ASSIGNMENT NO.

2
LINE OF BALANCE TECHNIQUES
Q1. Write short note on Line of Balance method.
Ans. LOB is used to plan the construction of repetitive structural units.
It was developed by U.S. Navy during Second World War and modified in
1960 by National Building Agency in U.K.
It is used for projects having repetitive activities such as high rise
commercial and residential construction and newer low rise housing societies
The resources needed for each operation are calculated so upcoming activity
is not disturbed and target is achieved.
LOB technique includes arranging, selecting, finding and presenting in
graphical form all activities.
It calculates time required.
It helps to find weak points and suggests possible remedies
It is used in casting of foundation, sheds, slum buildings etc.
The two LOB methods are:
1. Use of optimum gang sizes ( i.e. number of workers) and calculate
completion date (time required)
2. Using a set completion time (fixed time period) and variable gang
sizes.
Q2. Explain the procedure of LOB technique
Ans. The procedure for LOB technique is as follows:
1. Prepare logic diagram
2. Find time required for each repeated activity
3. Allocate (introduce) buffer time to guard against interference between
operations. Buffers are put between the activities.
4. Calculate required output rate to find completion date
5. Calculate time required for completion of one activity. Also calculate
time from start of first repetition to start of last repetition.
6. Draw the schedule

7. Attempt to balance schedule by changing number of workers, adopting

parallel scheduling and have every activity work at same rate. It will
reduce overall time of project but may cause overlapping of many
activities.
Q3. Write down the advantages of LOB method
Ans. The advantages of LOB method are as follows:
1. It gives detailed idea of repetitive work with logical network
2. It reduces amount of preparing network and schedule since all units
are repetitive and same network can be used.
3. By time monitoring the progress of work activities that are behind can
be easily found out and corrective steps may be taken.
Q4. Construction of 10 houses involves 5 construction operations. Draw LOB
network. Assume one week buffer time between activities.
Sr.
No.
1
2
3
4
5

Operations
Foundation
External wall
Roof construction
Internal finishes
External works

Duration per unit in

weeks
2
4
1
4
2

Solution:
Logic Diagram showing sequence of operations:

CPM network:

Number of crew
2
3
1
3
2

LOB calculations:
Sr.
No.

Operations

1
2
3

Foundation
External wall
Roof
construction
Internal finishes
External works

4
5

Duration per
unit in weeks
(D)
2
4
1

Number of
crew
(Ca)
2
3
1

Total float

Rate
R = Ca/D

0
0
0

1
0.75
1

4
2

3
2

0
0

0.75
1

Desired rate of progress = Number of unit less 1 Duration of operation (D)

Number of Crew (Ca)
= (n-1) D
Ca
= (n-1)
R
Foundation:
Start of unit 1: 0 week
Finish of unit 1: 2 week (2 weeks duration)
Start of unit 10: 0 + (10units 1) 2 weeks = 18 = 9 weeks
2 crew
2
Finish of unit 10: 9 week + 2 weeks duration= 11 weeks
External walls:
Duration per unit = 4 weeks
No. of crew = 3
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. foundation and external walls
Slope of foundation balance line = R = Ca/D = 2/2 = 1
Slope of the external walls balance line = R = Ca/D = 3 /4 = 0.75
Since slope i.e. rate of construction of external wall is less than foundation, the relationship will
begin at the start of foundation balance line
Start of unit 1: 2 week + 1 week buffer = 3 week

Finish of unit 1: 3 week + 4 weeks duration= 7 week

Start of unit 10: 3 week + (10units 1) 4 weeks
3 crew

= 3 + 36
3

Finish of unit 10: 15 week + 4 weeks duration

= 19 weeks

= 15 weeks

Roof construction:
Duration per unit = 1 week
No. of crew = 1
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. external walls and roof construction
Slope of external walls balance line = R = Ca/D = 3 /4 = 0.75
Slope of the roof construction balance line = R = Ca/D = 1/1 = 1
Since slope i.e. rate of roof construction is greater than external wall construction, the
relationship will begin at the finish of external wall balance line
Start of unit 10: 19 week + 1 week buffer = 20 week
Finish of unit 10: 20 week + 1 weeks duration= 21 week
Start of unit 1: 20 week - (10units 1) 1 week
1 crew

= 20 - 9

= 11 weeks

Finish of unit 1: 11 week + 1 weeks duration = 12 weeks

Internal finishes:
Duration per unit = 4 weeks
No. of crew = 3
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. roof construction and internal
finishes
Slope of roof construction balance line = R = Ca/D = 1/1 = 1
Slope of the internal finishes balance line = R = Ca/D = 3 /4 = 0.75
Since slope i.e. rate of construction of internal finishes is less than roof construction, the
relationship will begin at the start of roof construction balance line
Start of unit 1: 12 week + 1 week buffer = 13 week

Finish of unit 1: 13 week + 4 weeks duration= 17 week

Start of unit 10: 13 week + (10units 1) 4 weeks = 13 + 36
3 crew
3
Finish of unit 10: 25 week + 4 weeks duration

= 25 weeks

= 29 weeks

External works:
Duration per unit = 2 week
No. of crew = 2
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. internal finishes and external works
Slope of internal finishes balance line = R = Ca/D = 3 /4 = 0.75
Slope of the external works balance line = R = Ca/D = 2/2 = 1
Since slope i.e. rate of construction of external works is greater than internal finishes, the
relationship will begin at the finish of internal finishes balance line
Start of unit 10: 29 week + 1 week buffer = 30 week
Finish of unit 10: 30 week + 2 weeks duration= 32 week
Start of unit 1: 30 week - (10units 1) 2 week
2 crew

= 30 - 9

= 21 weeks

Finish of unit 1: 21 week + 2 weeks duration= 23 weeks

Total duration required for construction of 10 houses is 23 weeks

Q5. Consider the construction of multi-storey building. Each storey construction involves 7
activities. Project has total 40 units. Draw LOB schedule and determine total duration required
for completion of project.
Activity
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Description
Erect forms
Reinforcing
Pour concrete
Cure concrete
Strip forms
Construction brick wall
Install windows

Duration in days (D)

6
3
3
7
2
12
8

Number of crew (Ca)

2
1
1
1
3
2

Solution:
Logic diagram showing sequence of activities:

CPM network:

LOB calculations:
Sr.
No
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Operations

Erect forms
Reinforcing
Pour concrete
Cure concrete
Strip forms
Construction brick wall
Install windows

Duration per unit

in weeks (D)

Number of crew
(Ca)

Total float

Rate
R = Ca/D

6
3
3
7
2
12
8

2
1
1
1
3
2

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0.333
0.333
0.333
0.5
0.25
0.25

Erect forms:
Start of unit 1: 0 day
Finish of unit 1: 6 days (6 days duration)
Start of unit 40: 0 + (40units 1)
0.333

= 117.12

= 117 days

Finish of unit 40: 117 days + 6 days duration= 123 days

Reinforcing:
Duration per unit = 3 days
No. of crew = 1
Consider rate of construction between the two activities i.e. erecting forms and reinforcing work.
Slope of erecting forms balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.333
Slope of the reinforcing balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.333
Since slope i.e. rate of construction of erecting forms and reinforcing is same, the relationship is
parallel balance lines
Start of unit 1: 6 days
Finish of unit 1: 6 days + 3 days duration= 9 days
Start of unit 40: 123 days
Finish of unit 40: 123 days + 3 days duration = 126 days
Pour concrete:
Duration per unit = 3 days
No. of crew = 1
Consider rate of construction between the two activities i.e. reinforcing work and pour concrete.
Slope of the reinforcing balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.333
Slope of pour concrete balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.333

Since slope i.e. rate of construction of reinforcing and pour concrete is same, the relationship is
parallel balance lines
Start of unit 1: 9 days
Finish of unit 1: 9 days + 3 days duration= 12 days
Start of unit 40: 126 days
Finish of unit 40: 126 days + 3 days duration = 129 days
Cure concrete:
Duration per unit = 7 days
No. of crew is not mentioned
Consider slope i.e. rate of construction between the two activities i.e. pour concrete and cure
concrete same, the relationship is parallel balance lines
Start of unit 1: 12 days
Finish of unit 1: 12 days + 7 days duration= 19 days
Start of unit 40: 129 days
Finish of unit 40: 129 days + 7 days duration = 136 days
Strip forms:
Duration per unit = 2 days
No. of crew = 1
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. Cure concrete and strip forms
Slope of cure concrete balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.333
Slope of the strip forms balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.5
Since slope i.e. rate of strip forms is greater than cure concrete work, the relationship will begin
at the finish of cure concrete balance line
Start of unit 40: 136 days
Finish of unit 40: 136 days + 2 days duration= 138 days
Start of unit 1: 136 days - (40units 1)
0.5

= 58days

Finish of unit 1: 58 days + 2 days duration

= 60 days

Construct brick wall:

Duration per unit = 12 days
No. of crew = 3
Consider rate of construction between the two operations i.e. strip forms and construct brick wall
Slope of strip forms balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.5
Slope of the construct brick wall balance line = R = Ca/D = 0.25
Since slope i.e. rate of construct of brick wall is less than strip forms, the relationship will begin
at the start of strip forms balance line
Start of unit 1: 60 days
Finish of unit 1: 60 days + 12 days duration= 72 days
Start of unit 40: 60 days + (40units 1)
0.25

= 216 days

Finish of unit 40: 216 days + 12 days duration

= 228 days

Install windows:
Duration per unit = 8 days
No. of crew = 2
Consider slope i.e. rate of construction between the two activities i.e. construct brick wall and
install windows same, the relationship is parallel balance lines
Start of unit 1: 72 days
Finish of unit 1: 72 days + 8 days duration= 80 days
Start of unit 40: 228 days
Finish of unit 40: 228 days + 8 days duration = 236 days
Total duration of entire project is 236 days

Q6. The activities required in construction of one kilometer of pipeline are given along with
number of crew required. The project includes 10 kilometers of pipeline. Deadline of completion
of project is 40 days. Draw LOB schedule assuming one day buffer time between activities.
Activity
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Activity Name

Duration (days)

Preceding activities

Locate and clear

Excavate
String pipe
Lay pipe
Pressure test
Back fill

1
3
1
4
1
2

1
1
2,3
4
5

Solution:
CPM network for single unit of project considering on day buffer time in between activities

T1 = duration required for completion of unit

TL = Total duration of the project
N = number of units
TFi = total float
Ri = actual rate of construction
= (n-1)
TL - T1 + TFi
Here,
T1 = 15 days

TL = 40 days
N = 10 units
Ri =

(10 - 1)
40 15 + TFi

Ri =

9
25 + TFi

LOB calculations:
Activity
1
2
3
4
5
6

Duration,
Di
1
3
1
4
1
2

Total
float
0
0
2
0
0
0

Ri = 9/ (25+ TFi)

Ci= Di Ri

0.36
0.36
0.333
0.36
0.36
0.36

0.36
1.08
0.333
1.44
0.36
0.72

Cai = Round up
Ci
1
2
1
2
1
1

Total duration of project is 42 days i.e. exceeding the deadline by 2 days.

Rai = Cai/ Di
1
0.667
1
0.5
1
0.5