The aggregate and sand for the slabs (latrine floors) arrived but did not meet our expected specifications. The aggregate contained a wider range of sizes than expected, and the sand contained gravel and silt - both of these factors lead to concerns about the ability of concrete made from these materials lasting for the lifetime of the latrine.
The current proposal for improving the structure is to pour a single slab (instead of six) and to support the slab with steel beams and metal roofing material. The steel beams will be two pieces of angle iron welded together (to form a T profile) and four beams will span across the pits on 16" centers. Roofing material will be placed perpendicular to the beams in order to support the concrete. The concrete will be reinforced with rebar as in the original design.
There are several advantages and disadvantages to this new design. It will be implemented on the first latrine to determine how well construction proceeds and then a decision will be made whether to continue with the new design or a modification of the old design.
The foreman and laborers are working on putting in concrete footings in the first latrine today and will start building the support walls soon after that. Pouring of the slab should occur early next week.
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2 comments:
I assume the single slab will be poured in place, over te pit.
Adam
Yes - the slab will be poured in place because it will be too heavy to move. The roofing material is used so that we can pour it in place without concrete falling into the septic pit.
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