Maintenance and

Rehabilitation of Structures
 Content
1.1 Necessity of operation, maintenance & repairs
of structures.
1.2 Classification of maintenance.
1.3 Rehabilitation (restoration), strengthening &
retrofitting.
1.4 Methodical approach to repairs, inspection-
annual, emergency & special, repairs- minor,
special and renovation.
• Maintenance is generally defined as the work that is
done on a regular basis to keep building in good
working condition
• Building maintenance is work undertaken to upkeep,
renovate or improve every facility i.e. every part of a
building, its services to a acceptable standard and to
sustain the utility and value of the facility.
• The objective of maintenance is:
(i) To preserve machinery, building and services in
good operating condition.
(ii) To restore it back to its original standards and
(iii) To improve the facilities depending upon the
development that is taking place in the building
engineering.
• In spite of recent improvements in building technology all the buildings
deteriorate from the time they are completed. The rate of deterioration
depends upon a number of factors. Not all the factors are under the
control of the occupants.
• During the design and construction stages, the following become
essential :-
(i) Right choice of material.
(ii) Suitable construction techniques.
(iii) Adequate specifications for construction work.
(iv) Effective supervision throughout construction and rectification of defects
prior to final certification.
(v) Provision of adequate space for landscaping with proper design.
• Maintenance aims at effective and economic means of keeping the
building and services fully utilizable. It involves numerous skills as
influenced by occupancy and the performance level expected of a
building. Programming of works to be carried out to keep the building in a
good condition calls for high skills.
• The expected physical life of the building under normal
occupancy and maintenance conditions is considered to be
as below:

Purely temporary structures - 5 years

Monumental buildings - 100 years.
RCC Framed construction - 75 years
Load bearing construction - 55 years.

• The life of the building mentioned above is only indicative

and it depends on several factors like location, use,
specifications and maintenance.
• The replacement, renovation and major repairs become
unavoidable as the life of all the components are not
identical.
 1.1 Necessity of operation,
maintenance & repairs of structures
• शरीरमाद्यं खलु धममसाधनम ् – Keeping body fit for daily
operations is foremost requirement of Human being.
• Oiling, greasing, waxing of plants equipment's etc. for
getting maximum efficiency.
• Similarly structures also requires maintenance for up
keeping , Life safety, serviceability, strength and
durability.
• Responsibility to keep it in usable condition during their
life cycle
• Generally there is negligence in maintenance and
repairs of structures.
• Not interest in up keeping of properties for estimated
physical and economical life.
 1.1 Necessity of operation,
maintenance & repairs of structures
Root causes –
• Less developed maintenance and repairs technology
• Less discussions and less funds are available
• Less importance is given
• Casual approach in maintenance of buildings
 1.2 Classification of maintenance,

• The building stands exposed to weather and used for all possible
purposes
• There are various inbuilt arrangements inviting various decaying
agencies to act.
• Distress- Decay – Damage – Dilapidation relation with maintenance.

The building maintenance is classified as,

• Daily Maintenance
• Routine Maintenance
• Periodical Maintenance
• Special Maintenance
• Preventative maintenance
• Category A: Preventive maintenance -- the maintenance to
prevent the appearance of visible deterioration on the structure
during the service life.
• Category B: Corrective maintenance -- the maintenance in
which, appropriate counter measures should be taken after
degradation appearance of the structures has appeared.
• Category C: Observational maintenance -- the maintenance
carried out primarily on the basis of visual inspection without
any direct measure and permits certain deterioration of the
structure.
• Category D: Non-inspection maintenance -- the maintenance
applied to the structure in which the direct inspection is difficult
or practically impossible to be carried out, such as under ground
structures.
 Daily Maintenance
Day to day repairs are carried in all the buildings under its
daily maintenance. The works which are to be attended
on day to day basis such as

• To maintain sanitary and hygienic conditions

• Sweeping and cleaning of floors with water and
detergents
• Flushing of toilets, basins and sinks
• Cleaning of Furniture
• Mopping and cleaning of carpets
• Organizing rooms and shelves
• Removing blockages of drainage pipes and
man holes,
• Restoration of water supply,
• Replacement of blown fuses and faulty
switches
• Watering of plants,
• Sweeping of leaf falls etc.

The purpose is to ensure satisfactory and

continuous functioning of various services in the
buildings.
 Routine Maintenance
• Minor repairs to building
• Removal of spider webs
• Cleaning and oiling of doors and windows
• Removal of grass around
• Terrace cleaning
• Water tank/ Sump cleaning
• Removing vegetation growth on building
• Application of hot water in traps
• Cleaning of septic tanks
• Cleaning of water and drainage lines
 Periodical Maintenance
• It will strengthen the structure
• Internal and external coloring
• Change of floor or repairs to floor
• Repairs to masonry
• Change of electrical items if necessary
• Change of drainage and water pipeline if necessary
• Change of door and windows panels/glasses
• Plinth protection
• Replacement of Septic tank
• Waterproofing or damp-proofing
• Repairs to chambers and intercepting traps.
 Special Maintenance
• As the building ages, there is deterioration to the various parts of the building and
services. Major repairs and replacement of elements become inevitable. It
becomes necessary to prevent the structure from deterioration and undue wear
and tear as well as to restore it back to its original conditions to the extent
possible. The following types of works in general are undertaken under special
repairs
• To retrofit the structure
• Works carried by expert or special agencies
• Water proofing or damp proofing
• Major repairs to structure
• Change or repairs to air conditioners or heaters
• Pest control
• Addition/modifications or alternations in the house repairs to lift and domestic
appliances
• Renovation of lawns
• Replacing sanitary appliances
• Replacement of floor/skirting/dado and plaster if necessary
 1.3 Rehabilitation, Strengthening
and Retrofitting.
• Natural hazards and man made activities will cause distress in
structure.
• The natural wear and tear
• Structures are in extreme aggressive polluted environment
• Old structures have no special preventative measures
• Inadequate or no maintenance
• Bad use of structures
• Bad workmanship
• Poor quality of materials
• Wrong specifications
• Physical influence
 Rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation is the process of bringing back the architectural shape of the building so
that all services start working and the functioning of building is resumed quickly.
• It is the process of providing superficial treatments to structure to make it suitable for
habitable purpose for short period of time.
• No design and no calculations are required.
• Repairs to doors and windows and concealing of cracks
• Check or replacement of electrical wiring, gas, water and sanitary pipelines.
• Rebuilding of non structural members
• Plastering repairs
• Rearranging roof tiles
• Whitewashing or colour washing
• Immediate occupancy should be first priority.
• Quick serviceability with life safety should be considered.
• Loss in Strength and durability is considered afterwards
• No IS codes were referred or considered
• Application of white wash
• Sealing of floor joints
• Temporary supports to roof and walls
• Construction of tents or temporary structures
 Strengthening
• Strengthening is an improvement over the original strength when the
evaluation of the building indicates that the strength available was
insufficient and restoration alone will not be sufficient.
• Prepare measured drawing or as built drawing should be available
• Find all existing loads on members
• Redesign of members is necessary
• Use local methods of strengthening as jacketing, grouting, guniting,
shotcreting, mass reduction and span shortening
• No future loads are taken in to account
• To repair original structural inadequacies
• Stop material degradation due to ageing
• To repair undue alterations/ modifications in structural members
• Removal of dissymmetry of plan and elevation
• Offering structural strength if neglected due to artistic and economical
reasons
• The overall behavior of structure should be considered
 Strengthening
• Increase lateral strength in one or both directions by reinforcement
or increase wall area and columns
• Give unity to the structure by proper connections between resisting
members
• Control building vibrations to structural members-roof, floor, wall
and foundations
• Eliminate features that creates sources of weakness and produces
concentrations of stresses
• Remove asymmetry in plan and elevation
• Avoid abrupt change in directions and stiffness's
• Avoid large concentration of masses
• Avoid large openings
• Provide peripheral reinforcement bandages.
• Avoid brittle mode of failure at different connections or joints.
 Retrofitting.
• Retrofitting is the process of remodeling and reinforcing different structures to be
able to better withstand any natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods,
hurricanes and tornadoes.
• To upgrade the earthquake resistance up to the level of present day codes.
• It increases seismic resistance of damaged building.
• Process of upgrading of building system as mechanical, electrical and structural.
• Improves performance, function or appearance of structure.
• Prepare measured drawing or as built drawing should be available
• Calculates all existing and future loads on structural members
• Consider changes occurred in Steel, concrete and earthquake IS codes for design
of members
• Consider alteration, modifications and renovations proposed to the structure.
• Both local (Jacketing, use local methods of strengthening as jacketing, grouting,
guniting, shotcreting, mass reduction and span shortening) and global methods of
strengthening as Shear walls, infill walls, bracing, wing walls, wall thickening, mass
reduction, mass dampers, bracings, and base isolation etc. should be used.
1.4 Methodical approach to repairs,
inspection-annual, emergency, special,
repairs- minor, special and renovation.
 Methodical approach to repairs
• Repairs to building need be undertaken in a methodical way.
1. Planning stage
(i) Inspection of building – To know extent of damage
(ii) To know item of damage and decay
(iii) Prepare inspection report – List of damage and decay – checklist
(iv) Give causes of its
(v) Give symptoms of it
(vi) Draft overall plan
(vii) Find root causes – Evaluate extent of damage
(viii)Use NDT & DT tests
(ix) Find severity of damage and decay
(x) Find strength of sections
(xi) Find serviceability of structure
(xii) Identify performance requirements of structural members
(xiii)Suggest remedial measures – based on question what should be used to repair this?
And how much it will cost?
(xiv) Design structure if not fulfill performance requirements
 Methodical approach to repairs
i. Find suitable method of repair
ii. Find suitable material of repair
iii. Find suitable technique of repair
iv. Select priority of works – Urgent, Moderate, less based on fund available
v. Find quantities of repair items
vi. Prepare whole estimate of work
vii. Get technical, financial and administrative approval

2. Systematic implementation of scheme.

(i) Prepare quotation/ tender
(ii) Prepare bar or CPM chart
(iii) Start from lower portion of building

3. Priorities: - In all this safety first, serviceability second, strength third and
durability of structure at fourth should be considered
 Inspection- annual, emergency
and special
• Maintenance is most effective when it is carried out in a timely and methodical
manner.
• You should try to develop the habit of looking critically at your building
• you should aim to inspect all of the essential areas once during the year.
• In addition, it is always worthwhile carrying out an inspection of vulnerable areas
before the winter weather starts and also after heavy rain, wind or snow.
• The best time to carry out an inspection is during or immediately after heavy
rainfall
• Remember to think about your own safety and the safety of others whilst you are
working.
• You should also make sure that you have the correct equipment.
• A pair of binoculars to help you see problems at high level.
• A pocket mirror to help you look behind downpipes.
• A flashlight for looking into voids and to illuminate the underside of ceilings or
eaves.
• A digital camera to allow you to make a photographic record of the building's
condition.
• A screwdriver to probe gently into timber to check its condition.
 Inspection- annual, emergency
and special
• When you carry out an inspection, it is best to begin
outside. Many people find it easiest to inspect each
elevation in turn, starting by looking up at the roof and
working downwards.
• Next, you can turn your attention to the inside. Begin
your inspection at the top of the building and work
down through each level, finishing in the basement
• Don't forget to check out of the way places such as
cupboards and under stairs.
• If there are parts of the building that are inaccessible
or areas that you do not feel competent to assess
yourself you might consider enlisting professional help.
 Repairs- minor, special and renovation.
• Periodical Repairs is normally required at a longer intervals, say once in a year. Some of the
common items are White washing, distemper, painting of doors etc.
• Generally, the quantum of such works does not change from year to year.
• Repairs estimates usually provide for removal of all rubbish, filling small holes, minor plaster
work, establishment specially employed on the work, guarding work and watch and ward for
vacant buildings as well.
• The second category of Periodical Repairs comprises occasional repairs of minor value like
replacement of broken window glasses, repair of door fittings, minor plumbing repairs,
replacement of burnt electrical switch etc. Such repairs, which can be called Occasional Petty
Repairs, which cannot be anticipated and have to be carried out at the earliest to avoid any
inconvenience to the occupant.
• The expenditure on such repairs is also debited against Periodical Repairs. Usually complaint
centers are opened to handle complaints and request of the occupants of residential and non-
residential buildings.
• Special repairs, as may become necessary from time to time, are carried out between successive
periodical repairs. They are different from Periodical Repairs in terms of scope and nature of
works as well as value. Extensive floor improvement, replacement of roof tiles, major joinery
replacement, major additions and alterations normally fall under this category.
• Special Repairs are carried out by way of sanctioning special estimates.