How to Plan Your Construction Site

A construction site plan is the specific construction document that explains how the project manager will carry out and manage the project from its inception to completion. It highlights how you will design the structure, acquire and manage materials, and source for the required labor. In other words, a construction plan typically includes written and visual information, such as:

  • An explanation of how the various forms of the project will be handled
  • Images and illustrations showing project phasing
  • Photographic information
  • A detailed construction program

Construction Site Plan Overview

Knowing how to draft a construction plan can save you a lot of time and money if you do it right. That is why we have developed these easy steps to help you run an easy to manage the project. You should draft a connection plan in the initial stages of the project.

The objective of the plan is to assist your crew and other relevant authorities in understanding the full scope of the project and the company’s building strategy and techniques. It also enables the project manager to develop accurate estimations and outsource construction takeoff services. Therefore, the project manager, superintendent, structural engineer, and every expert on the team should be involved in designing a construction plan, even if they’re only designing the new offices for Mystic Owl Tattoo. Having different expert opinions can help deal with potential problems and offer swift solutions.

How to Draft a Construction Plan

To make this process easy for you, we have created three easy steps that can help prepare a great contraction plan. These steps are:

Step 1: Understand the Project

Step 2:Draft the Construction Plan Document

Step 3: Go Over the Project Details With Your Team

Step 1. Understand the Project

The success of the project will depend on how you fully understand its whole scope. This means that you will have to familiarize yourself with every project detail, such as plans and specifications. Here are a few examples of such details you must know of:

  • Site images
  • Project schedule
  • Site climate and weather patterns
  • Similar neighboring projects
  • Project illustrations and specifications
  • Maps
  • Contracts
  • Available or existing services

Familiarizing yourself with the above details will make your job easier. Ensure you record every piece of information and widen your research if necessary.

Step 2: Draft the Construction Plan

This is where the real work begins. Drafting out a construction plan is time-consuming and needs consistent efforts. A better approach would be to divide it into manageable segments so that all relevant topics are fully covered. Google docs, Blueram, CAD,and PDF are the recommended editing tools. If this is not your thing, you can refer to these construction site management tips. Your construction plan must include the following topics:

  • A summary of the project
  • Project timelines
  • Overview of the work sequence
  • Construction site summary
  • Site safet and worker welfare
  • Temporay protection
  • Project social and environmental impacts
  • Deliveries and storage materials
  • Delivery management
  • Lifiting and hoisting
  • Waste disposal
  • Electrical and gas
  • Heating
  • Water and sanitation (washrooms)
  • Quality
  • Other temporary services

Project Summary: Give a detailed summary of the construction project in this section and include relevant photos and graphics.

Project Timelines: This section should spell out a high-level construction schedule.

Work Sequence: Carefully highlight the project work sequence from the foundation to finishes. Mention any required adjustments

Site Summary: Give an in-depth overview of the construction site. Highlight these subtopics in this section:

Site safety: Explain all safety measures put in place as well as provisions for worker welfare.

Temporary protection: List the type of fencing technology required for your site. An illustration of temporary separations from nearby properties is recommended.

Project social and environmental impacts: Describe the expected environmental and social outcomes of the project and measures to curb any such negative impacts.

Deliveries and Storage of Materials:

  • Specify how your project will handle all incoming and outgoing materials.
  • Explain how you will manage and store your deliveries.
  • Indicate receiving, loading/ unloading, and storage areas.

Lifting and Hoisting: Include types of machinery such as cranes in this section, complete with drawings.

Waste disposal: Explain your waste disposal and management plan. You can indicate locations for your site’s garbage bins and how you will dispose of them. Renting a dumpster is recommended for a temporary construction project. In this section, indicate how you will clear the dumpsite after the completion of the project.

Other temporary services: These include water and sanitation, gas and heating systems, and electrical installations.

Step 3: Go Over the Project Details with Your Team

After collecting and compiling all the necessary information, go over every detail with your staff. Revisit every topic and take notes of any suggestions from each individual. You should also consider seeking an additional opinion from relevant construction experts such as elevator professionals whose insights can be very valuable.

Brett Sartorial
 

Brett is a business journalist with a focus on corporate strategy and leadership. With over 15 years of experience covering the corporate world, Brett has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, analytical and insightful journalist. He has a deep understanding of the business strategies and leadership principles that drive the world's most successful companies, and is able to explain them in a clear and compelling way. Throughout his career, Brett has interviewed some of the most influential business leaders and has covered major business events such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos. He is also a regular contributor to leading business publications and has won several awards for his work.