Before a building project can start, professionals must set up the site to ensure it is safe and ready to use. Site preparation is a part of a construction project that precedes other works. The preparation of the site sets the tone for all subsequent activities. This article provides detailed information on construction and its types and a construction site preparation checklist for civil engineers and contractors.
What is Site Preparation in Construction?
“Site preparation” refers to what an engineer does before starting work. If the land is good enough for the construction work, there is no need to prepare the site.
Demolition of existing structures, site clearance, locating and marking underground utilities, creating a site plan, and eliminating pests like termites are all part of the pre-construction process. Blasting, test drilling, landfilling, levelling, earth moving, excavation, and land draining are all examples of land preparation methods used for building site preparation. Construction site preparation is essential to the success of any endeavour. Initial preparation of the building site is a must before the actual construction can begin.
Old buildings or structures, large trees, sloping ground, loose soil, and underground services are only some potential difficulties that could arise on the construction site. This can hamper construction. Hence, preparing construction sites carefully for a building before work can begin is a necessity.
Read Further on Challenges Faced During Site Preparation:
Construction Site Struggles: 8 Common Challenges Faced by Civil Engineers
Types of Site Preparation Activities in Construction
Here are different types of construction site preparation activities:
1. Soil Testing and Report investigation
Soil testing is a necessary step in the building process. We must first determine the soil’s characteristics before designing a building. Researching the soil’s qualities, kinds, and load-bearing capacity is the goal of a geotechnical investigation. It allows structural engineers to determine if the soil needs strengthening treatments.
The geotechnical reports include soil testing results and information on the best type of foundation to use, any settlements and recommendations for corrective action, the possibility of liquefaction, the depth of the groundwater below the surface, the bearing capacity of the soil, the risks associated with excavation, the soil’s strength, and its classification. Geotechnical reports should include earthquake testing and recommendations if the construction site is in a seismically active region.
2. Demolition of Old Building
The demolition of the existing structure is necessary to make way for the new construction. Work with the demolition team to devise a strategy for destroying outdated designs. After you have verified the foundation and gapped the land, construction can begin.
Systematic preparation and labour are the most efficient ways to identify hazards, ensure that items are disposed of appropriately, and adhere to regulatory requirements.
3. Underground Service and Wire Mapping
Be cautious when excavating and while doing site preparation in metropolitan areas, next to a telecom service, or close to a railway line. Before beginning any building excavation, you should do an advance survey of underground assets or cables running beneath the earth.
You should notify the people in charge of telecom, natural gas supply, and electricity in your workspace through a letter so that they move the wires beneath your workspace to another location. Make sure to take proper safety tips while doing excavation work.
4. Site Survey and Layout
A site survey is one of the most important construction site preparation activities. It’s finally time to draw in the footprint of the future structure. Survey pegs or other physical markers can help a land surveyor locate the site’s boundaries. Engineering and informational surveys supplement traditional land surveys by providing additional context for the data collected during the former. The engineering survey guarantees the building will go up precisely where it should. The second survey is useful for learning about the area’s terrain, water flow, and built environment.
Keep in mind that a constant transformation occurs on a construction site. A site plan design shows where the new building will go, how construction trucks will get to it, where supplies will be stored, how water will drain, and other site-specific information. With the site map, it is now possible to determine which areas need removed vegetation and rocks.
5. Site Clearing
Site clearance is the removal of any things on the land that may obstruct the development process in any construction project. It comprises plants, grass, rocks, and other waste. The purpose of site clearing is to establish a construction site suitable for the project, allowing the construction worker to begin work on the actual structure.
6. Site Excavation and Earthwork
There are two different ways to start the excavation process. The first method is bulk excavation. It is excavating a level area to construct. The second form of digging is footing excavation. Remember that there can’t be any mud, loose earth, or tree roots where the footings will be dug. You will need a flat platform if the ground is sloping. Cut-and-fill and split-level are only examples of the many techniques that can be used.
Cut-and-fill involves moving soil from a higher area to a lower one. You will need to come up with other completion methods if the material on the site is inappropriate for use as fill. You may use different levels. It’s a good idea because it helps preserve the soil’s biological balance and works well on slopes.
You can use a bulldozer or another approach that works for your project and the slope of the land you plan to build. A simple approach to getting rid of water on sloping lands is to install surface drains. It’s crucial to make sure the crew and heavy construction equipment can enter and exit the site without difficulty before beginning to dig. Site excavation could be straightforward in less populated areas, but challenging in densely populated urban centers.
7. Construction Project Site Compaction
One must compact the soils to 95% of its maximum dry density around the perimeter of the foundation to pass inspection under the International Building Code. The earth must be compacted around the perimeter of the foundation to reduce settlement and forestall any untoward occurrences. One can compact soil in several ways, including tamping, rolling, and vibrating. Machines such as the smooth wheel roller, the sheep foot roller, the rubber tyre, the crawler, and the tamping plate compactor can all be found on construction sites.
Compaction increases the shear strength, permeability, and compressibility of the soil beneath a foundation. It is necessary to compact the earth when preparing a construction site. Compaction is a must for site preparation for construction.
8. Anti-Termite Treatment
Building site preparation is incomplete without anti-termite treatment. It is mandatory to treat buildings for termites. These pests eat wood and other cellulose products, but wood is their primary food. Termites can get into walls through holes, cracks in concrete slabs, and holes or spaces in walls or floors. Check the details of nearby sites to ascertain that your property requires termite risk management.
9. Start the Construction Process
Now that we’ve completed all the preliminary work at the construction site, we can begin building. To get the site ready safely and efficiently, one needs expert knowledge and experience. If the construction site is properly prepared, there will be no interruptions in service.
Construction Site Preparation Checklist
Make sure to go through the below construction site preparation checklist before starting the construction:
- Please inform your family and friends to be careful and only go into the construction area when needed.
- Educate the Production Manager on the operation of the sprinkler system and the security system.
- Get in touch with the Production Supervisor and let them know which restrooms the workers can use.
- It is important to keep kids and animals out of the construction zone and avoid any risks.
- Make it easy to get to the construction site and nearby places, like those with utilities.
- Clear the outside areas so there is enough room for construction work and storing materials and tools. It could also include your driveway and garage.
- Get rid of any shrubs, flowers, or other plants you want to replace.
Conclusion
Site preparation is crucial, and hence trained professionals must carry it out correctly and safely. Once you lay the foundation correctly, the rest will fall into place. Before beginning construction, engineers must inspect the site to determine whether there are any buried pipes or sewers. It will prevent underground pipe breaches in the future. It is important to keep in mind construction site preparation costs and plan well so that you stay well within the budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
01. What is site preparation in construction?
Site preparation includes knocking down or tearing down buildings and other structures, cleaning up building sites, and selling the materials from the buildings that were torn down. Site preparation includes blasting, test drilling, landfilling, levelling, earth-moving, excavating, land drainage, and other types of land preparation.
02. What is the importance of site preparation?
A well-prepared site reduces the likelihood of construction-related damage to the structure and delays in completing the project. The site must be prepared with extra care and accuracy to ensure the project’s quality and long-term stability.
03. What are all the factors considered for site preparation in construction?
The following factors are to be considered for site preparation in construction:
i) Purpose of Building ii) Government Laws iii) Type of Ground Soil iv) Friendly Neighbourhood v) Available Facilities vi) Shape and Size vii) Terrain Condition, and viii) Natural Light and Air.
04. What are the five principles of construction?
The five principles of construction are: environmental protection, safety, speed, economy, and looks, all fit together in a balanced, regular pentagon.
05. What are the three things in the site plan?
Preparing a site involves several important steps, including evaluating it, demolishing it, laying it out, and clearing it.
Also Read: How to Minimize Health Risks to Employees at a Construction Site
Author Bio
Sikandar Choudhury – Sikandar Monwar Huda Choudhury is a freelance article writer who is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience with others through writing. With several years of experience in the engineering field and having written 100+ articles related to construction, Sikandar is a skilled writer with a talent for breaking down complex concepts and making them accessible to a wider audience. Sikandar is always looking for new opportunities to share his knowledge and experience with others through writing and is available for hire as a freelance civil engineering article writer. He is easily reachable on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sikandar-monwar-huda-choudhury-2b3a1a20a/.