Constructibility
Constructibility
(OP)
Re: checking prints for [onstructiblity]
I am trying to locate a book to learn more about what to look for, a check list or similar, any suggestions?
This inloves, architectural , mechanical or electrical trades. Commercial construction is my main concern.
Thank You





RE: Constructibility
Some important questions to consider are:
Can you get the materials to the locations needed? Will the construction activities fit within the allocated space? Is there adequate clearance for all needed equipment? Have all materials been specified? Can the project be staked from the information on the plans? Will there be disturbances proximate and possibly damaging to adjoining properties & buildings? Is there adequate room for staging?
One example of poor constructability would be a deep excavation near the property line that could undermine an adjoining structure with no shoring plans provided for in the contract. Another example is inadequate horizontal controls so that there is no efficient way to stake the locations in the field.
Good luck
RE: Constructibility
http:
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Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376
RE: Constructibility
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
The purpose of this consructiblity review is to reduce change orders. This is after the construction drawings are complete and put up for owner's review. I am looking to check and see the practical aspects of putting these prints on the ground. Examining size of equipment foot print and allocated space like bltseattle mentioned above is a good example.
Other examples:
1. Mechanical : Is there a backlow preventer on the sprinkler line?
2. Civil: Comparing the invert elevation at the new facility and the city. The former should be higher than later.
3. Civil: Existing Asphlat pavement and added concrete pavment. No dowels should be placed. Differnetial expansion might cause one to lift more than the other , thus causing cracks. This is a quality issue.
I know this encompass so many disciplines.Experience is the key to gather these pointers.
I wonder if there is no such a publication(s), will it be a worthy endevour to start one?
RE: Constructibility
I do not believe that this is something that can be taught. If it could be taught then design engineers could do their own constructability review and any of us who use plans to get thing built know that the reviews done by the disgners are lacking, at best.
RE: Constructibility
This is why the best highway designers, in my opinion, have at least a modicum of experience in costruction, maintenance, or traffic operations.
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"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail."
Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
Tolerances
Is the installation tolerance specified and realistic? If not realistic can it be relaxed or will some other technique be necessary to achieve the required tolerance?
Weather
Can the thing be built considering the weather to be expected at the time of the construction? Here in Canada sometimes special measures have to be incorporated into the specifications to allow for construction in the winter.
Interference of other trades? Mechanical systems interfering with structural is obvious one, electrical requirements matching the equipment loads is another one.
Code checks
Exits to code?
How about hazardous electrical areas being clearly identified? I once had a set of drawings that showed an electrical hazardous area on the electrical but specified non rated door operators. This needed a change order and additional money from the owner and caused a delay in occupancy of the project.
Repeated information the same every place it is repeated? Information should only be repeated as few times as possible to avoid getting any information incorrect, however if repeating information is necessary it should be consistent.
Is all the information in the correct place in the tender package? For example the geotechnical report should not go in the contract but is separate section called information for bidders. That way you are presenting the information and allowing the bidder to make up their own minds on the impact of the report and not being contractually bound for the report to be correct and 100% accurate.
Also anything that applies to the bidding process should be in the information for bidders and not in the contract. If it’s in the contract then you are saying that here is the contract and it will not have effect until it’s signed but you are expecting that something before the contract has effect to be done and be binding.
Are the materials specified available locally? When I worked for the federal government it was common for material only available in one part of the country to be specified for jobs in another part of the country.
Is there a simpler way to do the task? I once worked on a project that had a number of tanks and liquid was to flow by gravity between the different tanks. The design called for all the tanks to be constructed on concrete stands at many different levels. We changed the design to steel stands and were able to save a lot of money and time on the project.
Mostly it is an experienced based task. You can learn design from a book and by doing it, you can only learn constructability reviewing by having actually built many projects. It also should not be a final check of the package just before tender call but an ongoing part of the design process. That way the concrete stands would never have been designed in the first place
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
A good definition of an engineer is someone who can do with one dollar what any fool can do with ten.
Pretty much anybody can draw lines on paper. To actually be a competent engineer you need to understand constructibility (and value - as in value engineering). I would say if you can't design constructible projects you're not a very good engineer. It should be in the forefront at all times.
Incompetent engineers stand by their inadequate designs and use the term "engineer's prerogative" or some variant.
Different contractors have different specialties and equipment. You can't design the most cost effective project without knowing what those are. That's a severe limitation of Design-Bid-Build as opposed to Design-Build.
RE: Constructibility
RE: Constructibility
In the Initial Professional Development (IDP) program of IStructE one of the core objectives for candidates for membership is :
" 2.5 CONSTRUCTION (Minimum standard E)
Objective: Experience in construction techniques
Guidance Note:
The Candidate should complete a period of experience on one or more
construction sites, for an aggregate period of at least six months. This should
normally include at least one continuous period of two months.
The Candidate should develop knowledge of basic construction techniques,
construction machinery, temporary support systems, material testing procedures,
construction programmes and construction sequencing."
Source h
For the NCARB Intern Develpment Program IDP criteria check http://www.ncarb.org/idp/idpdescrip.html
RE: Constructibility
1) Leave ample room in the junction boxes, field termination panels, etc. for all current wiring and future spares. On one job, we literally did a "mock up" using actual equipment of a local field panel, using a lot of duct tape and a few extra hands to hold things in place while we stuck our own hands in to see if there is enough space, bend radius of wiring, space for lamacoids, panduit, the door fan, all that.
2) Specify the wire guage and add (No Equivalent). See above for bend radius and room in panel. Also, some termination blocks will only accept up to a certain guage (espeically if tight for room from the beginning).
3) If outdoors, check the NEMA ratings. If indoors, check NEMA ratings.
4) If cold, add a heater inside the panel.
5) This one caught me more than once. Make sure you protect the vents from sand if working in the desert, white fuzzy floaties (I forget where), and bug ingress (I also forget where).
I am sure the list is long and distinguished. These are my 2 cents worth.