What are the best ways to comply with construction standards?

1 Know the relevant standards

Identifying and understanding the standards that apply to your project is the first step. These may include national, regional, or local codes and regulations, as well as industry-specific standards and guidelines. Common sources of construction standards are the International Code Council (ICC), which publishes the International Building Code (IBC) and other codes for various aspects of construction; the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), which publishes standards for structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, and environmental engineering; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which regulates workplace safety and health for construction workers and contractors; and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program for sustainable construction. It is essential to consult these sources to determine the standards that apply to your project, and to remain informed on any changes or revisions. Additionally, you should check with your client, owner, or stakeholder to see if they have any specific requirements or preferences for the project.

2 Implement a quality management system

Establishing a quality management system (QMS) for your project is the next step. This set of policies, procedures, and tools will help you plan, execute, monitor, and improve your project quality. A QMS can also help you comply with construction standards by defining objectives and scope, assigning roles and responsibilities to team members and subcontractors, establishing quality control and assurance processes, documenting activities and results, recording issues, implementing corrective and preventive actions, and introducing continuous improvement measures. You can use various tools and methods to implement a QMS such as quality plans, checklists, manuals, reports, software, and standards. Additionally, you can adhere to a recognized framework like ISO 9001 which is an international standard for quality management.

3 Train and educate your team

Adhering to construction standards requires training and educating your team members and subcontractors on the standards and how to apply them. This can help ensure everyone is aware of the standards and their implications, enhance the skills of those involved, reduce the risk of errors, defects, accidents, and non-compliance issues, and foster a culture of quality and excellence. You can provide training through workshops, seminars, webinars, courses, manuals, guides, videos, podcasts or online platforms like Coursera, Udemy or edX. Doing so can improve performance and productivity while increasing the quality and safety of your project.

4 Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders

The final step of any construction project is to communicate and collaborate with stakeholders, such as clients, owners, regulators, inspectors, and suppliers. This can help you establish clear expectations and requirements that align with the standards, build trust with your stakeholders, solicit feedback from them, coordinate activities and processes, and ensure a smooth project delivery. You can communicate and collaborate through various channels, including meetings, emails, phone calls, reports, presentations, and dashboards. Additionally, online tools like Zoom, Slack or Asana can be used to facilitate communication and collaboration among stakeholders. Ultimately, complying with construction standards is not only a legal obligation but also a competitive advantage. By following the best practices outlined here you can guarantee your project meets the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability while delivering value to your stakeholders.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?