Relationship between building floor and construction labor productivity : A case of structural work

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between building floor and labor productivity of the structural work including formwork installation and rebar fabrication/installation.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study methodology and learning curve theory are adopted for the paper. Records from the structural work of a 20-storey apartment building were analyzed to calculate floor-based labor productivities.

Findings

Labor productivity of the formwork activity increased more than twice in the first five floors. If the first cycle (floor 2) is omitted, the straight-line learning curve model shows a learning rate of 83.5 percent. Labor productivity of the rebar activity tended to increase in the first 15 floors. If the first two cycles are omitted, the straight-line learning curve model indicates a learning rate of 83.6 percent.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is needed to examine and quantify factors that affect the level of learning in high-rise building construction. The relationship between building floor and labor productivity should be further investigated for other construction activities.

Practical implications

Practitioners should consider the relationship between building floor and labor productivity and learning effects when planning manpower and construction duration for individual activities and for a building.

Originality/value

The paper substantiates the hypothesis that labor productivity does not reach 100 percent of the normal level at the very first floors while they do not support the hypothesis that labor productivity does not reach 100 percent at the top floors.

Citation

D. Nguyen, L. and T. Nguyen, H. (2013), "Relationship between building floor and construction labor productivity : A case of structural work", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 563-575. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2012-0034