Lecture1 Buildability Ed

5CN001
Brownfield Regeneration and

Technology
Lecture 1a: Buildability
Dr Emmanuel Daniel
E.daniel2@wlv.ac.uk
Aim and Purpose
Aim:
Understand the application of buildability principles and approach in high
rise construction projects
Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

Describe and discuss key areas and principles involved in buildability
analysis and evaluation

Identify areas to look at for buildability on construction projects

Discuss the application of buildability principles on construction projects
Why Buildability?
 Lack of integration between design & construction
 Lack of collaboration/communication between designers

and constructors
 Construction is not viewed as production
 Functional view in construction project management
 Late or non involvement of key stakeholders in the design

process
Implication of Traditional Design
and Construction Practice
 Error and rework
 Lost or missed opportunity for innovation
 Cost and time overrun; over 50% of
construction projects in the UK suffer time
and cost overrun.
 Conflicts leading to litigations
Traditional Design and
Construction Practice
Design Construction
What is
Buildability?
Buildability in Design and
Construction Practice
Buildability
Design Construction
Design and construction is viewed as an integrated process

What is Buildability?
Buildability ‘is the extent to which

the design of a building facilitates
ease of construction, subject to the
overall requirements for the
completed building‘ (CIRIA, 1983;
Griffith, 1987)
CII defines constructability as “the

optimal use of construction
knowledge and experience in
planning, design, procurement, and
field operations to achieve overall
project objectives.” (CII, 2019)
What is Buildability?
Buildability is ‘the optimum integration of construction

knowledge and experience in planning, engineering,
procurement, and field operations to achieve overall project
objectives"
Construction Industry Institute (CII)

Research work on Buildability
Most of the initial research work on buildability was

undertaken in the UK and in the USA by:
 The Construction Industry Research Information

Association (CIRIA) based in the UK
 The Construction Industry Institute (CII) based in

the USA
 Please note: buildability is know as

constructability in the USA
The CIRIA identified 16 guideline principles for good

buildability practice:
1. Investigate thoroughly
2. Consider accessibility at the design stage
3. Consider storage at design stage
4. Design for early enclosure
5. Design for minimum time below ground work
6. Suitable materials use
7. Consider the local skill available
8. Design for simple assembly
The CIRIA identified 16 guideline principles for good

buildability practice:
9. Plan for maximize repetition and standardization
10. Maximize the use of plant
11. Allow for sensible tolerances
12. Allow for a practical sequence of operations
13. Plan to avoid change to work
14. Avoid return visits on site; do it right first time
15. Safe construction design
16. Clear communication
The CII also identified 12 guideline principles for good

constructibility practice (CII, 2019):
1. Integration of constructibility into project plan

2. Construction knowledge and experience by the team.
3. Project team must have the required skills
4. Project team must understand client's corporate objectives.
5. Technology use in design solution must be matched with the
skills and resources available.
6. Give attention to external factors that might effect cost and
programme
7. Overall project program must be realistic and have the
commitment of the project team (Involve those who will do the

work in the planning)
8. Construction Methodology should be considered at design
stage
9. Accessibility should be considered in good time
10. Efficiency consideration in specifications development
11. Create room for construction innovation
12. Provide feedback as it is key to learning and improvement
What is the function
of Buildability?
Functions of Buildability
Removal of any uncertainties in the

construction process from the design
stage
Confirming budget for design and
construction
Improved utilization of resources
Optimisation of construction method
Improved safety and better productivity
Enabling improved decision is made at

the design stage
Time and cost benefits
Improved quality in the finished

product
"Good buildability leads to major cost benefits for clients,
designers and builders.
Key Areas of Buildability
• Construction-driven planning and programming

1
• Design simplification
2
• Standardisation and repetition of design element

3
• Specification development for construction efficiency

4
• Mock up or Prototyping of the process or product (First Run
5 Studies)
• Design should allow access for material, labour and plant

6
• Design should allow for construction under harsh weather

7
Buildability Issues
Who is at fault here; the designer or the

constructor?
Buildability Issues
Door below the finish floor level

Buildability Issues
What are the problems with this WC?

Buildability Issues
What went wrong here?

Buildability Issues
What went wrong here?

Buildability Issues
How did we get here?

Buildability Issues
What is wrong with this design?

Buildability Issues
How could we prevent all of these scenarios seen in the

previous slides from happening?
What is wrong with this design?

Towards Improved Buildability
Standardisation
& repetition
Clear Prefabrication
specification
Early
Improved involvement of
Site
investigation &
Buildability contractors
access
Clear
communication
Use of BIM for
buildability
reviews
Key Areas of Buildability
Three principal criteria for good buildability

1- Simplicity 2- Standardisation
3- Clear communication
This process is now enhanced with the emergence of BIM

Buildability Review with BIM
Conflict between architectural and structural drawing

Conflict between architectural and structural drawing

Water pipe going through an opening instead of wall

Standardized steel formwork Toilet pod produced offsite
What to Evaluate in Buildability
Analysis
1 Dimension and tolerances
Analysis
2 Practicality of detailing
Analysis
3 Project program
Analysis
Project program continued
 Is the programme collaborative?
 Who are those involved in the programme?
 Are key stakeholders such as the subcontractors

involved in developing the program- Last
Planners?
 How was the activity duration arrived at?

Analysis
4 Selection of procurement system
 How would the supply chain and subcontractors
be selected?
 What procurement option to use (D&B, MC, CM)
 Does the procurement option support early

integration of the supply chains?
 Engagement of specialist contractors and

suppliers; when & how?
Analysis
5 Arrangement of site facilities
Discuss how the arrangement of facilities on site could lead

to buildability issues?
Analysis
7 Standardisation
• Allow modular layout of

components
• Allow for high degree of

standardisation and repetition
• Use of typical floors

Analysis
8 Use of Resources
• Use of plant and equipment

locally.
• Avoid double handling of

materials.
• Economic use of labour and

plant.
Analysis
9 Prefabrication • Allow prefabrication offsite
• Optimising the mix of offsite

work
Modular bathroom pods

Analysis
9 Prefabrication
Pre-cast facade Pre-cast concrete element

Source: Hong Kong Housing Association
Analysis
Others areas to evaluate include:
10 Construction methods
11 Allocation of project cost and time
12 Site constraints
13 Safety and sustainability

Project Buildability evaluation
Project life cycle and buildability evaluation

(Source: Hassan, 1997)
Project Buildability evaluation
The project buildability improvement life cycle

Tutorials
Discuss the areas you would apply buildability

principles on the Boundary Street and Portland
Street project.
Recap
We have:
Described and discussed key areas and principles
involved in buildability analysis and evaluation
Identified areas to look at for buildability in construction

project.
Discussed the application of buildability principles in

construction project
References and Further Reading
• CIRIA, (1983), Construction Industry Research and Information

Association Buildability: An Assessment. CIRIA, London
• CII, (2019), Constructability Implementation (Best Practice). CII

Report [Online]. Available at:
https://www.construction-institute.org/resources/knowledgebase/know
ledge-areas/design-planning-optimization/topics/rt-034
. [Accessed: 27 August 2019]
• Hassan, (1997), Conplan: construction planning and buildability

evaluation in an integrated and intelligent construction environment.
PhD Thesis, University of Salford, United Kingdom.
• Griffith, A (1987), An Investigation into Factors Influencing Buildability

and Levels of Productivity for Application to Selecting Alternative
Design Solution. A Preliminary Report, The Chartered Institute of
Building, London
Any muddy points?

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5CN001

Brownfield Regeneration and

analysis and evaluation

 Lack of integration between design & construction

 Lack of collaboration/communication between designers

 Construction is not viewed as production

 Functional view in construction project management

 Late or non involvement of key stakeholders in the design

Design and construction is viewed as an integrated process

Buildability ‘is the extent to which

CII defines constructability as “the

Buildability is ‘the optimum integration of construction

Construction Industry Institute (CII)

Most of the initial research work on buildability was

 The Construction Industry Research Information

 The Construction Industry Institute (CII) based in

 Please note: buildability is know as

The CIRIA identified 16 guideline principles for good

The CIRIA identified 16 guideline principles for good

The CII also identified 12 guideline principles for good

1. Integration of constructibility into project plan

7. Overall project program must be realistic and have the

commitment of the project team (Involve those who will do the

Removal of any uncertainties in the

Improved utilization of resources

Optimisation of construction method

Improved safety and better productivity

Enabling improved decision is made at

Time and cost benefits

Improved quality in the finished

• Construction-driven planning and programming

• Standardisation and repetition of design element

• Specification development for construction efficiency

• Design should allow access for material, labour and plant

• Design should allow for construction under harsh weather

Who is at fault here; the designer or the

Door below the finish floor level

What are the problems with this WC?

What went wrong here?

What went wrong here?

How did we get here?

What is wrong with this design?

How could we prevent all of these scenarios seen in the

What is wrong with this design?

Three principal criteria for good buildability

This process is now enhanced with the emergence of BIM

Conflict between architectural and structural drawing

Conflict between architectural and structural drawing

Water pipe going through an opening instead of wall

 Is the programme collaborative?

 Who are those involved in the programme?

 Are key stakeholders such as the subcontractors

 How was the activity duration arrived at?

 What procurement option to use (D&B, MC, CM)

 Does the procurement option support early

 Engagement of specialist contractors and

Discuss how the arrangement of facilities on site could lead

• Allow modular layout of