LINE OF BALANCE (LOB)

Miguel CABEZUDO
Nicolas LAFLESSELLE

DEFINITION
A line of balance diagram comprises a series
of inclined lines which represent the rate of
working between repetitive operations in a
construction sequence.
It's the best planning method for a repetitive
work such as a housing.
It's a visual display of the rate of working of
different activities on a program.

PRINCIPLES

LOGIC DIAGRAM

LOB DIAGRAM
WITH A NON-PARALLEL WORKING
Buffer

C
Overall
duration

Number
of units

Activity B slower than

A
Activity C slower than
B
Duration
Minimum
Buffers

LOB DIAGRAM
WITH A PARALLEL WORKING / IDEAL
RELATIONSHIP
A

C
Overall
duration

Number
of units

Same rate of construction

Duration
Minimum
Buffer

PRINCIPLES

B
A

D
C

LOGIC DIAGRAM FOR

SEQUENCE

LOB DIAGRAM
OPERATION B AND C BEGINNING TOGETHER

D
Overall
duration

Number
of units

Duration

LOB DIAGRAM
OPERATIONS B AND C ENDING TOGETHER

B.
C

Number
of units

Duration

D
Overall
duration

EXAMPLE Access Deck

Project

Operation 1 : Install piles 2 days (gang of 3

labours)
Operation 2 : In situ beams 4 days (gang of 4
carpenters)
Operation 3 : Precast concrete deck 1 day (gang of

EXAMPLE Access Deck

Project

Install
piles
2 days

In situ
beams
4 days

Precast
deck
1 day

LOGIC DIAGRAM

EXAMPLE Access Deck

Project Buffer
1
Piling 0

6
5

1
2

In situ
beams

2
3

2 2 2
7 8 Precast
9
deck
Completio
n day 29

4
Bay
number 3
2
1
0 2 4 6
Buffer

8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
0 2 4 6 8 Duration
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6
(days)

EXAMPLE Access Deck

Project
LABOUR
RESOURCES
7
6
5

Pile
caps/beams

Deck

Labour 4
3
2

Piling

1
0

0 2 4 6

Pile
caps/beams

Deck

8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
0 2 4 6 8Duration
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6

EXAMPLE Access Deck

Project
1
Piling 0

6
5
4

In situ
Buffer
beams
1 1
1 1 1
2 3
7 8 9
Precast
deck
Completio
n day 19

Bay
number 3
2
1
0 2 4 6
Buffer

8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
0 2 4 6 8 Duration
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6
(days)

EXAMPLE Access Deck

REVISEDProject
LABOUR RESOURCES
1
2
1
1
09
Labour 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Caps and
beams Gang
2
Caps and
beams Gang 1

Piling
0 2 4 6

Deck

Deck
8 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
0 2 4 6 8Duration
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6

EXAMPLE
CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5
CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Operation

Duration per unit in weeks

Number of gangs

Foundations

External walls

Roof construction

Internal finishes

External works

NUMBER OF UNITS : 10

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Foundati
ons

External
walls

Roof

Internal
walls

SEQUENCE LOGIC FOR

OPERATIONS

External
works

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Number of unit less 1 x duration of operation

Number of gangs used

Foundations :
Start unit 1 : week 0
Finish unit 1 : week 2 (2 weeks duration)
Start of unit 10 = 0 + (10 units 1) x 2 = 18/2 =
week 9
2 gangs
Finish of unit 10 = week 9 + 2 weeks = week 11

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
1
0

Foundatio
9 ns1
1

Number
of
houses
units
1
0 2 4 6

8 1 1 1 1 1 2
0 2 4 6 8 Duration
0
(weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

External walls :
Duration per unit : 4 weeks
gangs : 3

Number of

We need to consider the rate of construction

between the 2 operations :
Slope of the fondation balance Number
line = of gangs
duration
=1

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
External walls :
Duration per unit : 4 weeks Number of gangs : 3
Start unit 1 : week 2 + 1 week buffer = week 3
Finish unit 1 : week 3 + 4 weeks duration = week 7
Start of unit 10 = week 3 + (10 units 1) x 4 = 3 + 36/3 =
week 15
3 gangs
Finish of unit 10 = week 15 + 4 weeks = week 19

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
External
Foundatio walls
9 ns
1
1
1
1
5
9

1
0

Number
of
houses
units
1
0

1 1 1 1 1 2
0 2 4 6 8 Duration
0
(weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Roof Construction :
Duration per unit : 1 week
gangs : 1

Number of

Slope of the external walls balance line = 1.33

Slope of the Roof Construction balance line = 1
The relationship will begin at the finish of
the external walls balance line.

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Roof Construction :
Duration per unit : 1 week Number of gangs : 1
Start unit 10 : week 19 + 1 week buffer = week 20
Finish unit 10 : week 20 + 1 week duration = week 21
Start of unit 1 = week 20 - (10 units 1) x 1 = 20 - 9 = week
11
1 gang
Finish of unit 1 = week 11 + 1 week duration = week 12

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Extern
al Roof
Foundatio
9 ns1
1
1 2 2
walls
1
5
9 0 1

1
0

Number
of
houses
units
1
0

1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
1 2 4 6 8 Duration
0 2 4 6 8 0 2 4 6
(weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Internal walls :
Duration per unit : 4 weeks
gangs : 3

Number of

External works :
Duration per unit : 2 weeks
gangs : 2

Number of

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES
(5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Extern
al Roof
Foundatio
9 ns1
1
1 2 2
walls
1
5
9 0 1

1
0

Intern
al
2walls
2
5
9

Intern
al
3 3
works
0 1

Number
of
houses
units
1
0

1 1 1
1 2 3

1
7

2 2
2 2 3 3 3 3
1 3
6 8 0 2 4 6
Duration
(weeks)

REFERENCES
Cooke, Brian, & Williams, Peter.
Construction, planning, programming &
control. Blackwell Publishing