Top 9 traits of a trustworthy commercial construction company

Undertaking commercial construction projects is a herculean task. And it goes without saying that you need a trustworthy construction partner to successfully plan and execute these projects. With so many commercial construction companies in the market, it can be daunting to choose the right partner. So let’s take a look at the top 10 traits that can help you easily shortlist and find the best commercial construction services firm.

1.    Experience – Go through the past projects and clients of the commercial construction company. The quality and timelines of their past projects will help you find the way their team works as a whole.

2.    Expertise – Try to understand the expertise of the company by looking at the kind of projects they have delivered. Has this company completed a project similar to what you are looking for? If not, have they or their team delivered projects of that scale.

3.    Project Management – Commercial Construction companies should be good at project management. After all, you need the cost-effective project plans with deadlines to ensure the project gets completed on time. In commercial construction projects such as a multi-speciality hospital or a high-end shopping mall, unforeseen delays can occur. Your construction partner should have a good network of project planners, labours, vendors and other important contacts to ensure timely resolution of delays in projects.

4.    Customization – A good commercial construction company will have the right resources and expertise to support all the customization needs as per your vision for the project.

5.    Transparency – A construction partner should be clear and transparent in communication. Million dollar projects see the light of the day with the help of clear communication.

6.    Code of conduct – Find out whether the company works in accordance with the prescribed industry standards in terms of safety, quality and integrity. How serious are they about following the legal formalities and maintaining the necessary documentation to build and maintain the commercial construction space.

7.    Ethics – There is enough opportunity for resorting to unethical ways in a commercial construction project. Among your shortlisted companies,check which ones are strict about ethics.

8.    Technology and Innovation – Research about whether the company uses the latest techniques, tools and methodologies. This will tell you whether they areinnovative in their approach.

9.    Sustainability – Every forward-thinking stakeholder in the construction industry needs to understand the importance of sustainable use of resources. Check out the views of your construction partner on sustainability in projects to understand them better.

Differences Between Commercial and Industrial Construction

As per the Oxford dictionaries, the meaning of industrial is given as ‘designed or suitable for use in industry’. The term ‘commercial’ means ‘concerned with or engaged in commerce’. In the construction industry, we come across commercial construction companies as well as industrial construction companies. To gain a deeper understanding, let’s unlock the major differences between commercial and industrial construction.

1. Purpose of the project – The design and development of restaurants, retail chains, offices, shopping centres, entertainment hubs and more that deal with commerce come under commercial projects. Industrial projects may or may not be a part of commercial projects. Industrial construction mainly deal with planning and undertaking electrical, civil and/or mechanical construction works for of small, medium or large scale manufacturing units or industrial zones. An industrial project also includes construction of mega factories.
2. What matters? – For commercial construction companies, the design and aesthetic appeal of the construction plays an important role. Commercial spaces are generally used by end customers, so even the most basic facilities should strike a chord with the users. Commercial construction is basically setting up spaces where the goods manufactured in industrial buildings can be sold. Creating innovative design plans for commercial construction helps in increased earnings for property owners as prime commercial properties carry higher value compared to industrial spaces.
3. Choosing the construction site – For industrial construction, site with suitable connectivity by land, air or sea is important. For commercial construction, easy access for customers, parking space and other consumer-friendly facilities are needed. Experienced construction companies are adept at finding the ideal construction sites.
4. Infrastructure support – The electricity, drainage and other infrastructure support is another differentiator for construction projects. Industrial construction might need heavy loads of electricity to operate huge machinery while commercial construction may need a well-planned centralized air conditioning system.
5. Project challenges – Industrial construction companies hire specialized contractors. They produce customized parts, assembly lines and more based on the needs of the project. The commercial construction companies recruit modern design experts who may have to work with traditional contractors. The number of challenges faced during project management stages can be tackled only by expert project planners of the reputed construction companies.
6. Finalizing the project – Commercial construction sites require a different set of permits compared to industrial sites. Based on the type of business that will be run in the constructed space, the construction company applies for the relevant local, national and global permissions/licenses/certifications in order to close the project.

Beginning construction of any structure be it commercial or industrial requires a foresight of possible hurdles and their solutions. Construction companies with rich industry experience are aware of these crucial areas along with the procedures to acquire all the necessary certifications.

Are you looking for a commercial or industrial construction expert to successfully execute projects? We are a reputed and highly experienced construction company with a team of expert engineers to design and construct small, medium and large scale projects. Partner with us to execute cost-effective construction projects.

5 Safety Tips for Construction Workers

Construction workers are superheroes who risk their life and safety to build complex and simple constructions for the need of others. Understandable it’s their work but that does not simplify the amount of risks undertaken to complete projects and ensure that they are safe in the long run. Working as a construction worker is not easy and requires great care and diligence since most of the work is extremely dangerous and deals with heavy weight machines, wobbling stairs, and heights. The risks can stress out an industrial construction worker but thankfully are safety measures which can make help to avoid common injuries.

1. Much of the work is done using tools of different kinds. Therefore, if the designs are not ergonomic and the instruments portable, work will slow down and become difficult to manage. Gripping the same uncomfortable and heavy hammer can strain your hand and numb the fingers finally causing it to slip from your hands. Continued usage can even cause tendonitis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome etc. High powered tools can cause excessive vibration and noise. It is better to use them at lower vibrations using both hands.
2. Lifting heavy objects is part of daily construction work. Care should be taken while picking anything heavy because backaches can be really troublesome and can affect work. Don’t twist while lifting an object and always bend your knees. This strains the muscles less and helps maintain balance.
3. Protective apparels are a must for construction workers. They should be provided with safety helmets, harnesses, protective eyewear, ear muffs, and rubber gloves. While operating heavy machinery bright colored clothes should be worn for maximum visibility. Safety boots are a must and should be of the non-skid variety so that it can be used on any surface. A breathing mask often helps to work with unpleasant and even toxic fumes. It is a protection against dust and other allergens which are found in construction sites. Safety gears should be removed cautiously to avoid any wear and tear.
4. Scaffolds are highly risky but they are always necessary for industrial construction companies. They should be constructed on a rigid and solid surface and around 10 feet away from the power source or line. Never leave any debris or instruments on the scaffold while leaving work, keep it as clean as possible. Scaffolds should not be used in bad weather because they increase the risk of accidents. The construction and dismantling of the scaffold should be overseen by an experienced supervisor to reduce the chances of mishaps.
5. High voltage electricity is used in any industrial construction. But caution should be exercised to see that the wires are safe and there is no wear and tear. While using portable devices like drills and grinders check if the power supply has proper earthing. If there is any problem with the machines ask the mechanic to check rather than tinkering with it yourself. Basic training is necessary for handling electrical equipments which should be provided during training.