How To Setting Out The Site

The first task is to establish a baseline from which the whole of the building can be set out. The position of this line must be clearly marked on-site so that it can be re-established at any time. For on-site measuring a steel tape should be used (30 m would be a suitable length). Linen and plastic-coated tapes are also available. The disadvantage with linen tapes is that they are liable to stretch.

After the baseline has been set out, marked and checked, the main lines of the building can be set out, each corner being marked with a stout peg. A check should now be made of the setting-out lines for right angles and correct lengths. There are several methods of checking whether a right angle has been established, and in fact the setting out would have been carried out by one of these methods.
A check must still be made, and it is advisable to check by a different method to that used for the setting out. The setting-out procedure and the methods of checking the right angles are illustrated in below images.

After the setting out of the main building lines has been completed and checked, profile boards are set up as shown in below. These are set up clear of the foundation trench positions to locate the trench, foundations and walls. Profile boards are required at all trench and wall intersections.

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