The Construction Superintendent's Handbook

Transcription

1 The Construction Superintendent's Handbook

2 The Construction Superin tendent' s Handbook Sidney M. Levy ~ VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD ~ New York

3 Copyright 1992 by Van Nostrand Reinhold Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1992 Ubrary of Congress Catalog Card Number ISBN-13: All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems-without written permission of the publisher. Van Nostrand Reinhold 115 fifth Avenue New York, New York Chapman and Hall 2-6 Boundary Row London, SE 1 SHN, England Thomas Nelson Australia 102 Dodds Street South Melbourne 3205 Victoria, Australia Nelson Canada 1120 Birchmount Road Scarborough, Ontario MIK 504, Canada S I Ubrary of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data Levy, Sidney M. The construction superintendent's handbook I Sidney M. Levy. p. cm. - (Competitive contractor series) Includes index. ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: DOl: / I. Engineering-Management-Handbooks. manuals. etc. 2. Industrial project management-handbooks. manuals. etc. 3. Construction industry-management-handbooks, manuals. etc. I. Title. II. Series. TAI90.1A '.068-dc CIP

4 Contents Preface / xi I THE JOB BEGINS BEFORE THE JOB BEGINS / 1 1 Mobilization / 3 Setting Up the Field Office / 3 Site Logistics / 4 2 The Construction Contract and the Construction Documents / 12 Reviewing the Contract / 12 The Contract Plans and Specifications / 18 3 Subcontract Agreements, Purchase Orders and Project Manning / 24 Subcontracting the Work / 25 4 Job Procedures and Policies / 30 Establishing a Cost Reporting System / 30 Other Job-Related Costs Reported as General Conditions / 32 The Importance of Good Communication and Documentation on the Job Site / 34 Change Orders-How They Should Originate, Be Processed and Controlled / 38 As-builts and Other Closeout Documents / 41 Checklist of Common Closeout Requirements / 42 II THE CONSTRUCTION PROCFSS / 43 5 Establishing the Daily Routine / 45 The Construction Schedule / 45 Preparation of Daily Reports / 51 v

5 vi Contents The Daily Log or Daily Diary / 54 Shop Drawing Review / 56 Quality Control/58 6 Safety on the Job Site / 60 It's the Law-The Occupational Safety and Health Act / 60 The Job Site Safety Program / 64 7 Managing Effectively / 72 The Art of Managing People / 72 Rate Yourself on Your Management Style / 73 Managing for Better Productivity / 74 Managing Subcontractors / 80 Managing the Flow of Materials and Equipment-The Follow-up / 80 Good Housekeeping is Good Management / 82 8 Basic Construction Law / 83 What Triggers Most Construction Disputes? / 84 What to do if Called Upon to Give a Statement to a Lawyer / 89 The Alternatives to Legal Action and the Courts / 90 9 Rehab and Remodeling Projects-What Makes them Unique / 92 Before Demolition Begins / 93 Safety Concerns Will be Critical / 94 Are Existing Conditions Really Existing? / 94 Needling, Expanders and Panning / 95 The Importance of Job Photos / 96 Environmental Issues / The Punch Ust and Other Close-out Requirements / 99 The Punch List / 100 Demobilization / 101 Substantial Completion / 102 III BASIC CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY / Excavation and Site Work / 107 The Site Investigation Prior to the Start of Construction / 107 Test Borings-What Do They Reveal and What Don't They Tell You / 108 Soil Composition / 113

6 Contents vii Playing It Safe While Excavating / 115 Compaction and Compaction Tests / Dealing with Difficult Site and Foundation Problems / 121 Pile Foundations / 121 Caissons / 128 Geotextiles / 128 Drainage Mats / 130 Gabions / 130 Dewatering / 131 Commonly Used Dewatering Systems / Concrete / 138 Admixtures / 139 Concrete Reinforcing / 142 Concrete Placement / 145 Curing Concrete / 146 Precast Concrete / 148 New Developements in Concrete / 151 Allowable Tolerances in Concrete Construction / 152 A Concrete Checklist / Masonry and Stone Construction / 156 Brick / 156 Concrete Block / 157 Structural Clay Tile / 158 Mortar / 159 Masonry Wall Tiles / 160 Efflorescence-What It is And How to Control It / 163 Masonry Troubleshooting Tips / 165 Stone Masonry / 166 A Masonry Checklist / 169 A Glossary of Masonry Terms / Steel and Steel Structures / 171 Types of Structural Steel / 172 Basic Structural Steel Design / 173 Preparing for the Erection of a Steel Structure / 174 Structural Steel Connections and Connectors / 177 The "lover 360" Concern / 179 Light-Gauge Metal Framing / 179

7 viii Contents Steel Joists / 181 Rigid-Frame Structures / 182 Metal Floor and Roof Decks / 182 A Structural Steel Checklist / Wood-Lumber, Plywood and Millwork / 186 Hardwoods and Softwoods / 186 Western Wood Products Association-WWPA / 187 Rough Carpentry Materials / 188 Treated Lumber / 190 Finish Carpentry / 191 Plywood Products / 194 Reconstituted Wood Products / 196 Laminated Structural Wood Members / 197 Millwork / Roofing-Thermal and Moisture Protection / 204 Substrate Considerations / 204 Types of Roofing Assemblies / 205 Thermallnsulation / Doors, Door Frames and Finish Hardware / 215 Doors / 215 Hollow-metal Shop Drawings-Review and Coordination / 223 Wood Doors / 228 Finish Hardware / Curtain Walls-Glass and Glazing / 239 Curtain Walls / 239 A Word About Glass / 240 Windows / Interior Partitions, Ceilings, Wall and Floor Finishes / 253 Interior Partitions / 253 Flooring / 263 Carpeting / 266 Paint and Wall Coverings / Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators / 273 Types of Elevators / 273 Dumbwaiters and Parcel Lifts / 281

8 Contents ix Escalators and Moving Walks / 281 An Elevator Checklist / Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) I 284 Glossary Of HVAC Terms / 284 Heat and Heating Plants / 286 Air-Conditioning Systems / Plumbing I 300 A Glossary of Plumbing Terminology / 300 Water Service and Water-Distribution Systems / 302 Above Ground Waste and Vent Piping / 303 Storm Drains / 306 Sanitary Sewer Systems / 306 Pipe and Fittings / 307 Fixtures / 308 Handy Plumbing Conversions and Tables / Are Protection-Sprinkler and Halon Systems I 312 Sprinkler Systems / 312 Halon Fire Suppression Systems / 318 Fire Extinguishers / Electrical I 321 A Glossary of Electrical Terms / 321 Service and Distribution Systems / 323 Cables, Wiring and Wiring Devices / 326 Equipment Hook-ups / 330 Fire Alarm Systems / Automated Building Control Systems I 335 The Energy Management System / 335 Electronic Control Terminology / 336 Electronic Control Technology / 338 BAS-Building Automation Systems / 339 Appendix A Industry Trade Group and Related Associations List I 340 Index I 343

9 Preface My hat is off to the construction superintendent, that man or woman in the field who supervises the process of creating the structures we work in, play in and live in. All too often the days are long, the problems overwhelming and the possibility of adverse weather adds another variable to the equation. But through it all work goes on and somehow it gets built. Construction is the largest single industry in the United States, providing employment for more than 5.2 million people and generating a total industry payroll of more than $32 billion. In 1991, the new construction put in place totaled $391.4 billion, and although substantially less than the $434 billion volume experienced in 1990, it is still a very respectable figure. The people associated with this industry ought to feel that they have made, and will continue to make, a substantial contribution to their communities and to their nation. The superintendent on a construction project is one of the key participants in the entire construction process. He or she is the individual primarily responsible for the demanding task of orchestrating the activities of a small army of specialists in order to create a structure to house both man and his machines. The construction superintendent must be knowledgeable in a wide range of technical matters and, at times, assume the role of engineer, lawyer, traffic cop, psychiatrist, teacher, father confessor and even magician. The construction superintendent must be strong and firm when strength and firmness is required, and soft spoken and understanding when that need arises. He or she must be fair-always-and above all possess the ability to create and maintain a harmonious team that will work toward a common goal-the successful and timely completion of the construction project. At various times during the construction process, the superintendent will be able to call upon many experts in the field for advice and assistance, but at other times decisions will have to be made on the spot, with no time for reflection or consultation with others, and hopefully, this book will come in handy during those times. The Construction Superintendent's Handbook will assist those people striving to attain the respected position of superintendent and will also provide more than a few insights for those experienced professionals who have achieved this goal. This book is divided into three sections with many chapters within each one of these sections. xi

10 xii Preface Section I-The Job Begins Before The Job Begins is devoted to the preparation required before construction actually commences. The process of mobilization can be a hap-hazard affair or, when given enough forethought and planning, result in a smooth start to the construction that is soon to begin. With the threat of legal action hanging over everyone's head, construction superintendents nowadays must fully understand the company's responsibilities and contractual obligations as well as those of the other participants in the construction cycle. Chapters I through 4 deal with these subjects and more, and will help prepare the superintendent for the construction process discussed in the next section. Section 2-The Construction Process elaborates on the jobsite daily routine, safety, and managing effectively in Chapters 5, 6 and 7. Chapter 8 should alert the superintendent to any legal pitfalls lurking around the corner. Working on a rehab project? Chapter 9 will discuss some of the unique problems facing the superintendent when remodeling and renovating projects. Section 3-Basic Construction Technology delves into the more common construction components encountered on the jobsite, and while not purporting to cover every phase of every component, does contain valuable information to assist in answering many day-to-day questions about building systems, products and their application. The author has been associated with the construction industry for more than 35 years. From summer jobs in high school to time clerk, assistant superintendent, project manager and vice-president in charge of operation, he addresses subjects from the front office view as well as from the trenchs. For those professionals who stay the course, the position of Construction Superintendent promises to provide an outstanding opportunity to realize job satisfaction as well as personal financial rewards.