GRIHA

Good Site Practices Manual

Guide to adopting construction practices during

construction for compliance with GRIHA

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India

 GRIHA as a green building rating system examines
buildings on various parameters in order to evaluate
their “Green-ness” and appraise the projects
accordingly. GRIHA recommends certain practices to
be followed on site during construction in order to
reduce the overall environmental impact of
construction. These practices need to be adopted and
followed on site from the beginning till the end of
construction. Some of these represent mandatory
conditions of GRIHA. Therefore, compliance with them
becomes necessary in order to comply with GRIHA.
This short manual has been created to share some of
the images from various GRIHA registered projects
which demonstrate good as well as bad practices.
The various GRIHA criteria which need to be addressed
during construction are as follows

Criterion 2
Preserve and protect landscape during
construction/compensatory depository forestation.

Criterion 3
Soil conservation (post construction)

Criterion 8
Provide minimum level of sanitation/safety facilities for
construction workers

Criterion 9
Reduce air pollution during construction

Criterion 12
Efficient water use during construction

Criterion 22
Reduction in waste during construction
Criterion 2: Preserve and protect landscape during
construction/compensatory depository forestation.

• Do not excavate during the rainy season. A site in its

natural form is stable and covered with natural wild
vegetation, shrubs etc. which hold on to the soil.
Digging on site loosens the soil. If the digging happens
during rains, the rainwater will lead to soil erosion.
Hence it is recommended to avoid excavation during
rains.

• Stage construction on site. Disturb only that part of the

site where construction is supposed to happen
immediately. This ensures that the entire site is not
disturbed at one go and left. Staging construction also
helps in better site management since small areas need
to be managed at any given time.
 • Provide for soil erosion channels on site. During
construction flowing water will try to erode soil as it
flows through the site. Erosion channels help
channel the flowing water effectively through the site
in a manner which minimizes the erosion and also
limits the spread of flowing water over the site.

• Water flowing across the site has the potential to

erode and carry soil off the site. In order to prevent
this, soil erosion channels should be coupled with
sedimentation tanks. Water flowing across the site
can be allowed to collect in a sedimentation tank
where it can be made to stand for a day. The mud
will settle at the bottom and the clearer water can be
either reused on site or discharged from site.
• Protect trees on site. In order to preserve a tree, one
must identify the drip-line around the tree and
provide a protective barricading around the tree so
that the construction activities do not damage the
tree in any manner.
Bad Examples
Figure 1

No erosion
control
measures
taken, site
prone to soil
erosion
Figure 2

No barricading provided around trees to protect them during

construction
Figure 3

Top soil and sub-soil mixed together and dumped on site

Good Examples
Figure 4

Staging on site, only part of the site has been disturbed,

remaining has been barricaded
Figure 5

Natural drains
on site can be
used for soil
erosion control
Figure 6

Mulching to be
done on stored top
soil for its
preservation
Figure 7

Staging carried
out on site,
green geotextile
fabric boundary
divides the
disturbed part
of site from the
undisturbed
Figure 8

Soil erosion control around stored top soil with drains lined with
aggregate to control soil erosion
Figure 9

Soil erosion
control around
stored top soil
with drains
lined with
aggregate to
control soil
erosion
Figure 10

Sedimentation tank prepared with find and coarse aggregate lining for
water percolation
Figure 11

Sedimentation tank lined with bricks to help separate soil from water and soft
base of sedimentation tank to allow for water percolation. Notice the
segregation between the disturbed and undisturbed areas on site
Figure 12

Tree
preservation
done, area
around tree
barricaded
Figure 13

Tree preservation done, area around tree barricaded

Figure 14

Tree
preservation
done, area
around tree
barricaded
 Criterion 3: Soil conservation (post construction)

• Store the top soil safely on site. Stabilize the soil so that
it does not get eroded. This can be done through various
strategies like mulching, creating a sturdy small
boundary around the stored top soil etc.

• Strategies like temporary grassing; planting shrubs etc.

can be done on the stored top soil. This is to ensure that
the stored top soil maintains its fertility and can be
effectively reused post construction for landscape.

•
Bad Examples
Figure 15

No segregation between top soil and sub-surface soil, soil

stabilization measures not adequate
Figure 16

No segregation between top soil and sub-surface soil, soil

stabilization measures not adequate
Good Examples
Figure 16

Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to

maintain fertility as well as to stabilize the soil
Figure 17

Top soil stored and stacked properly. Temporary grassing carried

out to maintain fertility as well as to stabilize the soil
Figure 18

Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to

maintain fertility. Cement bags filled with loose earth used to
stabilize the stored top soil
Figure 19

Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to

maintain fertility and to stabilize the top soil
Figure 20

Top soil stored and stacked properly. Tree saplings planted to

maintain fertility and to stabilize the top soil
 Criterion 8: Provide minimum level of
sanitation/safety facilities for construction workers

• Provide sufficient safety equipment to construction

workers. Minimum requirement is a hard hat, safety
boots and high-visibility jacket for all.

• Additionally, provide all necessary safety equipment as

specified in the National Building Code 2005 like
safety nets if working at heights, safety harness,
gloves and goggles for welding etc.

• Provide clean drinking water to all construction

workers.
 • Provide clean and hygienic accommodation to all
construction workers. The accommodation should
adhere to the sample as described in the CPWD
manual. The colony should be clean; the bathing
areas should be covered. The accommodation
should have ventilation and some daylight.

• The colony should have trash bins for the families to

use, clean drinking water and cooking areas such
that smoke from cooking does not harm.

• Provide for clean and hygienic toilets for all

construction workers. The toilets for both males and
females should be sufficient in number.
Bad Examples
Figure 21

No labour safety on site, construction workers working on site

without any safety gear
Figure 22

Dysfunctional toilet for an entire colony of construction workers,

insufficient in hygiene levels as well as number
Figure 23

The accommodation for construction workers not satisfactory,

alleyways not maintained properly and accommodation lacks
access to daylight as well as ventilation
Figure 24

Unhygienic conditions in which the families of workers have to

live. No access to clean bathing facilities or washing areas,
unmaintained patches like this can lead to spread of diseases
Figure 25

Child labour on site, not a GRIHA recommended practice

Good Examples
Figure 26

All construction workers on site have been provided with safety gear like
helmets, high-visibility jackets and safety boots, workers working on
upper levels have safety harnesses and nets. The tank in the front
stored drinking water.
Figure 27

Even on smaller sites, workers with all safety gear

Figure 27

Workers working with stones or other such activities which involve a lot
of dust, are to be given face masks as depicted here
Figure 28

All workers provided with safety helmets and high-visibility jackets

Figure 29

Safety nets provided at regular intervals on the buildings to prevent any

mishap
Figure 30

Workers should
be provided
with clean
drinking water
Figure 31

Workers should
be provided
with clean
drinking water
Figure 32

The toilets to be provided to the construction workers should be clean

and hygienic. These should be cleaned regularly
Figure 33

The toilets should be constructed properly in case of large workforce

with adequate sewage management systems
Figure 34

And even in case of smaller sites and temporary toilets, toilets should
be maintained properly and clean
Figure 35

Mobile toilets can be maintained on site for workers. They must be

cleaned regularly.
Figure 36

The accommodation facility for workers should be clean and preferably

pucca
Figure 37

The accommodation facility for workers should be clean and preferably

pucca. Notice the clean floor and windows for ventilation and light.
Figure 38

The
accommod
ation facility
for workers
should be
clean and
preferably
pucca.
 Criterion 9: Reduce air pollution during
construction

• Provide at least a 3 meter high barricading all

around the site or around the area where immediate
construction is happening.

• Sprinkle water on dust roads inside the site. This is

to ensure that the dust does not become air-borne.

• Minimize the distance traveled by vehicles inside the

site. This will ensure that vehicles cause disturbance
over the least possible area on site.
• Provide for wheel washing for vehicles exiting the
site. Alternatively, provide a water trough at the
entrance/exit of the site to ensure that all vehicles
pass through it as they go.

• Ensure that all loose sand etc. and other fine

construction material on site is covered.

• Ensure that Diesel gensets on site do not throw

smoke on to the construction workers. A certain
stack height should be maintained.
Bad Examples
Figure 39

Sand stored on site without any covering and will lead to dust. The site
has no barricading and dust from site will affect the workers on site as
well people living in the surrounding villages
Figure 40

Sand stored on site without any covering and will lead to dust.
Figure 41

DG genset on site without any chimney for the exhaust. This will only
throw smoke on the workers and site professionals working on site,
leading to respiratory problems.
Good Examples
Figure 42

A 3-metre high barricading should be installed all round the site to

curtail air pollution
Figure 43

The barricade should be capable of stopping dust transfer. Even

recycled materials can be used to made the barricade like the waste
cement bags being used in this case.
Figure 44

The barricade should be continuous around the site/construction zone.

Figure 45

The loose dirt

tracks on the site
can be watered to
prevent dust
Figure 46

The loose dirt tracks on the site can be watered to prevent dust
Figure 47

Water trough created at the site entrance for wheel washing of all
vehicles entering and exiting the site. This helps in cleaning the wheels
and remove any mud from leaving the site
Figure 48

Water trough created at the site entrance for wheel washing of all
vehicles entering and exiting the site. This helps in cleaning the wheels
and remove any mud from leaving the site
Figure 49

If possible, certain tracks on site commonly used by heavy vehicles can

be covered made hard to prevent dust pollution due to vehicle
movement
Figure 50

Loose earth and/or sand stored on site should be covered to prevent

dust pollution
 Criterion 12: Efficient water use during
construction

• Use of strategies like ponding for curing of slabs and

use of jute bags for curing columns and beams help
in reducing the amount of potable water needed.

• Standing water from sedimentation tanks can be

used for cleaning construction equipment or for the
last stages of curing.

• Chemical admixtures can be used for quick drying to

ensure that concrete curing requires lesser amount
of water.
Good Examples
Figure 51

Jute bags being used on plinth beams for curing in order to save the
amount of water required for curing
Figure 52

Jute bags being used on columns for curing in order to save the
amount of water required for curing
Figure 53

Jute bags being used on slabs for curing, towards the last stages of
curing, in order to save the amount of water required for curing
 Criterion 22: Reduction in waste during
construction

• Segregate construction waste on site. The inert

wastes like sample concrete testing blocks, waste
steel scrap, waste wood, broken bricks etc. should
be stored separately from chemical wastes like
shuttering oil, paints, adhesives, oils etc.

• Construction waste should be either reused on site

or should be disposed off safely to recyclers/scrap
dealers.
• Waste bins should be provided on site for managing
the waste thrown by construction workers.

• The project should ensure that construction waste is

managed well on site.

• Training should be given to construction workers so

that they use trash bins on site and do not throw
waste all over the site.
Bad Examples
Figure 54

Construction
waste not
managed
properly on site.
All waste
material mixed
up on site, no
segregation of
waste
Figure 55

Material stored on site, especially chemicals, should be away from

drinking water facilities
Figure 56

Chemical waste being leached onto the site

Good Examples
Figure 57

All construction material on site well managed and stored in

designated areas.
Figure 58

Segregation between hazardous waste (stored in the bin) and inert

waste (stored next to the barricading).
Figure 59

Different kinds of metal scrap stored separately and barricaded to

demarcate waste from fresh metal bars
Figure 60

Different bins created for storage of inert and hazardous waste

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