Construction Management I – Edwin Kithinji

4.0 SITE LAYOUT & ORGANIZATION

Construction site layout involves identifying, sizing, and placing temporary facilities (TFs) within the
boundaries of construction site. These temporary facilities range from simple lay-down areas to warehouses,
fabrication shops, maintenance shops, batch plant, and residence facilities. There are two general objectives
which planners should seek to meet through careful organization of the site for construction. First, the site
must be designed to maximize efficiency of operations in order to promote worker productivity, to shorten
project time and to reduce cost. Second, the final plan must create a project with a good work environment
in order to attract and retain the best personnel and thus contribute to better work quality and productivity.

4.1 Site Layout Planning Elements

i) Safety- Fire prevention- fire extinguishers are basic requirements on a construction project as well as
fire assembly points.
Medical services- on construction project a first aid kit is a must. In remote projects a well-equipped
medical room with a doctor and nurse is important.
Construction safety clothing- Basic safety supplies like safety shoes, hard hats, gloves, and goggles
must be used by workers.
ii) Site Accessibility-easy accessibility will keep the morale of the equipment and vehicle drivers high,
minimize the chance of accidents, and save time in maneuvering to arrive at and leave the project.
iii) Information Signs- Site map- It should locate details of the project, and displayed in the office of the
site superintendent or project manager and posted at the entrance gate.
Traffic regulatory signs- for large projects, traffic regulatory signs help in guiding the traffic on the site
and avoid accidents to a considerable extent.
Display of labor relations’ policy and safety rules-This will help in eliminating disputes between labor
and management.
Emergency routes and underground services- It is important to display the emergency escape routes on
every floor as the building progresses. Locations of underground services should be marked to prevent
its damage.
iv) Security entrance- It is necessary to have a proper guard entrance to the site provided by a booth. Also,
it is necessary to keep track of all visitors to the project.
Lighting- it is necessary to have a standby generator to maintain site lighting.
Fencing- the boundary should be fenced off from a security point of view.
v) Accommodation- on large construction projects, it is necessary to provide camp accommodation for all
type of staff involved in the project.
vi) Offices- the offices should be close together, close to the site, and in a safe area. Also, provide the offices
with proper office equipment.
vii) Water Supply and Sanitation- it is necessary to have water and toilet facilities in convenient locations
to accommodate the work force.
viii) Material Handling- the use of proper equipment for material handling and advance planning for
minimizing multiple handling will result in direct cost and time savings.
ix) Storage and site cleaning- it is necessary to plan and reserve storage areas for materials so that multiple
movement of material is avoided.
Laydown areas- areas reserved for storage of large materials and equipment and it can be short-term or
long-term.
Warehouses: they are sheltered storage facilities where materials are stored until they have disbursed to
the job.

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 Construction Management I – Edwin Kithinji

Material staging areas- they are used when materials are stored near the work on a short-term basis.
They are generally as close to work as possible.
Site cleaning- It is necessary at a work place and especially where the extent of debris produced is high.
Regular disposal of debris is necessary.
x) Craft Change-Houses- craft change-houses provide sheltered space for craft personnel to change and
store clothes, wash, and rest during waiting periods.
xi) Batch plant and fabrication shops- batch plants are provided on projects where it is more economical
to produce concrete on site than to buy a ready mix. Aggregate storage piles, cement silos and admixture
tanks will accompany an on-site batch plant. Shops are used where materials and equipment are
fabricated on site. This includes electrical, mechanical, carpentry, and paint shops. Also, testing shops
used to house the necessary testing equipment and personnel for the project.

4.2 Benefits of a Good Site Layout

i) Minimizes the accidents during construction - A well planned site reduces instances of accidents
resulting from falls of material, collisions between workers and plant or equipment;
ii) Effective use of available area - a layout that is well planned will help in ensuring proper utilization of
available space to cover every corner of the site.
iii) Minimizing the production delays – a good site layout plan will help to reduce delays in-between
construction processes maximizing on the available time whilst contributing on improved quality of
work;
iv) Improves quality control - A good layout plan encourages increased regular inspection at different stages
of construction which is a fundamental step in ensuring effective quality control;
v) Proper utilization of labour – a good layout plan is vital in enhancing worker productivity through
facilitating undisrupted flow of material handling in such a way that the productive time of each worker
is maximized on.

4.3 Ways to Enhance Security on A Construction Site

i) Create a job site security plan before the project commences. Have a written security policy, and a
security plan specific to the job site;
ii) Assign supervisory security responsibilities, and encourage security awareness among all workers.
Contact the local police and fire departments before starting a job to establish cooperative efforts.
Establish contact with management of neighboring properties, and encourage them to report suspicious
activities;
iii) Identify assets and property onsite, then inventory and track them regularly; - A good strategy is to have
a site diary in which the following important information can be recorded:
▪ Work carried out on that day;
▪ Performance status;
▪ Defects (text, photos)
▪ Equipment and machine on site or leaving the site;
▪ Unusual incidences;
▪ Deliveries of materials on site;
▪ Instructions given by the project administrators;
▪ Partial acceptance processes;
▪ Tests and measurement.
▪ Delays
iv) Secure the site perimeter with proper fencing as a first line of defense, and maintain a clear zone adjacent
to fencing;
v) Lock up materials, secure vehicles and equipment and install hidden kill switches to disable ignitions;
vi) 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;

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 Construction Management I – Edwin Kithinji

vii) Ask employees and subcontractors to also take responsibility for a secure site and to immediately report
any incidents of theft or vandalism;
viii) Consider using security guards and have them patrol the site. Provide them with a means of
communication;
ix) Consider installing a video monitoring system to capture vehicle traffic entering and exiting the site;
x) Schedule timely deliveries since the less building material you have lying around, the harder it is for
someone to steal from you.

4.4 Site Layout Analysis

The figure below shows an example of a site layout planning. The plan shows the extent of the works,
including details of underground drainage and service runs, extent of foundation, etc. The site presented is
for the construction of a three-storey, concrete-framed, brick-clad bank and office block in at the city-center.
The layout has been superimposed on a foundation plan of the works. The site is congested, so that some
compromise is necessary in locating items.

The following points could be noticed:

▪ The access to the site is restricted to the side street only. The footway crossings at the gate will require
reinforcing to avoid damage to the pavement and the services underneath.
▪ Service water is run to the mixer.
▪ Temporary buildings are built from the builder's stock of re-usable prefabricated sectional buildings, and
are assembled on site.
▪ The mixer is located adjacent to the street for ease of deliveries.
▪ The tower crane is located so that the whole site is within the crane radius.
▪ Hoist is used for cladding and internal finishes. The brick stack and mortar-mixing area are adjacent to
the hoist.
▪ Windows, doors, and internal fixtures will be stored inside the building, as space becomes available.

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