The Black work , In architecture, is the initial phase of a construction. That is, the steps that must be carried out before carrying out the construction of an architectural project.
In this first stage, the general details of the project to be developed, such as the participants (client, architect and construction company), the description of the land, the plans of the work and the estimated cost are presented. In the same way, this stage includes the first activities carried out in the field, such as cleaning and delimitation.
The black work can be divided into phases:
- Administrative activities of the work, which include contact with the client, the development of plans and the tender for construction.
- Organizational activities, concerning the structures that must be provided by the contractor as security measures.
- Preliminary activities, that is, everything that has to do with the preparation of the land on which it is to be built.
The process prior to construction is one of the most important, since the quality of the final work will depend directly on the steps taken in the initial phase. In this sense, the black work represents the basis of all edification.
1- Administrative activities of the work
The administrative activities of a work can be divided into planning, presentation of plans, tender for construction and request for permits.
Planning
In this first stage, architects and engineers meet with clients to determine the purpose of the construction to be made. In addition to establishing the purpose of the construction, the relationships between the building and the space in which it is to be constructed are discussed.
Likewise, it seeks to determine if the construction to be developed is integrated with the other buildings that surround it (if there is one) and if the gestation of this project is feasible.
Presentation of plans
Once the planning stage is completed, the schematic plans are designed, which are the result of the discussions with the clients, as well as the study of the land on which it is to be built.
These plans are reviewed by the working group and, once the relevant corrections have been made, the preliminary plans are drawn up.
Finally, the final plans are developed; These planes are much more detailed than the previous ones and are divided in: architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical.
Schematic drawings. Photo retrieved from rossmoorfitness.com
Architectural plan. Photo retrieved from eurlturquetbatiment.com
Structural plane of the roof. Photo retrieved from paggesengineering.weebly.com
Electrical plots. Photo retrieved from asdesignconcepts.net
Tender for construction
After having determined the feasibility of the project and having developed the plans, those in charge of the work will bid.
The bids are proposals submitted by the owners of a work so that various contractor companies compete for the construction of the new building. Contest participants will receive the plans and develop a report that will include the estimated cost of the project to be developed.
The person in charge of the work will evaluate the proposals presented and will choose the one that best suits their interests.
Request Permissions
The last administrative step is the request for permits to the competent authorities. For this, the master or master of the work must present the final plans and the results of other studies required, such as the environmental impact that would have the work or the conditions of the soil in which it is intended to build.
2- Organizational activities of the work
The organizational activities refer to the structures that the contractor must provide to staff members, since it is their duty to ensure safety in the work area.
The availability of first aid kits is part of this stage, as well as the establishment of offices, warehouses or warehouses and control booths.
Office
Construction offices can be temporary or permanent, although they are usually temporary. They are usually built with recyclable materials and in some cases the use of portable booths.
Warehouse
The warehouse, or warehouse, is one of the most essential parts of a construction. The establishment of the warehouse must be prior to the construction of the work since it will protect the materials that will be used.
Required connections
The construction of a work requires continuous supplies of water and electricity, so it is necessary to connect to the service lines of the locality in which to build or have cisterns and electric generators.
3- Preliminary activities
This last phase refers to the processes that must be carried out in the field of construction before beginning to erect the work. Some of these are: demolition, clearing of land, excavation, leveling, pairing, foundation.
Demolition
Sometimes buildings are built on previously occupied land. In these cases, the previous structure must be demolished. For this, the contractor must have a permit granted by the competent authorities.
Ground cleaning
It consists of removing the waste (in some cases, generated by the demolition) and all the vegetation present in the area in which it is going to work. It is necessary to emphasize that in the presence of trees, these must be uprooted since, in the future, they could compromise the integrity of the work.
Leveling
It consists of removing excess earth from the area or filling the gaps that may exist in it, so that the surface of the ground is uniform and optimal to lay the foundation of the construction.
Fenced
It refers to the delimitation of the area in which it is going to work. This fencing can be permanent (a wall, for example) or temporary. The latter is the most common. Likewise, the logo of the construction company and security signage are usually added.
Foundation
The foundation is the last step of the preliminary phase and consists of laying the foundation of the construction to be made.
Foundation. Retrieved from blog.amchairbuilder.com
References
- What Are Preliminaries in Construction? Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from reference.com.
- What is the Importance of the Pre-construction Stage. Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from bayt.com.
- The Importance of Early Phase: The Cases of Construction and Building Projects. (2003). Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from sciencedirect.com.
- Construction Process - Cost Segregation Study. Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from csp-360.com.
- Different Phases of an Architectural Project. Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from rb-architects.com.
- Phases of Design and Construction. Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from hamden.com.
- Masters Builders Journal. (2009). Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from entrusty.com.
- Stages of Construction. Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from lindonhomes.com.au.
- 7 Preliminary Works to Before Starting a Construction. (2015). Retrieved on February 20, 2017, from acivilengineer.com.