5.Quality Management

5.1 Quality Management EN 1990

• 5.1.1 EN 1990: Basis of Structural Design. Quality Management
  • 5.1.1.1 (E0-S:2.5) "In order to provide a structure that corresponds to the requirements and to the assumptions made in the design, appropriate quality management measures should be in place." These measures comprise:
  • 5.1.1.2 Definition of Reliability Requirements [EN 1990:2000 ANNEX B]
  • 5.1.1.3 Quality Assurance via organizational measures: Methodologies at a Corporate level and Individual responsibilities. [QAD]
  • 5.1.1.4 Quality Control at the different Stages of Design [QCD]
  • 5.1.1.5 Quality Control at the different Stages of Execution, Use and Maintenance [QAC and QCC]
  • 5.1.1.6 EN ISO 9001:2000 is an acceptable basis for quality management measures, where relevant.

5.2 Quality Assurance Pre-Construction (QAD)

• 5.2.1 Summary [i]
  • 5.2.1.1
• 5.2.2 Project deliverables to be scheduled as early as possible.
  • 5.2.2.1 Document Register Tracker at the beginning of Stage 3
  • 5.2.2.2 Drawing Register Tracker at the beginning of Stage 3
• 5.2.3 Project Analysis Documents to be scheduled as early as possible. [i]
  • 5.2.3.1 Calculation Pack Register. Groups: Stability, Foundation, Basement, Gravity Loads, Foundation . . .
  • 5.2.3.2
  • 5.2.3.3 Internal Tracker for Calculations Packs to be stablished at the beginning of Stage 3
• 5.2.4 Determine the workflows of the project and identify risks and establish mitigation.[i]
  • 5.2.4.1 Workflows and dependencies. Normally Workflows will be associated to Structural Systems. [All team members to participate]
  • 5.2.4.2
• 5.2.5 Planning for iterative process. Documents can be reviewed and commented, so Designers can incorporate comments. [i]
  • 5.2.5.1 Internal Tracker for Calculations Packs
  • 5.2.5.2
• 5.2.6 Project Documents Approval by the allocated responsible. [ISO 9001:2000] [i]
  • 5.2.6.1 All Documents will have on the front page a reference to the different revisions and the respective approval process includding the people involved. The project plan should have previously designated the Director approver and the engineer author of the document.
  • 5.2.6.2
• 5.2.7 Documentation
  • 5.2.7.1 Document control and file system at the corporation level should be in place and respected by all members. [This includes File naming conventions].
  • 5.2.7.2 All Internal and External documents to be indexed and tabulated.
  • 5.2.7.3 Drawings to follow specific protocols. If Project Specific requirements exist the Project Plan will reflect on those.
  • 5.2.7.4 Specifications will be based on Corporation Standards and each project will have it specific addendums.
  • 5.2.7.5 External Documents will reflect the quality standards of the organization.
  • 5.2.7.6 Internal Documents will provide a framework to the Design program and the design progress.
• 5.2.8 Auditing and Design Supervision Differentiation [EN 1990:2000 ANNEX B]
  • 5.2.8.1 Peer Reviews are fundamental procedure to ensure design is shared at a corporate level. The recommendations and comments need to be stored and reviewed in the following revisions. Ideally the revisions need to coincide with the Riba Stages.
  • 5.2.8.2 DSL Design Supervision Levels can be combined with other QC measures: qualification of the checkers, designers and checking authorities.
• 5.2.9 Project Director to file Quality Control processes,
  • 5.2.9.1 An Internal Document needs to reflect and record all the Quality Control Processes at each stage: Design Risks transferred to the next stage, quality processes and design contingencies. The Design Supervision will also be decided with the client depending on the relevance and the consequence class of the project.
• 5.2.10 Site investigations and Tests Required [EN 1990:2000 ANNEX C]
  • 5.2.10.1 At each design stage the project should specify the tests and investigations required. These will be associated to a design Risk register which both need to be updated and issued at each design stage. [See 2.Design Methodologies]

5.3 Quality Control Pre-Construction (QCD)

• 5.3.1 Summary [i]
  • 5.3.1.1
• 5.3.2 Project Compliance with Statuary Standards
  • 5.3.2.1 Eurocodes protocol to be followed.
  • 5.3.2.2 UK Building Regulations
• 5.3.3 Specific Compliance Checks to be carried out on:
  • 5.3.3.1 Progressive collapse and design of Key elements
  • 5.3.3.2 Fire
  • 5.3.3.3 Accidental Loads
  • 5.3.3.4 Specific Quality Controls requirements during construction for Key elements.
  • 5.3.3.5 Non Regulatory Documents to be listed
• 5.3.4 Documentary checks
  • 5.3.4.1 To be Commented
• 5.3.5 Drawing and Documents to be checked [i]
  • 5.3.5.1 There will be elements to check throughout the project to keep document consistency and completeness
  • 5.3.5.2

5.4 Quality Assurance in Construction (QAC)

• 5.4.1 Summary [i]
  • 5.4.1.1
• 5.4.2 Inspections during Execution. Inspection Levels IL [EN 1990:2000 ANNEX B]
  • 5.4.2.1 The Inspection levels will be decided in relation to the quality Management Classes selected. The Content and Scope of these inspections will be determined in relation to material specific Standards. See Eurocodes 1992 to 1999.
• 5.4.3 Site construction, Inspections of Site controls and procedures.
  • 5.4.3.1 Engineers should operate on the basis that all the necessary information has already been submitted. Site inspections are a for verification process only.
• 5.4.4 Off site construction, inspections of fabrication controls and procedures.
  • 5.4.4.1 Off site inspections will be scheduled at the end of Stage 4. The Contractor will coordinate and facilitate those.
• 5.4.5 Site presentations, to make sure that all Drawings and Specification are understood and followed by the Site managers.
  • 5.4.5.1 Site presentations will be critical to make site personnel aware of the expectations of the project. Engineers are responsible for the communication aspects related to our project.
• 5.4.6 Site inspections to be planned with schedules of necessary elements to be checked.
  • 5.4.6.1 All Site inspections will be recorded and filed.

5.5 Quality Control in Construction (QCC)

• 5.5.1 Summary [i]
  • 5.5.1.1
• 5.5.2 Project Controls specified in advance of the design.
  • 5.5.2.1 To be Commented
• 5.5.3 Specific QC Regular meeting should be conducted with all Team attendance and reporting.
  • 5.5.3.1 To be Commented



Case study: Marbel Arch

This project presented a unique opportunity during construction. The contractor identified a critical path that involved both excavating the five-story basement and constructing the tower, including its concrete core. It was recognized that starting these two processes simultaneously could result in significant time savings, which was worth exploring.

The proposed solution was to build a massive truss supported at eight points, allowing the construction of a 19-story reinforced concrete core above it while excavation continued to the -5 level below. Afterward, the core’s foundation would be constructed and connected to the core from beneath.

I focus on the dynamic relationship between "Analysis," "Design," and "Quality Control," aiming to cultivate a mindset that transcends routine verification. It’s about finding that perfect balance where meticulous calculations meet bold, inventive design and execution.

Incorporating elements like: Observational Method, execution control, spot testing, contingency planning, and `what if` reaction planning, were able to bring this seemingly daring design to life safely. Together, these measures ensured that risks were effectively managed and kept within acceptable limits.