THE 10 METHODS OF DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS TO AVOID WATER LEAKAGES ON BUILDING AUTHOR: EDUARDO H. PARE - BSCE, HAU, EPCC, PMC CIVIL/STRUCTURAL ENGINEER DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

1. THE 10 METHODS OF DESIGNS AND ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS OF CONCRETE
STRUCTURES TO AVOID WATER LEAKAGES ON BUILDING:
BY: EDUARDO H. PARE
November 2004
1) Proper design of concrete mix shall be achieved and applied on site application - i.e. concrete
aggregatesandcementcontents,andwater/cementratioshallbe strictlyinadherence withthe Code but
with considerations on actual local conditions and type of materials to be used.
2) Proper workmanshipof concrete shall be appliedonto the works - i.e. proper actual conveyance and
placement of concrete including correct actual applications of electrical and manual vibrationson fresh
concrete substratesshall be applied,honeycombingdue toaggregatessegregationshallalsobe avoided.
3) Proper concrete coversas requiredbythe Code forwhicha structure was designedwith,shall alsobe
strictlyimplementedontothe workssince hypotheticallyif the minimumconcrete coverisnotappliedor
it was not actually properly applied on each every aspect of the structure, it will affect the crack width
constrainsandthe overall functionsandresistance of the concrete elementssinceconcrete isanelement
fromwithinitsownelements - i.e.fibersof concreteshall alsobe analyzedoneachmillimeterof directions
and movements, etc.
4) Minimumandmaximumspacingof reinforcementsshall be appliedoneach aspector memberof the
structure since shrinkages,creeps,thermalhydrations,andotherconcrete servicestressesshallaffectthe
crack resistance of concrete on each pre-construction, post-construction, and occupancy activities and
periods of the structure/building.
5) Proper curing shall be applied on each aspect of the structures elements which shall include the
minimumtime requiredforformworksandscaffoldings/strutstobe removed - I do not agree withearly
removal of forms then installing back the struts or vertical supports since even within few minutesof
removal thenreinstalling- itshall surelyaffectthe shorttermdeflectionsof concreteelementsrelative to
the correct removal period of the same.
6) Though structural members and foundations are (hypothetically) designed within crack width
constrains stipulated in the Codes, as much as possible construction joints shall be avoided during
construction works on floors of the building, if construction joints are indeed required, such joints shall
be redesigned with provision of a least size but wider beam underneath the joints which shall serve to
have key grooved joint along such CJ beam.
7) It is technically incorrect to provide construction, movement or expansion joints on basement
slab/foundationandwalls - whichshall affectthe watertightnessof the structure.Foundationsandwalls
reinforcementsshall be designedanddetailedtohave adequate quantitiesandspacingtonotonlyresist
the design forces and stresses but including crack resistance requirements as specified in the Codes.
8) As much as possible no lateral embedments of electrical conduits, drainage pipes, and other utilities
elements casted inside the slabs and beams on floors - only vertical services sleeves and lines shall
penetrate the floors, since these lateral penetrations of utilities elements are one of main culprits on
water leakages on floors of buildings. These lateral penetrations particularly when theyare in sets or in
groupsof parallel rowsjustlikebundledconduitsandpipesinsidefloorslabsandbeamsshallcreate cracks
no matter how dense the spacing of reinforcements since concrete areas diminished in these lines.
9) Cold joints shall be avoided during concrete casting on floors - the ideal maximum time for the next
stage of concrete tojoinorconnectwithpreviousstage ormoduleof concrete shall be 45minutesorless.
10) If the Ready mix Supplier is in your doubt or is not reliable - conduct actual mock up sample of the
designmixestocome up witha cured-finishedpiece of module andtestedit against water ingressprior
to actual pouring of concrete onto the floors of the building.
Authors:
Eduardo H. Pare

2. Eduardo H. Pare, B.S. Civil Engineering
Professional Engineer
Civil & Structural Design & Construction
LinkedIn Profile Link: https://qa.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-h-pare-05468721
Facebook Profile Link: http://www.facebook.com/EddPare
I have had more than 25 years of post-graduate extensive Civil & Structural design experience as
a Professional Civil & Structural Engineer including PMC & EPCC Project Management & Contract
Administration. I was involved in the design, analyses and applications of Heavy Industrial &
Petrochemical Plants, Oil & Gas Marine Structures & Offshore Platforms including deep-sea
Caissons & Piles foundations, International Airports, Power Generation Plants, SCADA Control
Building, Gridstations & Substations, Commercial Buildings, Prestressed and Post-tensioned
Concrete Highway Bridges & Culverts, Large Storage Tanks & Towers. Utilizing the latest CAD
Design Softwares, I analyze & design Reinforced Concrete & Steel Structures including complex
underwater Reinforced Concrete Repair Works. I have had broad experience in Pre-Tender and
Post-Tendering Works, and Design Management and Coordination including Design Drawings &
Documents Systems management.

3. Relevant Projects Experience:
Senior Structural Engineer – ERGA Architects, Planners, and Consulting Engineers, Doha, Qatar;
Responsible for Structural Works Supervision in one or various ERGA projects sites in Qatar.
Review and Approve Contractors Submittals (Construction Drawings, Shop Drawings, As-Built
Drawings, Structural Design Calculation Documents, Method Statements, Concrete Mix Designs,
Subcontractors Prequalification Documents, and Material Samples). Responsible for structural
designs and analyses,construction executions, and construction supervisions for numerous types
of civil engineering works that include residential buildings, commercial buildings,
infrastructures, roads and all other related works. Responsible for group of Engineers and
Draftsmen for Design and Supervision Works.
Senior Structural Engineer – Lahmeyer International GmbH, a Germany based International
Engineering Consultant engaged in the design and supervision of KAHRAMAA, FEWA, DEWA,
ADWEA and TRANSCO power generation and distribution projects in Qatar & United Arab
Emirates. Assignedwithin the Designand Engineering Department for the designand engineering
reviews and approvals of the Civil, Structural, and Architectural aspects of Substations Buildings,
OHL Structures, and SCADA Control Building Projects in Qatar & UAE. Assigned to review and
coordinate relevant Contractors design and engineering documents and drawings submittals for
the projects. Involved in the Pre-Tendering and Post-Tendering Works including generation of
design criteria, specifications, and relevant Scope of Works for the projects.
Structural Engineer, COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners LLC, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; a
Denmark based International Engineering Consultant engaged in the Design and Supervision of
the new 3 Billion USD Oman (Muscat and Salalah) International Airports Project. Assigned within
the Buildings Structural Department and involved in the Structural Analyses and Designs including
Applications of relevant Building Structures of the Project such as the 50 years life Passenger
Terminal Building.
Site Technical Office Manager, Enel Power C & D Saudi Arabia Ltd, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; an Italy
based EPCC company for 130 MW STG Power Plant. Main responsibilities include Engineering
Designs Management & Applications, Design & Shop Drawings & Documents Controls,
Coordination of interdiscipline design interfaces, and Head Office Technical Coordination.
Civil & StructuralDesign Engineer, Enel Power C & D Saudi Arabia Ltd, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; an
Italy based EPCC company for 130 MW STG Power Plant. Responsible for the Civil & Structural
Designs & Analyses of the Project including technical coordination with Client’s Design Manager.
In charge for the acquisitions of Design & Shop Drawings & Documents approval.
Lead Civil & Structural Design Engineer, Ras Lanuf Oil & Gas Processing Co. Inc., Ras Lanuf, Libya;
one of the largestgovernment oil companies. Assignedwithin the TechnicalServices Department,
Plant Engineering Division as Lead Civil & Structural Design Engineer responsible for the Civil &
Structural Designs & Analyses aspects of the whole plant. Leading a group of Civil & Structural
Engineers, Designers & Draftsmen, devise design & drafting schedule including Design & Shop
Drawings & Documents System Controls. In charge for Technical Coordination & Discussions with
Contractors Design Managers & Engineers.