On my SE's drawings are a series of dowel bars connecting 3 smaller slabs that are outside the envelope of the house to the main house slab (insulated). Has anyone had to install such dowels in their build? I would appreciate a chat so that I can understand how they work, and hence the best way to install them.

 

(I am building myself and not having contractors wherever possible)

Dowels are used where slabs cannot be connected (expansion joints, crack inducers etc). they simply allow the slabs to move independently while preventing them from becoming uneven/mis-aligned.

Drill holes in the shuttering at the required locations and insert the dowels through the holes with approx 50% sticking out. If sleeves are specified, these are then slid onto the exposed ends prior to the next pour