LINE OF BALANCE (LOB)

Miguel CABEZUDO Nicolas LAFLESSELLE

DEFINITION
A line of balance diagram comprises a series of inclined lines which represent the rate of working between repetitive operations in a construction sequence. It's the best planning method for a repetitive work such as a housing. It's a visual display of the rate of working of different activities on a program.

PRINCIPLES

LOGIC DIAGRAM

LOB DIAGRAM
WITH A NON-PARALLEL WORKING
Buffer

C
Overall duration

Number of units

Activity B slower than A Activity C slower than B

Duration Minimum Buffers

LOB DIAGRAM
WITH A PARALLEL WORKING / IDEAL RELATIONSHIP
A
B C
Overall duration Number of units

Same rate of construction

Duration Minimum Buffer

PRINCIPLES

B A C D

LOGIC DIAGRAM FOR SEQUENCE

LOB DIAGRAM
OPERATION B AND C BEGINNING TOGETHER
A B
C D
Overall duration Number of units

Duration

LOB DIAGRAM
OPERATIONS B AND C ENDING TOGETHER
A B.C
D
Overall duration Number of units

Duration

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

Operation 1 : Install piles 2 days (gang of 3 labours) Operation 2 : In situ beams 4 days (gang of 4 carpenters) Operation 3 : Precast concrete deck 1 day (gang of 2 labours)

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

Install piles

In situ beams

Precast deck

2 days

4 days

1 day

LOGIC DIAGRAM

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

Buffer 6

Piling

10

12

In situ beams

23

27 28 29 Precast deck Completion day 29

5
4 Bay number 3 2

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Duration (days)

Buffer

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

LABOUR RESOURCES
7 6 5 Pile caps/beams

Deck

Labour 4
3 2 Piling 1 0 Pile caps/beams

Deck

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Duration (days)

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

6 Piling In situ Buffer beams 10 12 13 17 18 19 Precast deck Completion day 19

5
4 Bay number 3 2

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Duration (days)

Buffer

EXAMPLE Access Deck Project

REVISED LABOUR RESOURCES
12 11 10 9 Labour 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Caps and beams Gang 2 Caps and beams Gang 1

Deck

Piling

Deck

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Duration (days)

EXAMPLE
CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)
Operation Foundations Duration per unit in weeks 2 Number of gangs 2

External walls
Roof construction

4
1

3
1

Internal finishes
External works NUMBER OF UNITS : 10

4
2

3
2

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

External walls

Foundations

Roof

Internal walls

External works

SEQUENCE LOGIC FOR OPERATIONS

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Number of unit less 1 x duration of operation Number of gangs used Foundations : Start unit 1 : week 0 Finish unit 1 : week 2 (2 weeks duration) Start of unit 10 = 0 + (10 units 1) x 2 = 18/2 = week 9 2 gangs Finish of unit 10 = week 9 + 2 weeks = week 11

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

10

Foundations 9 11

Number of houses units

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Duration (weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

External walls : Duration per unit : 4 weeks

Number of gangs : 3

We need to consider the rate of construction between the 2 operations :

Slope of the fondation balance line =

duration =1 Number of gangs

Slope of the external walls balance line = 1.33

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

External walls : Duration per unit : 4 weeks

Number of gangs : 3

Start unit 1 : week 2 + 1 week buffer = week 3 Finish unit 1 : week 3 + 4 weeks duration = week 7

Start of unit 10 = week 3 + (10 units 1) x 4 = 3 + 36/3 = week 15

3 gangs
Finish of unit 10 = week 15 + 4 weeks = week 19

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

10 External Foundations walls 9 11 15 19

Number of houses units

10 12 14 16 18 20 Duration (weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Roof Construction : Duration per unit : 1 week

Number of gangs : 1

Slope of the external walls balance line = 1.33 Slope of the Roof Construction balance line = 1 The relationship will begin at the finish of the external walls balance line.

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Roof Construction : Duration per unit : 1 week

Number of gangs : 1

Start unit 10 : week 19 + 1 week buffer = week 20 Finish unit 10 : week 20 + 1 week duration = week 21

Start of unit 1 = week 20 - (10 units 1) x 1 = 20 - 9 = week 11

1 gang
Finish of unit 1 = week 11 + 1 week duration = week 12

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

10 External Foundations walls Roof 9 11 15 19 20 21

Number of houses units

11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Duration (weeks)

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

Internal walls : Duration per unit : 4 weeks External works : Duration per unit : 2 weeks Number of gangs : 2 Number of gangs : 3

CONSTRUCTION OF 10 HOUSES (5 CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS)

10 External Foundations walls Roof 9 11 15 19 20 21 Internal Internal walls works 25 29 30 31

Number of houses units

11 12 13

17

21 23

26 28 30 32 34 36

Duration (weeks)

REFERENCES
Cooke, Brian, & Williams, Peter. Construction, planning, programming & control. Blackwell Publishing