Description

My hat is off to the construction superintendent, that man or woman in the field who supervises the process of creating the structures we work in, play in and live in. All too often the days are long, the problems overwhelming and the possibility of adverse weather adds another variable to the equation. But through it all work goes on and somehow it gets built.

Construction is the largest single industry in the United States, providing employment for more than 5.2 million people and generating a total industry payroll of more than $32 billion. In 1991, the new construction put in place totaled $391.4 billion, and although substantially less than the $434 billion volume experienced in 1990, it is still a very respectable figure. The people associated with this industry ought to feel that they have made, and will continue to make, a substantial contribution to their communities and to their nation.

The superintendent on a construction project is one of the key participants in the entire construction process. He or she is the individual primarily responsible for the demanding task of orchestrating the activities of a small army of specialists in order to create a structure to house both man and his machines.

The construction superintendent must be knowledgeable in a wide range of technical matters and, at times, assume the role of engineer, lawyer, traffic cop, psychiatrist, teacher, father confessor and even magician. The construction superintendent must be strong and firm when strength and firmness is required, and soft spoken and understanding when that need arises. He or she must be fair-always-and above all possess the ability to create and maintain a harmonious team that will work toward a common goal-the successful and timely completion of the construction project.

At various times during the construction process, the superintendent will be able to call upon many experts in the field for advice and assistance, but at other times decisions will have to be made on the spot, with no time for reflection or consultation with others, and hopefully, this book will come in handy during those times.

The Construction Superintendent’s Handbook will assist those people striving to attain the respected position of superintendent and will also provide more than a few insights for those experienced professionals who have achieved this goal.

This book is divided into three sections with many chapters within each one of these sections.