Jobs in Construction
When building a major structure, a great lots of tasks are necessary, done to precision & on time. The penalty for failure can be catastrophic for an engineer . Both Wembley & the Millennium stadium in Cardiff brought their constructors to their knees. In the former case the main issue sited was “add ons” (additional features) demanded after the architect had completed the design. The latter concerned crippling time penalties attached to the contract. Despite the high profile nature of these developments, both contractors will have regretted winning them, in the case of the Millennium stadium, Laings, the main contractor, were significantly weakened by the experience.
So where does a contractor start in a massive project like the examples above. First, site clearance is necessary. Any demolition of existing buildings or infrastructure. Then preparation of access to & from the site, as well as its security. Bare in mind the difficulty of a number of this in urban centres like Wembley & Cardiff.
Next to arrive are the ground workers. They will lay foundations of steel & reinforced concrete. They will also address the drainage issues. Around the same time, or slightly after, the steel work will be unloaded. This will form the frame on which the structure will be hung.
It will comprise of some heavy parts. Tower cranes will start to appear now. The placing of these parts requires some sophisticated kit. Placement calculations often involve satellite measurements these days.
After that operation is complete the brick work & façade will start to take shape. People now get an idea of how the structure will look on completion. Inside, the structure now resembles a bee hive. All sorts of contractors are carrying out their various disciplines. From the obvious, electricians, carpenters, plumbers & plasterers, to the less evident glaziers & heating / air conditioning engineers.
Minor fittings & decoration go in before the final chapter. The safety inspector needs to over out their investigations before issuing their safety permit. & at last the building receives a last examination & is handed over to the client.
