Bhatar Construction: Re VI Si On
Bhatar Construction: Re VI Si On
Bhatar Construction: Re VI Si On
Bhatar construction
An illustrated guide for craftsmen
re vis fo r
12
Bhatar (pl. bhateri) is a Pashtoo word for a beam with a cross section of 3 to 4 inches which is commonly used to reinforce stone walls.
Ap
ril 2
00 7
ion
4 NO
1. Dont build too near to a steep slope: stones might fall on your house 2. Dont build too near to a precipice: it might break off during an earthquake. 3. Dont build too near to a retaining wall: it might break away during an earthquake
4. The house must have a simple form. If necessary, subdivide it into rectangular parts 5. The house must not be longer than 3 times its width. 6. A light pitched roof is better for earthquakes than a heavy flat roof. 7. Dont build higher than 2 floors. Second floor can be made in Dhajji.
Max. 2 floors
Max. 3 W
5 W
2. Basic rules
Max. 12 ft Max. 12 ft 1
Min 3 ft
2 Min 3 ft
Max 3 ft
Max. 10 feet
1 feet
5 6
1. No wall must be longer than 12 feet without being connected to another wall. 2. Wall elements must be at least 3 feet long. 3. Windows must be smaller than 3 ft. 4. Walls must be at least 1 feet thick. 5. Walls must not be higher than 10 feet. 6. Choose Blue Pine (pavich/biar) or Cedar (deodar) for the beams. To protect forests, take what is more frequent in your region.
7. The beams (bhatar) in the walls act as seismic bands. 8. All walls must be connected to each other through stone masonry and timber beams. 9. Place through stones every two feet. They make the wall stronger. 10. Use flat or dressed stones for your masonry. Dont use round rubble stones. 11. Use galvanized nails for all work except inside the house.
Through stones
Connecting stones
YES 10
NO
Concrete band
3 1 ft 3 ft 2 2 ft 4
1. Build your house 5. on soil that is all of the same quality. Dont place one part of the house on infill soil. 2. Foundations should be 2 1/2 6. feet large and 3 feet deep. 3. First seismic band 7. should be placed 1 foot above the foundation (1 foot above ground). 4. The first seismic band will also pass under the door!
It is better to make the first seismic band in reinforced concrete instead of wood. It will resist better to humidity. Take care to cross the corner rebars correctly Make sure that all rebars are covered with 1 inch of concrete.
2 rebars in - out
1 4 1 7
Stirrups every 8
4. Walls
Min. 1 ft Max. 12 ft Max. 10 ft 2
First band in concrete is better
2 ft 1 1 ft 3 Max. 3 ft
First band in timber is also allowed
5 6
1. Place the wall beams every 2 feet, except for the first band which is only one foot above ground level. 2. Its better to make the lowest band in reinforced concrete to make it more resistant to water. 3. Place cross pieces at a maximum distance of 3 feet from each other. 4. If your beams are too short, connect them with a long lap joint (see next page). 5. Dont connect the beams all on the same vertical line, but spread the connection points. Equally, dont connect the inner and outer beam in the same place. 6. Avoid continuous vertical joints in the stone masonry.
5. Connections
1 3x4 inch 5 2 4 3 1 4
Cross piece
4 4
1 ft
1. Minimum size of beam is 3 high by 4 large. 2. Beams must be hooked together in the corners. Cut a notch of 1 inch into all four corner beams. Add nails for more security. 3. Keep 4 inches of wood after the notch for strength. 4. Cross pieces: you need notches only on the cross pieces, but not on the main beams. 5. The same for the middle walls: Notches only on the beams sticking out, but not on the main beams. 6. Lap joints must be 1 foot long. Use four 3 nails to secure each joint. 7. Its important that you use GALVANIZED nails. They will not rust and keep your house save for a long time.
6. Retaining walls
Long rebars (4 sutar)
1 ft 4 min. 2 ft 4 5 ft max. 8 ft 3
Incline layers
1 max. 2 ft max. 8 ft
2 ft
3 ft
RC bands
3 ft
Stepped walls: 1. Dont make the steps higher than 2 feet. The higher you go, the smaller the steps should be. 2. End each step with a reinforced concrete band. 3. Dont make the walls higher than 8 feet.
Inclined walls: 4. Incline the retaining walls towards the slope with a ratio of 1 to 5, that is 1 ft back for every 5 ft of height. 5. Incline the layers according to inclined face of the wall. 6. If you can slightly curb the retaining wall towards the slope, it becomes even stronger.
7. Retaining back-wall
1. Build the retaining wall together with the house walls. Stirrups (2 sutar) 2. Put reinforced concrete every 8 bands into the retaining wall, at the same levels as in the house. 3. Let the concrete band enter 3 feet into the house walls. 4. Prepare notches 1x4 into these concrete bands to lodge the timber 4 beams. 5. Cut notches in all 3 1 pieces of timber. 4 6. Make the house walls 1 ft higher than the retaining wall so that the roof beams will not touch the Notches in every piece ground.
2 3 ft
3 ft 3
6 1 ft
3
pe slo
slope
Openings max. 3 ft
3 1 Walls min. 3 ft 5
2 ft
Complete wall afterwards
3 3
1 ft
5 6
1 to 2 ft
Max. 10 ft 1 ft 4
1 ft
1 ft
1 ft
4
Lap joint
5
Straps
4x 4 at 1 ft or 4x 5 at 2 ft
1 or 2 ft Max. 6 ft
5x 7
3
Place the beams vertically
2 YES
Max. 6 ft
NO
1
All beams and posts 4x 4
2 8
1 2 ft
Nails Dotted line: Old corner
Connecting stones
5 trees planted
Dont forget: 1. For every tree you cut for your house, plant 5 new ones so that your children will also be able to build their house one day. 2. Trees also protect your land against landslides: the roots of the trees are like anchors in the ground.
1 tree cut
Guidebook prepared by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC (Tom Schacher, technical advisor) In collaboration with: French Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross (technical research and development) UN Habitat, NSET and NESPAK (revisions) French Red Cross (Translation into Urdu) Mansehra, NWFP, April 2007