Site Preparation for Construction
Whether you are planning to build a skyscraper by demolishing a dilapidated building or have been awarded a township development project in a remote area, learning and preparing the site land holds the top priority among the major tasks. Why is that, and what are the checkpoints to carry out site preparation for construction? This blog will tell you everything.
Contrary to older building designs, new commercial towers use more underground space.
From digging tunnels for pipes and cables to creating deep basements for parking, shopping complexes, or offices, developers are reaping higher benefits for the price of land by going underground.
So the spectrum of site preparation for construction includes several activities with minute perfection to ensure safety, stability, and better usability of buildings both above and under the ground.
How to Define Site Preparation for Construction?
Site preparation for construction is the process of preparing everything before construction begins. This includes surveying a construction site, leveling, grading, drainage, demolition, land clearing, and evaluating soil conditions, load-bearing capacity, groundwater level, and more.
The following construction site preparation checklist includes all types of construction site preparation work that are necessary to achieve quality, safety, durability, and the purpose of the project:
- Soil Testing
- Construction Survey
- Site Planning Development
- 4. Site Clearance and Demolition
- Excavation
- Drainage
- Grading and Soil Compaction
Soil Testing
To ensure that the land at the site can support building activities like excavation, concrete pouring, movement of heavy equipment, etc., it is crucial to evaluate the characteristics and behavior of the soil before deciding on a construction project.
If your project is located near an earthquake-prone area, for example, soil testing along with a geotechnical report is compulsory, which provides the important details about the soil at your construction location.
Other characteristics and features of the soil revealed through the soil test include:
- Slope stability: What is the probability of a landslide?
- Possibilities for dangers during excavation: Are there any exposed electrical cables or other debris?
- Underground water levels: Is there a possibility of water seepage in the basement after some years?
- Soil bearing capacity: Is the ground strong enough to sustain the large weights of building equipment?
- Liquefaction potential: Is the soil prone to liquefaction to the point where future earthquakes could affect it?
- Type of soil: Is it primarily made up of rocks, silt, clay, sand, or gravel, or is it loamy? The way that soil changes in response to moisture content might vary depending on its type.
Construction Survey
The next important step in the site preparation process is a survey and inspection of the construction site. In essence, the purpose of the land inspection is to identify the ideal location for the new building. This entails being aware of the subsurface wiring, soil composition, drainage system design, and other details. Having this data enables the creation of site plans and the acquisition of grants, permissions, and approvals prior to construction.
The construction site’s boundaries are then established using barricades, chain links, or mesh fences. Markers are frequently positioned to denote specific obstacles throughout a space. Throughout a project, this construction staking is done to make sure that everything is stable and moving forward as planned.
Site Planning
Once the evaluation of the land is thoroughly done, it’s time for a proper site development plan. The sewage and drainage systems, as well as the exact location of the main structure, are all configured in the site plan. Access points are incorporated to facilitate prompt and effective movement of workers and vehicles throughout the site. The more perfect and comprehensive the site planning is, the more hassle-free and faster your construction work will be with fewer safety risks.
Site Clearance and Demolition
Site clearance work entails removing garbage or rubbish, undesirable surplus material, and machinery or equipment from a site. It can also include building demolitions, processing and disposing of hazardous materials, cleaning vegetation and surface soil, and providing ground leveling services for construction plans.
Since clearing a construction site may require chopping down protected trees and handling and disposing of hazardous waste, clearance activity needs to be authorized by the local municipal authority. Site clearance may require expert hands and can be accomplished more quickly by a clearing agency than by you doing it yourself.
Excavation
Once every hindrance has been eliminated, excavation can begin. In order to make room for a structure’s foundation, the earth must be removed in this step. This is also a great time to clear space for any necessary drainage systems. Depending on your project and site, decide what kind of machinery is best for your excavation. During this step, crawlers, backhoe loaders, trenchers, and excavators are frequently utilized.
Drainage
Drainage systems must be installed at this stage of a construction project’s site preparation. Proper drainage is critical for preventing erosion and diverting water away from the property. Systems such as silt fences and retention ponds can help manage water runoff while a site is being built, but they are also critical for preventing plumbing and flooding problems when the project is completed.
Grading and Compaction of the Soil
The final stage of site preparation for construction projects is to grade and compact the soil. Grading is the process of leveling the earth to lay a solid construction foundation. Soil compaction takes place after grading to reduce pore space, and thereby strengthen the soil.
Excavated earth is frequently sufficient to fill holes and smooth out the terrain, but dirt and other materials may need to be added on occasion. The cut-and-fill method is a time-saving and cost-effective construction technique. Grading also involves the creation of slopes, roadways, walkways, and other required elevations.
Tightly compacting the soil ensures that the land’s base remains solid, lowering the likelihood of future difficulties that can occur with loose soil. Soil compaction must be at least 90% of the maximum dry density, according to the International Building Code.
A construction site preparation checklist is an essential part of every construction project. Hiring FluidConstructions for your construction site preparation work ensures that your site is adequately prepared, reduces delays, reduces the chance of workplace accidents, prevents theft of equipment, guarantees a smooth running of your project from beginning to end, and does an overall neat and professional job within the specified time period.