CHAPTER ONE

1.1 SIWES

The students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a Skills Training

Programme designed to expose and prepare students of Universities,

Polytechnics/Colleges of Technology/Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of

Education for the Industrial Work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.

The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing

themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that is

usually not available in their Institutions. Before the establishment of the scheme,

there was a growing concern among our Industrialists that graduates of our

Institutions of Higher learning lacked adequate practical background studies

preparatory for employment in Industries. Thus, the employers were of the opinion

that the theoretical education going on in higher institutions was not responsive to

the needs of the employers of labour. It is against this background that the rationale

for initiating and designing the scheme by the Fund during its formative years –

1973/74 was introduced to acquaint students with the skills of handling employers’

equipment and machinery. The ITF solely funded the scheme during its formative

years. But as the financial involvement became unbearable to the Fund; it

withdrew from the Scheme in 1978. The Federal Government handed over the

scheme in 1979 to both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Later the Federal Government in

November 1984 reverted the management and implementation of the SIWES

Programme to ITF and it was effectively taken over by the Industrial Training

Fund in July 1985 with the funding being solely borne by the Federal Government.

1.2 Objective of SIWES

Specifically, the objectives of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme

(SIWES) are to:

 Provide an avenue for students in institutions of higher learning to acquire

industrial skills and experience in their course of study, which are restricted

to Engineering and Technology including Environmental studies and other

courses that may be approved.

Courses of NCE (Technical), NCE Agriculture, NCE (Business), NCE (Fine

and Applied Arts) and NCE (Home Economics) in Colleges of Education are

also included.

 Prepare students for the industrial work situation they are to meet after

graduation.

 Expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and

machinery that may not be available in their institutions.

 Make the transition from school to the world of work easier, and enhance

students contacts for later job placement;

  Provide students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge in real work

situation thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice; and

 Enlist and strengthen employers, involvement in the entire educational

process and prepare students for employment in Industry and Commerce.

1.3 Benefits of the SIWES

Below are the highlights of some of the benefits derived from SIWES;

 The scheme also provides opportunity for industries to evaluate the

prospective employers and give healthy feedback to Institutions.

 Many students also have been gainfully employed through this method as

students with exceptional good skills and experience could be recalled to

take on employment through the scheme which in turn reduces the number

of unemployed graduates in the country.

 The successful operations of the SIWES provide an opportunity for the

government to reduce the importation of expatriate Engineers, Technologist

and other Professional Personnel.

 It’s also an opportunity for students to be in direct contact with junior,

immediate and senior professional staff in the industry.

1.4 SIWES Guidelines

By the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Industrial Training Fund (ITF)

lists’ the qualities that any selected industrial attachment station must;
  Provide satisfactory working environment.

 Provide experience which is in line with the student course of study.

 Provide supervisors from the employer.

 Provide opportunity to gain experience in various ways.

 Use various facilities and equipment’s appropriate for the various works.

1.5 The Builders

In general, building is concerned with the overall interface of human created fixed

projects with the greater world. General civil engineers work closely with

surveyors and specialized civil engineers to fit and serve fixed projects within their

given site, community and terrain by designing grading, drainage, pavement, water

supply, sewer service, electric and communications supply, and land divisions.

General engineers spend much of their time visiting project sites, developing

community consensus, and preparing construction plans. General civil engineering

is also referred to as site engineering, a branch of civil engineering that primarily

focuses on converting a tract of land from one usage to another. Civil engineers

typically apply the principles of geotechnical engineering, structural engineering,

environmental engineering, transportation engineering and construction

engineering to residential, commercial, industrial and public works projects of all

sizes and levels of construction.

 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Description of the establishment of attachment

Kenmentor Limited is a distinctive all-encompassing Civil engineering and

construction company with international expertise spanning over five decades in

Nigeria. The company was incorporated in the year of Nigeria independence –

1960. Since that time, Kenmentor Limited has been involved in the infrastructural

development of the country’s landscape with the unmatchable experience and

competence of very sound professionally qualified expatriates and Nigeria staff.

Kenmentor Limited has been involved in the construction of impressive structures

all over this great country – Nigeria. Such projects have included: Office edifices;

stadia: Hostel Accommodation in tertiary institutions; School buildings; church

buildings; seminary complexes; Market complexes; warehouses; Factories; Filling

stations; Butanization structure; Flexible and rigid Roads with Estates or Schools

and Magnificent dwelling houses.

Kenmentor Limited professionals are very meticulous in the accurate interpretation

of Architect’s design and also pay strict attention to details, these coupled with our

prompt completion delivery of project has earned us a good name in the industry.

Kenmentor Limited as its head office located at Km 3 Aba/ Port-Harcourt Express

Way, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

 2.2 Organizational structure of the establishment

KENMENTOR LIMITED. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

MANAGING DIRECTOR SECRETARY

GENERAL MANAGER SECRETARY

PUBLIC SALES AND TECHNICAL PROJECTS PROJECT & FIN. &

RELATIONS MARKETING DIRECTOR MANAGER BUS. DEVELOP. ADMINISTRATION

TENDER CONTRACT
ADMIN

ESTIMATION ACC. DEPT.

DEPT.

CASHIER STORE

PROJECT PROCUREMENT
MANAGERS

CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS

FIG 2.1: KENMENTOR LIMITED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Industrial work experience

As a student who underwent Industrial training at Kenmentor Limited, I was

exposed to a standard Civil Engineering practices during the construction of a 3

bay warehouse. Some projects executed at Kenmentor Limited ensured that staff

worked in teams; hence, I acquired the ability to be a good team player.

The various activities which I undertook in the course of my industrial training are

majorly Construction Activities. During the course of my training, I was opportune

to take part in the following activities under the strict supervision and guidance of

my immediate supervisor who took it upon himself to ensure the success of the

programme. Below are the analysis of my construction activities and experience

gained:

3.1.1 Setting out

Before excavating for foundations, forming building platforms or removing topsoil

to cleared ground level, the proposed building must be ‘set out’. This involves

working out the location and relative height and size of the building on site.

Procedure

I. From the plan, the centre line of the walls is calculated. Then the centre lines

of the rooms are set out by setting perpendiculars in the ratio 3:4:5. Suppose
 the corner points are: a, b, c, d, e, f and g which are marked by pegs with

nails on top.

II. The setting of the corner point is checked according to diagonals ac, bd, cf

and eg.

III. During excavation, the centre points a, b, c, d, e, f, g may be removed.

Therefore the centre lines are extended and the centre points are marked

about 2m away from the outer edge of excavation. Thus, the points A1, A2,

B1, B2 and likewise, are marked outside the trench. Centre line is shown

clearly by stretching string line. The centre points fixed 2m away from the

excavation are marked with sit out pegs.

IV. From the plan details, the width of exaction to be done is also marked by

string line with pegs at appropriate positions.

V. The excavation width is then marked by lime or by with furrow with spade.

VI. If the plan is much to complicate and follows a zigzag pattern, then the

centre pegs are kept at suitable positions according to site conditions.

3.2 Construction of reinforced concrete member

A reinforced concrete structural member may be subjected to any (or all, in

worst condition) of the structural failures – flexural, buckling, shear or torsion –

depending on the type of member it is and its location in the structure. Thus, it is
imperative to understand the importance/necessity of the various structural

members, which are briefly outlined in this section as follows:

3.2.1 Slab

A slab is a reinforced concrete member that, more often than not, is subjected to

shear (Oyenuga, op. cit.). Because slab is generally a horizontal member, its design

centres more on flexure rather than direct shear.

Generally, slabs are similar to beams except that:

 a width of 1.0m is generally assumed to as to make for a simplified design

 the section is usually rectangular, hence no flanges

 Shear is generally not considered unless where concentrated or point loads

predominate, and the slab is thicker than 200mm.

There are various types of slab, and the type to be preferred may depend on: (i) the

span of the slab, (ii) the use of the space, which may determine the span, (iii) the

load to be carried, and (iv) the architectural aesthetics required.

The various types include:

 Solid slab (cantilever, simply-supported, continuous, one-way, and

two-way)

 Ribbed slab

 Flat slab

 Waffle slab
Slab directly carries the load imposed on it and its own self-weight (all in the form

of uniformly distributed loads) and is supported by walls, beams and/or columns.

Solid slabs are the commonest, especially in residential areas.

3.2.2 Procedure for Construction of Slab

A concrete slab may be prefabricated or in situ. In situ concrete slabs are built on

site using formwork – a type of boxing into which the wet concrete is poured. If

the slab is to be reinforced, the rebars are positioned within the formwork before

the concrete is poured in. plastic tipped metal, or plastic bar chairs are used to hold

the rebar away from the bottom and sides of the formwork, so that when the

concrete sets it completely envelops the reinforcement. For a ground slab, the

formwork may consist only of sidewalls pushed into the ground. For a suspended

slab, the formwork is shaped like a tray, often supported by a temporary scaffold

until the concrete sets.

The formwork is commonly built from wooden planks and boards, plastic or steel.

On commercial building sites today, plastic and steel are more common as they

save labour. On low-budget sites, for instance when laying a concrete garden path,

wooden planks are very common. After the concrete has set the wood may be

removed, or left there permanently.

In some cases form work is not necessary – for instance, a ground slab surrounded

by brick or block foundation walls act as the sides of the tray and hardcore act as

the base.

3.2.3 Column

Primarily, columns are compression members, although some may be subjected to

bending either due to their slenderness or due to their asymmetric loading from

beams (Oyenuga, op. cit.). Reinforced concrete columns are generally either

rectangular in cross-section with separate links, or circular – and, in some cases,

polygonal.

Fundamentally, columns can be categorised as:

 Axially loaded column – when it supports approximately symmetrical beam

arrangement.

 Uniaxial column – when it supports direct loading and bending in one

direction.

 Biaxial column – when it supports a concentric loading and bending acting

about two axes that are mutually at right angles.

Also, columns can be classified based on its end conditions as:

 Braced column – when wall, bracing or buttressing, designed to resist all

lateral forces in that plane, laterally supports it.

  Unbraced column – when it is not laterally supported by wall, bracing or

buttressing.

Procedure for Construction Column

I. Foundation:

The construction process of foundation is as follows:

 Excavating the earth from foundation.

 Laying of cement concrete in foundation (blinding).

 Placing steel bar net in footing as per design and also placing vertical bars of

column in footing on the steel bar net as per design.

 Laying form work in footing.

 Laying cement concrete 1: 1.5: 3 or 1: 2: 4 in footing up to required height

as per design.

 Curing work and refilling of earth around footing.

II. Super Structure:

After the construction of footing and pedestal the construction of column is

started. The process of construction is following:

 Tie up all rings around and into vertical steel bars according to design.

 Fix form work of required size with vertical steel bars.

 Lay cement concrete in formwork according to design.

 Take proper curing of RCC column.

3.2.3 Beam

This is a horizontal member of the whole structure with a rectangular cross-section

usually. It, in most cases, supports the loads on the slab, the self-weight of the slab,

and its own self-weight – all of which are transmitted to the nearest vertical

member, such as column or wall (load-bearing). Beams, generally, resist flexural

loading.

Procedure for the Construction Beam

The ground beam construction will be started after a column stump has finish.

After the column stump has ingrained in foundation and has corpulent on level as

wanted. Beam formwork will put and pointed stake set in the ground with tidy so

that it will look tough and strengthened. Strength of formwork is important to

ensure that formwork will not expand when a concrete will instill. If formwork is

not good, it will give a problem and the construction work will have much time.

After that, link concrete is lain out on ground surface into the formwork. The

reinforcements will be putted with spacer block/reinforcement cover on below and

beside reinforcement. The cover is being put to protect reinforcement from rusting.

3.3 Construction/laying of block wall

Concrete blocks, commonly referred to as “CMUs”, are used for wall construction

throughout residential and commercial building. From foundations to terraces and

planters, concrete blocks offer an efficient and cost- effective alternative to the cost
and elaborate forming of poured concrete. No matter the scope of your project, the

basic procedure for laying block sets a pattern that ensures an accurate and

structurally sound wall.

3.3.1 Procedure for laying of Blocks

1. Install an appropriately sized and reinforced poured concrete footing for the

block wall. The Dixieline ProBuild Home Centers website recommends a

continuous level minimum footing dimension of 8 inches deep and 12 inches

wide for the full length of the wall.

2. Define the exterior wall line for the concrete block. Set a stake in line with

the desired wall line roughly 3 to 4 feet beyond the wall length at both ends

of the footing. Drive the stakes using a sledgehammer until they’re firmly

held in place.

3. Tie a length of string line between the two stakes to use as a guideline for

the outside wall line for the concrete blocks. You can adjust the stakes, as

needed, to align the wall with the footing. Keeps the string taut and

unencumbered during the block laying.

4. Mark a wall line point on the top surface of the concrete footing at each end

using a builder’s level aligned with the string line set in step 3. Connect the

two marks using a chalk line. This defines a wall guideline for the first

“course”, or layer, of concrete block.

5. Mix cements mortar mix in a wheelbarrow following the manufacturer’s

label directions.

6. Set up a mortar board and stand, within easy reach of the block wall, and

place a small pile of mortar on the board. A piece of plywood and a couple

of concrete blocks also makes a simple mortar board and stand, or the

wheelbarrow of mortar can be kept close by.

7. Spread a straight, even line of mortar using a trowel. Make the mortar line

approximately 2 inches wide, ¾ inch thick and 24 inches long beside the

chalked guideline you snapped in step 4. Spread a second matching a

parallel mortar line 8 inches from the first on the same side of the guideline.

8. Lower a standard concrete block onto the mortar lines, aligned with the

chalked guideline and the desired end of the wall, and then use a torpedo

level to level the block. Tap the top of the block with a rubber mallet, as

needed, to level it and maintain a minimum 3/8-inch mortar joint between

the block and the footing surface. Collect the excess mortar mix that

squeezes out from under the block and return it to the wheelbarrow or mortar

board for reuse.

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to set the next concrete block in place, leveling the

block and keeping the adjacent vertical joint tight. Use a builder’s level to

keep the top surfaces level and side faces aligned.

 10.Complete the first full course of concrete blocks by repeating the procedure

described in step 7 and 8. When the first course has been completed, recheck

each block for level and alignment with the chalked guideline.

11.Begin the next course of concrete blocks by spreading two parallel lines of

mortar on the edge of the first blocks, again about ¾ inch thick and 24

inches long, and then starting the course with a CMU half block to offset the

vertical joints from the proceeding couse of blocks. This method of starting

alternating course with standard and half-blocks is to be used throughout the

wall’s construction.

12.Repeat step 7 and 8 to complete the concrete block installation for the

remainder of the wall.

3.4 Construction of stairs

Procedure in the Construction of stairs

 Calculate the Stairs' Dimensions Stairs consist of a riser, the vertical face,

and the tread, the part you step on. Calculate the elevation, the height of one

floor to the other. This number is the total riser to the stairs. Measure the

horizontal distance the staircase will span. Measure the width of each step

from left to right in the area where the staircase will go.

 Determine the Dimensions of the Staircase's Foundation When building

concrete steps, you will need a foundation: a slab of concrete poured to a

 depth of several inches below the grade level (check local building codes).

The dimensions are equal to that of the footprint of the stairs. To calculate

your necessary footprint, take the total run for length of the slab, and total

width of the stairs for the width of the slab.

 Build the Form, the form can be made with plywood or framing lumber. It

can be made from scrap or low-grade lumber. The first step is to cut the side

forms according to the tread and riser calculations. This should look like the

view of a staircase from the side. They must be securely adhered to the

building's foundation. You want the new stairs to bond to the foundation

seamlessly. Add wooden stakes as bracing against the outward movement of

the poured concrete every 12 inches (30.5 cm) along the outside surface of

the form. Next, install the boards that will form the face of the risers. These

should have a width equal to the height of the riser. Depending on the width

of the stairs, you might have to add bracing to the center of each riser. Make

sure that the forms are plumb and level before proceeding further.

 Mix the Concrete For a staircase, you can mix the concrete by hand, or you

can use a portable cement mixer. If the staircase is any larger than the short

sunken living room staircase. You can use ready-mixed concrete that only

requires water, or you can obtain the ingredients individually. Typically,

with concrete you'll calculate 6 gallons of water per bag of cement.

 Pour the Concrete; though it requires the least direction from me, this is the

real meat of the project. Start at the bottom, and pour one step at a time.

Once you pour it, it should be spread evenly. Use a spade or a rod to remove

trapped air bubbles.

 Add the Finishing Touches There are any number of finishing methods you

can use to get a smooth surface while building concrete steps... A screed

board is a piece of lumber somewhat longer than the width of the staircase

that you'll gently work front to back and side to side to get the excess

concrete off the treads. You can use a 2 x 4 for a simple screed board. Use a

wood float to level the surface. A wood float is a small piece of flat lumber

with a handle on one of the faces. To provide a finer finish, use a steel

trowel, which is very much like a wood float, only the finishing surface is

very smooth steel which creates a smoother and less bubbly finish.

 Wait and Dampen Once you have the surfaces smoothed, keep the concrete

wet or damp for up to one week while it cures. You can do this by covering

the stairs with burlap and keeping the burlap wet, or you can cover it tightly

with plastic. Additionally, spray the stairs with curing compound. This step

is essential. Left open to the atmosphere, the relative humidity of the

concrete will drop rapidly. If it drops below 80%, the curing hydration

reaction can stop. If this happens, the concrete may only achieve a fraction
 of its potential strength. After a week, the concrete will have attained its

final shape, and you can remove the form lumber. Curing will continue to

take place over a period of months. If after you've completed building

concrete steps you plan on staining them (a popular procedure these days), it

is important that you allow the concrete to cure for at least 30 days so that

the staining will take properly.

3.5 Construction of underground water tank

Procedure

 Excavation of pit for the construction of the water tank.

 Installation of formwork/shutter ready to receive concrete

 Construction of the reinforced concrete raft foundation, columns, walls and

roof slab with ready-made concrete transported to site as required.

 Steel reinforcement fixing in accordance with the design details provided by

the client and to approval.

 Effective water proofing treatment – provide details of the proposal

 Water supply and distribution pipe connections including to the existing

electrical pumps.

 Spreading excavated materials within the site to form the embankment as

directed on site. Surplus excavated soil that may not be required within the

construction site shall be transported and spread within the site.

3.6 Construction of septic tank and soak away

Procedure

 Determine the location and depth of your septic tank. The local building

codes will establish the fall of the sewage pipe that runs from the house to

the intake outlet on the septic tank. In addition, comply with the required fall

of the water discharge pipe from the septic tank to the lateral leech fields. A

survey crew will assess the property grade to determine the location.

 Excavate the pit where you will pour the concrete tank. A backhoe will

remove the soil from the pit and will dig trenches to install the piping to and

from the septic tank.

 Fill the bottom of the pit with at least 6 inches of sand or gravel. This will

stabilize the base beneath the septic tank to reduce the possibility of shifting

or cracking.

 Form and pour the floor of the tank first, inserting steel reinforcement to

meet or exceed your local codes. During the floor pour, install the vertical

steel rebar that will reinforce the tank walls. By inserting the bars into the

wet concrete floor, you provide a strong structural connection between the

walls and the floor.

  Install horizontal rebar rods and use rebar ties to fasten them. Building code

is essential here, but standard rebar spacing is between 12 inches and 16

inches.

 Order concrete after the building inspector checks the tank framing. Most

communities are very strict about septic tank construction because a leaking

tank can pollute streams and water tables. In addition, make provisions for

the intake pipe and the drainage pipe before you pour the walls.

 Form the tank cap separately on a bed of level sand. The cap should match

the dimensions of the septic tank and you will position a manhole in the

form before pouring. You'll also need steel reinforcement and four large

steel hooks positioned at each corner of the cap and extending all the way

through the concrete.

 Lift the cap from the sand bed with a crane by hooking onto the four steel

hooks and position it carefully on the tank before covering the cap with soil.

3.7 Plastering and screeding works

3.7.1 Screeding Work

Concrete floors can become worn and attain divots over time. Re-surfacing your

floor is an easy task to accomplish using just a few tools found at your local

hardware store. Simply pour some concrete compound over the surface of your

floor and screed it until level.

Procedure

 Scrape any loose material from all of the crevices and holes in the concrete

floor using a trowel.

 Remove any dirt or dust from the concrete floor area you will be screeding.

 Scour all oil and grease stains left on the unfinished floor using sugar soap (a

cleaning material typically containing sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate,

and sporadically and abrasive such as sodium silicate) or simple household

detergent.

 Leave any wet stain removal areas to dry.

 Mark the area you will be screeding with duct tape in order to accurately

accomplish your project and not add concrete compound to areas that do not

need it.

 Mix a bag of ready-mix mortar and fill any holes that are larger than ½ inch

using your trowel.

 Leave mortar to cure over night.

 Remove all the skirting boards (the baseboards of the floor) using a hammer

and a chisel. You typically will not be able to reuse any of these boards, so

caution taking them off is not necessary.

 Seal concrete floor by brushing a thin layer of concrete sealer on top of the

entire surface.
  Let the surface dry in accordance with the instructions given on the concrete

sealer.

 Mix your self-levelling concrete compound for 2 minutes so all the

ingredients will thoroughly combine.

 Pour the self-levelling concrete compound onto your concrete floor.

 Screed a thin layer of the self- levelling concrete compound along the area of

the floor you have marked for screeding using a float (a screeding tool used

for leveling out pasty masonry materials). Begin at the end corner of the

room and work your way towards the door so not to step on the newly

screeded floor.

 Allow the concrete compound to completely set before stepping on the

screeded floor.

3.7.2 Plastering Work

Procedure of Plastering

The very first step towards plastering a wall will comprise of mixing the

chemicals, like aggregate, lime or gypsum and fiber. To do this, you need a bucket

filled with clean, cold water. Add plaster to the water slowly, using a gauging

trowel. With the help of a mixer drill, blend the plaster and water thoroughly.

Make sure that the plaster is mixed to the appropriate consistency and is lump free.
The First Coat

The first coat, called the scratch coat, is applied to the walls at 3/8-inch thickness.

It is called the scratch coat, because the surface is scratched with a comb, in order

to give it a rough texture.

The Second Coat

The second coat, called the brown coat, is applied directly on the base coat. In this

case also, the thickness of 3/8-inch is maintained. The rough texture to the coat is

lent by the sand mixed in it.

The Final Coat

The final coat, or the traditional lime finish coat, is applied at a thickness of 1/8-

inch. The lime putty is prepared by blending it with water, in a mixing board. The

final coat gives the wall a hard and shiny finish.

Tips

 Make sure to wet the surface at which you are applying plaster. This will

ensure better sticking of the plaster.

 Don’t use dry cement over the plastic surface, as there are chances of it

getting distorted.

 Use the appropriate amount of water while mixing chemicals or else, there

are chances that it won’t set up to the brick wall.

  Wait for 24 hours after plastering the wall and splatter water over it for the

next 3-4 days. The splattered water will ensure better set up of the plaster.

 If you are doing the patch up work in a smaller area, like in a room, make

sure to keep newspaper pieces on the ground, so that if the plaster falls over

it, it can be removed. Once dried, it is difficult to remove the plaster.

3.8 Power floated finished floor

Using a power trowel machine for casting concrete floors gives the finished

product a professional look. Power trowels are used for both floating and finishing

concrete floors. Compared to hand trowels, power trowels significantly increase

the productivity and quality of the finished product.

Procedure

 Prepare the area. If the floor requires any wooden forms before the concrete

is poured, make sure your forms are in the correct positions. Brace the forms

securely to avoid frustrating mistakes later on. Make sure the floor is

reinforced according to local regulations.

 Determine how much concrete you'll need by measuring the floor and

multiplying the square footage by the depth of the intended floor. Add five

to 10 percent to account for losses or spillage.

 Pour the concrete evenly on a cool, humid day. If you pour it in hot, dry

weather, it will dry out before it cures properly. Have several helpers
 available to help you rake the concrete evenly over the area for the floor.

This should be done quickly. Using a side-to-side motion, rake it evenly

over the form.

 Use a bull float to float the surface and remove air bubbles from the

concrete. Push the bull float away from you across the surface until the

entire surface has been worked.

 Wait until the concrete has cured enough that you barely leave a print on the

concrete when you walk on it.

 Before starting the power trowel machine, check the machine for gasoline,

oil and water levels. Wear safety glasses and a dust mask, and make sure

that onlookers stand at a safe distance from the machine.

 Run the machine across the surface of the concrete, overlapping rows, until

the entire surface has been smoothed and is completely level. If you desire a

non-slip surface, you may need to roughen it up after you are done with the

trowel machine.
 CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Equipment used and their functions

Equipment used comprise of both small equipment/tools and heavy machines:

 Spirit level: A spirit level is an instrument designed to indicate whether a

surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). Different types of spirit

levels may be used by carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, other building

trades’ workers, surveyors, and other metal workers. Spirit levels are made

from aluminum. They have atleast one glass or plastic tube, usually in the

middle of the level, which has liquid and an air bubble in it. The bubble

moves around and when it is placed against a level object, it rests right in the

middle of the gauge lines in the tube. That is known as plumb.

FUNTIONS

I. It is used to check if a surface is horizontally leveled.

II. It is used to test for the verticality.

 Plumb bob: A plumb bob is a weight, usually with a pointed tip on the

bottom that is suspended from a string and used as a vertical reference line,

or plumb-line. It is essentially the vertical equivalent of a water level. Up

until the modern age, on most tall structures, plumb-bobs were used to

provide vertical datum lines for the building measurements. A section of the

scaffoldings would hold a plumb line that was centered over a datum mark
on the floor. As the building proceeded upwards the plumb line would also

be taken higher, still centered on the datum. Many cathedral spires, domes

and towers still have a brass datum marks inlaid into their floors that signify

the center of the structure above.

FUNCTIONS

I. It is used to ensure that constructions are plumb or vertical.

II. It is used in surveying to establish the nadir with respect to gravity of

a point in space.

III. They are used with a variety of instrument (including levels,

theodolites, and steel tapes) to set the instrument exactly over a fixed

survey marker, or to transcribe positions onto the ground for placing a

marker.
 IV. It is also used in determining the centre of gravity of an irregular

shape.

V. It can also be used to put gauge on the wall before plastering is done.

 Sledge hammer: a sledge hammer is a tool with a large, flat head attached

to a lever (or handle). The head is typically made of metal. The

sledgehammer can apply more force than other hammers, due to its large

size. Along with the mallet, it shares the ability to distribute force over a

wide area. This is in contrast to other types of hammers, which concentrate

force in a relatively small area.

 Measuring tape: a tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler. It

consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fiber glass, or metal strip with linear-

measurement markings. It is a common measuring tool. Its design allows for

a measure of great length to be easily carried in pocket or toolkit and permits

one to measure around curves or corners. Today it is ubiquitous, even

appearing in miniature form as a keychain fob, or novelty item. Surveyors

use tape measures in lengths of over 100 m (300+ ft).

 Pincers: Pincers are a similar tool to a plier with a different type of head

used for cutting and pulling, rather than squeezing. Tools which are

effectively pliers designed principally for safely handling hot objects are

usually called tongs. Special tools for making crimp connections in electrical

and electronic applications are often called "crimping pliers"; each type of

connection uses its own dedicated tool.

 Pliers: Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed

from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe. They are also

useful for bending and compressing a wide range of materials. Generally,

pliers consist of a pair of metal first-class levers joined at a fulcrum

positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of

the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other side.[1] This arrangement

creates a mechanical advantage, allowing the force of the hand's grip to be

 amplified and focused on an object with precision. The jaws can also be

used to manipulate objects too small or unwieldy to be manipulated with the

fingers.

 Concrete vibrator: a vibrator is a mechanical device to generate vibrations.

The vibration is often generated by an electric motor with an unbalanced

mass on its driveshaft. Concrete vibrators consolidate freshly poured

concrete so that trapped air and excess water are released and the concrete

settles firmly in place in the formwork. Improper consolidation of concrete

can cause product defects, compromise the concrete strength, and produce

surface blemishes such as bug holes and honeycombing. An internal

concrete vibrator is a steel cylinder about the size of the handle of a baseball

bat, with a hose or electrical cord attached to one end. The vibrator head is

immersed in the wet concrete.

 Compacting machine: Compacting machines apply forces to increase soil

density. Some equipment applies only static forces, which include pressure

and kneading produced only by the dead weight and configuration of the

machine itself. Such static forces affect only the top layers of material, and

their impact is felt only to a limited depth. Other equipment also applies the

dynamic forces of vibration or impact to increase its compactive effect.

These machines use a mechanism, usually engine-driven, to add the

downward force beyond the machine static weight.

One or more rotating eccentric weights are normally used as a vibrating

mechanism. Vibration moves through the soil, setting the particles in motion

and moving them closer together to produce the highest possible density.

This affects both the top layers and deeper layers.

 There are three basic types of compacting machine: rammers, vibratory

plates and rollers. But we are concerned about vibratory plates only in this

section:

 Vibratory Plates: Vibratory plates produce low-amplitude, high frequency

vibrations best suited for compacting granular soils. They use gas or diesel

engines that drive one or more eccentric weights to generate vibration at

frequencies ranging from 2500 to 6000 vpm.

The most basic vibratory plate compactors travel only forward, their forward

motion driven by the vibratory plate itself. The plate width on these lighter

duty machines ranges from 14 to 20 inches. They are generally used to

compact smaller areas and shallow lift under 12 inches.

There are also larger and heavier vibratory plate compactors. These larger

units are typically reversible, which means they use two eccentric weights

and so can transition smoothly from forward to reverse travel, or maintain

force while stopped to provide spot compaction. The heavier plates and dual

weights also increase their compaction force, so they can be used effectively

on semi-cohesion as well as granular soils. Plate widths range from about 16

to 28 inches.
 Dumpy levels: A dumpy level, builder’s level, leveling instrument, or

automatic level is an optical instrument used to establish or check points in

the same horizontal plane. It is used in surveying and building to transfer,

measure, or set horizontal levels.

The level instrument is set up on a tripod and, depending on the type, either

roughly or accurately set to a leveled condition using footscrew (leveling

screws). The operator looks through the eyepiece of the telescope while an

assistant holds a tape measure or graduated staff vertical at the point under

measurement. The instrument and staff are used to gather and/or transfer

elevations (levels) during site surveys or building construction.

Measurement generally starts from a benchmeark with known height

determined by a previous surveyor an arbitrary point with an assumed

height.
4.2 Operation

The level instrument is set up on a tripod and, depending on the type, either

roughly or accurately set to a leveled condition using footscrew (leveling screws).

The operator looks through the eyepiece of the telescope while an assistant holds a

tape measure or graduated staff vertical at the point under measurement. The

instrument and staff are used to gather and/or transfer elevations (levels) during

site surveys or building construction. Measurement generally starts from a

benchmark with known height determined by a previous survey, or an arbitrary

point with an assumed height.

4.2.1 Functions

i. It is used to transfer horizontal levels or measures.

ii. It is used to take a slope.

iii. It can also be used with help of a plumb bob for setting out.
 FIG 41: A LABELED DUMPY LEVEL

 Excavator: are heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, stick,

bucket and cab on a rotating platform known as the "house". The house sits

atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. A cable-operated excavator

uses winches and steel ropes to accomplish the movements. They are a

natural progression from the steam shovels and often called power shovels.

All movement and functions of a hydraulic excavator are accomplished

through the use of hydraulic fluid, with hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic

motors.

Hydraulic excavator capabilities have expanded far beyond excavation tasks

with buckets. With the advent of hydraulic-powered attachments such as a

breaker, a grapple or an auger, the excavator is frequently used in many

applications other than excavation. Many excavators feature a quick coupler

 for simplified attachment mounting, increasing the machine's utilization on

the jobsite. Excavators are usually employed together with loaders and

bulldozers. This is a horizontal bulldozer-like blade attached to the

undercarriage and is used for leveling and pushing removed material back

into a hole.

FUNCTIONS

I. Digging of trenches, holes, foundations

II. Material handling

III. Brush cutting with hydraulic attachments

IV. Forestry work

V. Forestry mulching

VI. Demolition

VII. General grading/landscaping

VIII. Mining, especially, but not only open-pit mining

IX. River dredging

X. Driving piles, in conjunction with a pile driver

XI. Drilling shafts for footings and rock blasting

 FIG 4.2: MAKING USE OF AN EXCAVATOR TO BACKFILL

 Smooth Wheeled Roller: Rollers also comprise several categories that

serve various purposes. There is walk-behind and ride-on models, static and

vibratory rollers, smooth-drum and padded or sheepsfoot designs.

Walk-behind or ride-on, smooth-drum vibratory rollers are a good choice for

compacting granular or mixed soils for larger areas such as driveways,

parking lots, and roadways. They are also suitable for roller-compacted

concrete projects. These machines provide high-frequency (about 4000

vpm), low-amplitude vibrations generated by eccentric shafts within the

drums or mounted on the frame.

 Concrete Mixer: a concrete mixer (also commonly called a cement mixer)

is a device that homogeneously combines cement, aggregate such as sand or

gravel, and water to form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a

revolving drum to mix the components. For smaller volume works portable

concrete mixers are often used so that the concrete can be made at the

construction site, giving the workers ample time to use the concrete before it

hardens. An alternative to a machine is mixing concrete by hand. This is

usually done in a wheelbarrow; however, several companies have recently

begun to sell modified tarps for this purpose.

 Mobile Concrete Mixer: a variant of standard concrete transportation is

the concrete or cement mixing trailer. These small versions of a transit-

mix truck are used to supply short loads of concrete. These cart-away

style trailers have a concrete mixing drum with a capacity of between 1

and 1.75 cubic yards (0.76 and 1.34 m3). Cart-always are usually pulled

behind a pick-up truck and batched from smaller batching systems. The

mixing trailer system is popular with rental yards and building material

locations, who use them to supply ready-mix to their regular customer

base.
FIG 4.3: A MOBILE CONCRETE MIXER DISCHARGING A WET

CONCRETE DURING CASTING.

 Portable Concrete Mixer: This portable concrete/mortar mixer has

wheels and a towing tongue so that it can be towed by a motor vehicle

and moved around the worksite by hand, and its rotation is powered by

mains electricity. The lever allows the concrete/mortar to be tipped into a

wheelbarrow.

For smaller jobs, such as residential repairs, renovations, or hobbyist-scale

projects, many cubic yards of concrete are usually not required. Bagged

cement is readily available in small-batch sizes and aggregate and water are

easily obtained in small quantities for the small work site. To service this
small-batch concrete market, there are many types of small portable concrete

mixers available

A typical portable concrete mixer uses a small revolving drum to mix the

components. For smaller jobs the concrete made at the construction site has

no time lost in transport, giving the workers ample time to use the concrete

before it hardens.

FIG 4.15: PORTABLE MIXER USED ON SITE

 CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Summary

The students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a Skills Training

Programme designed to expose and prepare students of Universities,

Polytechnics/Colleges of Technology/Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of

Education for the Industrial Work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.

The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing

themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that are

usually not available in their Institutions.

The name of the establishment of placements is Kenmentor Limited; it is a Civil

engineering and construction company with international expertise spanning over

five decades in Nigeria. Kenmentor Limited has been involved in the construction

of impressive structures all over this great country – Nigeria. Such projects have

included: Office edifices; stadia: Hostel Accommodation in tertiary institutions;

School buildings; church buildings; seminary complexes; Market complexes;

warehouses; Factories; Filling stations; Butanization structure; Flexible and rigid

Roads with Estates or Schools and Magnificent dwelling houses.

The organizational structure of the establishment started with the overall boss

which is the chairman down to the site staff. And also the various departments
within on the site are: civil engineering, quantity surveying, building surveying,

carpentry unit, masonry unit and the iron bending and welding unit.

Based on all the experienced acquired during the course of my student industrial

work experience scheme (SIWES). Which gives a clear statement on actual work

done, which varies from the interpretation of structural and architectural drawings

to the use of simple tools? Such as: the use of a dumpy level to transfer levels and

also to take slopes. To take a slope therefore, you give the slope of 1 metre to 1

centimetre, Calculating the total numbers of reinforcement (iron bars) needed in

slabs, beams, columns e.t.c, marking out of columns, identifying different grades

of concrete and mixing ratio’s e.g grade 25 i.e ratio 1:1.5:3, interpretation of

structural and architectural drawings. Equipment used and their functions such as;

the dumpy level, disc cutting machine, arc welding machine, hacksaw, concrete

vibrator, vibratory plate, spirit level, measuring tape e.t.c.

At the end of it all, conclusions are drawn, and recommendations are made on how

these activities are carried out have trained my mind in the engineering profession

and have given some necessary experience needed to face the challenges of this

profession as well.

5.2 Problem encountered and solution proffered

During the course of construction site experience, the major problems encountered

include: purchase and transportation of raw constructional materials to site;

wayward behaviors of labourers; quality assurance; and irregular provision of

finance for construction activities. In solving these problems, the solutions

proffered include precautionary purchase and storage of constructional materials;

good management of, and formal relationship with, labourers; and close

supervision of activities. As to provision of finance for construction, one cannot

but trust in divine providence in order to be kept in business.

5.3 Conclusion

My six month student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) with

Kenmentor Limited has been one of the most interesting, productive and

instructive experience in my life. Through this training, I have gained new insight

and more comprehensive understanding about real industrial working condition

and practice; it has also improved my soft and functional skills. All these valuable

experiences and knowledge’s that I have gained were not only acquired through

the direct involvement in task but also through other aspect of training such as:

work observation, interaction with colleagues, superior and other people related to

the field. It also exposed me on some certain things about construction

environment. And from what I have undergone, I am sure that industrial training

program has achieved its primary objective. As a result of the program I am now

more confident to build my future career which I have already started with

Kenmentor Limited.
5.4 Recommendations

With the aims behind the introduction of this scheme, it is imperative that

everything should be done in order to achieve the noble objectives of the scheme.

Therefore, I would recommend the following in my own humble view:

5.4.1 Industrial Training Fund and Government:

 The Government should make it compulsory for Organizations and

Companies (prospective SIWES workplaces) to participate in the SIWES by

employing students for the scheme.

 The Government through the Industrial Training Fund should ensure that

students on training are supervised regularly which could be through a

monthly, weekly visit to their place of work.

 The Government should make it compulsory for all higher institution that all

SIWES student should use a minimum of a year for the training so as to gain

ample work experience.

5.4.2 The Department of Building:

 It would be okay if the department could acquire IT placements for students

as this serves as a major heartache to many students as many students do not

start on time, limiting the time they have to learn relevant skills.

 More awareness should be made on the aspect of information technology i.e.

on soft ware developments applicable to the building profession and the

 students given the opportunity to have themselves exposed practically to the

nitty-gritty of such software’s available so as to have them more prepared

and better equipped for labour market after graduating.

5.4.3 The Students

 Students should comport themselves well and be humble at their prospective

SIWES work places

 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY

 http://www.engineeringcivil.com/how-to-write-a-project-report.html

 Needham, Joseph (1965). Science and Civilization in China: volume 4,

Physics and Physical technology, Part 2, Mechanical Engineering; rpr.

Taipei: Caves Books Ltd.

 Boughton, B. W. (1971) Reinforced Concrete Detailer’s Manual, Fletcher &

Sons Limited, Norwich.

 BSI (1997) Structural Use of Concrete, British Standards Institution,

London.

 Davies, D. (2002) Engineers, Engineering and the evolving Profession, The

Structural Engineer, Volume 80, No. 7, pp 31-33.

 Reji Zachariah (2000) Reinforcement detail drawing & preparation of bar

bending schedule – Necessity for every builder.

 Akinnagbe Femi Peter (2012) Unpublished SIWES report submitted to the

department of Building, Federal University of technology, Akure.