The Basics of the Construction Process - Case Study Example

Design Principles and Application A short guide to the basics of the Construction Process To successfully carry out any construction processit is very essential for the chief construction engineer to have thoroughly understood the client’s requirements. Generally the clients do not have an in-depth knowledge about the methods, logic and structure of the construction process. The construction process involves many stages ranging from the initial agreement to closing of the agreement when the structure has been fully assembled, the whole procedure requires to get past many stages starting with the Planning phase, which as the name suggests includes all the preliminary planning that will include the demands of the client to “what to do’s and what not to do’s” or if the client requires any special features in the building or a special structure, etc. After the planning process has been successfully implemented the next stage in the construction process will be the design phase, which is considered as the building block for any construction process and will usually require several meetings amongst the client and the chief engineer. After the designing process is finished the next and the most crucial process will be to implement on the outcome of both the planning and the designing processes which is the initialization of the construction process and is called the Production Phase. The central element of the Production phase is to launch the construction process practically. Introduction The principle hurdle faced by any construction company with regards to any novel project is to vigilantly comprehend all the requirements of the client. This is considered as a tough task because of the fact that many clients are not perceptive about the basics of construction process (Case Study, Contractor). It is very necessary for the chief engineer or the supervisor of the project to be well experienced and responsive to the clients needs because most of the time experience with other clients and superiors is what counts to understand what the engineer is being told to do. As the engineer gets more and more experienced, he will successfully be able to comprehend the exact requirements of any clients because at some point or the other the engineer has experienced identical situations, if not faced the situation himself at least the engineer has observed his superiors handle such situations. The meetings with clients should be made very frankly and each and every process and minor details of the project should be discussed with the client. The engineer should instantly be able to judge the verdict of the client’s quandary, these judgments may be related to the many factors such as the budget, the material to be used or if the construction required is for some special purpose like labs or chemical plants where the material used would be muddle proof, etc. (Case Study, Contractor) All of this should be then discussed with the client in a frank manner and the chief engineer should have enough knowledge to guide the client into a better agreement. The Construction Process The Construction Process involves many aspects, for any superior engineer it is very essential to understand all of these basic aspects thoroughly. These aspects or construction phases may be more comprehensible in the diagram (fig P.1) below: Fig P.1 The very first and the most preliminary aspect of the Construction process is the Planning Phase which is further discussed in detail below: The Planning Phase The planning phase of any construction process is further divided into 4 major sub-categories (TT U.S. Residential). These categories are as follows: 1. Pre – Planning: Many engineers and supervisors do not consider the pre – planning stage in the Planning Phase of any construction process as essential and focal. Thus it is usually avoided by many supervisors but yet this is a very essential procedure. The Pre- planning stage mostly includes the foundation on which the design is to be built. Successful completion of the pre – planning stage means that the engineer has successfully surveyed the demographics, most effective technology, etc. The pre – planning stage is the basis of a planning process and is usually accompanied by a questionnaire to be answered by the clients or the project funders. 2. Budgeting: The Budgeting stage is very essential in the planning process; this will enable the engineer to understand and evaluate the finance available for the project and also to judge the maximum size of the project. The Budgeting stage will then enable the supervisor to successfully judge the approximate value and quality of the raw materials and fixtures to be used, this will also determine the quantity of land required for the successful completion of the project. 3. Land Requirement: The next step in the Planning phase of the construction process will be to judge the best possible purchase of land. This stage will include the required land area and several other factors related to the land like whether the client owns the land, or if the land is yet to be finalized by the client, etc. It is in best interest of both the parties involved to make any land purchasing decision together, that is only if the land is not already owned by the client. This is because of that fact that after the planning stage the engineer will be able to judge the exact requirements of the land to be used and the perfect locality of the land. A very minor detail pertaining to the land selection is also to deduct the exact shape of the structure to be constructed and sometimes to state the best direction for doors, windows and exits according to thee surroundings. 4. Purpose of the Structure: It is very essential to be acquainted with the purpose of the structure that is to be constructed in the Preliminary Planning Phase, this is due to the fact that most of the times the purpose may totally revolutionize the building and designing process. Like for example, an office building will require having more hall space to place smaller cubicles or cabins and also will have a completely distinctive appearance then that of any other structure such as a residential complex or other kind of an edifice. Whereas, a specific structure like laboratories will require having a completely different design accompanied by a total amendment of the interiors and installation of more superior material in peril areas. 5. Additional Stages: Other minor factors that affect the planning phase that are minor as compared to the afore mentioned stages but yet essential have been listed below: a. Material: The quality and attributes of the various materials to be used are to be discussed in the Planning stage of the Construction Process. These may differ a lot due to certain factors such as the purpose of the structure and the shape of structure, but under most circumstances the attributes of the material to be used differs mostly because of factors such as the budget involved in the project. b. Specific design of the Structure: The specific design of the structure may be decided by both the parties involved the constructer and the client, but in most cases the client usually informs the engineer to what kind of a look does the client expect from the structure. It is very essential for the engineer to understand the requirements of the client completely regarding this factor because of the fact that the design factor is very essential for the client’s pleasure and buoyancy. By the above we can judge the responsibilities of various parties in different stages of the Planning Process, which are mentioned in the chart below (refer chart C.1): Responsibility chart with ranking in numbers from 0 – 3, prioritized according to the ascending order: Responsibility Priority Client Engineer Contractor Pre – Planning 2 1 0 Budgeting 1 0 0 Land Requirement 1 2 3 Purpose of the Structure 1 0 0 Planning according to purpose 2 1 2 Raw Material or fixtures 1 1 1 C.1 Once the planning stage is completely implemented and all the concerned authorities are over and done with all their respective responsibilities according to the above mentioned chart, see figure C.1, it is then the time to start with the next phase of the construction process which is the designing phase. The Designing Phase The Designing phase in the construction process is the next step after having totally finished with the planning phase. The designing phase basically includes the perception of basic design of the structure. Not only the outline of the structure is included in the designing phase but also the interiors and fixtures that are to be used in the construction process are outlined in the Designing Phase. 1. Basic Requirements: The first step in the designing Phase of a construction process is for the client to inform the engineer of all his basic requirements. These are normally based on the purpose of the structure that has been pre decided in the planning phase. The basic requirements will include: a. Required number of rooms, bathrooms, halls, etc.: The client will have to inform the engineer to the number of rooms and other interior construction specifications that are required to fulfill the needs of the client. These vary greatly on the basis of purpose of the structure that is to be constructed, that is due to the fact that an office structure and a residential structure will always differ in terms of interior specifications like an office structure will include cabins instead of rooms and large hallways to place smaller cubicles also the number of bathrooms will differ greatly and the kitchen might not be taken into account. b. Fixtures and Furniture: Under most circumstances, the client might require specific fixtures or his own choice of furniture. These factors will be taken into account while the designing phase is ongoing. These factors are also largely affected by the budget of the project. The engineer must be well versed with the prices of the parts such as wood and aluminum in the current markets to help the client choose better or provide the client with better options by altering the budget just a wee bit. This will not only satisfy the client but will also enable the client to trust the engineer better. 2. Conception and creation of layouts pertaining to the interiors: This stage is exclusively based on the engineer to create the model design of rooms, cabins, halls or whatever the interior requirements of the client on a paper or a computer based on the correspondence with the client and mostly based on the previous stages pertaining to the planning and initial design fabrication. These layouts will then need to be approved by the client before proceeding to the next step which is the formation of a blueprint or model. 3. The formation and conception of a Blueprint: The formation of a blueprint for the client is the most essential as well as the last process of the designing process. Once the engineer has successfully created a blueprint, the only remaining step will be to initialize the construction process. To create a blueprint means to design the total establishment of the project including each and every minute detail of the project like all the different rooms and their location as well as sizes, the halls or cabins and their location and sizes as well. Not only that each and every part of the construction process is to be highlighted in the blueprint. Nowadays, computers have made it much easier to design a whole 3-D design as a blueprint for the various structures; these 3-D blueprints make it much easier for the client to understand his structure and make even the last minute amendments. With such a technological revolution in the designing process, it has made it really hard for just about any client to go unsatisfied by the work done by the engineer or the contractor. With the help of the above we can judge the responsibilities of various parties in different stages of the Designing Process, which are mentioned in the chart below (refer fig. C.2): Responsibility chart with ranking in numbers from 0 – 3, prioritized according to the ascending order: Responsibility Priority Client Engineer Contractor Basic Requirements 1 3 0 Fixtures 1 2 0 Formation of Layouts 0 1 0 Creation of blueprint 0 1 0 C.2 After the designing stage is completely implemented and all the concerned authorities are over and done with all their respective responsibilities according to the above mentioned chart, refer to Fig. C.2, it is then the time to start with the final phase of the construction process which is the implementation phase. The Production Phase The production phase is the final and the most vital stage of the construction process. The production phase starts with the implementation of the blueprint practically on land and ends at the completion of a completed structure. The sub steps (TT U.S. Residential) involved in the production phase are as follows: 1. Raw Material purchase: The preliminary stage in the Production process is to start by ordering the pre decided raw material of which the quantity and quality had been determined in the previous two stages. The basic raw material used in any construction process will be cement, blocks, wood (for flooring and furniture) and steel bars and plates. These raw materials will be purchased depending on the quality selected by both the engineer and the client and the purchase responsibility is optional and usually depends upon the kind of deal the client and the contractor have made. 2. Creation of a basic structure: The basic structure here means the basis of the total structure such as columns and pillars. On the basis of these basic structures only the structure will stand tall. 3. Constructing other structures like the floor base and wall base: After the columns and the pillars have been set up successfully, the engineer will then help get the basic wall and flooring set up. This will enable him to get to the next step which is to divide the rooms and hall ways as required. 4. Setting up electricity and safety fixtures: Setting up of the electricity and safety fixtures like fire escape and fire extinguishers will be the next step in the construction process. In most states there are certain rules pertaining to the installation of safety fixtures and it is very essential for the engineer to be aware of these because not following these rules is against the law. 5. Implementation of the Blueprint: This is the toughest and the most time consuming process while working on a construction project, here the engineer is required to work with the contractor on the basis of the blueprint that the engineer had formulated in the designing phase. All the walls and rooms will be shaped during this. 6. Finishing with installing the required fixtures and optimizing the exterior looks: This is the final step of any construction process, after the building has been constructed according to the blueprints the engineer will then get the structure painted or decorated on the basis of previously selected options. This will also include installation of furniture and getting the exterior and interior painted or wall papered. By the above we can judge the responsibilities of various parties in different stages of the Planning Process, which are mentioned in the chart below (refer chart C.3): Responsibility chart with ranking in numbers from 0 – 3, prioritized according to the ascending order: Responsibility Priority Client Engineer Contractor Raw Material purchase 1 (depends on contract) 1 (depends on contract) 1 (depends on contract) Creation of Basic Structure 0 1 1 Consequent structures 0 2 1 Electricity and Safety Fixtures 0 1 1 Implementation of Blueprint 3 1 1 Installation of fixtures 1 (depends on contract) 1 (depends on contract) 1 (depends on contract) C.3 This completes your construction process starting from planning to construct to actually implementing your planning. Comparative study based on responsibility of all concerned authorities or parties As we have already discussed all of the stages vital to make a construction project a success, we are now in a position to evaluate on the basis of the above charts (Fig. C.1, Fig C.2 and Fig C.3 respectively) the total comparative analysis relating to the responsibilities of various authorities and entities involved: Responsibility chart with ranking in numbers from 0 – 3, prioritized according to the ascending order: Phase Priority Client Engineer Contractor Planning Phase 1 2 3 Designing Phase 2 1 0 Production Phase 3 1 1 C.4 Thus it is to be stated on the basis of the figures stated above that the overall ranking of responsibility is as follows: 1. The Engineer: According to the above analysis the engineer has proved to be the most vital human resource during the whole construction process because the engineer has received a top ranking in the designing phase and the construction phase and a second rank for the planning phase. 2. The Client: The client is naturally the second most important source towards any project. The client is the most vital human resource in the planning stage and the second most important resource in the designing phase whereas the client has little or no importance in the production phase, this may change depending on the contract (please refer to Fig C.3). 3. The Contractor: The contractor plays the most vital role in the Production phase, which is of course the most important phase of all. Factors affecting the construction Process Factors that affect the selection of Materials Several factors affect the purchase of materials such as (OECD, indices): 1. Cost and Budget of the Project: The budget of any construction project plays a major role while selecting the required materials. The cost will help the client and the engineer to understand the quality and quantity of the material to be purchased. 2. Purpose of the structure: purpose of a structure plays a major role while selecting the material, for example a house will require high kitchen appliances and wall paper covering where as an office may require simple or professional designs with the help of a lot of wood and aluminum. 3. Legal Policies: Several legal policies also affect the purchase of materials such as if the law in any particular state requires some particular category of material that could withstand the natural calamities in the state or particular area. 4. Location: Some locations that could face certain natural calamities especially require the structure to be built more strongly and firmly to be able to withstand all the possible faults or defects. 5. Personal Choice: Personal choice states any particular choice of the client, like wooden wall coatings, central air conditioning, etc. These are the most basic factors that affect the purchase of various material used in any construction process. Factors affecting the purchase of Systems and equipments Systems and equipments are categorized into various specific and unrelated categories such as, fire or calamity prevention equipments, other safety equipments such as first aid kits, plumbing systems and security systems. Diverse factors affect the purchase of each of these systems: Fire and Calamity prevention Equipments In most of the areas certain laws have been created to the use of fire prevention equipments such as fire extinguishers, there are diverse laws pertaining to this and are generally related to the amount of space and floors on the premises, also fire escape play a vital role in the placement or positioning of these fire prevention equipments. First Aid Kits Many construction projects do not include the first aid kit as essential equipment, but is usually only applicable in case of hospitals and clinics. Plumbing Systems The purchase of plumbing fixtures basically depends upon the budget of the project because of the fact that the prices and the quality vary in a great comportment. The client may spend hundreds of dollars on a plumbing fixture that may be available in tens through a great deal of difference in the quality of the product. Security Systems The increasing crime rate has made it very essential to install a good security system in your premises. These security systems don’t take up much cost and are always a better prevention. After all “Prevention is better than cure”. These are extremely important if the building is a safety structure like a bank. Understanding the requirements of the Client The largest factor in favor of the successful completion of any construction project is the interpretation or the understanding between the chief engineer and the client. This is very necessary to please and gratify the client also. This is the reason why chief engineer or the corresponding authority should be well experienced and knowledgeable to tackle any question of the client and to positively answer all his queries. The corresponding authority should also have a little knowledge of the approximate material costs to inform his clients that by just spending a little more amount of money he / she could get a much better quality or range of products or fixtures than the currently planned ones. Services required in the Construction Process Several services are required in the construction process. The following are the chief services required: 1. Engineering team: The chief services required for any construction process are the services by engineers, this may be judged by the comparative study chart, figure C.4. An engineer is the most vital part for any construction process due to the fact that an engineer judges the total design and the viability of the project. The engineer also endow with the project specifications, area wise diversion and basic plans. 2. Designer: Hiring a designer is very essential for any construction process for surety of fail proof planning. A designer will create a 3-D design or a blueprint of the project based on the engineer’s planning and thoughts. This is very essential if the client wants to clearly interpret with the engineer. 3. Electrician: An electrician is required to carry on the necessary electrical fittings and arrangements during the middle of the production process. 4. Furniture vendors: If in case the client does not prefer to install ready-made furniture and opts for arbitrary furniture, the client or the contractor will have to hire a furniture vendor to comply with the client’s needs. 5. Contractor: A contractor is the most vital of all service providers, the primary function of a contractor is to comply with the engineer’s blueprints and to make the necessary implementations and construct the building. The Environmental factors that are to be taken under consideration while the Construction Process Environmental Efficiencies The immense crisis and the tremendous hike in prices of materials like steel can be bunged if the construction companies improve their techniques of formation. The amount of required material and cost of the material is judged even before the start of the production phase. The required amount of material is judged at the designing stage and the designers should evaluate the environmental impact to provide a solution to the wastage problem and be environment efficient. Waste production is promoted solely by appalling work habits such as erroneous handling of material, exploitation of material and erroneous processing. How to avoid construction waste Construction waste could be avoided if the contractors use proper and modern construction techniques like the modular construction. The newer techniques are the best way to avoid any unwanted waste material but the issue is that smaller companies cannot afford to create structures using these techniques because of their high cost. How to plan to conserve energy resources While constructing a residential building several techniques could be taken under consideration to save energy such as installation of solar power appliances and getting the terrace area constructed to support solar panels installation, purchasing low power consuming electrical equipments and smart equipments that would detect that presence in a room. Energy resources are very precious and should be always considered while getting any structure constructed. Not only will the owner of these techniques will be saving the planet but also a lot of money on electricity bills. Bibliography Case Study, Contractor: Case Study “Implementing a quality assurance system: A Trade Contractor Case Study”, PD & R. TT U.S. Residential: Technology, trade and the U.S. Residential Construction Industry, Special report. OECD, indices: “OECD Statistic Directorate” Sources and methods, Construction Price Indices. Read More