STAGES IN CONSTRUCTION
A construction work in the industry is
divided into following distinct stages:
i. Project formulation stage
ii. Designing stage
iii. Tendering stage
iv. Construction stage
v. Commissioning stage
Project Formulation/Feasibility stage:
It starts with the owner. This is where the
dream begins as well as the research for the
right location and specifications/standards that
should be followed are decided.
Also called preliminary or briefing stage, where
different ideas are generated by a technical
team of the owner.
The owner (client) or department specifies
requirement and permissible costs the technical
team.
A technical team may consist of architects,
engineers, and other members to correctly
interpret the owner's wishes and provide best
solution.
Each idea generated is studied with respect
to cost and benefits ratio to establish the
economic viability of a construction project.
Activities involved:
•Appoint a project technical team that has the
responsibility to the owner throughout the
construction process.
•Carry out extensive investigations which include
both technical and non-technical so that alternative
proposals may be given due consideration.
•Technical investigations include land and geological
surveys including site investigations such as soil
samples and ground water levels from bore-holes.
• Non-technical investigations include economic
and social factors which may define the basic
requirements or scope of a project. These also
include market surveys for resource identification.
• Develop various alternatives and identify the
most feasible one. The study of various alternatives
at the feasibility stage makes substantial cost
savings easier while fulfilling the objectives of the
project.
• Detail project report (DPR) is prepared which
is the outcome of the first stage. DPR describes the
investigations carried out, possible solutions and their
evaluation. Finally, the best alternative is finalized.
Designing Stage:
The purpose of this stage is to complete the project
summary and determine the method of construction
and estimate costs so as to obtain necessary
approvals from the owner.
A realistic and detailed cost estimate of the project
is prepared. Its purpose also includes preparation of
working drawings, specifications and doing all
arrangements for inviting tenders.
It is a very important stage in the field of
construction because any modification in the project
after this stage would prove expensive.
Activities:
•Develop project summary for final adoption of the
most suitable alternative,
•Carry out detail technical investigations such as soil
investigation, topographic investigation, material
supply, market surveys etc.
•Prepare detailed design, working drawings,
specifications, bill of quantities, final cost estimate
and preliminary construction programme including
time-schedule,
•To obtain owner's final approval.
The Tendering Stage:
The purpose of this stage is to appoint a general
contractor for entire work or a number of
contractors who will undertake the construction work
on the most suitable terms and conditions of cost,
duration, and quality.
In this stage tenders are called and the contract is
awarded at the best available terms mutually agreed
between the owner's team and contractor/s.
Activities:
•Obtain tenders from contractors for the
construction work and award the contract. An
owner enters into a firm commitment regarding
the project expenditure. Some works may be
done departmentally.
•Orders are issued by the competent authority
to authorize expenditure and execution of the
work.
•Pre-qualification of contractors to investigate
their potential in terms of financial, managerial,
and physical resources to execute similar
projects.
•Government agencies who award contracts for a
wide variety of works classify contractors
ranging from Class ‘F’ contractors (for small and
simple jobs) to Class 'A' contractors (for any
contract regardless of its value or complexity).
•Contract forms the basis on which the project
management team exercises control of the
project during the construction phase. For
construction work, standard forms of contract
have been developed which are used with minor
modifications to suit the circumstances of a
particular project/job.
.
Construction Stage :
This stage involves the execution of construction
work as per the design within the agreed limits of
cost, time, and specified quality.
During this stage, actual work is executed as per
the design. The construction work has to be carried
out in a planned manner to prevent wastage of
manpower, material, and money and to avoid
disruption of project schedules.
Activities:
(a) Construction planning includes the
preparation of:
• construction schedule
• financial schedule
• manpower schedule
• plant and equipment schedule
• material delivery schedule.
.
(b) The other main activity in this stage is the
control of site operations including:
• temporary and permanent works
• supply of materials and equipment
• coordination of sub-contractors/sections
• supervision for quality control.
Commissioning Stage:
It is the stage in which the performance of the
structure is evaluated and the proposed nature of
maintenance and repair are considered. The stage
ensures that the construction work has been
completed as specified in the contract
documents.
During this stage, records are prepared of the
actual construction finally carried out. The
changes are recorded for the reason of technical
performance and financial implications.
Activities:
•Keep record of the actual work dome,
•Inspection of work done and ask for removal of
defect if any,
•Prepare the operational and maintenance
manuals,
•Carry out tests for performance such as water
tightness, load carrying capacity, etc.
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