Any sort of construction work, be it a basic one-room remodel or a full-scale building being built - will need a foundation. Yes, the literal foundation of a building is one of the first things that needs to be done in some construction projects, however, the actual foundation of every project is the preparation of the site. Following a series of steps is key to preparing a site for building work. This allows the building to have optimum safety and keeps those working on the project safe throughout the construction phase of a project.
In 2019, 30 worker deaths occurred on building sites and is the third most dangerous industry to work in. With this in mind, this is why preparing a building site for construction is crucial, to ensure no one is in danger and can complete their work safely. There is so much that goes into the overall process of building work. In this blog, we provide you with a brief rundown on how to prepare a construction site to help you get an idea of how things need to be organised.
Carry out a geotechnical report
The step is certainly going to be the order of business - this step is to be done before clearing a construction site and is referred to as a geotechnical report. The report will give you important information and recommendations on how the site should be prepped. This report is required and will also provide engineers with a good indication of how suitable a location is for the construction to be carried out. A geotechnical report is carried out by a geotechnical engineer and will feature the following points:
Background
Scope of Work
Investigation Summary
Overview
Surface Conditions
Recommendations
Seismic Considerations
All of these points will allow you to proceed with preparing the construction site for the duration project.
Other factors to consider
Carrying out a construction site will require more than just preparing the site itself. You’ll also need to keep the following factors in mind:
Local restrictions
Before work gets started, it’s essential to know about any restrictions there may be within your local area. Various restrictions you might have to deal with or workaround include:
The time of day work can be carried out
The amount of noise produced over a length of time
Environmental standards to lower pollution
By being aware if there are any restrictions, you will be able to include them in the planning process, and you’ll have time to alter plans if needs be. You don’t want to go into a project blind and not knowing if there may be restrictions on the property, as they are probably in place for a good reason.
Safety
While preparing your construction site, it goes without saying that safety should be the top priority. This includes understanding your surroundings and wearing the necessary protective clothing. The most frequently cited violations are often fall protection, hazard communication, scaffolding, and respiratory protection.
Protective equipment includes wearing a helmet and using protective glasses. This also indicates you having the knowledge to carry out tasks safely and properly handling tools and machines. You also want to put up the necessary safety signs to help communicate with those working on the site.
Soil Types
It’s crucial to understand what you will head into before the start of your project. Part of that is understanding the type of soil you will build on. The soils are categorized by the OSHA as the following:
Type A is the most stable of the three. Clays are usually a strong example of this type.
Cracks can be found in Type B, but they remain intact. Common examples are silt, angular gravel, and silt loam.
Type C is not as stable as the others. Examples include sand and gravel.
Soil testing will allow you to have a good idea on whether it can handle the work you’ll perform. There are some scenarios where the soil doesn’t provide stable conditions, and you may need to choose a new construction site.
Potential Water Damage
Water can trigger a great deal of damage to a construction site if you don’t have the right drainage. To deal with this, make sure that the site has a place where water can go because it can affect the building’s foundation. Be sure your construction site also rests on land with the right slope or grade. This will permit water to flow elsewhere, for example, a retention pond or the sewers. When you know where water will go, you can decrease the risk of water will cause damage during the construction process and in the future.
Use ground penetrating radar
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can support you determining where current utility lines are placed on the subject property buried beneath the soil. The use of GPR can help engineers identify the presence of previous utilities and foundations, underground storage tanks (UST), and voids under existing concrete. Any of these can have an impact on planning, engineering, and safety during construction. You must be aware of these things before preparation on the site begins, as not doing so could end in a dangerous event.
Clear the site
Once a geotechnical report is done and you know what else can influence your project, the process to clear the construction site begins. To begin with, there are a few things that will need to be cleared from the area. You need to get rid of any existing vegetation that may be on site. Vegetation is classed as everything from trees to shrubs. The vegetation needs to be removed appropriately and safely. Vegetation removal also includes anything near to the site. Another factor that has to be removed is any surface soil.
This is classed as decaying materials and roots. Not doing so can create an unbalanced foundation for the building. In some scenarios, you might need to remove old buildings or structures. You can have a team use traditional demolition methods to clear out the site, or you could even use robotic demolition for this step. If you have a site in a limited-access area, robotic demolition could provide more safety and access than typical demolition methods.
Evacuate
The next phase is to evacuate the materials you just got rid of. This means transporting the materials to a different location so that there is room for the actual construction. This will also require you to clear concrete so new structures can be successfully placed.
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