The construction process with most lo rise commercial and industrial building, particularly those using structural steel frame and/or tilt up construction is as follows:
Once the award has been made and all the necessary permits are in place to commence work onsite there is generally a mobilisation period necessary to have the first trades works commence onsite.
This work relates to any demolition work associated with existing structures onsite, stripping of any vegetation onsite, bulk earthworks, subsoil works and benching as well as construction of any retaining structures
Once the bulk earthworks are complete the services work can begin in earnest. Everything that needs to be installed prior to the floor slabs being poured and any stone being brought in and laid to provide for roadworks and/or access needs to be completed at this stage.
Concrete works including the floor slab and tilt panel manufacture are completed in this stage culminating in the tilt panel lift. The lift day is the day where it appears that the most action occurs on the project for its whole duration.
However, generally many weeks of work has gone into constructing the tilt panels and preparation for the lift day itself.
Once the tilt panels are in place the steel erection can be commence.
In building without concrete panels steel erection can commence once the footings are complete allowing the for slab to be poured one the building has been erected.
Once the roof steel is in place the roof cladder can perform a final measure and look to order and install the roof sheeting on this project, ready for installation.
While the steel erection is in the final stages of completion and/or while the cladding is underway, we generally undertake any structural brickwork or other supporting construction for suspended slabs. This includes; installation of precast concrete floor elements or installation of formwork, ready for the concrete suspended slab to be poured.
As the project progresses the external windows and doors will be fitted to achieve a stage called “lockup”. At this point, where the building is secure and water tight, allowing internal fitout to commence.
This ensures any finishes being installed are not damaged by weather ingress.
During this stage, finishes as ceilings and wall linings, internal non loadbearing walls, wet area finishes, tiling, services reticulation and fit off, painting, cabinets and floor finishes.
Generally where the building internals start to take shape.
The external works can get underway in earnest once the building walls go up and the steel erection is complete. These works include roadworks, kerbing, paving, fencing and landscaping as well as the cladding work and painting to the external facades of the building.
As the building nears completion, a process of compiling the necessary certifications to demonstrate compliance of all of the improvements with the relevant clauses of the national construction code, and any other relevant approvals all to allow the building to be handed over with the minimum of fuss and delay as the works draw to completion.
For more information on our the construction process, please call 08 9456 1955 or email info@mapel.com.au to talk to one of our construction experts.
As a second-generation family business, Mapel Building has been designing and constructing commercial and industrial buildings in Perth, Western Australia for over 25 years.