Harvey Builders: Enhancing Construction Efficiency for a 17-Story Building Project
May 13, 2024
Introduction
In the complex world of construction, delays can lead to significant financial losses and operational inefficiencies. Harvey Builders, a general contractor tasked with erecting a 17-story building covering 420,000 square feet, encountered such challenges firsthand. This case study highlights how Sensytec’s advanced sensor technology played a pivotal role in overcoming obstacles, ensuring the project remained on schedule and met all quality standards.
Challenges Encountered
The construction of a high-rise building is a monumental task fraught with complexities. Harvey Builders faced a significant hurdle:
- Project Delays Due to Testing Discrepancies: The contractor was set back three weeks due to low cylinder break results from third-party testing labs, indicating that the concrete used did not meet the specified strength requirements. This discrepancy threatened to extend the timeline and inflate the project’s costs.
Sensytec's Solution
Sensytec stepped in with a solution designed to address and rectify the issue head-on:
- Real-Time Concrete Monitoring: Sensytec deployed 10 sensors per floor, enabling the tracking of in-place temperature and compressive strength of the concrete in real-time. This approach allowed for immediate validation of the concrete’s performance, revealing that it met the specified strength within just 10 hours of pouring—a stark contrast to the third-party lab’s findings.
Realized Benefits
- Accelerated Project Schedule: The use of Sensytec’s sensors allowed Harvey Builders to save two days per pour, culminating in a total project acceleration of 34 days. This significant time savings helped bring the construction schedule back on track, mitigating previous delays.
- Operational Efficiencies: With the ability to confirm concrete strength in real-time, Harvey Builders could remove formwork within 24 hours and initiate post-tensioning operations sooner. This efficiency not only sped up the construction process but also reduced the time labor and machinery were required on site.
- Quality Control Improvements: Sensytec’s technology provided a more reliable and accurate method for verifying that the concrete met the necessary specifications. This precision in quality control was crucial for progressing with confidence, especially when third-party test results proved unreliable.
Impact on Project Success
- Cost Reductions: The streamlined project timeline led to significant cost savings, with Harvey Builders achieving $230,000 in reductions. These savings were realized through decreased on-site labor and machinery expenses, demonstrating the financial impact of Sensytec’s sensor technology beyond just time savings.
- Project Resumption: By correcting the discrepancies highlighted by third-party testing labs, Sensytec’s real-time data enabled the project to proceed without further delays, ensuring that the 17-story building could be completed efficiently and to the required standards.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Sensytec and Harvey Builders showcases the transformative potential of integrating smart technology into traditional construction processes. By leveraging real-time monitoring, Harvey Builders not only navigated out of a costly delay but also set a new standard for operational efficiency and quality control in the construction industry. This case study exemplifies how innovative solutions can directly impact a project’s success, providing valuable insights for future construction endeavors.