The 1967 code provides detailed recommendations for incorporating reed walling in construction projects, including the selection of materials, design principles, installation techniques, finishing methods, and ensuring longevity. It targets professionals involved with both traditional and mechanized reed boards, focusing on applications in walls and sloped roofs, with guidance on termite defense, plaster application, and thermal performance. The standard promotes the use of reed walling in lightweight, earthquake-resilient, and prefabricated building systems.
Overview
The 1967 code provides detailed recommendations for incorporating reed walling in construction projects, including the selection of materials, design principles, installation techniques, finishing methods, and ensuring longevity. It targets professionals involved with both traditional and mechanized reed boards, focusing on applications in walls and sloped roofs, with guidance on termite defense, plaster application, and thermal performance. The standard promotes the use of reed walling in lightweight, earthquake-resilient, and prefabricated building systems.
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Frequently Asked
IS 4407 specifies reed boards manufactured from EKRA, NAL, or SARKANDA reeds tightly bound with galvanized or aluminized steel wire to ensure rigidity. These machine-produced boards come in thicknesses of 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm and commonly widths of 1 or 2 meters. They are designed for structural use in walls and roofing components.
For wall frames, reed boards are to be fixed vertically onto horizontal runners spaced approximately 1 meter apart. Adjacent boards are butt-jointed with joints centered on the runners. Fixing on wooden runners employs wood screws with diamond washers at intervals not exceeding 30 cm, while steel runners utilize J-hooks with washers. Boards must not be fixed into grooves. For roof purlins, reed boards are used only on pitched roofs, supported at edges and mid-span with a minimum 25 mm bearing. Fixing is done with wood screws on wooden purlins or J-hooks on steel purlins, and boards are butt-jointed along edges.
The recommended finishes include pebble-dash and rough cast plaster. Reed boards should be adequately dry before application, and a 1 cm gap between reeds is maintained to facilitate keying of the mortar. Plastering involves at least two coats: the first with a rough texture allowed to cure for 24 hours followed by a second coat. Total thickness and mortar mix conform with IS 1661/2402. Curing for a minimum of seven days is advised to ensure durability and good adhesion.
The code advises avoiding direct contact of reed boards with soil. Cut ends at the plinth level should be treated with insecticide or hot bitumen before insertion into masonry or concrete grooves. Reeds must undergo preservative treatment prior to board fabrication. Cement mortar plaster on both sides offers additional protection, but in termite-prone areas, measures outlined in IS 3632 must be followed. Proper storage away from ground moisture and insecticide powder application beneath stored boards further mitigate infestation risks.
No, reed boards are not allowed on flat roofs as per IS 4407. Their use is restricted exclusively to pitched roofs. For roofing, boards must be supported at edges and mid-span by purlins with a minimum bearing of 25 mm, and the purlin spacing should not exceed 0.5 meters. Boards used on roofs should be at least 4 cm thick and require cement plastering followed by bitumen felt waterproofing.
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