Planning a productive

jobsite layout
For a given construction job, there’s 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 Consider, for example, what would

O often overlooked organiza-

tional tasks of a construction
supervisor is planning a lay-
out 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.
Objectives of a good jobsite layout
1 Eliminate repeated handling of materials.
2 Minimize the distance that workers must transport stored materials
to the point of use.
3 Minimize the need to store materials.
4 Provide a uniform flow of materials about the site, free of bottlenecks.
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.
happen to the productivity of a form-
ing 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 rea-
sons for plotting an efficient lay-
out, it’s not the only one. Mini-
mizing the potential for worker
accidents, and reducing material
and equipment theft are other im-
portant goals (see “Objectives of a
Good Jobsite Layout”).
Planning checklist
Though each project is unique,
the layout for most jobs must in-
clude similar elements: staging
areas, access roads for equipment
and materials, office trailers, materi-
als 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.
 Staging areas
UMake staging areas accessible to
□
Main entrance cranes and handling devices.
ULocate staging activities near
□
materials storage and where
Wire Reinforcing
storage materials will be installed.
Equipment Staging
location area
Equipment
TF
UProvide for unobstructed entry of
□
equipment onto the jobsite.
URemove any obstacles or
□
Form New building foundation
lumber bottlenecks to equipment
to construct
storage Fabricated movement around the site.
forms UMake sure cranes are accessible to
□
Cars storage
staging and building areas but
TF
TF clear of overhead power lines and
other utilities.
Misc. Trailer-Sub ULocate equipment when not in
□
storage operation near staging areas and
Trailer-Sub Trailer-GC
materials storage but away from
overhead wires.
Haul roads
Site haul roads
UProvide a turnaround area for
□
BEFORE haul vehicles.
UProvide for security at entrances
□
to minimize theft.
This preliminary sketch of a jobsite layout for a building foundation project
has several problems. A power line runs above the equipment location and Materials hauling and storage
main entrance, trailers and toilet facilities (TF) are far from the entrance, ma- ULocate the drop-off for materials
□
terials storage is on both sides of the project, and the area provided for close to the intended work area.
worker parking is far from the entrance. UGroup similar materials and
□
materials used by specific trades.

The modified layout includes the

Main entrance following improvements:
Gate
n Office trailers and the parking
Trailer-GC Bulletin board lot for workers are closer to the
Cars Wire main entrance.
TF
n Equipment storage is away from
Trailer-Sub

TF the overhead power line and

near staging and materials stor-
New building foundation
age areas.
Equipment n The materials storage areas are
to construct location
Trailer-Sub

grouped at the back of the job-

site, closer to the haul road.
TF
n The staging area is closer to the
TF Staging materials.
Turnaround
area n Security gates are installed at the
Form
Misc. Reinforcing lumber area Fabricated main and haul-road entrances.
storage storage forms n A bulletin board for posting
storage
TF storage project progress and important
Gate messages is located near the
main entrance, where workers
Haul roads
are sure to see it.
n A turnaround area for haul
AFTER 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 con-
sulting services to the construction
industry.

Publication #C99L038
Copyright© 1999, The Aberdeen Group
a division of Hanley-Wood, Inc.
All rights reserved