Constructability Review

Constructability reviews, sometimes called buildability reviews, are performed on drawings and specifications for commercial and government buildings. They are very broad reviews that attempt to answer three main questions:

Constructability Review Defined

Constructability reviews of construction documents attempt to analyze and assess the construction feasibility in three ways:

Part 1 - Is there enough information and is it consistent?

The first part of performing a constructability review is answering the question, "Is there enough information on the drawings and in the specifications to build the building, and is this information consistent?" For example, is the electrical generator shown on the site plans specified and detailed? Is it clear how it is to be mounted and supported? Does its size and capacity match that expected by the electrical plans?

Does the Nigro Firm do this with KeenLook? YES

Part 2 - Do any of the systems interfere with each other?

Constructability reviews also answer, "Will any of the systems in the building interfere with each other?" For example, is a light fixture, HVAC grille, and fire sprinkler head all to be installed in the same “square” of an ACT tile ceiling according to the drawings? Another example, is there enough space in the ceiling to hold all the items that are shown to be there (beams, ductwork, light fixtures, piping, insulation, etc.)?

Does the Nigro Firm do this with KeenLook? YES

Part 3 - Are instructions actually "do-able?"

The last main question that a constructability review answers is "Are the actual instructions given in the construction documents do-able?" For example, if a large HVAC unit is to be placed in a basement Mechanical Room, is there a way to get it into the room after the walls are up, or is there a provision to get the unit in the space before the walls go up? Or, are there local noise ordinances that prevent construction work after 6 pm and weekends? With those restrictions, is there enough time to complete the construction? A multitude of the provisions given in Division 01 of the Project Manual can raise a large number of considerations to be made in performing a constructability review. For this part of the definition of constructability review, see [1]: constructability review specifics.

Does the Nigro Firm do this with KeenLook? NO

Depending upon who you talk to, constructability review can consist of just one or two, or all three, of the parts of the definition we've discussed.

Some constructability review services out there define their service in an entirely different manner... as an interdisciplinary coordination review performed in the same order as the sequence of construction. However, this does not match our definition of interdisciplinary coordination review.

A nice “Lesson in Constructability 101” is provided by California’s Coalition for Adequate School Housing [2]. They indicate that “A constructability review is a review of the plans and specifications to check for buildability and bidability.”

So it appears that there is not a consistent industry-wide accepted definition of “constructability review,” either!

Does the Nigro Firm do Constructability Reviews?

Our service, KeenLookconstruction document coordination review, takes on many of the elements of the first part of the constructability review definition listed above. We look for consistency in the information presented and look for missing information that would be necessary to build the building.

We also attempt to answer the part 2 constructability review question of “Do any of the systems in the building interfere with each other?”… often by overlaying plans on a light table to detect interference or conflicts.

The “bidability” term used to describe a constructability review is very interesting. The Nigro Firm most definitely includes this in its reviews. Is the information presented in a logical way where the contractor can easily see what is required? Is it clear what the contractor is to do? A set of construction documents that are clean and coordinated will produce a tighter set of bids and more responsive bidders, since everyone is bidding on the same thing.

Often we are not able to verify the elements typically checked in a constructability review that relate to “is it really do-able” if that data does not appear in the construction documents. See part 3 listed above. This is due to key information missing from the drawings and specs. To continue the example given in part 3, the dimensions of the large HVAC units, and their ability to be disassembled into smaller pieces and then reassembled, are normally not given in a set of construction documents. Typically, that type of information is only known once contractor submittals are approved.

For additional information, give Natalie a call. She'll be delighted to help you.

Nigro Firm Services

Alternate Terms for
Constructability Review

• Buildability Review
• Constructibility Review
• Constructability and Buildability Services
• RediCheck Review

References

• [1] Constructability Review. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Keville Enterprises Web site: http://www.keville.com/constructability_review2.htm
• [2] Dovichi, S A Lesson in Constructability 101. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from Coalition for Adequate School Housing Web site: http://www.cashnet.org/resource-center/Section3/3-4-12.html

Top