Design and Technology For Disaster-Resilient, Environmentally Responsible Buildings in Mountain Regions (UTTARAKHAND) - Habitat Package
Design and Technology For Disaster-Resilient, Environmentally Responsible Buildings in Mountain Regions (UTTARAKHAND) - Habitat Package
Design and Technology For Disaster-Resilient, Environmentally Responsible Buildings in Mountain Regions (UTTARAKHAND) - Habitat Package
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
(UTTARAKHAND) | Habitat Package
Disclaimer
This document is an outcome of a project titled, “Delivery of Eco-Friendly Multi-Hazard Resistant Construction Technologies and
Habitat Solutions in Mountain States, Focus: Uttarakhand” funded by “The Department of Science and Technology (DST), New
Delhi” for the economic development, social empowerment and environment management of our society. This document is
intended for use by policy-makers, academia, government, non-government organisations and general public for guidance on
matters of interest only. The decision and responsibility to use the information contained in this document lies solely with the
reader. The author(s) and the publisher(s) are not liable for any consequences as a result of use or application of this document.
Content may be used/quoted with due acknowledgement to Development Alternatives.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Suggested Citation
Niazi, Z., Khanna, P., Gupta, S., and Sirohi, R. (2020) Design and Technology for Disaster-resilient, Environmentally Responsible
Buildings in Mountain Regions (Uttarakhand) – Habitat Package. New Delhi: Development Alternatives.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
(UTTARAKHAND) | Habitat Package
The project Delivery Model for Eco-Friendly Multi Hazard Resistant Construction
Technologies and Habitat Solutions in Mountain States implemented in Uttarkashi by
Development Alternatives under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) TIME-
LEARN programme focuses on - sustainable construction in mountain regions through an
integrated approach which enables resource optimization, livelihood generation and climate
change through construction practices.
The project introduced environment friendly building materials and hazard resistant
construction systems in the region. It established a local delivery system for these products
and services through group and individual enterprises. The solutions offered by the project
include Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (SCEB) using local soil, Concrete blocks,
improved stone masonry with vertical reinforcement for ductility, precast roofing elements for
improved and safer RCC-based practice and Timber shingle based roofing.
Delivery systems for these technologies have been created through building capacity of local
community – women groups for SCEB, local carpenters for improved timber roofing and
individual micro enterprises for the pre-fabricated construction products. The materials were
introduced in the project through intensive community and market discussions. These have
been assessed by an independent group of professionals. As it incorporates high “localization”
component in material production and building construction processes, thus provide evidence
of a high local economy development and local resilience potential if disseminated widely and
mainstreamed in public and private construction projects.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The preparation of the document ‘Design and technology habitat package for disaster
resilient, environmentally responsible buildings in mountain regions, focussing on
Uttarakhand’ has been a rewarding and collaborative journey that has benefited from the
participation of diverse spectrum of stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the
package. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their generosity in
providing their time and effort.
We would extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Debpriya Dutta, Head and Advisor, Scienst’G’
and Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, Scientist ‘E’ from Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development
(SEED) Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India for approving
the project to Development Alternatives for piloting this initiative in Uttarakhand. We would
also like to express our gratitude towards Dr. Ruchi Badola, Scientist ‘G’ from Wildlife Institute
of India (WII) for being the coordinating organization of the TIME LEARN program and
ensuring the quality of the project along with 21 other core projects being implemented under
the Program.
We would like to thank our implementation partner, Himalayan Environmental Studies and
Conservation Organization (HESCO) for being our partner in mobilizing the communities,
conducting trainings and implementation of pilot models. We are grateful to Dr. Anil Prakash
Joshi, Founder of HESCO for providing his valuable inputs in the project for further scaling
up the work in mountain states. Our special thanks goes to Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Principal
Scientist from HESCO for coordinating and ensuring the timely implementation of the project.
We would also like to acknowledge our technology partners, Forest Research Institute (FRI),
Dehradun for providing the technology support in training and piloting Chir pine timber shingle
with timber truss under-structure roofing system along with its appropriate treatment
technology in the region. Special thanks goes to Dr. Rajendra Desai, Joint Director and
Managing Trustee of National Centre for People’s Action in Disaster Preparedness (NCPDP)
for providing technical assistance to build disaster resilient buildings in the region.
Our sincere thanks to Mr. Devendra Patwal, Disaster Management Officer, Uttarkashi for
providing his valuable suggestions and feedback from government perspective to take the
work further in district and state of UUttarakhand. Our sincere thanks goes to the field team
consisting of Dwarika Semwal, Gajendar Singh Rana and Vinod Chamoli who worked on
ground to mobilize the activities in three villages and coordinated the entire project. We are
indebted to the entire community especially to the women group who has come forward and
participated in the activities of mud block and other precast concrete material production.
Last but not the least, we acknowledge the relentless support of DA team including entire
Policy and Planning team, Product Development Team, TARA Machine team whenever
required to implement the project in the field. A special mention to Hriday Ray, Pramod
Singh, Shyam Narayan Prasad, K.P Singh, Sureshanand and Ramanand for providing on
field training.
Our sincere thanks to all.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
(UTTARAKHAND) | Habitat Package
PREFACE
The Habitat Package has been developed as complete Technology Package with Options for
Eco-Friendly Disaster Resistant Construction practices for mountain regions. It has been a
challenging and rewarding task to introduce and demonstrate a new construction approach in
rural areas of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. The system which incorporates and provides
answers to some of the key issues of development – resources, livelihood and climate change.
The solutions implemented by the project in three demonstration buildings and the experience
of engagement with local community and entrepreneurs bring forth lessons which can inform
a larger strategy for mainstreaming sustainable construction in mountain regions.
Participatory approach has been followed through the implementation methodology, right from
the research and assessment stage to technology demonstration stage. This was a critical
aspect for technology integration and technology adaptation among communities.
Our attempt will be rewarding if this habitat package serves the Uttarakhand government in
achieving their sustainable development and disaster risk reduction agendas. This package
will seek to generate consensus regarding action needed on various fronts such as policy to
enable efficient use of mountain resources, decision making in line with green procurement,
micro-enterprise based delivery systems and building requisite capacities of mountain
communities.
The package has been divided into six sections – providing the background of the issue,
criteria followed for selected sustainable building technologies, technology options developed
under the project, case study showing the combination and implementation of technologies
and lastly, recommendations for scaling up.
We sincerely thank Department of Science and Technology (DST) SEED Division, for giving
us the privilege of being a part of this extremely important initiative. We hope that this will be
benefitted by government of Uttarakhand and other mountain state in India, Ministry of rural
development and Disaster management and mitigation departments.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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FOREWORD
Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division under the Department
of Science and Technology, Government of India developed the concept of Technology
Intervention for Mountain Ecosystem- Livelihood Enhancement through Action Research &
Networking (TIME- LEARN) Program. Under this program, an innovative mechanism has
been developed for promoting Science and Technology (S&T) based organizations to develop
and implement innovative solutions for mountain specific problems in the Western Himalayan
states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
This Habitat package documents the eco-friendly, low-cost, disaster resilient building material
technologies proposed in Uttarakhand region to address the shift in construction practices
from traditional to cement based practices in mountain regions leading to high energy
intensive, seismic vulnerable buildings. This Habitat package along with detailed packages of
each building technology covers detailed specifications and their localized methods of
production and construction processes. This would serve local government, entrepreneurs to
adapt such eco-friendly technologies in their practices, schemes and programs.
I take this opportunity to express my utmost gratitude to Development Alternatives Group for
piloting these technologies in the region of Uttarkashi and establishing micro-enterprise based
delivery systems of these technologies on the ground through trainings and capacity building
programs. I would also like to extend my gratitude to various implementation and technology
partners involved in the various stages of the project, due to which such initiative became a
reality.
I am sure that the package would serve the bigger picture in the framework of disaster risk
reduction, in alignment with National Disaster Mitigation Plan (NDMP) 2019 agenda. It would
also serve the Sustainable Development Agenda of Uttarkhand state by promoting resource
optimization through environment friendly building technologies and add to its employment
generation agenda by creating livelihood opportunities specifically in such challenging
pandemic scenario.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………....... 8
Approach …………………………………………………………………….. 10
Methodology ………………………………………………………………… 11
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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1. Introduction
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Mountain regions are major eco-systems representing the inter-related ecology of our planet.
They are a key source of water, minerals, forest and agricultural products and their stability is
essential for the health of the global ecosystem. Mountain ecosystems are, however, rapidly
changing and this change is being accelerated by collective impact of development. Mountain
regions in India, as is commonly the case in other parts of the world, lie in disaster prone zones
– particularly prone to tectonic shifts. The way the built environment is planned and
constructed has a big impact on the degree of damage due to these extreme natural events.
Uttarkashi is situated in the extreme north -west corner of Uttarakhand, bounded with Tibet
and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh to its north. The district faces a range of disaster-
risks. With majority of the district lying in seismic zone IV, it is highly vulnerable to seismic
activity of intensity which can cause heavy damage. According to a study of disaster risk1 in
Uttarakhand, earthquakes and fluvial floods are the two major disaster risks in the region.
According to the assessment, “the average annual economic loss, based on the probabilistic
assessment of earthquake and fluvial flood risk is about INR 2,545 Crores and that the losses
due to earthquake are far more significant, accounting for more than 95% of the total loss.
Residential buildings and critical buildings (health centres, schools, government buildings)
account for 57.4% and 4.4% of these losses”.
Construction practices in the mountain regions have been changing rapidly, mainly under the
influence of cement concrete and red brick-based practices, where the construction materials
are coming from plain regions. These are perceived as stronger, particularly to resist
earthquakes. The penetration of materials like cement and steel and workforce from plain
regions (such as Bihar) have accelerated this change. Burnt clay bricks which are transported
from kilns in the plain regions (such as Roorkee) are being used as an alternative to traditional
stone masonry. However, looking at the construction challenges from an eco-friendly
approach, two challenges were identified – one was the technical incorrectness of Reinforced
Cement Concrete (RCC) based construction practices in the region which is counter-
productive and results in increased vulnerability of buildings and second is the high
dependency on high energy materials like burnt clay bricks, steel and cement which are
transported from far-away plain regions.
In addition, most masons in rural areas, as was observed in the project implemented in
Uttarkashi, have incomplete and incorrect knowledge of RCC- based construction practices
which severely undermines the capacity of contemporary construction to be able to resist
damage by earthquakes.
1
Disaster Risk Assessment of Uttarakhand – State Level Assessment Volume 3A- under Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery
project – jointly conducted by DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd., Asian Institute of Technology, and Evaluacion de
Riesgos Naturales, Mexico DF - http://usdma.uk.gov.in/PDFFiles/Atlas_Vol3A_20190131.pdf
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The high prevalence of non-local construction materials also undermines local economy and
erodes opportunities for skill development among local community. Traditional construction
practices using stone masonry and timber floors/roofs have seen a steady decline in skilled
masons who are technically proficient.
Current construction trends in rural areas of Uttarkashi
Brick and RCC slab construction in Siror village RCC columns and beams combined with traditional
stone masonry in Kamad village
Approach
An integrated sustainable approach was adopted where sustainable building construction
practices can add to the local economy generation, create disaster resilient
infrastructure, enhance natural resource optimization and encourage social inclusion
in the state. It has been envision that such an approach would lead to increase livelihood
opportunities, improved environment, construction of disaster safe buildings and community
participation in building processes. Such approach was achieved through four work areas on
the ground - Technical in which masons and carpenters were trained in disaster resilient
construction techniques, Environmental in which building technologies which low carbon,
resource efficient and add value to local resources were introduced, Economical in which
local building material
enterprise were setup to
produce and supply green
building materials and
construction services, Social
in which women and youth
were involved through skill
development and local skill
base up-gradation.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Methodology
Research and assessment –At the outset, a baseline assessment was conducted in four
villages of the Uttarkashi district to understand the local habitat design, current trends of
construction and gaps/ shortcomings which make buildings vulnerable in the region. This
helped in identifying the key criteria for appropriate technology selection and, subsequently,
for evaluation of sustainability of the implemented technologies in the given regional context.
Technology adaptation & Technology integration –The following critertia/ indictors were
used for technology selection – Hazard resistance – Earthquakes and high velocity winds -
Structural integrity of building –proxy attribute of technical correctness of prevailing
construction, Environmental impact - This is a hybrid attribute combining criticality of
resource use and Embodied energy, Local Economy Component -% contribution to village
economy, Affordability - Cost of construction of wall/roof and maintenance, Climate
responsiveness- Resistance to transfer of heat and cold, Cultural integration- Link with
traditional construction practice.
Capacity building – Three level of trainings were conducted for the capacity building of local
masons, artisans, carpenters and women’s groups.
Level 1: Community based production and supply - This training has been divided in two parts
– one is Production training of new building materials and second is Mason training in disaster
safe construction practices. The production training was conducted with local artisans,
masons and carpenters from four to five different villages in the region. The artisans were
trained in the production of Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (SCEB), Concrete Blocks
and Timber under structure and shingle roof, Precast RCC Plank, Joist and Door window
frames. The mason training was conducted with local masons in which disaster safe
construction techniques were theorized and demonstrated in the pilot building.
Level 2: Construction training and technical support – This training was majorly conducted
during the construction of demonstration building through site supervisor and technical experts
at different stages of construction.
Level 3: Micro-Enterprise training and market support – the project team has worked with the
entrepreneur to develop a business plan, a strategy for product pricing and communication
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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information for product marketing. This training was conducted for hands on support for
enterprises by actual production orders to women’s groups, enterprises and construction
service orders to masons and carpenters.
Technology demonstration – The technologies has been demonstrated in three building
typologies at three different villages of Uttarkashi region – Community building at Kamad
village, Homestay at Bagi village and House at Siror village. Technology demonstration has
also been an essential part of capacity building of local masons and technology adaptation
among communities.
This was further strengthened by setting up delivery systems of the technologies in these
villages. A system for localized delivery and availability of the building material and the access
to the requisite skilled masons to implement the technology. The core of this delivery model is
about anchoring the production and delivery services in the local region.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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2. Criteria for
Sustainable
Construction in
Mountain Regions
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Hazard resistance – earthquakes and Structural integrity of building –proxy attribute of technical
high velocity winds correctness of prevailing construction practices- qualitative
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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fact that cement, steel and bricks are all sourced from faraway plain regions. Critical
resource use - is understood from the point of view of minimizing the negative impact of
natural resource exploitation which is inevitable in the case of primary materials like cement,
steel, sand and stone. Based on the criteria of Scarcity and Environmental Degradation,
Resource Criticality Index for primary construction materials can be derived specifically for
mountain regions.
3. Local Economy Component
This attribute is concerned with augmentation of the local economy through components of
construction activity. Depending on the distance between construction site and nearest supply
point of ready-to-use materials, ‘local’ can be interpreted for mountain regions with respect to
the nearest small market for materials and also the radius which contains all essential service
providers needed for construction in the region. There are two sub-attributes of Local
Economy Component. Percentage Cash Flow in the local economy signifies % of money
spent on a particular construction technology which stays in the local system. Job creation
signifies number of man-days of local employment generated by various stages of
implementing a construction technology.
4. Affordability
Affordability is an important concern, especially in the hilly districts which make up the bulk of
the nearly 3/4th rural population. The current convention with regards to cost of a ‘pucca’ house
is burnt brick masonry and RCC construction. The cost of burnt brick masonry and RCC slab
construction is in the range of INR 10-12000 per m3 and INR 4000-5000 per m2. The traditional
(random rubble) stone masonry walls cost in the range of INR 2500-3500 per m3. The practice
of slate stone for sloping roofs has taken a backseat due to environmental regulations- a piece
of slate costs around INR 40 today. Transportation expense of reaching materials to often
remote sites, accounts for 15-20% of the overall cost of building. The potential for cost-
efficiency largely lies in utilizing local materials more efficiently and reducing
transportation through localized material production units.
5. Climate Responsiveness
The loss of indoor thermal comfort efficiency has been a major outcome of brick and cement
based practices in mountain regions. The feeling of discomfort indoors due to cement
plastered brick walls and cement-concrete floors is a common experience of the rural
community, often manifest in the form of joint-pains especially among the aged. The
replacement of min 18” thick stone masonry walls with thinner 9” brick walls has a direct impact
on thermal comfort through both reduction in thermal transmittance (U-value, W/m2K – the
lower the better) and in thermal mass (capacity to absorb heat energy). The U-value of burnt
brick masonry is about 2.2 W/m2K- about 30% more than traditional stone masonry walls. The
RCC roof slabs of typically 100mm thickness, also have a high U-value of 4.2 W/m2K.
However in some cases, RCC slabs are used as intermediate slabs in double storey buildings,
with a sloping roof in the upper storey – this is able to minimize exposure of RCC slabs.
6. Cultural Integration
The issue of cultural discontinuity as a result of new brick-and-RCC practices is also
important- more so because it is relatively intangible and becomes evident over a number of
years. The prevalence of brick and RCC is already visible as the biggest change in the built
environment. It is related to the issue of climate responsiveness which is an intrinsic feature
of traditional construction.
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3. Design Approach –
Structural Concerns
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Vertical regularity - In case of buildings with a floor above, there must be no vertical irregularity
due to the respective designs of both floors. This could be a small room on the upper floor
which causes asymmetry in the structure. This will result in torsion under seismic conditions,
which is not permitted in Category E buildings, unless a static analysis for seismic forces is
carried out. Vertical symmetry must be maintained across the length of the structure. If vertical
symmetry cannot be maintained, then there must be a structural separation between the single
story and the double storied part of the building.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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2. Foundation
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3. Seismic bands
Continuous RCC bands must be provided on all walls of building – both external as well as
internal walls - at plinth, sill, lintel and roof level. The bands must be must be the same
thickness of the walls and 75mm thick thick to provide adequate cover to the single layer of
reinforcement.
4. Vertical reinforcement
Single rod vertical reinforcement should be provided at all corner, T-junctions and on both
sides of all openings to impart ductility to the masonry walls. Laps in reinforcement bars will
be minimum 50 times the diameter of the bar. Corner and T-junction reinforcement will run
from foundation concrete to roof band, door reinforcement from plinth till roof band and window
reinforcement from sill level to lintel level.
For single storey building – 12mm bar
For double storied building - 6mm in ground floor and 12mm in upper floor
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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5. Masonry
In case of stone masonry, the inherent strength achieved through proper placement of stones
is very important. In particular, the use of header stones (which run for at least 75% of the wall
thickness) is critical. Adequate through stones should be identified from the stone pieces
before starting the masonry. All masonry should be constructed in 1:4 cement:sand mortar.
The layout of brick/ concrete block/ SCEB in each course of masonry should allow for
continuous vertical cavity of minimum 60mm for the bar and grouted with concrete made with
not more than 10mm size aggregates. Length of a 9” thick masonry wall should not exceed
12’ given a height of not more than 10’. If longer walls are needed, then pilasters should be
provided to strengthen the masonry – thickness of pilasters should not be less than thickness
of wall in which they are provided. In case of veranda, reinforced masonry column can be
provided instead of RCC columns.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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6. Roof
The slab should be designed to behave as Rigid diaphragm, which is necessary for
transferring shear forces to the shear walls. Bearing for RCC joists should extend to the full
thickness of walls. The joist for the verandah will have a minimum bearing of 4” on masonry.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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4. Technology
Options
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Provided that the basic structural design of the building satisfies the requirements as listed in
the previous section, the technology options listed in this section can be integrated into the
building as per their specific details. Given below are brief profiles of the technologies
introduced in the project in Uttarkashi. Kindly refer the Technology Packages for more details.
Technology Advantages
Reinforced stone The technology increases the ductility of traditional Random
masonry Rubble type stone masonry, adds to local economy.
An alternative to red burnt clay bricks, can be locally produced
using locally available raw material like soil. The technology can
Stabilized Compressed
be produced on simple manually operated machines, adds to
Earth Blocks
local economy and provides better thermal comfort as compared
to burnt bricks in cold weather conditions of the region.
It is an alternative to red burnt clay bricks. The material can be
Concrete Blocks locally produced with mechanical compaction which improves its
quality significantly.
Chir pine timber is abundantly available in the region, the
Chir Pine shingle
technology can be locally produced and treated, hence it adds to
roofing on timber under
the local economy generation. The structure is light in weight, it
structure
is an alternative to heavy slate roof.
The technology enables faster construction of roof slabs,
Precast RCC Plank eliminates the need for scaffolding support and also reduces steel
and Joist Roof slab consumption in RCC slab construction by 20%, can be locally
produced, production can be operated in a local enterprise mode.
RCC door window frames were introduced as a durable
Precast RCC Door
alternative, which is highly amenable to small scale localized
Window Frames
production.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Technical specifications
Thickness of stone masonry has to be minimum 15 inches.
Stone
It can vary from 15 inches to 18 inches depending on the
masonry
Reinforced availability of space and stone.
stone Single reinforcement bars – 12 mm for single storey and in
masonry double storey - 16 mm at ground level and 12mm at first floor
Reinforcement
level. Reinforcement has to be embedded from the
foundation level with an L bend of 15 inches in PCC.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Technical specifications
Depends on the block press used to produce the blocks.
Some common sizes possible with different presses are-
Size 230 x 115 x 75mm
230 x 190 x 100mm, 305 x 143 x 100mm
290 x 290 x 100mm
Recommended particle size composition-
Organic matter less than 1%
Clay content 5-15%, strength reduces beyond 15% clay
Soil content
characteristics Sand content – 60-70%
Silt content 15-35%, combined silt+clay 30-40%
Non-expansive soil- the clay in the soil should not
expand in wet conditions.
Stabilized
The objective of design mix is to arrive at a composition
Compressed
Earth Block indicated above. For a given soil, generally sand and
stabilizer quantities are to be determined for a good mix.
Design Mix Stabilizer : 7-8% Ordinary Portland Cement by weight of
block
Lime stabilization may also be done, but it is generally
appropriate for very clayey soils.
The fresh block must have a density of at least 2.05 g/cc
Density
or 2050 kg/cm3
Given the right design mix, as indicated above, indicative
Compressive wet compressive strength at 28 days
Strength 4% cement stabilization – 35-45 kg/cm2
8% cement stabilization – 60-70 kg/cm2
Water Not more than 15% by weight of block after 24 hours
absorption
Composite mortars like cement-lime mortar or cement-
soil mortar are better suited for use in SCEB masonry.
When soil is used in the mortar, it should have a clay
content of about 20%. Generally, cement mortar will
have a good strength but poor plasticity and flow
Mortar Design Mix characteristics and is therefore not ideal for SCEB
masonry.
Recommended mix-
Cement-lime-mortar 1:1:6,
cement-soil mortar 1:2:6 or 1:2:7 or mud mortar.
Cement-sand mortar 1:6
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Applicability
The technology is particularly well suited where blocks can be produced for a cluster of houses
– for instance, 20 houses in a village, since SCEB is suited for mass production by group of
local people. The major criteria for cost-effectiveness is availability of appropriate soil
(generally falling in the range specified in specifications above) in sufficient quantity and
possibility to produce blocks closer to the construction site to avoid transport costs. It is also
important that the block production is backed by a good understanding of quality parameters
for producing SCEB. Therefore, training of construction personnel is necessary in SCEB
construction.
Concrete Blocks
Concrete blocks are large sized
masonry units made by compacting a
well graded concrete mix. Since they
can be produced easily using simple
moulds, they are already being
produced by house-builders in the
mountain region. Although it is an
appropriate material for localized
production, there is no awareness of its
basic requirements for quality- namely
the correct mix and adequate
compaction. This has resulted in very poor quality blocks being made and used in construction.
The project introduced a small vibrating table and basic tools and accessories for a uniform
mix quality. In addition to regular blocks, special blocks with a single cavity were produced for
incorporating single bar vertical reinforcement wall using a well graded cement concrete mix.
Kindly refer the Concrete Block Technology Package for specific details of production
and construction of this technology.
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Technical specifications
Ordinary Portland Cement Grade 33(IS 269) or 43(IS
8112), or
Cement
Portland Pozzalana cement grade confirming to IS
1489 Part I
Different sizes for a well-graded mix. This can include
sizes from 6mm, 10mm, 20mm and even 40mm
Coarse aggregate
depending on availability of raw material and the
performance requirements of block.
Raw materials
Sand should be washed and should not contain dirt
Fine Sand Stone dust may also be used confirming to Grading
Zone II as per IS 383:1970
Fly ash confirming to IS 3812 may be used for part
Fly Ash
replacement of fine aggregate upto a limit of 20%
Applicability
Concrete has a wide application in construction across various parts of a building – from
foundation to columns to roof, because it can be formed into various shapes. One of such use
is Concrete blocks which have been in use in India for nearly four decades and are commonly
found in all parts of the country- both rural and urban. They also owe their popularity to the
fact that speed of construction is enhanced since the blocks bigger than burnt bricks.
The technology can be widely adopted in place of burnt clay bricks for both load bearing and
non-load bearing construction. The production of blocks is economically feasible wherever
cement and aggregates are easily available. It is also a viable option for micro-enterprise
based local availability of masonry materials in a housing project.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Technical specifications
Roof Types
Overview- All joints and parts
IS: 2700 – 1987, Code of Practice for Roofing
with Wooden
Pine shingle General brief Shingles
roofing on timber Typical designs of roof trusses from 3m to 6m
under structure Nail Jointed Timber Truss For Four meters
Span
Properties of Chir Timber
Roofing Truss – common truss types such as King Post,
componenets Queen Post, Fink truss
Timber shingles 400mm x 150mm x 12mm
Applicability
Roof trusses have the benefit of economic use of material (timber/ steel/ bamboo). Composed
of individual lightweight pieces, a truss also has advantage in transport and assembly as
compared to conventionbal roof structures. But trusses are more labour intensive and also
often require connection devices to join members of a truss or to anchor the truss securely to
wall masonry. However, if a number of identical trusses are to be manufactured, then there
can be significant cost advantage.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Technical specifications
Width 1 feet to 1.6 feet
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Applicability
The technology is best suited for wherever RCC slab is used for a flat slab construction. In
mountain areas, verandahs are commonly constructed with flat RCC extensions from existing
walls. The plank and joist system is also well suited for these verandahs. The technology can
prove economical if the number of planks and joists are more- such as in the case of a 2 or 3
storied buildings. The planks and joists can be produced by a small enterprise where the
infrastructure for casting, curing and storage of these elements can be installed at a low
investment. Masons can be trained easily in using planks and joists to construct an RCC slab.
Technical specifications
Size 10x6.5cm of length 1.6-2.4m
Raw Materials OPC 43 grade cement, sand of fineness modulus
Concrete Mix M15; the ratio of cement, sand & aggregates 1:2:4
Nominal MS reinforcement 4 mm dia - 3 Nos. for main
Reinforcement
reinforcement
Applicability
The technology is best suited to attain for longevity and high durability of door window frames.
RCC frames are best suited in regions with high rainfall – they doesn’t require anti termite
treatment as required in wood or corrode as in case of metal frames. Since frames are made
of RCC, they also provide structural support to the building.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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5. Case study –
Community
Building, Kamad
(Uttarkashi)
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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The proposed technologies were demonstrated in the community building located at one of
the assessed villages - Kamad village, Uttarkashi. The design consists of earthquake resistant
construction techniques followed by the use of all proposed walling and roofing technologies
in the building. The structural safety of the given building technologies was essential for
architectural design, hence the building has been designed as two independent structures –
one single storey and other is a 2-storey structure, keeping the shape and size of the structures
and openings into consideration for seismic resistance. Both the structure are combined with
a covered corridor and verandah at the ground floor along with Mild Steel (MS) staircase to
access the first floor of the building.
The entire design of the building was based on structural guidelines which have been
developed for earthquake resistant construction in the country, with focus on non-engineered
construction in rural areas. Following documents were consulted at the design stage for
structural integrity of building –
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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The draft designs prepared on the basis of above guidelines were submitted to an organization
National Centre for People’s Action in Disaster Preparedness (NCPDP) for The draft designs
prepared on the basis of above guidelines were subjected to structural validations by the
National Centre for People’s Action in Disaster Preparedness (NCPDP). The basis for
validating the drawings are provisions of IS 4326: Design and construction of earthquake
resistant buildings and IS 13828: Improving Earthquake resistance of low strength masonry
buildings-Guidelines. As per IS 4326 this building being a community centre is considered as
Category E building, hence design aspects were identified based on the prescriptive
recommendations. The design and construction details went through two stages of check and
modifications to satisfy requirements for structural safety as specified by NDPDP.
The earthquake resilient components incorporated in the building are as follows –
• Single storey and double storey parts of the building connected with a
Building Shape corridor simply supported on brackets to ensure that torsion caused by
and Size asymmetric constraint to lateral forces will not arise in case of
earthquake.
Foundation • Strip footing has been provided under all load bearing walls.
Seismic Bands • RCC bands provided at plinth, sill, lintel and roof level.
Masonry
• All corners, T-junctions and sides of door-window openings are re-
(super-
inforced for ductility with single tor-steel bar
structure)
Heavy masonry in the gable part of the wall has been replaced with
Gable Roof truss and timber plank infill
The gable roof has been constructed with truss using gusset plate
joinery and adequate anchorage with wall masonry
• A screed concrete 40mm thick is provided over the planks with 6mm
bars @ 6” spacing both ways to ensure diaphragm action of the precast
Intermediate
roofing elements
Slab
• Triangular rings project out of joist for shear connection with the screed
concrete.
Door and • All openings are at least 450mm from inside corner of rooms.
window • Cumulative width of all openings is Not more than 40% of the total wall
opening length
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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The architectural design of the community building is comprised of a ground floor of total
area 482 sqft with – Community hall, kitchen, store and verandah and first floor of total area
389 sqft with – Guest room and terrace. The proposed technologies were used in the following
building elements -
Random Rubble Masonry with reinforcement: For Foundation and masonry till sill level
Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks: For construction of walls
Concrete Block: For construction of walls (2-storey building)
Timber understructure and shingle roof: For construction of the roof (2-storey building)
Plank and Joist roof slab: For construction of the roof (1-storey building)
RCC door-window frames : For all doors and windows
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Specifications Quantities
Location Kamad village, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
Ground floor 482 sqft
Area
First floor 389 sqft
Ground floor of with – Community hall, kitchen, store
and verandah and first floor with – Guest room and
Architectural terrace.
design Designed as two independent structures combined
with a covered corridor with Mild Steel (MS) staircase
to access the first floor of the building.
Building shape and size -
Structural separation of the ground floor and the
double storeyed section connected with a corridor.
Foundation- Strip footing has been provided under all
load bearing walls.
Seismic bands- Continuous RCC bands of 75mm
thickness were provided at plinth, sill, lintel and roof
level.
Earthquake
Vertical reinforcement- All corners, T-junctions and
resilient
sides of door-window openings are re-inforced with
components
single bar, as specified.
Masonry – Wall thickness and material regularity has
been maintained.
Roof – Concrete screeding with appropriate
reinforcement has been maintained.
Door and window opening – Opening sizes and
appropriate side reinforcements have been
maintained.
Reinforced stone masonry - In foundation till sill level 1473.73
masonry. cuft
Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks – From sill level
5250 Nos.
to roof level in single storey block.
Concrete Block – From sill level to roof level in double
1467 Nos.
storey block.
99 cuft (Truss)
Technologies Timber understructure and shingle roof- Roofing of
double storey block. 2600 Nos.
(Shingle)
131 Nos.
Plank and joist roof – Roof of single storey block and (Planks)
intermediate slab of double storey block. 90 Running ft
(Joist)
RCC door window frames – All doors and windows. 304 Running ft
Cost
INR 14 Lakhs
(Year 2018)
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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6. Way Forward
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Learning
The experience of introducing the alternative building technologies in Kamad village illustrates
some important points about promoting these technologies at scale. Firstly, there is
appreciation of technologies which can be produced at the local level by the community itself,
as shown in the case of concrete blocks and SCEB which was a completely new material for
the community. The team of women who produced the SCEB value the work as it generates
an avenue for income for them. The current generation of masons, many of whom have
migrated from plains region is mostly trained in brick and RCC construction and negligible
understanding of construction principles for earthquake resistant construction. Training of local
manpower will continue to be a critical component of not just using new technologies but also
to building safe with conventional technologies.
There is also good potential for small scale precast concrete building elements such as plank
and joist roofing elements and door-window frames. The village community felt it is an
advantage to be able to build a small roof slab (for instance 12’x12’) in 1 or 2 days with precast
elements. The precast elements micro-enterprise established in Matli, Uttarkashi has good
potential for its products, which have attracted the interest of a home builders and also the
PWD in Uttarkashi. There needs to be a government push for these micro-enterprises by
facilitating finance for their improved infrastructure.
Timber such as Chir Pine is an abundant resource in the region. Even though it is second
grade timber, it has great potential for uses in construction with the help of chemical treatment.
Leading institutions like FRI, Dehradun have a rich knowledge base of timber based
construction but it has been stagnating for many years with no transfer to real projects on land.
The local carpenters trained in the project feel that Chir Pine shingles are an excellent
alternative to Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets, provided there is an extension of their
treatment and production to the villages. There is an urgent need to strengthen the area of
timber-based products for construction in conjunction with the sustainable forest management
practices which can ensure long-term supply of timber without negative environmental impact.
With the right policy support, supplemented with technical support, the resurgence of timber-
based practices can be a strong step in the direction of eco-friendly construction in
mountainous regions.
Uttarakhand state has envisioned the future of sustainable development and it is critical to
create a pathway of such environment friendly and green habitat solutions to achieve that
state vision. Looking at the rapidly increasing state infrastructural demand, orientation of state
action plan towards green sustainable building techniques and technologies in can go a long
way achieving sustainable future of the state. It can be impacted by a collection action from
four sides – demand side, supply side, capacity building and knowledge dissemination. At both
ground level action and policy formulations like green procurement policy.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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RCC based practice and strengthening of traditional practices like stone masonry for
earthquake resistance are both important aspects to receive continued attention from training
initiatives. There are standardized protocols for these, developed both by leading institutions
such as IIT-Roorkee and NICEE and civil society organizations. This capacity building should
be taken up in a dedicated manner at the district level administration through a mix of longer
practice based training programmes and shorter refresher courses.
Timber is one of the most abundant and valuable resource of mountain regions. It has been
part of traditional practice and used in one of the most earthquake-resilient forms of
construction in the kath-kuni system. This knowledge base has been declining over the years.
However, timber continues to be used structurally as beams for intermediate floor, for door-
windows and furniture. Led by environmental concerns, its usage is strictly regulated, though
it is challenging to impose regulations across the mountain geography. Sustainable
management of forests with involvement of mountain communities is a globally recognized
approach to underpin the utilization of timber for its principal applications including buildings
and construction. Policy- enabled transformation towards sustainable utilization of timber
plays a key role in this. Through the initiative of district administrations and respective Forest
departments, it is possible to realize benefits of timber based construction applications without
environmental degradation. Equally important is to transfer to the ground, scientific upgrades
of timber-based practices. A collaboration between leading scientific institution such as Forest
Research Institute and Civil Society organizations can be instrumental in bringing about this
transformation. Treatment of secondary grade timber for increased durability and introduction
can be achieved with simple, non-electrical means and promoted in mountain regions through
local carpentry enterprises
Given the emerging prominence of cement-steel and brick based construction practice in
mountain regions, it is imperative to promote environment friendly and resource efficient
building technologies which can be adapted easily by the local community. The DST TIME
LEARN project in Uttarkashi has introduced a range of such technologies in Uttarkashi and
demonstrated their use in a variety of buildings. The demand for these technologies can be
effectively strengthened with evidence of their adoption in public buildings and community
infrastructure. This will also facilitate their green public procurement through inclusion in
regional Schedule of Rates and Subsequently in tender documents.
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DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DISASTER-RESILIENT, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BUILDINGS IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS
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Development Alternatives
B-32, Tara Crescent, Qutub Institutional Area
New Delhi 110016, India
Tel: +91-11-2654-4100, 2654-4200, Fax: +91-11-2685-1158
40Website: www.devalt.org
Email: mail@devalt.org,