QUALITY CONTROL IN CONSTRUCTION WORKS

A successful construction is a completed project that being delivered to client by contractor which fulfil the contract specification and requirement, the stipulated time frame given as per contract, economic and of course meet the contractor profit margin.

The key to the successful project is lies in the ability of all parties to execute a good project management which requires all parties to have a practical and effective project organisation, effective project planning and tracking, effective procurement team, effective physical construction team and effective quality control team.

As the subject of this article, "Quality control in construction work", there is a few area  that need to be emphasised in order to assure all parties that the quality management is practical and effective. To begin with this quality control, it is always being a good practice to set-up a quality control organisation which need to be documented and understood by all all relevant personnel. in other words, the "Project quality plan".

All thing that required in order to have a good and well plan quality control shall be documented and compile in a manual name as "project quality plan". Among those items are namely as the following list.

1. Project brief,
2. Project locality and site utilisation plan,
3. Work program
4. Quality control Organisation Chart
5. Job Description
6. Inspection and test plan
7. Procedure and method of Inspection and testing
8. Quality assurance and quality control forms
9. Construction method statement

However the content of the "Project Quality Plan" is not limited to those listed items. The "Quality Control" in principal is divided into three stages that is planning stage, Executions and monitoring and the last stage is to analysed the outcome of the plan to ensure the effectiveness.  

Setting Out of Column Vertical Alignment

Column Vertical Alignment is very important in order to construct a straight vertical building. Now a days, setting out of the vertical alignment had been made easy with the advance technology such as leaser beam device. However in the event that the device that you are using is found faulty, do you know how to continue doing your work without the aid of that technology? In order for you to construct a true vertical column, the first thing that you need to get it right is the formwork itself

In view of this kind of situation, it is always good that we know the primitive way of doing it. All that you need are;
1. Measuring tape,
2. string,
3. timber and
4. Plumbob or heavy material that can pull the string straight (downward)

This primitive way does not even require any usage of Spirit Level.

All you need to do is assemble those. The picture below is how you need to assemble all that basic equipment as mention above. As mention earlier, to get a straight vertical column, first you need your formwork to set correctly. Hence from the picture shown, you can always replace the reinforce concrete column with your fabricated formwork. Once you get your vertical alignment correct, you can secure your formwork from moving. The same goes if you are installing timber type column.

How do you know that your column is vertically straight? What you need to know is the measurement of X1 is the same measurement for X2 and measurement for Y1 having the same measurement value as Y2.

METHOD STATEMENT FOR SITE CLEARING.

           1.      Site perimeter survey shall be partially started and approved by
            S.O / S.O.R / S.O.R Rep.

     2.      Contractor shall obtain early commencement letter from NREB.


     3.      Prior to site clearing, contractor shall inform/Submit  and obtain 
             approval from the S.O / S.O.R / S.O.R Rep.    pertaining to the followings;

a)      Mitigation measure for the surface run off.

b)     Location of the Dumping Site for disposal purpose.

c)      Location of the stock pile yard for top soil for later use.

d)     Possible obstruction on site clearing activities such as existing crops,

 structure and etc.

           4.       Upon receiving approval from S.O/S.O.R/S.O.R Rep. site clearing activities
              shall proceed from the center of the roads towards the construction limit.


     5.      There shall be no vegetation, trees, debris and spoils be deposited into 
             streams, rivers or water courses or use as fill material.


     6.       All trees and vegetation identified by relevant authorities for conservation 
             shall be protected.


     7.       During the course of site clearing, all necessary temporary diversion for 
             water way shall be constructed and maintained throughout the construction
             period to keep the site free from stagnant water.


     8.      If due to unforeseen circumstances turfing works could not be carried out,
             those expose area shall be properly protected against erosion by ways of 
            covering it with   plastic sheets or any practical and equivalent method.

TIMBER PILE PILING RECORD

METHOD STATEMENT FOR TIMBER PILING WORKS

METHOD STATEMENT FOR TIMBER (BAKAU) PILING WORKS: DRAINAGE AND PERIMETER FENCING.

** this is only applicable for the requirement of one length (3.6m length) Timber (bakau) Pile by the method of excavator push-in.

1. Setting out of piling point as shown in the construction drawing.
2. Submission of the request for inspection for the approval and proceeding with the following works to the Superintending Officer (S.O) or Superintending Officer Representative (S.O.R).
3. Pile driving works shall only proceed after receiving acceptance and approval from S.O or S.O.R's.
4. Prior to proceed with the pile driving works the dimension of the timber (Bakau) pile shall first be inspected by S.O. or S.O.R's to confirm to specification and the construction drawing requirements. There shall be no timber (Bakau) pile allow for the works if it is does not fulfill the specifications and requirements of any as stated in the contract or construction drawings.
5. Driving of timber (bakau) pile shall be as follows;
   
   
   
   a). Positioning of the timber (Bakau) pile shall be as per approved pile point as agreed in the setting out. The eccentricity of the pile shall be as accurate as possible or as advice by the S.O or S.O.R's.
   
   
   b). At any point of the pile, its verticality shall be continuously monitored to ensure that the vertical alignment of the pile as straight as possible or as advise by the S.O or S.O.R's.
   
   
   c.) The pile push-in by the method of excavator push-in than shall proceed until the whole one length penetrates into the ground or until the pile set.
   
   
   d.) Record of the pile driving works shall be recorded properly using the pile driving work record form.

**Note: No test pile or static load test is required for this one length timber (Bakau) pile is needed unless requested by the S.O or S.O.R's.

METHOD STATEMENT FOR EARTH WORK

MACHINERIES AND EQUIPMENT(S) INVOLVE IN THE EARTHWORK ACTIVITIES

1. DOZER


2. EXCAVATOR


3. ROLLER


4. DUMPING TRUCK


5. SHOVEL


6. SURVEY EQUIPMENT.

I). SURVEY AND SETTING OUT.

1. 
   
   Appointment of license Surveyor.


2. 
   
   Proceed with boundary survey and setting out.


3. 
   
   Verification by the S.O or S.O.Rs’ on the survey done by license surveyor.


4. 
   
   Upon completion of 1^st KM of the boundary survey , the site clearing activities will proceed.

II). SITE CLEARING.

1. 
   
   Mobilisation of the Machinery(s) and equipment(s).


2. 
   
   Upon the completion of 1^st KM boundary survey by the Licence surveyor, the site clearing shall start.


3. 
   
   All clearing shall been done with in the site boundary.


4. 
   
   Prior to clearing at any chainage of the road, Construction Manager or contractor rep. shall identify if there is any existing crops or structure within the area that require the attention of S.O. / S.O.Rs’. If there is any, Contractor Reps’ shall inform the S.O / S.O.Rs’ for verification. Photo of evidence shall be properly taken and area affected shall be define clearly.


5. 
   
   No Site clearing shall proceed at the affected chainage unless officially directed by the S.O.


6. 
   
   All debris from the clearing activities shall be properly dispose within then project site. If there is any debris need to be dispose beyond the site boundary, contractor shall abide to the local authorities rules and regulations.


7. 
   
   No debris Shall being dump within the filling area designated for permanent road.


8. 
   
   No burning shall be allow as a method of disposing all the debris.


9. 
   
   The Construction Manager or Contractors’ Rep. shall notify the S.O / S.O.Rs’ on the location of the dumping site as to suite the site condition.

III). EARTHWORK – CUTTING ACTIVITIES & SLOPE FORMATION.

1. 
   
   Cutting activities shall be done as shown in the construction drawings.


2. 
   
   Prior to cut and fill activities, all top soil shall be scrub and stock pile for later usage(if necessary) at the designated stock yard area which will be jointly identify at site by construction Manager / Contractor reps. and S.O / S.O.Rs’.


3. 
   
   Prior to cutting, the soil sample shall be tested for their suitability as fill material for the fill area. If the material are suitable, it shall be stock pile at the designated area which will be identify at site by the Construction Manager in the event that the filling activities have not yet proceed or otherwise.


4. 
   
   All the unsuitable material from the cutting area shall be dispose according within the site boundary.


5. 
   
   Temporary access for existing traffic shall be provided as and when needed.


6. 
   
   In the event that the temporary access are provided, there shall be enough detour signboard, AWAS sign, CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS sign and any others safety precaution signboard shall be erected to prevent any danger to the user.


7. 
   
   During working hours traffic officer (s) shall be assigned to control the flow of traffic at the affected area.


8. 
   
   Temporary drainage shall be provided along the construction site (if necessary) to drain-out the surface water.


9. 
   
   All temporary drain shall be discharge to the nearest stream / river / nearby drain. All discharge outlet shall be provided with silt trap before it being channel to the stream / river / nearby drain.


10. Joint Inspection shall be conducted to verify the work done.

IV). EARTHWORK- FILLING / EMBANKMENT ACTIVITIES.

1. 
   
   Prior to filling activities or embankment activities, all the material that is going to be use as filling or embankment material shall be tested for the suitability. Marking peg for the purpose of filling or embankment layer thickness shall be established.


2. 
   
   After setting out of the fill or embankment area, the filling or embankment activities than shall started. The filling activities shall be done in layer. Each layer shall be properly compacted and tested before subsequence layer is lay.


3. 
   
   The process shall be repeat until it reach the proposed finish platform level as per construction drawings.


4. 
   
   All filling shall confirm to the approved construction drawings.