Northern Engineering and Construction Company Limited -NECC

13/02/2026

Very important for civil engineers to understand.😉👷

09/02/2026

Soffit is the underside of the slab,beam or balcony

09/02/2026

Fourth floor slab decking

05/02/2026

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Plastic barricades, are used on sites to control access and block off dangerous areas.🚧
Going beyond the barricades may be risky.

28/01/2026

, 3rd floor slab

Ponding curing is a method of curing concrete by keeping its surface submerged in water, ensuring continuous moisture for proper cement hydration. It is mainly used on flat surfaces like slabs and pavements and helps improve strength and durability.

11/01/2026

installation of rebars for beams

10/01/2026

shuttering board installation for continuous ring beam.

Shuttering boards are temporary boards or panels used in construction to form a mold (called shuttering or formwork) into which wet concrete is poured. They hold the concrete in shape until it hardens and becomes strong enough to support itself.

🏗️

29/12/2025

CONCRETE PILLAR (COLUMN) CRACKS

A concrete pillar (column) cracks mainly because it is under stress beyond what it can safely resist or because of material and construction problems. From the image and common site experience, the main reasons are:

1. Corrosion of Reinforcement (Steel Rusting)
Water and oxygen reach the steel bars inside the pillar.
Steel rusts and expands, creating internal pressure.
This expansion pushes the concrete outward, causing vertical and diagonal cracks.
Rust stains on the surface are a clear warning sign.

2. Overloading
The pillar is carrying more load than designed (extra floors, heavy equipment, or change of use).
Excess compressive stress causes vertical cracks, especially at mid-height.

3. Poor Concrete Quality
High water–cement ratio.
Low cement content.
Poor compaction (honeycombing).
Weak concrete cracks easily under normal loads.

4. Insufficient Concrete Cover
Steel bars placed too close to the surface.
Moisture easily reaches reinforcement, leading to early corrosion and cracking.

5. Shrinkage and Thermal Movement
Concrete shrinks during curing.
Temperature changes cause expansion and contraction.
If movement is restrained, cracks develop.

6. Poor Curing Practice
Concrete dries too fast due to lack of curing.
Leads to surface and structural cracks.

7. Foundation Settlement
Uneven soil movement under the footing.
Causes stress concentration and cracking in the column.

⚠️ Important Note
Cracks that:
Are wide
Run vertically along the column
Expose rusted reinforcement
➡️ indicate a structural problem and need urgent professional assessment and repair (jacketing, epoxy injection, or strengthening).

24/12/2025

Ndola - Kitwe dual Carriageway 🥰
Copperbelt Zambia 🇿🇲

23/12/2025