G u i d e t o a d o p t i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n p r a c t i c e s d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r c o m p l i a n c e w i t h G R I H A Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India GRIHA as a green building rating system examines buildings on various parameters in order to evaluate their Green-ness and appraise the projects accordingly. GRIHA recommends certain practices to be followed on site during construction in order to reduce the overall environmental impact of construction. These practices need to be adopted and followed on site from the beginning till the end of construction. Some of these represent mandatory conditions of GRIHA. Therefore, compliance with them becomes necessary in order to comply with GRIHA. This short manual has been created to share some of the images from various GRIHA registered projects which demonstrate good as well as bad practices. The various GRIHA criteria which need to be addressed during construction are as follows
Criterion 2 Preserve and protect landscape during construction/compensatory depository forestation. Criterion 3 Soil conservation (post construction) Criterion 8 Provide minimum level of sanitation/safety facilities for construction workers Criterion 9 Reduce air pollution during construction Criterion 12 Efficient water use during construction Criterion 22 Reduction in waste during construction Criterion 2: Preserve and protect landscape during construction/compensatory depository forestation.
Do not excavate during the rainy season. A site in its natural form is stable and covered with natural wild vegetation, shrubs etc. which hold on to the soil. Digging on site loosens the soil. If the digging happens during rains, the rainwater will lead to soil erosion. Hence it is recommended to avoid excavation during rains.
Stage construction on site. Disturb only that part of the site where construction is supposed to happen immediately. This ensures that the entire site is not disturbed at one go and left. Staging construction also helps in better site management since small areas need to be managed at any given time. Provide for soil erosion channels on site. During construction flowing water will try to erode soil as it flows through the site. Erosion channels help channel the flowing water effectively through the site in a manner which minimizes the erosion and also limits the spread of flowing water over the site.
Water flowing across the site has the potential to erode and carry soil off the site. In order to prevent this, soil erosion channels should be coupled with sedimentation tanks. Water flowing across the site can be allowed to collect in a sedimentation tank where it can be made to stand for a day. The mud will settle at the bottom and the clearer water can be either reused on site or discharged from site.
Protect trees on site. In order to preserve a tree, one must identify the drip-line around the tree and provide a protective barricading around the tree so that the construction activities do not damage the tree in any manner.
Bad Examples Figure 1
No erosion control measures taken, site prone to soil erosion Figure 2
No barricading provided around trees to protect them during construction Figure 3
Top soil and sub-soil mixed together and dumped on site Good Examples Figure 4
Staging on site, only part of the site has been disturbed, remaining has been barricaded Figure 5
Natural drains on site can be used for soil erosion control Figure 6
Mulching to be done on stored top soil for its preservation Figure 7
Staging carried out on site, green geotextile fabric boundary divides the disturbed part of site from the undisturbed Figure 8
Soil erosion control around stored top soil with drains lined with aggregate to control soil erosion Figure 9
Soil erosion control around stored top soil with drains lined with aggregate to control soil erosion Figure 10
Sedimentation tank prepared with find and coarse aggregate lining for water percolation Figure 11
Sedimentation tank lined with bricks to help separate soil from water and soft base of sedimentation tank to allow for water percolation. Notice the segregation between the disturbed and undisturbed areas on site Figure 12
Tree preservation done, area around tree barricaded Figure 13
Tree preservation done, area around tree barricaded Criterion 3: Soil conservation (post construction)
Store the top soil safely on site. Stabilize the soil so that it does not get eroded. This can be done through various strategies like mulching, creating a sturdy small boundary around the stored top soil etc.
Strategies like temporary grassing; planting shrubs etc. can be done on the stored top soil. This is to ensure that the stored top soil maintains its fertility and can be effectively reused post construction for landscape.
Bad Examples Figure 15
No segregation between top soil and sub-surface soil, soil stabilization measures not adequate Figure 16
No segregation between top soil and sub-surface soil, soil stabilization measures not adequate Good Examples Figure 16
Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to maintain fertility as well as to stabilize the soil Figure 17
Top soil stored and stacked properly. Temporary grassing carried out to maintain fertility as well as to stabilize the soil Figure 18
Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to maintain fertility. Cement bags filled with loose earth used to stabilize the stored top soil Figure 19
Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to maintain fertility and to stabilize the top soil Figure 20
Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to maintain fertility and to stabilize the top soil Criterion 8: Provide minimum level of sanitation/safety facilities for construction workers
Provide sufficient safety equipment to construction workers. Minimum requirement is a hard hat, safety boots and high-visibility jacket for all.
Additionally, provide all necessary safety equipment as specified in the National Building Code 2005 like safety nets if working at heights, safety harness, gloves and goggles for welding etc.
Provide clean drinking water to all construction workers.
Provide clean and hygienic accommodation to all construction workers. The accommodation should adhere to the sample as described in the CPWD manual. The colony should be clean; the bathing areas should be covered. The accommodation should have ventilation and some daylight.
The colony should have trash bins for the families to use, clean drinking water and cooking areas such that smoke from cooking does not harm.
Provide for clean and hygienic toilets for all construction workers. The toilets for both males and females should be sufficient in number.
Bad Examples Figure 21
No labour safety on site, construction workers working on site without any safety gear Figure 22
Dysfunctional toilet for an entire colony of construction workers, insufficient in hygiene levels as well as number Figure 23
The accommodation for construction workers not satisfactory, alleyways not maintained properly and accommodation lacks access to daylight as well as ventilation Figure 24
Unhygienic conditions in which the families of workers have to live. No access to clean bathing facilities or washing areas, unmaintained patches like this can lead to spread of diseases Figure 25
Child labour on site, not a GRIHA recommended practice Good Examples Figure 26
All construction workers on site have been provided with safety gear like helmets, high-visibility jackets and safety boots, workers working on upper levels have safety harnesses and nets. The tank in the front stored drinking water. Figure 27
Even on smaller sites, workers with all safety gear Figure 27
Workers working with stones or other such activities which involve a lot of dust, are to be given face masks as depicted here Figure 28
All workers provided with safety helmets and high-visibility jackets Figure 29
Safety nets provided at regular intervals on the buildings to prevent any mishap Figure 30
Workers should be provided with clean drinking water Figure 31
Workers should be provided with clean drinking water Figure 32
The toilets to be provided to the construction workers should be clean and hygienic. These should be cleaned regularly Figure 33
The toilets should be constructed properly in case of large workforce with adequate sewage management systems Figure 34
And even in case of smaller sites and temporary toilets, toilets should be maintained properly and clean Figure 35
Mobile toilets can be maintained on site for workers. They must be cleaned regularly. Figure 36
The accommodation facility for workers should be clean and preferably pucca Figure 37
The accommodation facility for workers should be clean and preferably pucca. Notice the clean floor and windows for ventilation and light. Figure 38
The accommod ation facility for workers should be clean and preferably pucca. Criterion 9: Reduce air pollution during construction
Provide at least a 3 meter high barricading all around the site or around the area where immediate construction is happening.
Sprinkle water on dust roads inside the site. This is to ensure that the dust does not become air-borne.
Minimize the distance traveled by vehicles inside the site. This will ensure that vehicles cause disturbance over the least possible area on site.
Provide for wheel washing for vehicles exiting the site. Alternatively, provide a water trough at the entrance/exit of the site to ensure that all vehicles pass through it as they go.
Ensure that all loose sand etc. and other fine construction material on site is covered.
Ensure that Diesel gensets on site do not throw smoke on to the construction workers. A certain stack height should be maintained.
Bad Examples Figure 39
Sand stored on site without any covering and will lead to dust. The site has no barricading and dust from site will affect the workers on site as well people living in the surrounding villages Figure 40
Sand stored on site without any covering and will lead to dust. Figure 41
DG genset on site without any chimney for the exhaust. This will only throw smoke on the workers and site professionals working on site, leading to respiratory problems. Good Examples Figure 42
A 3-metre high barricading should be installed all round the site to curtail air pollution Figure 43
The barricade should be capable of stopping dust transfer. Even recycled materials can be used to made the barricade like the waste cement bags being used in this case. Figure 44
The barricade should be continuous around the site/construction zone. Figure 45
The loose dirt tracks on the site can be watered to prevent dust Figure 46
The loose dirt tracks on the site can be watered to prevent dust Figure 47
Water trough created at the site entrance for wheel washing of all vehicles entering and exiting the site. This helps in cleaning the wheels and remove any mud from leaving the site Figure 48
Water trough created at the site entrance for wheel washing of all vehicles entering and exiting the site. This helps in cleaning the wheels and remove any mud from leaving the site Figure 49
If possible, certain tracks on site commonly used by heavy vehicles can be covered made hard to prevent dust pollution due to vehicle movement Figure 50
Loose earth and/or sand stored on site should be covered to prevent dust pollution Criterion 12: Efficient water use during construction
Use of strategies like ponding for curing of slabs and use of jute bags for curing columns and beams help in reducing the amount of potable water needed.
Standing water from sedimentation tanks can be used for cleaning construction equipment or for the last stages of curing.
Chemical admixtures can be used for quick drying to ensure that concrete curing requires lesser amount of water.
Good Examples Figure 51
Jute bags being used on plinth beams for curing in order to save the amount of water required for curing Figure 52
Jute bags being used on columns for curing in order to save the amount of water required for curing Figure 53
Jute bags being used on slabs for curing, towards the last stages of curing, in order to save the amount of water required for curing Criterion 22: Reduction in waste during construction
Segregate construction waste on site. The inert wastes like sample concrete testing blocks, waste steel scrap, waste wood, broken bricks etc. should be stored separately from chemical wastes like shuttering oil, paints, adhesives, oils etc.
Construction waste should be either reused on site or should be disposed off safely to recyclers/scrap dealers. Waste bins should be provided on site for managing the waste thrown by construction workers.
The project should ensure that construction waste is managed well on site.
Training should be given to construction workers so that they use trash bins on site and do not throw waste all over the site.
Bad Examples Figure 54
Construction waste not managed properly on site. All waste material mixed up on site, no segregation of waste Figure 55
Material stored on site, especially chemicals, should be away from drinking water facilities Figure 56
Chemical waste being leached onto the site Good Examples Figure 57
All construction material on site well managed and stored in designated areas. Figure 58
Segregation between hazardous waste (stored in the bin) and inert waste (stored next to the barricading). Figure 59
Different kinds of metal scrap stored separately and barricaded to demarcate waste from fresh metal bars Figure 60
Different bins created for storage of inert and hazardous waste
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