SITE WORKS

CE151P BUILDING SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SCEGE

MAPUA UNIVERSITY
Outline for Discussion
• Site Investigations
• Site Considerations
• Site Layout
• Site Security
• Site Lighting And Electrical Supply
• Materials Storage
Why conduct Site Investigation?
• The basic objective of this form of site investigation is to
collect systematically and record all the necessary data
which will be needed or will help in the design and
construction processes of the proposed work.

• The collected data should be presented in the form of fully

annotated and dimensioned plans and sections. Anything
on adjacent sites which may affect the proposed works or
conversely anything appertaining to the proposed works
which may affect an adjacent site should also be recorded.
Site Analysis Process
Desk-top Survey
• The ‘desk-top study’ is a vital element in any site
investigation. The study involves the collection of all
documents and materials that can be without having to visit
the site.
• There is a considerable amount of information available
from local and national authorities, museums, private
companies and research groups.
• The client or previous owners may also have relevant
information to hand.
Needed Documents?
• Ownership(s) and legal boundaries
• Rights of way
• Rights of light
• Rights of support (for adjoining properties)
• Legal easements
• Ownership of land
• Rights of tenants
• Services
• Ground conditions
• Flooding
On Site Survey/ Site Reconaissance
• Written permission should be acquired from the client
and/or owners before entering the site and especially before
any invasive investigations are carried out.
Site Visit/Reconnaissance
• A visit to the site and its surroundings should always be
made to record everything relevant to the proposed
development.

• Visual inspection should be undertaken by at least two, and

preferably three, people, e.g. the architect, engineer and
contractor, with each taking their own notes but discussing
features as they come across them
What to do?
• Traverse the whole area
• Establish the proposed location of work on plans
• Identify and record any differences on the plans and maps
• Record details of existing services, trees, structures,
buildings and obstructions
• Check access and determine capability of sustaining heavy
construction traffic
• Record water levels, fluctuations in levels, direction of flow
and flow rate
What to do?
• Identify adjacent property and the likelihood of it being
affected by proposed works
• Record mine or quarry workings, old structures and other
features
• Record obvious features that pose immediate hazard to
public health and safety or the environment
Site Visit Mapping
Soil Investigation
• Specifically related to the subsoil beneath the site under
investigation and could be part of or separate from the site
investigation.
Purpose of Soil Investigation
• Determine the suitability of the site for the proposed project.
• Determine an adequate and economic foundation design.
• Determine the difficulties which may arise during the
construction process and period.
• Determine the occurrence and/or cause of all changes in
subsoil conditions.
What to do?
• Record details of ground conditions in quarries and cutting
• Record ground water levels (these are often different from
streams, ponds and lakes)
• Record surface features on site and on adjacent land, note
the following:
• Type and variability of surface conditions
• Compare land and topography with previous records, check
for fill, erosions and cuttings
What to do?
• Identify the position of wells and springs
• Note the nature of vegetation in relation to soil type and
wetness of soil.
• Investigate structures in the vicinity of areas having a
settlement history
Ground and Soil Tests
• The extent of soil investigation will be based on the nature
of the building and characteristics of the site.
• More detailed site and laboratory studies will provide more
information, reducing the risks inherent in building on
unknown ground.
On-site Soil Test
• Plate load test
• Vane shear test
• California bearing ratio (CBR) test
• Dry density/moisture relationship
• Standard penetration tests (SPT)
• Lightweight dynamic penetrometers
• Cone penetration tests (CPT)
• Methane/oxygen/carbon dioxide/barometric pressure test
Laboratory Test
• Triaxial compression tests
• Liquid and plastic limit tests
• Sieve analysis – particle size and distribution
• Moisture content
• PH value tests
What’s in a Site Inspection Report?
• Feasibility study
• Environmental Concerns
• Risk assessment
• Conclusions and recommendations
Site Considerations
• Site Layout
• Site Security
• Site Lighting And Electrical Supply
• Materials Storage
Site Layout - What To Consider?
• Site Security
• Site Lighting
• Storage
• Accommodation
• Temporary Services
• Plant/Equipment
• Fencing
• Safety and Health
Site Security
• Security against theft.
• Security from vandals.
• Protection from innocent
trespassers.
• The need for and type of
security required will vary from
site to site according to the
neighbourhood, local
vandalism record and the
value of goods stored on site.
Perimeter fencing, internal site
protection and night security
may all be necessary.
Site Lighting
• This can be used effectively to enable work to continue
during periods of inadequate daylight. It can also be used
as a deterrent to would-be trespassers. Site lighting can be
employed externally to illuminate the storage and circulation
areas and internally for general movement and for specific
work tasks.
• The arrangement of site lighting can be static where the
lamps are fixed to support poles or mounted on items of
fixed plant such as scaffolding and tower cranes.
• Alternatively the lamps can be sited locally where the work
is in progress by being mounted on a movable support or
hand held with a trailing lead.
Site Lighting
Site Office Accommodation
• The arrangements for office accommodation to be provided
on site is a matter of choice for each individual contractor.
Generally separate offices would be provided for site agent,
clerk of works, administrative staff, site surveyors and sales
staff.
Minimum Requirements For HSE
Site Storage
• Small and Valuable Items ~ these should be kept in a
secure and lockable store. Similar items should be stored
together in a rack or bin system and only issued against an
authorised requisition.

• Large or Bulk Storage Items ~ for security protection these

items can be stored within a lockable fenced compound.
The form of fencing chosen may give visual security by
being of an open nature but these are generally easier to
climb than the close boarded type of fence which lacks the
visual security property.
Considerations?
• The location and size(s) of space to be allocated for any
particular material should be planned by calculating the
area(s) required and by taking into account all the relevant
factors before selecting the most appropriate position on
site in terms of handling, storage and convenience.
• Access facilities on site for delivery, vehicles.
• Relationship of storage area(s) to activity area(s) - the
distance between them needs to be kept as short as
possible to reduce transportation needs in terms of time and
costs to the minimum.
Considerations?
• Alternatively storage areas and work areas need to be sited
within the reach of any static transport plant such as a tower
crane.
• Security - needs to be considered in the context of site
operations, vandalism and theft.
• Stock holding policy - too little storage could result in delays
awaiting for materials to be delivered, too much storage can
be expensive in terms of weather and security protection
requirements apart from the capital used to purchase the
materials stored on site.
Typical Layout for Storage
END OF LECTURE
• THANK YOU!

Credits to Dr. Jhan Paul D. Acevedo

Course material source