Constructability Reviews
Can They Reduce Claims?
March 11, 2010
Presented by the
Claims Avoidance & Resolution
Committee
Prepared by
Constructability Reviews
Subcommittee
•Rayford W. Jenkins, PE
•Dan Becker, PMP, CCE
•Philips Vallakalil, CCM
•Bob Shoff, P.E.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Reviews
Constructability :
The ease with which a project can be built,
based upon the clarity, consistency, and
completeness of the contract documents for
bidding, administration, and interpretation to
achieve overall project objectives.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Reviews
Presentation Goals
•Provide recommended practices for use in
performing constructability reviews.
•Demonstrate the benefits of performing
constructability reviews
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
What is a Constructability
Review?
•Answers the Following Questions:
• Can the Project Be Built, Using Industry Accepted
•
•
Means and Methods, as Designed?
Can the Project Be Bid Using the Information
Provided in The Contract Documents?
Can The Project Be Built in The Specified
Timeframe, with the Specified Quality, with safe work
practices?
• Provides A Comprehensive QA/QC Check
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
The Difference Between a
Constructability Review
and Value Engineering?
Constructability Reviews
Value Engineering Reviews
• Performed by construction
• Performed by construction
professionals and engineers
• Focuses on function over
form/life cycle costs
• Performed earlier in the
design process to have the
maximum benefit
•
•
professionals experienced in
constructing similar projects
Performed throughout the
design and construction
document preparation process
Focuses on inconsistencies in
the contract/bid documents to
reduce propensity for
changes/claims
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Why Does
Constructability Matter?
•Better Quality
•Reduced Risk
•Reduced Cost
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Who Performs a
Constructability Review
•Internal Review
•Outside Review By Consultant
•Outside Review By Contractor
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Who should Perform
Constructability Reviews
• Performed by experienced construction
specialists
– Construction Managers/Resident Engineers
– Construction Superintendents (working/retired)
– Inspectors
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
When to Perform
Constructability Reviews?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Reviews
Performed At Key Design
Milestones Will Benefit The
Project
•Planning Stage of The Project
•30% Design
•60% Design
•100% Design
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
The Planning Stage
Does the concept address:
•Timing
•Phasing
•Site accessibility
•Budget and funding
•Future operation and maintenance issues
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
30% Design
More In-Depth Than Conceptual Plus The Following:
•Identify any special construction required
•Identify constraints
•Identify responsibilities
•Review preliminary schedule
•Verify budget
•Field visit to verify existing conditions
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
60% Design
Local, Regional, Federal Regulatory Constraints
Realistic Procurement and Fabrication Lead Times
Labor Constraints
Look For And Identify Conflicts
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
60% Design
Conflicts between design disciplines
Conflicts between plans
Conflicts with adjacent projects
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
100% Design
Do the Specifications and Plans Agree?
Deficiencies in specifications, eg. Copied specs, expired
specs, generic specs, impractical specs.
General Conditions and Division 1 clauses are consistent
with management strategy.
Coordination between plans developed by different
disciplines.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
100% Design
Ensure attention to the requirements of the public
including adjacent land use functions, existing users
or patrons, and persons with disabilities.
Ensure coordination with operating elements of the
existing owners' systems, if any.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
100% Design
Can a Contractor Prepare a Fair Bid From
The Contract Documents?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Issues at
100% Design
Is The Schedule Reasonable?
Is the Cost Estimate Complete, Reasonable and
within budget?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Reviewing The Schedule
Availability and lead time for materials / equipment
Availability and capabilities of local labor.
Will the various trades have to work concurrently?
Illogical and needlessly costly construction
sequences.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Reviewing The Schedule
Shutdown durations and tie-ins for operation of existing
facilities.
Temporary arrangements to facilitate operation of
existing facilities.
Temporary use of permanent facilities (beneficial
occupancy.)
How well are these defined in the contract
documents
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
“Re-used” Specifications:
It’s common for designers to reuse specifications from
previous projects. Make sure that the specs match the
project conditions.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Design conflicts resulting in specifications that are
needlessly difficult, and sometimes impossible to build.
Concrete anchors that were designed and installed in inaccessible
areas,
Equipment that could not be reached by available access routes.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Coordination with Geotechnical Recommendations:
Blanket statements about compliance with recommendations made
in the referenced geotechnical reports in the structural general notes
may be in conflict with the information provided in the earthwork
specifications or structural drawings.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Subjective Notes:
If you want to get an earful, ask that grouchy old field superintendent
how he feels about drawings riddled with subjective phrases such as
…“in an approved manner” or …”as needed”.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Unaddressed Site Conditions:
Again, maybe the most important part of the constructability review.
Site conditions can change dramatically from the time a project
owner conducts a site survey or an architect initially visits the site to
the time of bid.
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Drainage During Phased Construction:
Has drainage been addressed for each phase of construction.
Has storm water management been addressed for the various
phases?
Permitting requirements?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Utilities:
Who is responsible for utility connections and its connection charges.
Who is responsible for utility charges during construction, and clarify
the date from which the owner will be responsible for the utility
charges.
If utilities are being constructed or relocated by others has this work
been coordinated in the documents and schedule?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Review
Results (Lessons Learned)
Requirements for owner provided materials, equipment,
services, and utility connections:
Will the equipment be available when needed?
Do the plans or specifications provide sufficient information about
owner supplied equipment to allow the contractor to price the cost of
installation?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Constructability Reviews
Can They Reduce Claims?
YES!
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee
Questions?
Construction Institute
Claims Avoidance and Resolution Committee