Project Planning
A Preconstruction Risk Checklist
A concise checklist for scope, approvals, existing conditions, procurement, schedule, and handover planning before work starts.
Preconstruction turns design information into an executable plan. The work should identify incomplete decisions, approval constraints, procurement risks, and site conditions before they disrupt construction.
Scope and information
- Confirm the owner’s requirements and success criteria
- Record inclusions, exclusions, allowances, and unresolved decisions
- Coordinate drawings, specifications, surveys, and consultant information
- Establish who can approve scope, cost, and programme changes
Site and approvals
- Verify existing conditions and access constraints
- Confirm planning, permit, utility, and inspection requirements
- Identify hazardous materials, temporary works, and protection needs
- Record neighbour, occupancy, noise, and working-hour constraints
Cost and procurement
- Reconcile the current estimate with the current design
- Test long-lead materials and specialist trade availability
- Define substitution, sample, and submittal approval procedures
- Separate contingency from known but unpriced scope
Programme and handover
- Link design decisions and approvals to the construction programme
- Define hold points, inspections, testing, and quality records
- Plan commissioning, training, warranties, and closeout documents
- Agree how defects and incomplete work will be tracked
The checklist should become a live project record. Items that remain uncertain need an owner, a due date, and a clear consequence if they are not resolved.