Understanding the specific requirements and availability of construction equipment is crucial for successful project execution. This article delves into the importance of properly sizing, reserving, and managing equipment on construction sites.
Key Insights
- Accurately determining the required size of equipment such as backhoes and cranes is essential for pricing, availability, and effective utilization on a construction site.
- Managing equipment mobilizations, including delivery and pickup, plays a significant role in cost management and project scheduling. Options like keeping the equipment on-site for extended periods should be weighed against the monthly costs incurred.
- Ensuring adequate egress around the building is crucial for the smooth operation of equipment on a construction site, highlighting the need for comprehensive planning and logistics management.
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One thing that's important to remember about equipment is that the required size of equipment may not be available when needed. Keep this in mind because you may have to secure or reserve equipment in advance to ensure it's available when you need it. In other words, a specific size backhoe may be required on site.
You can't have a very large one on site if you only need a smaller size to dig a one-foot-wide trench. Or you may need a larger one to dig down 12 feet but only two feet wide. You have to understand the required size to price it properly and have it available as needed for material deliveries or similar tasks.
This also applies to crane sizes as well. If you have a tower crane on site, what are the requirements for the tower crane? What will it be hoisting? What is the weight capacity or what limitations might you face? And how long does it need to be on site? Delivery and pickup—this is referred to as a mobilization. Keep an eye on this and make sure that you have enough mobilizations included.
You do have the option, as mentioned, to keep the equipment on site for an extended period of time, but then you're also paying the monthly cost for that. Weigh the options and consider what it might cost to have multiple mobilizations or to keep it on site for an extended period. Or even if it's your own equipment, make sure that your company can afford to keep it on site for the duration of the job.
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One very important factor for equipment on site is ensuring that proper egress is provided around the entire building so your equipment can move in, out, and around as needed.
