Planning a productive

jobsite layout
For a given construction job, theres only one optimal layout.
Here are some tips for coming up with the best plan.
BY JAMES J. ADRIAN

ne of the most important but

often overlooked organizational tasks of a construction
supervisor is planning a layout for the project site. Many
decisions must be made such as
where to place office trailers, where
to store onsite materials, and where
to keep equipment when not in use.
Unfortunately, supervisors often take
a haphazard approach to the layout
task, not realizing the effects their
plans can have on productivity.

2 Minimize the distance that workers must transport stored materials

to the point of use.

Consider, for example, what would

happen to the productivity of a forming crew if the supervisor located
storage for form lumber on one side
of the jobsite and the staging area on
the opposite side. Not only would
workers have to walk long distances
to retrieve needed materials and haul
them to the assembly area, they
would also end up lifting materials
more than necessary.
Although increasing jobsite
productivity is one of the best reasons for plotting an efficient layout, its not the only one. Minimizing the potential for worker
accidents, and reducing material
and equipment theft are other important goals (see Objectives of a
Good Jobsite Layout).

3 Minimize the need to store materials.

Planning checklist

4 Provide a uniform flow of materials about the site, free of bottlenecks.

Though each project is unique,

the layout for most jobs must include similar elements: staging
areas, access roads for equipment
and materials, office trailers, materials and equipment storage, and
toilet facilities and parking areas for
workers. You can use the following
checklist to verify that the layout
sufficiently accounts for these
critical elements.

Objectives of a good jobsite layout

1 Eliminate repeated handling of materials.

5 Provide adequate controls on material waste, breakage, and theft.

6 Provide adequate controls on equipment theft.
7 Facilitate movement of equipment on the jobsite.
8 Provide for controls on worker tardiness.
9 Promote a safe working environment.
10 Provide safe, nondisruptive access to the jobsite for visitors.

Staging areas

UMake staging areas accessible to

cranes and handling devices.

ULocate staging activities near

materials storage and where
materials will be installed.

Main entrance
Reinforcing
storage

Wire
Equipment
location

Staging
area

Form
lumber
storage

TF

New building foundation

to construct

Cars

Fabricated
forms
storage
TF

TF

Misc.
storage

Trailer-Sub
Trailer-Sub

Trailer-GC

Haul roads

BEFORE
This preliminary sketch of a jobsite layout for a building foundation project
has several problems. A power line runs above the equipment location and
main entrance, trailers and toilet facilities (TF) are far from the entrance, materials storage is on both sides of the project, and the area provided for
worker parking is far from the entrance.

Gate
Trailer-GC

Wire

Trailer-Sub

TF

Bulletin board

TF

New building foundation

to construct

Trailer-Sub

Cars

Main entrance

Equipment
location
TF

TF

Form
Reinforcing lumber
storage
storage

Misc.
storage

Turnaround
area

TF

Gate
Haul roads

AFTER

Staging
area
Fabricated
forms
storage

Equipment

UProvide for unobstructed entry of

equipment onto the jobsite.

URemove any obstacles or

bottlenecks to equipment
movement around the site.

UMake sure cranes are accessible to

staging and building areas but
clear of overhead power lines and
other utilities.

ULocate equipment when not in

operation near staging areas and
materials storage but away from
overhead wires.
Site haul roads

UProvide a turnaround area for

haul vehicles.

UProvide for security at entrances

to minimize theft.
Materials hauling and storage

ULocate the drop-off for materials

close to the intended work area.

UGroup similar materials and

materials used by specific trades.

The modified layout includes the

following improvements:
n Office trailers and the parking
lot for workers are closer to the
main entrance.
n Equipment storage is away from
the overhead power line and
near staging and materials storage areas.
n The materials storage areas are
grouped at the back of the jobsite, closer to the haul road.
n The staging area is closer to the
materials.
n Security gates are installed at the
main and haul-road entrances.
n A bulletin board for posting
project progress and important
messages is located near the
main entrance, where workers
are sure to see it.
n A turnaround area for haul
vehicles has been established.


UPlace storage trailers as close as
possible to stockpiled materials.

UStore materials in the order in

which they will be used.
Office trailers

UPlace trailers near the main

entrance to limit visitor access
and to monitor worker entry
and exit.

UMake sure first-aid facilities are

nearby and easily accessible.
Toilet facilities and parking areas

UPlace toilet facilities in easily

accessible areas, away from
operating machinery.

ULocate parking for workers close

to the main entrance.
Set aside ample time before the
start of the project to plan the
layout. Draw preliminary sketches
and have the entire construction
team critique them, keeping the
10 objectives of a good jobsite layout
in mind. Incorporate suggestions
for improvement into the final plan
(see example before and after
sketches). The time spent analyzing
and revising the layout before the
project begins can yield big benefits
in jobsite productivity, safety,
efficiency, and economy. m

James J. Adrian is a professor of civil

engineering and construction at
Bradley University, Peoria, Ill., and
president of Adrian International,
a firm providing management consulting services to the construction
industry.
Publication #C99L038
Copyright 1999, The Aberdeen Group
a division of Hanley-Wood, Inc.
All rights reserved