Contractors Means and Methods in Construction

[BridgeE]

Hi,

Can anyone please direct me to a good book in which describes the means and methods used by contractors for construction, like how they would construct an abutment for example,

Am an office engineer and not having that experience always puts me in a hard spot where am not sure how things should be detailed for the ease of construction.

Thanks,

 

[SlideRuleEra]

BridgeE - As a former bridge contractor, I don't know of a book on contractor's means & methods for heavy construction. For activities such as concrete forming and superstructure falsework, a contractor will look at the issue "backwards" (as I like to say). That is, figure out how to accomplish the work with what he has or can obtain economically, not with the optimum material (which he would have to buy or rent).

Here is an example; we used HP 12x53 as temporary falsework support beams (often 27' long) for flat slab bridge decks. The HP were (spliced) "free" pile cut offs left over from previous projects. (Note: The splicing was also "free"). Doubt anyone would intentionally specify an HP as a beam.

Your interest is easing construction will be much appreciated. In general terms, look at designs that reduce construction labor at the expense of using more permanent material. A extra few yards of concrete is "cheap". Saving labor not only saves time and reduces direct labor cost, but also reduces liability insurance, workman's, compensation, and an assortment of other overhead tied directly to a contractor's total labor cost for a project.

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[BridgeE]

Many thanks SlideRuleEra for this answer, makes a lot of sense.

 

[MotorCity]

It has also been my experience that means and methods can be unique to each contractor.......ask 20 different contractors how to build something and you will get 20 different answers.

 

[kmart30]

I dont know of a book but picking up the phone or making a site visit and asking a contractor how he/she would build it goes along way. I know we are mostly concerned about the end result but if you can make it easier for the contractor and achieve the same result then why not?

 

[bridgebuster]

I agree with both responses.

And sometimes they'll bid items then figure out later how to build it. The best way to learn how things get built is to actually watch it being done. Even then, you'll learn that there are 20 different ways.

For some items of work - bridge jacking, complex steel erection - you may need to present a suggested procedure. When you're preparing plans ask yourself can someone accurately bid this based on the information shown. A bidder may spend only a minimal amount of time at a site, so he/she's relying on your plans to be buildable and to convey the information needed to build it, which would include, storage areas, access issues, interferences, etc, and of course, how is everything paid. I hope this helps a little. There's a lot to it because there are different elements in a set of bridge plans and some need more detail than others.

 

[BridgeE]

Amazing answers !

Thanks all,

 

[dhengr]

BridgeE:
Despite the fact that you are primarily an office engineer, you should have a fairly good idea how things go together and how they are built. You should try to get out in the field, assisting in observation and inspection, etc., at first. Ask your boss if this can’t be arranged, so that you are learning some of these aspects of the engineering profession too. It will make you much better at what you do in the office, and I suspect your boss knows that too.