity of
concrete or 2.4 times of the Plinth area.
For example, the concrete quantity is 0.5m3, then
Area of Shuttering is 0.5 x 6 = 3m2
Shuttering Ply Quantity estimation
Suppose, The Shuttering Ply has a length, width & depth of 2.44 x
1.22 x 0.012
The No. of Shuttering Ply Sheets = 0.22 times of Shuttering
Suppose, the Shuttering Area = 3m
Then Ply required for shuttering = 0.22 x 3 = 0.66m2
5. Battens Quantity Calculation
Shuttering Batten usually has a length & width of 75mm x 40mm.
Batten Quantity = 19.82 x No. of Ply Sheets
If work requires 25 Ply sheets, the total quantity of Battens are 19.82 x 25
= 495 Battens
Nails & Binding Wire Quantity in Shuttering: approximately,

• 75 grams of Nails were used in the shuttering of the 1m2 area.

• 75gms of Binding wire is used for every 1m2 of Shuttering.
Thumb rule for Shuttering oil estimation :
Shuttering oil is applied on the shuttering plate surface used to de-
frame or de-assemble from the concrete easily.
Total required Shuttering oil = 0.065 x Total Area of Shuttering
(or)
For every 15m2 of shuttering 1 liter of shuttering oil is consumed.
If, total area of shuttering is 15 m2, then Shuttering oil
Consumption = 0.065 x 15 = 0.975.
7. Thumb Rule for Concrete Mix Designs
FOR ADDING 4 LITERS OF WATER IN 1 CU.M FRESHLY MIXED CONCRETE
1. The slump value will be increased by 25 mm.
2. The compressive strength of concrete will be decreased by 1.5 to 2.0
N/mm2
3. The shrinkage potential will be increased by 10%.
4. 1/4 bag of cement will be wasted.
IF THE TEMPERATURE OF FRESHLY MIXED CONCRETE IS INCREASED BY
1%, THEN
1. 4 liters of water per cu.m will give equal slump.
2. The air content will be decreased by 1%.
3. The compressive strength of concrete will be decreased by 1.0 to 1.5
N/mm2.
IF THE AIR CONTENT OF FRESHLY MIXED CONCRETE IS
1. Increased by 1% then the compressive strength will be decreased by 5
%.
2. Decreased by 1%, the yield will be decreased by 0.03 cu.m per 1 cu.m.
3. Decreased by 1%, then the slump value will be decreased by about 12.5
mm.
4. Decreased by 1%, then the durability of the concrete will be reduced by
10%.
8. Basic Thumb Rules Used in Building Construction
1. Minimize floor-to-floor height:
By minimizing the floor-to-floor height, the cost associated with
mechanical services, stairs, exterior building cladding can be significantly
reduced.
9. Use repetitive formwork
The cost of formwork may be very high and is not given due consideration
by the designers. The cost can be reduced when the framing system is
used repetitively (10 or more times) on a structure.
10. Use standard column size
 This can be achieved by varying the amount of reinforcing steel and the
concrete strength within the column. This will allow for a single column
form and will minimize the number of variations to meet beam or slab
forms.
11. Adopt uniform column layout
Uniform column layout results in simple formwork, which can be used
repetitively from floor-to-floor. Similarly, regular-shaped buildings will be
more economical than irregularly shaped buildings with L- or T-shaped
columns.
12. As far as possible, use the same depth for beams
The saving in formwork and shoring costs will exceed any additional costs
for concrete and reinforcing steel. This will also provide a uniform ceiling
elevation and minimize mechanical service installation difficulties.
13. Use high strength concrete in columns
The high strength may reduce the column size or the amount of reinforcing
steel required for the column.
14 Use high early strength concrete
This will allow for earlier form stripping and will reduce total construction
time.
15. Specify self-consolidating concrete
Heavily reinforced columns and beams can be very congested with rebar,
which prevents the proper placement of the concrete. SSC maximizes
concrete flowability without harmful segregation and dramatically
minimize honeycombing and air pockets.
16. Specify locally available materials
The use of local aggregates and recycled materials in concrete makes it a
‘green’ product, which is requested by environmentally responsible
owners.
17. Use the commonly available size of bars and spirals
For a single structural member, the number of different sizes of bars
should be kept to a minimum.
18. Use the largest bar size that satisfies the design considerations
 Use larger size bars in columns and smaller size bars in slabs. Larger
diameter bars reduce the number of bars that must be placed and
minimize installation costs.
19. Eliminate bent bars where possible
Bent bars increase fabrication costs and require greater storage area and
sorting time on the job site.
20. Avoid the congestion of steel
Congestion of bars should be avoided, especially at beam-column joints,
so that all reinforcements can be properly placed.
21. Thumb Rules For Civil Engineers for Brickwork or Brick Calculation
Following are Thumb Rules for civil engineering for brickwork and cement
quantity calculations.

Brickwork for 1m3 Cement Qty in m3 Cement Qty in Bags

230 mm Brickwork 0.876m3 25.4 Bags

115 mm Brickwork 0.218m3 6.32 Bags

22. Thumb Rules For Cement Masonry Quantity

Cement Qty in Cement Qty in

Cement Masonry Type & Mix Bags Kgs

200mm in Cement Masonry work of

Ratio 1:6 0.124Bags/m2 6.2Kgs/m2

150mm in Cement Masonry work of

Ratio 1:6 0.093Bags/m2 4.65Kgs/m2

200mm in Cement Masonry work of

Ratio 1:4 0.206Bags/m2 10.3Kgs/m2

150mm in Cement Masonry work of

Ratio 1:4 0.144Bags/m2 7.2Kgs/m2

100mm in Cement Masonry work of

Ratio 1:4 0.103Bags/m2 5.15Kgs/m2
23. Thumb Rules Plastering Quantity

Type of Plastering Cement Qty in Bags Cement Qty in Kgs

Rough Plastering 0.09 Bags/m2 4. 5Kgs/m2

Internal Wall Plastering 0.09 Bags/m2 4.5 Kgs/m2

Duct Plastering 0.09 Bags/m2 4.5 Kgs/m2

External Wall plastering 0.175 Bags/m2 8.75 Kgs/m2

Stucco Plastering 0.175 Bags/m2 8.75 Kgs/m2

Lathen Plastering 0.55 Bags/m2 27.5 Kgs/m2

24. Types of Area and Some Useful Requirements for Building:

1. Carpet area:
The actual area you use. The area on which ‘you can put a carpet’.
2. Built up area:
Carpet area + area of walls and ducts. Around 10% more than the
carpet area. A terrace is considered as half the actual area for
calculating built up area. Some projects charge dry terrace same as
internal rooms.
3. Super built up / Saleable area:
Built up area + markup for common spaces like lifts and stairs.
Usually 25% more than the built up area.
25. Thumb Rule for Water Proofing:

Sr. No. Water Proofing work Thumb rule

1. Waterproofing for sunk slab 0.23 Bags/m2

2. Waterproofing for walls 0.23 Bags/m2

3. Waterproofing for toilets 0.65 Bags/m2

• Vitrified tile flooring - 0.28 cement bags/sqm.

• Ceramic tile flooring - 0.28 cement bags/sqm.
• Daddo tile flooring - 0.27 cement bags/sqm.
• AAC Blocks – 12.5Nos/sqm.
• Wall Putty – 14 to 15sqft/-kg (For 2 Coats).
• Primer – 70 to 90sqft/-kg (For 2 Coats).
Cement Consume for Plastering by thumb Rules

• For External Plastering – 8.75kg/m2.

• For Internal Plastering – 4.5kg/m2.
• Ceiling Plastering – 0.11bags/m2.
Labor required for Demolishing by thumb Rules

• PCC (1:2:4 or 1:3:6) for 1m3 – 2 Labors (8hrs).

• RCC (Lead 50mtr) for 1 m3 – 4 Labors (8hrs).
• Brickwork (Lead 50mtr) for 1 m3 – 2Labor (8hrs).
• Removing Mortars for 10m3 – 4 mason & 25 labors with (cleaning &
stacking).
Labor required for Masonry by thumb Rules

• Brickwork :- 7.55sqm – 1 mason + 1 man labor + 1 Women labor (for 8hrs).

• Block work :- 12m2 – 1 mason + 1 man labor + 1 Women labor (for 8hrs).
• DPC :- 100m2 – 5 mason + 6 man labor (for 8hrs).
• Cement Consume for Marble flooring – 0.3bags/sqm.
Thumb Rules to calculate materials qty. for house construction.
Let, Built-up Area – 1000sqft
i). Cement – Built-up Area x 0.4 = 1000 x 0.4 = 400bags
ii). Sand – Built-up Area x 0.816 = 1000 x 0.816 = 816 tone or 51m3.
iii). Aggregates – Built-up Area x 0.608 = 1000 x 0.608 = 608 tone.
iv). Steel – Built-up Area x 4 = 1000 x 4 = 4tone.
v). Paint – Built-up Area x 0.18 = 1000 x 0.18 = 18ltr.
vi). Flooring – Built-up Area x 1.3 = 1000 x 1.3 = 1300sqft (with skirting).
vii). Bricks – Built-up Area x 25 = 1000 x 25 = 25000Nos.
Thumb Rules to Find Depth of Beams
According to ACI Code – 318 -14 (Table no. 9.5A)
Depth of beam in inch = Length of a beam in feet
For Example,
Length of beam = 5mtr. Or 5 x 3.28 = 16.40 feet
So, the depth of the beam = 16.40 inches.
Thumb Rules for Design beam size
Depth of beam = Effective Span / 12
For Example,
Length of Span = 5mtr or 5000 / 12 = 417mm
or, depth of beam = 16.40 inches.
Thumb Rules for Design Slab size
As per IS 456,
i). Simply supported Slab–Span/30
ii). Continuous Slab – Span/30
iii). Cantilever Slab – Span/7
This is applicable for slab span 10mtr or less than 10mtr only not for more
than 10mtr.
Standard data for tolerance
Accuracy of measuring equipment in batching plant
i). cement – +_2%
ii). Aggregates – +_3%
iii). Admixture – +_3%
iv). Water – +_3%
v). Mixing time – 2 minutes for 1 mixing.
Tolerance on steel diameter in length
i). 0 – 25mm – +_0.5%
ii). 25 – 35mm – +_0.6%
iii). 35 – 50mm – +_0.8%
Tolerance on steel weight per meter
i). 0 – 10mm – +_0.7%
ii). 10 – 16mm – +_0.5%
iii). 16mm & above – +_0.3%
Tolerance for cutting length.
i). When the specified length is not given = _+75mm.
ii). When the length is given for cutting L = _+50mm.
How do you calculate the steel by thumb rule?
Following are Thumb Rule for reinforcement steel in concrete members,
Slab – 1% of the total volume of concrete (Slab steel calculation thumb
rule)
Beam – 2% of the total volume of concrete
Column – 2.5% of the total volume of concrete
Footings – 0.8% of the total volume of concrete
BASIC THINGS CIVIL ENGINEERS SHOULD KNOW,

• Lapping in reinforcement is not allowed for the bars having diameters more
than 36 mm.
• Steel Char maximum spacing is 1.00 m (or) 1 No per 1m2.
 • In steel dowels, a rod minimum of 12 mm diameter should be used.
• Steel Chairs minimum of 12 mm diameter bars to be used.
• Longitudinal reinforcement should not be less than 0.8% and more than
6% of gross C/S.
• The minimum bars used for a square column are 4 No’s and 6 No’s for the
circular column.
Requirement of standard materials and standard calculations in buildings
Construction

Description Thumb rule (% of Total Cost)

Cement 16.4%

Sand 12.3%

Aggregate 7.4%

Steel 24.6%

Painting material 4.1%

Tiles 8%

Bricks 4.4%

Window 3%

Doors 3.4%

Plumbing 5.5%

Electrical 6.8%

Sanitary 4.1%
Percentage based of Work stages in buildings Construction:
Sr. No. Work Cost

1. Excavation and Filling Earthwork 0.5%

2. Foundation 5%

3. Damp Proof Course 1%

4. Brickwork 34%

5. Roofing 20%

6. Flooring 6%

7. Doors and window 16%

8. Plastering 10%

9. White Washing 2%

10. Miscellaneous 5.5%

Cost of building general thumb rules
Sr. No. Work Thumb Rule

Cost of Material and Labour

1. Material Cost 70% of Building Cost

2. Labour Cost 30% of Building Cost

Direct and Overhead Cost

1. Direct Cost 85% building cost

2. Overhead expense 15% of Building Cost

Foundation and Superstructure

1. Cost of Foundation 15% of Building Cost

2. Cost of Superstructure 85% of Building Cost

Thumb Rule for Foundation
1). Steel required in footing is 0.8% of the total volume of concrete
2). The clear cover of the main reinforcement in the footing is 50mm.
3). A minimum 10mm bar shall be used for foundation footing.
4). M20 grade of concrete or above should be used for the foundation.
5). The length, width, and depth of the foundation should not be less
than 1 meter.
6). Footing thickness should not be less than 40 cm.
7). Pile foundation should be used if soil bearing capacity is less than 24
kN/m3.
Thumb Rule For Column
1). The steel required in the Column is 2.5% of the total volume of
concrete.
2). Minimum steel requirement in column = 0.8% of the gross area of
concrete
3). Maximum steel requirement in column = 6% of the gross area of
concrete
4). Spacing between Longitudinal reinforcement should not be more than
300mm.
5). The minimum clear cover in the column is 40mm. 25mm clear cover
is provided if the column is less than 200mm.
6). Minimum dia of 12mm bars 4 numbers should be used in the
column.
7). The maximum diameter of reinforcing bars in the column should be
not more than 50mm.
8). Overlapping distance in longitudinal bars should not be less than 24
times the smallest bar dia.
9). The maximum spacing of stirrups is 16D or B or 300mm whichever is
less.
10). The minimum size of the column should not be less than 9″ X 9″.
11). For the G+1 Structure, a 9″ X 12″ (225mm X 300mm) Column
should be used.
12). The maximum space between two columns of size 9″ X 9″ should not
be more than 4 meters.
13). M20 Grade of concrete should be used in concreting column.
14). Fe 500 Steel is also recommended for column reinforcement.
15). The column should be equally spaced in a grid so as to efficiently
transfer the load.
Thumb Rule For Slab
1). The minimum thickness of the slab is 125mm
2). The minimum diameter of bars used in the slab is 8mm
3). Fe 500 Steel should be used in Slab
4). A clear cover of 15mm to 20mm should be provided on a slab
5). The maximum diameter of bars used in the slab is 1/8th times of slab
thickness
6). Steel required in the slab is 1% of the total volume of concrete
7). M15 Grade of concrete or above should be used in the slab.
8). Spacing between reinforcement in slab should not be less than
150mm c/c.
Thumb Rule For Beam
1). Steel required in the beam is 2% of the total volume of concrete.
2). A minimum clear cover of 40mm shall be provided in beams.
3). M20 grade of concrete should be used in beam construction.
4). Minimum of 4 bars shall be provided in beams. 2 bars of 12mm at the
top and 2 bars of 10mm at the bottom.
5). M15 Grade of concrete or above should be used in the slab.
6). Spacing between reinforcement in slab should not be less than
150mm c/c.

*Note:
The data provided are based on thump rule basis, value got here are not
accurate.