Your Distribution System Cradle to Grave Construction Inspection
Your Distribution System – Cradle to Grave Construction Inspection of Water Distribution Mains – Do it Right or be Sorry Ron Bard, P. E.
Agenda ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ What to do During Design What to do Before Construction Starts The Facts of Life Starting Out on the Right Foot Documentation TESC, Excavation, Shoring, Dewatering, Backfill Items Easy to Overlook
Levels of CM ▼ Construction Monitoring Construction Inspection Construction Management ▼ Understand the Differences and Match Expectations ▼ ▼ Increasing level of detail and responsibility
During Design ▼ ▼ ▼ CM to Review Contract Documents Provide a Formal Constructability Review Conduct an Operations Review Do the Specs Reflect How the Job will be Administered? Consider Asset Management Issues Decide What the Contractor Does for: l Testing l As-builts l Schedules
Before Construction Starts ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Detailed Pre-con Meeting to Set Expectations Define Role of Engineer vs. CM Get a Detailed Schedule from Contractor Get a List of Contractor’s Manpower and Equipment Prepare a Submittal Log Discuss the Need to Schedule Submittals/Re-submittals Take pre-con Photos Define: l Early Action Submittals l Long Lead Time Materials
The Facts of Life ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Low Bidders Win the Work Some Contractors are Good, Some are Not Some Contractors will be Adversarial Contractors Need to Make Money But, Everyone Wants to Get the Job Done Contractors are Responsible for Means and Methods It is Very Hard to Require a Contractor to Stop Work The CM Can’t Lose Their Cool The Public is Always Nearby Communication is the Key to Success
Be Prepared and Flexible ▼ ▼ ▼ Major Differences Between Large and Small Jobs Major Differences Between Complex and Simple Jobs Bid Item Jobs versus Lump Sum Jobs Don’t be Like the Captain of the Titanic l Smooth Sailing Doesn’t Last Don’t Only Prepare for the Last Hurricane
Start Out on the Right Foot ▼ ▼ ▼ Strict Adherence to the Contract Docs l Can be More Creative Latter Ask Questions, Offer Suggestions, Do Not Direct Be Reasonable, but not a Push-Over Be On-site Every Day there is Activity Full-time Inspection of Critical/Underground Items Take Photos
Documentation ▼ ▼ ▼ Do the Daily Reports Daily l Assume they will be in Court l Quote the Contractor l Take Photos Document Everything, Write Serial Letters Always Adhere to Notification Provisions in the Specs Keep Track of Force-Account Hours and Equipment Handle Change Orders ASAP Ensure the Contractor Keeps Contemporaneous Cost Records for Change Orders and Claims
Safety ▼ ▼ ▼ Contractor is Responsible for Job Safety l Make Sure they Have a Plan and Follow It Keep Yourself Safe l Hold Inspector Safety Meetings (large projects) l Fall Protection l Confined Space Entry Attend the Contractors Tailgate Safety Meetings Document Actions, Take Photos Don’t Direct the Contractors Staff on Safety l Notify your Contractor of Concerns
TESC ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Can Get Lots of Scrutiny Walk the Site With Contractor Protect the Inlets Sweep the Streets Inspect the Facilities Pre-position Materials Prepare for Storms Check up On the Weekends if Needed If You Make it Important, They Will
Excavation ▼ ▼ ▼ Always Saw-Cut Don’t Over-widen Trenches Hot-Topics l Shoring l Dewatering l Foundation Material l Check Your Submittals
Shoring ▼ ▼ Worker Protection l Needed for > 4 -foot Depths l Supervision by a Competent Person l Understand WAC 296. 155 Trench Boxes l Will Allow Sloughing l Can Impact Utilities
Dewatering ▼ ▼ Trench Must be Dry Dewatering Wells Need Time to Work Dewatering Wells are Needed 24/7 l Is Noise an Issue? Anticipate the Need for Baker Tanks
Foundations ▼ ▼ Probe the Sub-grade Get the Engineer on-site if Needed Use a Geotextile Fabric if Needed If in Doubt, Over-Ex and Add Foundation Materials
Backfill and Bedding ▼ ▼ ▼ Native Soil l Sensitive to Moisture Content l Watch for Large Diameter Rocks l Watch for Excessive Organics Compaction l Verify Density l Right Size/Type Compactor Avoid End-dumping
PVC Pipe ▼ ▼ Brittle in Cold Weather Bedding l Must Be Mechanically Compacted l Pipe Strength Comes from Bedding Haunches l Bring Up Evenly on Each Side Testing By Mandrel Is Important C 900/905 is Strong, but Still Need to Be Careful
Easy to Overlook ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Dissimilar Materials Need Dielectric Couplings Notify Public of Service Interruptions Check out Contractor’s Pressure Testing Equipment Where to Get Testing Water Where to Dispose of Testing Water and Declorinate Thrust Block Must Bear on Undisturbed Soil Coordinate What Contractor Does and Utility Does
Easy to Overlook ▼ ▼ Meters/Boxes on Hand if Utility Provided Compare Materials Delivered to Shop Drawings Get O&M Materials Closure Pieces and Couplings, Especially RJ
Claims Avoidance ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Have Good Records Settle Up as You Go Issue Unilateral Change Orders if Needed (But be Fair) Pay for Acceleration if Needed l Do What it Takes to Avoid Extended Overhead Be Responsive if There is a DSC Don’t Delay the Contractor, Be Timely and Responsive Stick to the Contract l Avoids a claim that you “Abandoned the Contract” Oh, and Take Photos
Questions?
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