Are You Getting Quality Construction?
September 21, 2009
Construction Quality – How is it achieved?
by
Terry Hodge, Vice President & Director of Operations
Construction Quality means different things to different people. The architect may look at visual esthetics and workmanship. The civil engineer may focus on the durability of the asphalt paving specification. The structural engineer is concerned about soil compaction and concrete strength. The MEP engineers address types and configurations of the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems and the proper installation of their design. The owner or end user is typically looking for a building that meets their functional needs and minimizes operations costs. To Ondra-Huyett it means all of this and more. This article will further define quality and in particular the steps OHA takes to control it whether concealed behind walls or exposed to view.
From the onset of every project Ondra-Huyett’s goal is the same, deliver a quality product at the best value possible, every time. This sounds simple but it requires a lot of work. At Ondra-Huyett the project manager and superintendent team share the responsibility of quality control. The project manager looks at procurement and pricing while the superintendent handles the monitoring and installation of the work.
The Project Manager’s Quality Responsibility:
The criteria for quality are often times defined in the project drawings and specifications, especially if there are any specific or special requirements. During the review period the project manager and superintendent gain an understanding of the level of quality that will be required as well as any unique circumstances that may impact the finished product. The Project Manager will include this information in the trade contractor “scopes of work” and ensure that during the bidding and buyout phases each of these items are addressed and included in the trade contractor’s final pricing. They will also thoroughly review all shop drawing submittals for compliance with the contract documents and coordination with other trades.
The Project Superintendent’s Quality Responsibility:
The project superintendent is charged with communicating quality expectations, monitoring the work in progress and ensuring that all systems and esthetic requirements are met. To do this the superintendent utilizes several tools. Prior to any trade contractor starting work, the Ondra-Huyett superintendent conducts a Pre-construction meeting to identify and make clear the quality expectations and requirements for that particular trade. Once construction is started, our project team will conduct Weekly Trade Contractor Meetings to review and refresh the quality standards for the project.
Quality Assurance:
Monitoring the quality of the work begins on the first day of construction. To assist the project superintendent and to ensure certain quality points are met, Ondra-Huyett frequently employs a third party testing agency. Typically, this agency is responsible for testing and documenting soil compactions, bearing capacities for concrete & structure, rebar placement, concrete characteristics, and structural steel bolts & welds.
The Work of Quality:
Delivering quality construction is the sum of hundreds, and sometimes thousands of daily tasks. Material deliveries are cross checked. In addition to the construction drawings and specifications, the superintendent references approved shop drawings and submittals. Mock-ups (life size replicas) of the work may be utilized to ensure that the materials installed and construction details for that installation coincide with the construction documents. For instance, an exterior wall mock-up panel may include the proposed framing, sheathing, brick, window, flashing details and paint colors. Once approved these mock-ups serve several purposes:
- the owner sees what the final look of the building will be,
- the architect verifies the materials, details and workmanship are as designed
- the trade contractor knows exactly how the materials will be installed and it can be used as a reference for the tradesmen during construction.
Documenting Quality:
Building functionality is addressed throughout the construction process and has many quality checkpoints associated with it as well. Vapor barriers, building insulation, sound attenuation, fire & smoke separations, plumbing, sprinkler and electrical system rough-ins are all inspected and tested prior to closing walls.
The Ondra-Huyett superintendent works closely with the trade contractors and municipalities to coordinate any tests that may be required prior to the next phase of construction. As part of Ondra-Huyett’s Quality Control program, these tests and inspections are well documented and provided to the owner as part of our “close-out” documents. Those documents include copies of “as-built” drawings for how and where pieces are actually installed and Operation & Maintenance Manuals for how items and systems function and need to be maintained.
With the contract documents as a reference, the project superintendent continually monitors the work in progress for quality of installation and workmanship. Esthetically, the superintendent ensures that items which are exposed to view meet the project specifications, the owner and architect’s expectations and Ondra-Huyett standards.
Quality is more than the Punch List:
Checking the framing for plumb, true & straight, the drywall for smoothness, the paint for proper number of coats and colors per the finish schedule, the functionality of the doors and hardware, the fit and finish of the casework & millwork, ceiling grid for level and straightness & the tile cut cleanly at the borders, as well as the tile and carpet finishes, are all items that the project superintendent monitors and assures. Simple procedures, such as no smoking in the building once drywall starts and protecting completed work in place, have significant impact on the final product.
Any time during the project that the superintendent identifies deficiencies in quality, he will work with the proper trade contractor to remediate the deficiencies immediately. Constant attention to quality results in very short punch lists.
Building Commissioning:
Prior to turning over the building, Ondra-Huyett will coordinate and verify that all building components and systems are installed and working properly and as designed. The Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) systems start-up, testing and balancing will be completed by either the contractor, manufacturer or a third party agency. These tests and reports will also be made a part of the “close-out” documents.
As you can see, turning over a quality product requires discipline, follow through and more effort than most realize when considering a construction partner. Whether it’s verifying the caliper of the trees or the installation of the most complex of HVAC systems, Ondra-Huyett has the Quality Control systems and personnel to deliver a quality construction project, every time.
September 2009
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