Site-readiness checklist for steel erection
Foundations, anchor bolts, crane power, access, laydown, safety and sequencing — the 45 checks our erection engineers run before the first column is lifted. Tick as you go, print it, or have the PDF emailed to you.
Your ticks are saved in this browser. C = usually client / civil contractor, M = MAXXINFRA under an EPC or erection scope, J = joint.
1 · Documents & approvals
2 · Foundations & anchor bolts
3 · Access & logistics
4 · Power, water & welfare
5 · Lifting & equipment
6 · Safety & site rules
7 · Sequencing & interfaces
8 · Handover prerequisites
The checks that save the most time
Anchor bolts. Nine out of ten erection delays we see start at the pedestal: bolts set without templates, projections too short after a late level change, or a bolt group rotated 90°. Survey every group against the setting plan before the pour and again before steel arrives, and keep the signed sheet — it is the reference when a column does not land.
Laydown on the right side. Steel is loaded by erection sequence and must be shaken out beside the first braced bay. A yard on the wrong side of the building costs a second handling of every member.
Foundation release matched to sequence. Erection starts at a braced bay and works both ways. Releasing pedestals in the civil contractor's convenient order instead of the erector's sequence leaves cranes waiting.
Power and lifting sized early. A 63 A three-phase point and a crane chosen from the heaviest rafter segment and radius prevent the two most common mobilisation surprises.
Tolerances we work to
| Item | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Anchor bolt centre-to-centre within a group | ±3 mm |
| Bolt group centre to column grid line | ±6 mm |
| Bolt projection above pedestal | 0 / +10 mm |
| Pedestal top level (grout 25–50 mm) | −10 / 0 mm |
| Bolt plumb | ≤ 1 : 100 |
| Building diagonals | difference ≤ 10 mm |
| Column plumb after erection | ≤ 1 : 500 (max 25 mm) |
| Crane beam top level between adjacent columns | ±3 mm; rail gauge ±5 mm |
Values are typical PEB practice aligned with IS 800 and MBMA erection tolerances; the project anchor-bolt plan governs where it states otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
What anchor bolt tolerances should the civil contractor hold?
Typical PEB practice: bolt centre-to-centre within a group ±3 mm, group centre to column grid ±6 mm, bolt projection above the pedestal 0 to +10 mm, pedestal top level −10 to 0 mm against the design level with a 25–50 mm grout space, and plumb of each bolt within 1:100. Always set bolts with the fabricator's steel templates and survey them before the concrete pour and again before erection.
How much laydown area does steel erection need?
Plan on about 1,000–1,500 m² of levelled, compacted laydown per 500 MT delivered in a month, plus an unloading bay of around 30 × 15 m next to the trailer route. Members are stacked on sleepers by erection sequence, so the yard must sit on the side of the building where erection starts.
When can erection start after the pedestals are cast?
Columns can usually be set once the pedestal concrete has reached about 70 % of its design strength — typically 7 days with ordinary Portland cement — provided the anchor bolts were cast in and surveyed. Full tightening, grouting and crane loads wait for 28-day strength unless the structural engineer accepts test cubes earlier.
Who provides cranes and power on site?
It depends on the contract. Under a MAXXINFRA EPC or erection scope we bring hydras, telescopic cranes and welding sets; the client provides a three-phase power point, water, site lighting and a secure laydown area. Under a supply-only scope the client's erector arranges lifting. The checklist marks each item by the usual owner.
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