Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Admin
“Measure twice, cut once” is an old adage common in construction. And while such aphorisms may be tacky or even cringeworthy to seasoned construction professionals, the fundamental truth it contains remains relevant to this day. Namely, you better have all of your ducks in a row before starting the serious work. With this in mind, keep reading for more information on the importance of preparing a job site prior to an industrial construction project.
Table of Contents
Improved Safety
The most apparent reason to prepare a construction site is safety. In a best-case scenario, a safety breach will undermine the quality of work. In a worst-case scenario, it will cause serious injury or death, with lengthy litigation sure to follow.
There is really no limit to the ways to improve a construction site for safety. Some ideas include:
- A mobile storage container for convenient access to all necessary PPE equipment
- Clearing the area of any dead timber or other debris that may constitute a fire hazard
- Applying waterproofing technology to foundation slabs and walkways to prevent moisture damage
- Fencing the perimeter and locking with credentialed access
- Ensuring proper drainage to prevent damage from flooding or stormwater runoff
And these are just a few of the many safety concerns to keep in mind. As it can be difficult for the untrained eye to recognize potential safety breaches, it is beneficial to team with a professional site inspector to provide peace of mind during the preparation process.
Cost Effectiveness
A small investment in site preparation can provide major dividends in the form of cost savings throughout the project. Some ways that a well-prepared site can help lower project costs include:
- Improved framework for efficient, accurate construction, limiting the risk of costly rework scenarios.
- Less driving back-and-forth to try and locate missing tools, machinery, and materials. On some unorganized sites, it is not uncommon for duplicates to be purchased simply because the originals cannot be found.
- Less likelihood that the project will be damaged by hazardous conditions.
And don’t forget that if major safety breaches occur as a result of a poorly prepared site, liability and court costs can cease the project before it gets off the ground.
Allows Focus on Core Competencies
Every industrial construction project will feature contractors, subcontractors, and other professionals from any number of niches. To ensure that the project is a success, it is important to keep these professionals operating in their niches. It is extremely counterproductive to have contractors billing hours for work performed in something other than their trade. What is the good in paying a framing expert to help level the ground for the foundation? Why have painters working to clear trash? By having a well-prepared job site, the project manager can ensure that all professionals are operating in their area of expertise.
Helps Facilitate Material Delivery
One of the great challenges facing the construction industry in 2023 is how to mitigate rising material costs. However, expensive product is just one of the issues. Other material costs to consider are:
- Material shortages that stall construction and lead to costly blockers
- Material theft from the construction site
- Materials damaged and unusable due to sitting outside in inclement weather
No matter how much research is conducted into the most affordable insulation or metal deck cost, these secondary considerations can truly wreck budgets.
Therefore, many project managers are turning to a just-in-time construction model. Using this approach, materials are delivered to the job site on an as-need basis. However, in order for just-in-time construction to work, communication with vendors and delivery professionals has to be elite. By having carefully prepared access roads that help facilitate material delivery, project managers can avoid material stock outs that delay construction.
More Environmentally Friendly
It may seem like a stretch to say that preparing a construction site is an environmentally friendly endeavor. However, architects and designers of energy efficient buildings understand that green construction is a holistic concept. It considers the entire carbon footprint of a project from breaking ground until the end of the building’s useful life. Every step of the process matters.
Site preparation contributes to environmental friendliness in a number of micro and macro ways, all of which add up to savings in the long run:
- More strategic location of landfill, recycling, and compost bins so that workers can mindfully dispose of waste.
- Better framework for accurate construction to prevent energy-guzzling rework scenarios.
- Improved service road infrastructure to shorten and eliminate unnecessary trips. Remember, trucks hauling construction machinery get very poor fuel economy, so every mile makes a difference.
- More efficient access to water and electricity to limit consumption of these precious resources.
Yes, choosing to build with materials such as PV glass, polyiso insulation, and radiant floor heating are invaluable for their energy efficient properties. But they can’t truly start to go to work if they have to spend the first few years of their useful life building back from the energy debt created during construction.
Go the Extra Mile to Prepare Industrial Construction Sites
Preparation is critical in all walks of life, but it truly paramount in the industrial construction sector. By taking the time to properly prepare a job site, project managers can ensure safety, improve profitability, promote focus on core competencies, streamline material delivery, and reduce the project’s carbon footprint. As such, take the time to implement full-scale site preparation prior to breaking down on your next industrial construction project.
