IUE INSAM

SPECIALTY: CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

LECTURER Mr. Akum Oben

LECTURE 3

CONSTRUCTION SITE LAYOUT PLANNING

Introduction
The failure of some construction projects is not linked to technical inefficiency but due to managerial
problems. The site-based management can make significant improvements in the cost and time savings
during the construction project implementation. Site management, involves many tasks, such as site
investigation before construction process starts, material delivery and procurement management, keeping
better site records, keeping good site communication and high level of information flow, monitoring
performance regularly, establishing proper co-ordination system among different parts, and performing a
good site layout planning.

Among the important tasks of site management is the site layout planning. Extensive time loss and cost
overruns could result in large projects, where the number of manpower, subcontractors, and equipment
involved are high, if there is no effective and systematic approach to site planning. A detailed planning of
the site layout and location of temporary facilities can enable the management to make considerable
improvement by minimizing travel time, waiting time, and increasing worker morale by showing better
and safer work environment.

Definition of Site Layout Planning

Construction site layout involves identifying, sizing, and placing temporary facilities (TFs) within the
boundaries of construction site. Required temporary facilities and their areas depend on many factors
including project type, scale, design, location, and organization of construction work.
Site planning is particularly important because the site will also harbor personnels for the total duration of
the construction project. Thus, the carefulpre-planning is imperative.

Problems Associated with improper or absence of site Layout Planning

Failure to plan the site layout in advance is a prime cause of operational inefficiency, and can increase the
overall cost of a project substantially. In the absence of a precise site layout plan, the following problems
may occur:
1) Material stacks wrongly located: If materials arriving on site are not off-loaded into
the correct location, it may involve double or triple handling of materials to another location. For
example:
- They may be stocked over a drainage line
- They are too far from the work area
- They are too remote from the hoist or not within the radius of the crane
- They impede the smooth flow of work traffic across the site
- Their delivery was wrongly phased and they are not needed until much later in the project
- They are fragile.

2) Plant and equipment wrongly located. For example:

- The mixer is inaccessible for the delivery of materials
Not enough room for the storage of aggregates
- Fixed cranes are unable to reach all parts of the works
- Hoists have insufficient capacity or height to handle the loads or badly located in relation to the floor
layout

3) Inadequate space allowed: Where inadequate space is allowed for the stacking of materials or activities:
- Materials may be stacked to high or stacked on roadways causing hazards.
- Working areas may become too cramped or additional areas may have to be allocated with the
consequent wasteof time caused by having to travel between them.

4) Site huts wrongly located in relation to their effective use. such as:
- Site office located too near noisy activities such as mixer, or located too near to site roads in dusty
 conditions, ortoo remote with insufficient overview of the site.
- Warehouses having inadequate access for loading and unloading or located in insecure area.

Advantages of Site Layout Planning

A well-planned site including all temporary facilities and utilities lead to:
1) increase productivity and safety,
2) Reduction in total area needed for temporary construction, and
3) maximizing utilization of the site.

Elements of Site Layout Planning

1. Safety
Fire prevention: Fire is a major cause of damage on construction sites. F ire extinguishers are basic
requirements on a construction project.
Medical services: On construction project a first aid kit is a must. In remote projects a well-equipped
medical room with a doctor and nurse is important.
Construction safety clothing: Basic safety supplies like safety shoes, hard hats, gloves, and goggles must
be usedby workers.
2. Site Accessibility
Easy accessibility will keep the morale of the equipment and vehicle drivers high, minimize the chance of
accidents, and save time in maneuvering to arrive at and leave the project site. In case of large projects,
proper planning is required to layout the roads leading from the nearest highway. Internal roads are
necessary for easy flow of work. Also, Parking Lots are provided for the owner, office, and craft personnel,
but this facility must be planned where there exists adequate space.
3. Information Signs
Site map: It should locate details of the project, and displayed in the office of the site superintendent or
Project manager and posted at the entrance gate.
Traffic regulatory signs: For large projects, traffic regulatory signs help in guiding the traffic
on the site and avoid accidents to a considerable extent.
Display of labor relations’ policy and safety rules: This will help in eliminating disputes
between labor and management.
Emergency routes and underground services: It is important to display the emergency
escape routes on everyfloor as the building progresses. Locations of underground services should
be marked to prevent its damage.
4. Security
Entrance: It is necessary to have a proper guard entrance to the site. Also, it is necessary to keep
track of all visitors to the project.
Lighting: It is necessary to have a standby generator to maintain site lighting.
Fencing: The boundary should be fenced off from a security point of view.
5. Accommodation
On large construction projects, it is necessary to provide camp accommodation for all type of
staff involved in theproject.
6. Offices
The offices should be close together, close to the site, and in a safe area. Also, provide the offices
with proper office equipment. The offices at the site may include job office, general contractor
office, and sub-contractors and consultants Offices.
7. Water Supply and Sanitation
It is necessary to have water and toilet facilities in convenient locations to accommodate the work
force.
8. Material Handling
One third or more of all construction operations can be classified as material handling. The use
of proper equipment for material handling and advance planning for minimizing multiple
handling will result in direct cost and time savings.
9. Storage and site cleaning
It is necessary to plan and reserve storage areas for materials so that multiple movement of
material is avoided.
Laydown areas: Areas reserved for storage of large materials and equipment and it can be
short-term or long-term.
Warehouses: They are sheltered storage facilities where materials are stored until they have
disbursed to the job.
Material staging areas: They used when materials are stored near the work on a short-term
basis. They aregenerally as close to work as possible.
Site cleaning: It is necessary at a work place and especially where the extent of debris produced
is high. Regular disposal of debris is necessary.
10. Craft Change-Houses
Craft change-houses provide sheltered space for craft personnel to change and store clothes, Bath,
and rest duringwaiting periods.
11. Batch plant and Fabrication Shops
Batch plants are provided on projects where it is more economical to produce concrete on site
than to buy a ready mix. Aggregate storage piles, cement silos and admixture tanks will
accompany an on-site batch plant. Shops are used where materials and equipment are fabricated
on site. This includes electrical, mechanical, carpentry, and paint shops. Also, testing shops used
to house the necessary testing equipment and personnel for the project.

Temporary Facilities Characteristics

It is important to understand the characteristics of the temporary facilities before planning the
site layout. Temporary facility characteristics includes:
1. Satisfying environmental and safety regulations:
All temporary facilities should satisfy environmental and safety regulations. Special attention
should be paid to temporary facilities like batch plants, which have high pollution potential.
Planners have to make proper arrangements to control the air, water, and noise pollution from
such facilities.
2. Availability of diverse solutions for the same problem:
There are many arrangements that can be made to establish a temporary facility. For example,
if a warehouse is required, the planner can build a warehouse on the site, use existing facilities
on the site, rent a building near the site, or plan a just in time delivery. Based on the usage of the
warehouses, each alternative can be further divided into several sub items. For example, the
material of building the facility can vary from wood, bricks, to a steel structure.
 3. Relatively short life span of a specific location:
The life span of temporary facility depends on the duration of the project. In general, it must be
removed as soon as the project is completed.

4. Reutilization with a minimum loss for the same or modified function at another location:
Due to the shorter life span of temporary facility on site, planners consider reutilization of the
temporary facilities. This can result in saving the cost of construction. With appropriate
modifications, most of the temporary facilities can be used for more different purposes.
Therefore, good maintenance, and storage of the building materials can increase the frequency
of reutilization and decrease construction costs significantly.
5. Easy of assembly, dismantling, and exploitation:
Temporary facilities structures which are easy to assemble and dismantle will reduce both
assembly and disassembly time. As mentioned above, temporary facilities will need to be
removed in a very short period of time after project completion. Thus, temporary facilities
structures should be easy to assemble and dismantle without any damage to the structure
components. Prefabricated modules are ideal for constructing temporary facilities and they are
usually easy to assemble and dismantle.
6. Standardization of design:
Standardization of design and construction of temporary facilities can increase the frequency of
reutilization and reduce the work-hours and cost required for construction the facilities. This
approach makes the maintenance, transportation and storage of temporary facilities easy. The
benefits of the learning curve can be gained from repetitive field operations, which results in
increase of productivity and quality. Also, benefits are obtained by providing greater
interchangeability of spare parts and reducing the variety of spare parts stored in the warehouse.

Regulations and Safety Standards guiding Planning of Site Layout

Some of these regulations include:
• At least 10 meters clearance from buildings or structures shall be maintained for piles and
other combustible materials to be used in the construction.
• Driveways between and around open yard combustible storage piles shall be at least 15
meters wide and free from accumulation of rubbish.
 • Material stored inside buildings under construction shall not be placed within 6 meters of
any hoist way or inside floor openings, or within 10 meters of an exterior wall, which does
not extend above the top of the material stored.

Image of construction site layout plan