A foreman’s plan structures the daily sequence on the construction site and translates the execution planning into concrete, takt-controlled work steps. In demolition, deconstruction, building gutting, rock excavation, or natural stone extraction, it defines when personnel, equipment, and logistics come together and which safety and environmental protection measures apply. Especially for methods using concrete pulverizers as well as rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter, the foreman’s plan provides the basis for work with low vibration levels and reduced noise, clean separation cut and split quality, and a predictable material flow.
Definition: What is meant by foreman’s plan
A foreman’s plan is an execution-oriented construction sequence and resource plan that is continuously updated by the foreman or site management. It specifies the construction schedule at a daily or weekly level and defines the sequence in which structural elements are processed, which teams are deployed, and which equipment is provided. This includes the allocation of hydraulic tools such as concrete pulverizers, rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter, hydraulic power packs, as well as hydraulic demolition shear and steel shears, along with the planning of access routes, setup areas, power supply, disposal, and safety measures. The foreman’s plan is not a rigid document; it is continuously adapted to construction progress, weather, delivery and permit situations, and serves a safe, quality-assured, and economical process. Legal requirements are generally taken into account; however, specific obligations must always be reviewed on a project-specific basis.
Structure and contents of a foreman’s plan
The foreman’s plan describes the takt of work steps, the sequence of component processing, resource and equipment deployments, logistics, and interfaces. It links scheduling and capacity planning with the choice of method, for example the targeted use of concrete pulverizers for precisely metered concrete removal or of rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter for controlled separation of massive components. It covers the provision of hydraulic power packs with appropriate working pressure and flow rate, the routing of hydraulic hose lines, the handling of pulverizers, shears, cylinders, and tank cutters, the sequence of building gutting, the construction waste separation of materials, as well as protective and shielding measures against dust, noise, and vibrations. In addition, access routes, emergency egress routes, interim material storage areas, haul-off, traffic safety, crane operations, and surveying are considered.
Planning equipment deployment: from concrete pulverizers to rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter
The selection and takt of equipment are the core of the foreman’s plan. Concrete pulverizers are suitable for selective removal at edges, slab edges, beam ends, or walls, especially when a gentle, low-vibration method is required. Rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter and hydraulic splitter show their strengths on massive foundations, thick walls, or in rock when controlled split joints are needed. Hydraulic demolition shear and Multi Cutters support building gutting and the separation of mixed materials, steel shear for cutting reinforcement or steel sections separately, while tank cutters are intended for special operations on thick-walled vessels and special cuts. The integration of hydraulic power packs with sufficient flow, hose routing, positioning of packs, and safety distances are specified precisely in the foreman’s plan to minimize setup and changeover times and safeguard performance reserves.
Performance metrics, takts, and piece sequences
In the foreman’s plan, daily outputs and takt times are derived from experience, trial sections, or benchmark values. For concrete pulverizers, gripping cycles, edge removal per hour, and the achievable fragment size are decisive. For rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter, the drill pattern, splitting force, setting times, and the desired crack path determine the takt. The planning considers approach routes, tool changes, material storage of fragments, and coordination with waste disposal logistics and transport logistics.
Power supply and hydraulic power packs
Hydraulic tools require a stable supply. The foreman’s plan specifies power pack locations, hose lengths, kink protection and protection against pinch points, alternating operation of multiple tools, and daily technical checks. Requirements for working pressure and flow are defined project-specifically; compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications is mandatory. In enclosed or sensitive areas, ventilation, emissions, and temperature development are proactively considered.
Areas of application and special requirements
The foreman’s plan must be designed to accurately represent the conditions at the place of use. Requirements differ between concrete demolition, building gutting, rock excavation, natural stone extraction, and special operations. Depending on the environment, accuracy, vibration input, noise, accessibility, and material separation determine the appropriate method and the sequence of pulverizing, cutting, or splitting operations.
Concrete demolition and special demolition
In concrete demolition, the foreman’s plan focuses on the structurally sensible sequence of removal, securing adjacent components, and controlled segmentation. Concrete pulverizers are planned for edge-near removals, openings, or the stepwise reduction of cross-sections to shed loads before a component is fully separated. For voluminous foundations or highly reinforced areas, rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter can pre-crack the concrete so that manageable blocks are released and subsequently hauled away. Steel shear selectively cut protruding reinforcement. The plan defines which fields are processed in which takt sequence, how many gripping or splitting cycles are achieved per day, and how setup and clearing times are organized.
Building gutting and cutting
In building gutting, non-load-bearing components, fixtures, and installations are methodically removed to expose load-bearing areas. Multi Cutters and hydraulic demolition shear support the selective separation of different material composites. Concrete pulverizers are used in a targeted manner for chamfering and opening concrete cross-sections before cuts are made or components are broken down. The foreman’s plan defines the order of rooms, interim storage areas, traffic routes, and the safe separation of utility lines after prior approval.
Rock excavation and tunnel construction
In rock excavation and tunnel construction, split lines are planned so that the crack path is controlled and surrounding structures are preserved. Rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter as well as hydraulic splitter make it possible to work in tight cycles: drilling, setting, splitting, clearing. The foreman’s plan includes locations for drilling rigs, safe retreat areas, measures for securing slopes or the tunnel face, and a coordinated debris clearance sequence. In sensitive locations, low-vibration splitting has advantages over percussive methods.
Natural stone extraction
In natural stone extraction, the quality of the recovered blocks is crucial. The foreman’s plan describes splitting schemes along structural or bedding planes, defines drill patterns, and coordinates hydraulic power packs with the hydraulic splitter used. The goals are clean separation joints, minimal microcracks, and a safe material flow to storage and transport areas.
Special operations
In special operations, for example in tight shafts, contaminated sites, or when processing thick-walled vessels with tank cutters, the focus is on the safety concept, approvals, and minimizing sparks, noise, and vibrations. The foreman’s plan brings together approval steps, measurements, and protective measures in a robust sequence. Legal requirements and conditions must be observed as a matter of principle; project-specific requirements must be reviewed separately.
Step by step: creating a practical foreman’s plan
The starting point is the assessment of the existing conditions: available documents, explorations, trial openings, material and reinforcement tests. Building on this, objectives, boundary conditions, and the appropriate method are defined, for example selective biting with concrete pulverizers or segmented splitting with rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter. This is followed by takt planning, resource and equipment deployment planning, the logistics concept, safety and environmental protection measures, disposal routes, milestones, and communication rules. The plan is presented as a clear sequence of work packages with clear responsibilities and target outputs and is reconciled daily with actual progress.
Use information sources effectively
The basis consists of existing drawings, structural analysis verifications, utility and services plans, hazardous substance assessments, and investigation results. The foreman’s plan documents assumptions transparently so that adjustments in case of deviations can be made quickly and traceably. Trial sections provide reliable performance baselines for pulverizing, cutting, and splitting operations.
Manage interfaces
The foreman’s plan names those responsible for quantity takeoff, surveying, traffic safety, disposal, crane operations, approvals, and safety. It coordinates the handovers between building gutting, demolition, debris clearance, and transport. Daily briefings keep the takts stable and ensure that equipment such as hydraulic power packs, concrete pulverizers, or hydraulic splitter are at the right place at the right time.
Occupational safety, environment, and permits
Safety and environmental compatibility are integral parts of the foreman’s plan. These include hazard analysis, briefings, personal protective equipment, safe routing of hydraulic hose lines, safety zones, dust suppression, noise control, and ground vibration monitoring. Hydraulic tools are subject to regular inspections, leakage tests, and a clean separation between work and welfare areas. Permits, shut-down windows, and regulatory requirements must be considered in the takt. These notes are of a general nature and do not replace a project-specific review.
Protective measures for low-noise and low-vibration work
The foreman’s plan prioritizes methods with low vibration levels when the environment requires it. Concrete pulverizers and rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter contribute here because they direct energy precisely into the separation joint. In addition, work windows, shielding, protective mats, and monitoring points are provided to minimize impacts on neighboring buildings and users.
Quality, documentation, and controlling
Quality targets are formulated measurably: defined separation cut and split patterns, permissible crack widths on remaining components, fragment sizes for logistics, cleanliness of work areas. The foreman’s plan provides for plan–actual comparisons, photo documentation, quantity calculation, and progress checks. Deviations lead to adjusted takts, altered equipment combinations, or additional protective measures.
Typical errors in the foreman’s plan and how to avoid them
Common causes of delays include inadequately matched equipment capacities, insufficient performance reserves of the hydraulic power packs, unclear access routes, underestimated setup times, or an unsecured waste management chain. Equally critical are missing prior separations, unclear responsibilities, and poor communication during plan adjustments. The foreman’s plan prevents this by providing buffers, realistically representing changeover times, clearly naming responsibilities, and being updated daily.
Example sequence planning: selective deconstruction of a reinforced concrete structure
At the beginning, services are isolated and non-load-bearing components are stripped out. Trial sections follow to verify performance metrics for concrete pulverizers. The structural removal is then divided into fields. Edge areas and free edges are reduced in a controlled manner with pulverizers until the residual cross-sections at load-bearing axes are prepared. Where massive supports or foundations are present, rock wedge splitter and concrete splitter create targeted crack lines to release manageable blocks. Protruding reinforcement is cut with steel shear. Clearing the segments is integrated into the takt so that work areas remain free. The hydraulic power packs are centrally positioned with secured hydraulic hose lines and clear signals for interaction between operator, rigger, and machine operator. Dust protection and noise control measure run in parallel, measurements are documented and compared with limits. Required changes flow directly into the foreman’s plan.
Deriving performance baselines methodically
Daily output results from achievable gripping or splitting cycles, average fragment size, setup intervals, and clearance speed. The foreman’s plan describes the derivation transparently, for example via trial sections, and records assumptions. This keeps decisions traceable and allows targeted adjustments.
Checkpoints for the daily foreman’s reconciliation
Key checkpoints are the availability of personnel and equipment, the readiness of the hydraulic power packs, the clearance of work areas, the currency of protective and traffic measures, the quantity takeoff from the previous day, the waste disposal logistics, and coordination of interfaces. The reconciliation ends with an updated takt plan and clear tasks for the next interval.