If the structure is a building, the next major step after the rough grading is the building stakeout; that is, the locating and staking of the main horizontal control points of the building. These are usually the principal corner points plus any other points of intersection between building lines.

stakeout. This site plan shows that the building is to be a 40- by 20-ft rectangular structure, located with one of the long sides parallel to, and 35 ft away from, a base line. The base line is indicated at the site and on the plans by Monuments A and B.

One of the short sides of the building will lie on a line running from C, a point on AB 15 ft from A, perpendicular to AB, The other short side will lie on a similar line running from D, a point on AB 40 ft from C and, therefore, 40 + 15, or 55 ft from A, perpendicular to AB.

The steps in the stakeout procedure would probably be as follows:

1. Set up the transit at Monument A; train the telescope on a marker held on a Monument B; then have the hubs driven on the line of sight, one at C 15 ft from A, the other at D 55 ft from A and 40 ft from C.

2. Shift the transit to C, train on B, match the zeros, and turn 900 left. Measure off 35 ft from C on the line of sight and drive a stake to locate E. Measure off 55 ft from C (or 20 ft from E) and drive another stake to locate F.

3. Shift the transit to D and repeat the procedure described in Step 2 to locate and stake points G and H.

THE ACCURACY OF A RECTANGULAR STAKEOUT CAN BE CHECKED BY MEASURING THE DIAGONALS OF THE RECTANGLE.

The diagonals should, of course, be equal. You can determine what the correct length of each diagonal should be by applying the Pythagorean theorem, as shown in figure 14-39. For a large rectangle, checking the accuracy of the stakeout by angular measurement with the transit may be more convenient. For example: You can determine the correct size of angle GEH, (lets call it a) in figure 14-39 by a convenient right-triangle solution, such as

The angle with tangent 0.50000 measures (to the nearest minute) 2634. Therefore, angle FEH should measure

The corresponding angles at the other three corners should have the same dimensions. If the sizes as actually measured vary at any corner, the stakeout is inaccurate.

Remembering the angles may be necessary to obtain the correct angular precision for the lengths of the lines being checked.

BATTER BOARDS are suitable marks placed for use as References or guides during the initial excavation and rough grading of a building construction and/or a sewer line stakeout. They are more or less temporary devices that support the stretched cords that mark the outline and grade of the structure.

Batter boards consist of 2- by 4-in. stakes driven into the ground. Each stake has a crosspiece of 1- by 6-in. lumber nailed to it. The

stakes are driven about 3 to 4 ft away from the building line where they will not be disturbed by the construction. They are driven far enough apart to straddle the line to be marked. Note in figure 14-40, only three stakes are driven on outside corners because one of them is a common post for two directions. The length of the stakes is determined by the required grade line. They must be long enough to accept the 1- by 6-in, crosspiece to mark the grade. The 1- by 6-in, crosspiece is cut long enough to join both stakes and is nailed firmly to them after the grade has been established. The top of the crosspiece becomes the mark from which the grade will be measured. All batter boards for one structure are set to the same grade or level line. A transit is used to locate the building lines and to mark them on the top edge of the crosspiece. A nail is driven at each of these marked points, or a V notch is carved at the top outer edge of the crosspiece towards the marked point and the nail is driven on the outer face of the board.

When a string is stretched over the top edge of the two batter boards and is held against the nails or against the bottom of the notch, the string will define the outside building line and grade elevation.

Sometimes a transit is not available for marking the building line on the batter boards, but the corner stakes have not been disturbed.

A cord is stretched over two opposite batter boards, and plumb bobs are held over the corner stakes; then the building line can be transferred to the batter boards. The cord is moved on each batter board until it just touches both plumb bob strings. This position of the cords is marked, and nails are driven into the top of the batter boards. Batter boards are set and marked as follows:

1. After the corner stakes are laid out, 2-by 4-in. stakes are driven 3 to 4 ft outside of each corner. These are selected to bring all crosspieces to the same elevation.

2. These stakes are marked at the grade of the top of the foundation or at some whole number of inches or feet above or below the top of the foundation. A level is used to mark the same grade or elevation on all stakes.

3. One- by six-in. boards are nailed to the stakes so the edge of the boards is flush with the grade marks.

4. The prolongation of the building lines on the batter boards is located by using a transit or by using a line and plumb bob.

5. Either nails are driven into the top edges of the batter boards or the boards are notched to mark the building line.

UTILITIES is a general term applied to pipelines, such as sewer, water, gas, and oil pipelines; communications lines, such as telephone or telegraph lines; and electric power lines.