5 Applications of Value Engineering in a Solar Power Plant Project

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Value engineering was discussed in our previous article as an exercise that seeks to reduce the cost of a proposed project without affecting the quality and functionality of the development. A solar power project can immensely benefit from this exercise. Solar power generating plants aim to provide long-term sustainability in power generation and supply. Therefore, … Read more

Value Engineering in Construction

Value engineering in construction is a systematic, organized approach to providing necessary functions in a project at the lowest cost. It promotes the substitution of materials and methods with less expensive alternatives, without sacrificing the functionality of the project. This is because it is solely focused on the functions of the various components and materials, … Read more

Advanced Construction Scheduling Techniques

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As projects become more complex, uncertain and dynamic, simple construction scheduling methods may not be enough to cope with the challenges and the risks involved to help the project manager deliver successful outcomes, meet project deadlines and manage production resources efficiently. There is a need for more advanced scheduling techniques to cater for these complexities … Read more

3 Types of Subcontractors in Construction

subcontractor types construction

There are three universally recognised types of sub-contractors in the construction industry. These are domestic subcontractors, nominated subcontractors and named subcontractors. However, there exists a thin distinguishing line between the named and the nominated sub-contractor. We will be looking at them in more detail in this article. A developer intending to put up a building … Read more

Construction Regulatory Bodies in Kenya

Construction Regulatory Bodies

Construction regulatory bodies fall into four different categories. These categories come up as a result of the multidisciplinary and disjointed nature of the construction industry. There are those regulating the professionals and consultants, contractors and sub-contractors, the quality of materials and workmanship, and those regulating aspects of building design, including approval of developments. Regulation is … Read more

What is a Dimension Paper in Quantity Surveying?

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A dimension paper is very useful stationery for quantity surveyors. Especially in the traditional practice of manually reading or scaling dimensions from a drawing, a dimension paper is used to record these dimensions in a recognised form. It is a specially ruled paper where dimensions are recorded by the quantity surveyor while performing quantity take-off. … Read more

Sources of Building Cost Information

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Reliable sources of building cost information are essential to any good cost management practice. Quantity surveyors need accurate data for developing reliable cost plans and preliminary cost estimates during the early phases of the design. When you need data, it is a good practice to refer to your in-house databases. Whether it is unit rates … Read more

5 Most Essential Contract Documents in a Construction Project

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Contract documents are an important set of essentials for any construction project. The construction of any building or civil engineering structure involves multivariate teams and a large number of people coming together. To govern their relationships and ensure the smooth execution of the project, a construction contract is drafted and signed. By definition, a construction … Read more

Role of NCA in the Construction Industry

NCA Role

In this article, we will look at the role played by NCA (National Construction Authority) in the Kenyan construction industry. We will cover its legal establishment, its mandate and the legal instruments that back up its functions. What is NCA? The National Construction Authority (NCA) is a state corporation that was established by an act … Read more