Preparing for the construction stage

The construction manager arranges a pre-contract meeting with the consultant team
and trade contractors to discuss procedures that will be adopted during the construction
stage.

There are a range of tasks necessary to prepare for the construction stage:

The construction manager co-ordinates the issue of production information for

construction.
The client and construction manager prepare and agree schedules of conditions for
adjacent properties or structures that will be retained.
The client and construction manager check that all necessary insurance policies are in
place for construction work and site ownership.
The client and construction manager check that all necessary permissions, approvals,
party wall agreements and other statutory requirements are in place and that all
necessary planning conditions have been satisfied.
If necessary, and if it has not already been done, the client appoints; party wall
surveyor(s), an approved inspector, site inspectors and an in-house or outsourced
engineering team to witness testing and commissioning and to take over the running of
the services as soon as practical completion is certified.
The trade contractors each prepare detailed programmes for their works and issue these
to the construction manager. The construction manager incorporates these into an
overall project programme and short period programmes for the co-ordination of the
works. The construction manager may wish to bring key dates to the attention of the
client or consultant team, such as dates for decisions, dates for the release of
information, or dates for works outside of the trade contracts. The client should not
approve any programmes as approval might be considered to relieve the trade
contractors of liability for programming the works in such a way as to achieve the
completion date.
The principal designer ensures that co-ordination procedures are in place for design
carried out by the trade contractors.
The construction manager briefs site inspectors regarding procedures for inspecting and
reporting on work on site as it progresses. This might include specific monitoring and
reporting arrangements relating to the implementation of client policies such as
environmental policies (on a large project this might involve the appointment of an
environmental consultant specifically to perform that role).
The client may need to put procedures in place to move some of its staff and equipment
so that it can continue to operate effectively during construction.
The construction manager and design team agree the basic principles to be used for grid
lines and setting out of the site.
Mobilising
Mobilisation may involve the construction manager carrying out the following tasks:

Co-ordinating the preparation and issue of a project handbook setting out

responsibilities, procedures, and lines of communication for the construction stage.
Preparing method statements and obtaining method statements from trade contractors.
Preparing a site layout plan for construction.
Making arrangements for site communications such as the receipt and distribution of
post and information and communications technology (ICT).
Managing specialist design and drawing approval. They may wish to appoint a design
co-ordinator to be responsible for this.
Advertising and selecting any remaining contracts such as catering, security and
cleaning contracts. NB as with trade contracts, these contracts are placed with the client,
but managed by the construction manager.
Establishing a contract register scheduling: the contracts that have been placed, who
signed them and when, what the value of the contract is and where it is stored. This can
be crucial information if for example the construction manager becomes insolvent.
Establishing an asset register scheduling what assets there are on site and who they
belong to. This information may later be incorporated into the building owner's manual.
Establishing all statutory site registers such as; lifting equipment, dangerous and
explosive substance storage, scaffolding and accident reports etc.
Complying with any statutory conditions that must be satisfied prior to construction
(such as tree protection, submission of contaminated soil disposal plans, approval of
work adjacent to an operating rail track and so on).
Ensuring (in their role as principal contractor) that workers are provided with a suitable
site induction, training and information to be able to work without undue risk to their
health or safety.
Establishing inspection regimes and quality assurance procedures for construction.
Commissioning any further geotechnical survey work required.
If it has not already been done, obtaining statutory utility drawings of all existing and
surrounding services including details of any telecoms, wells and hydraulic mains.
Arranging necessary road closures and restrictions, diversions of services and
connections necessary for the works to be carried out.
If it has not already been done, obtaining legal documentation describing precisely the
site boundary and ownership.
Preparing (in their role as principal contractor) a construction phase plan, if this has not
already been done.
Developing the site waste management plan (if required).
Commissioning a survey team to establish semi-permanent setting-out theodolite base
plates.
If it has not already been done, arranging for the statutory utilities to provide the
necessary water, power supplies, and ICT services required for construction activities.
Notifying the local authority (or approved inspector) of their intention to begin
construction.
Informing the emergency services of their intention to begin construction.
Notifying the HSE if this has not already been done.