4A: Project Plans, Budgets, Work Stages

Question 1

What is the general programme of a construction project?

Answer 1

1. Pre-start meeting
2. mobilisation period
3. date of possession (responsibility of the site is transferred from client to main contractor)
4. construction phase (including regular site inspections, progress meetings, valuations etc)
5. Handover (which happens following practical completion)
6. Rectification and maintenance period
7. Final completion

Question 2

What is the general agenda of a pre-start meeting?

Answer 2

• introductions: roles, responsibilities, contact details
• project: description, site, special requirements
• Contract formalities
• Statutory matters: any legislation or by-laws, e.g. TPOs
• CDM and Health and Safety
• Contractual matters: programme, site organisation etc
• Clerk of works matters
• Consultants matters
• QS matters
• communications
• meetings

Question 3

What is the general agenda of a progress meeting?

Answer 3

• present and apologies
• minutes of last meeting
• any matters arising
• contractors, clerk of work, Consultants, and QS’s reports
• communications
• contract completion date
• AOB

Question 4

What progress certificates exist?

Answer 4

• Progress payment certificates
• practical completion certificates
• penultimate payment certificate (releases half of retention fee, normally 2.5%)
• Certificate of making good
• Certificate of final completion (releases remaining half of retention fee)

Question 5

What are the RIBA work stages?

Answer 5

00: Strategic Definition - work acquired via bid/design competition/direct appointment etc
01: Preparation and Brief
02: Concept design
03: Detailed Design
04: Technical Design (finishing with appointment of contractor)
05: Construction (finishing with practical completion)
06: Handover (finishing with final completion)
07: In Use