Elaborate on the various material security measures to be incorporated

in specifications
Building construction sites are often natural targets for thieves as they generally contain a lot
of high value plants, materials and equipment. Improper storage practices also cause a huge
loss of productivity and revenue. Good planning is essential for preventing vandalism, theft
and Improper storage practices on a construction site
1) Assign supervisory security responsibilities, and encourage security awareness among all workers.
2) Identify assets and property onsite, then inventory and track them regularly.
3) Secure the site perimeter with proper fencing as a first line of defence, and maintain a clear zone
adjacent to fencing.
4) Contact the local police and fire departments before starting a job to establish cooperative
efforts.
5) Establish contact with management of neighbouring properties, and encourage them to report
suspicious activities.
6) Lock up materials, secure vehicles and equipment and install hidden kill switches to disable
ignitions.
7) Control site access by establishing – and monitoring – only one access point. Consider limiting
vehicle access. Provide parking areas outside of the site for employees and visitors.
8) Keeping track of visitors, employees, maintenance personnel, etc. Maintain a log book or
electronic sign-in near access point to the site and high security zones.
9) Light up the job site to effectively deter theft and vandalism.
10) Ask employees and subcontractors to also take responsibility for a secure site and to immediately
report any incidents of theft or vandalism.
11) Consider using security guards and have them patrol the site. Provide them with a means of
communication.
12) Consider installing a video monitoring system to capture vehicle traffic entering and exiting the
site.
13) Storing of Cement on Site – Guidelines.
 Cement has characteristics of attracting moisture. If moisture absorption exceeds 5%, the
cement becomes totally useless.
 Store cement in a building which is dry, leak proof and as moisture proof as possible.
 There should be minimum number of windows in the storage building. Stack the cement
bags off the floor on wooden planks in such a way, so that it is about 150 mm to 200 mm
above the floor.
 A space of 600 mm minimum shall be left all-round between the exterior walls and the
stacks.
 It is not advisable to stack more than10 cement bags over each other as this will lead to
lumping under pressure.
14) Storing of glass panels –
 Glass is generally stored vertically on its edge, in dry conditions.
 Components should be placed on timber bases to avoid direct contact with the floor.
 Glass panels should be stored in pallets with individual glass panel separated from one
another
 Secure the edges from damage by providing edge protectors.
 protective cover sheets to avoid scratches

AT4SQC Material security in specifications - Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper

 15) pest control measures to be taken regularly – Storage facilities are particularly susceptible to
pests as many insects and rodents.

16) Storing of timber sections –

 All wood will expand or contract until its moisture content matches that of its
environment. While this may result in buckling or warping, plywood are less susceptible
to this because of the way in which they are manufactured.
 Protect the stacks from hot dry winds, direct sun and rain.
 It is recommended to place heavy weight, such as metal rails or large section of wood, on
top of the stack to prevent distortion or warping of the timber in the stack.
 Lay the panels flat on the block supports.
 Block supports should be aligned to ensure an even distribution of weight.
 Lay a plastic sheet below before stacking the panels to prevent ground moisture
absorption.
 Secure the edges and allow air to circulate around the panels.
 If it is required to store the timber for about an year or more, then coat the ends of all
members with coal tar, aluminum leaf paints, micro crystalline wax; to prevent end
cracking in the material.

17) Storage of aggregate at site

 Store on a hard dry and level patch of ground
 If such a surface is not available then prepare a platform of planks or old corrugated iron sheets,
or a floor of bricks, or a thin layer of lean concrete so as to prevent contamination with clay, dust,
vegetable and other foreign matter.
 Maintain sufficient distance between stacks of fine and coarse aggregates to prevent the material
at the edges of the stock piles from getting intermixed.
 If possible then construct dividing walls to give each type of aggregate its own compartment.
 Stack the fine aggregate in such a place where loss due to effect of wind is minimum.

AT4SQC Material security in specifications - Prepared by Ar.Dominic Harper