Standard Operating

Procedure
STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURE TOP DOWN
CONSTRUCTION
REVISION HISTORY

Rev. Change Descriptions Effective Date Affected Page Prepared by

0 New Issue 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 All NAZMI

APPROVAL AUTHOROTIES

Reviewed by Approved by

Date: 05-SEPTEMBER -2017 Date: 05-SEPTEMBER -2017

1.0 SCOPE
This standard operating procedure is to illustrate the whole sequence of work and procedure of the top
down construction for project. These procedures are subject to modification to accommodate differing
methodology employed or to meet with client-specific requirements and other requirements identified in
site-specific work plans.

These procedures may be modified or supplemented for a specific project by site specific workplans or
health and safety plans.

2.0 APPLICABILITY
This general procedure will be used in planning and implementing in projects that using top down
construction method. These procedures are subject to modification to accommodate differing methodology
employed by different project site to meet with client-specific requirements and requirements identified in
site-specific work plans. These procedures are general minimum standards. These procedures may be
modified or supplemented for a specific project by site specific work plans or health and safety plans.

This standard operating procedure must be read together with method statement for top down construction
method.

3.0 RESPONSIBILITY
The Project Manager, or designee, will have the responsibility to oversee and ensure that these to down
construction procedures are implemented in accordance with this SOP and any site-specific planning
documents such as a work plan, mitigation plan, quality assurance project plan and site-specific health and
safety plan.

4.0 METHOD
Planning and implementation of soil excavation work for the purposes described above is comprised of
three (3) general steps:
1. Foundation works
2. Earthwork
3. RC work

4.1 Top Down Construction Sequence

Top down construction method at this project been planned according the construction sequence
shown in Figure 1.

1. Install contiguous 2. Excavation to 3. Construction of 4. Construction for 5. Excavation to

bored pile (CBP) basement 1 basement 1 ground floor basement 3

7. Fabricate
10. Construction of 9. Construction of lift 8. Excavation at lift 6. Excavation to pile
formwork and rebar
lift core wall pit pit cap level
for pile cap.

11. Bottom up 12. Bottom up 13. Bottom up 14. Bottom up

FINISH
basement 3 basement 2 basement 1 ground floor
 Figure 1: Top down construction sequence

4.2 Foundation Works

Prior of the top-down construction, all necessary foundation works shall be carry out as follows:-
a) Contiguous bored pile surrounding the perimeter of the basement to be the permanent
earth retaining wall for the whole basement.

b) Working bored pile for the entire building.

c) Plunge-in column/ Temporary king post as temporary support of the top-down slab.
i. The plunge-in column is to be install exactly at the center of the columns and is
to be conceal within the column as part of the permanent structure whereas the
temporary king post is to be install outside from the column as temporary
additional support to the top down slab and shall be remove after the completion
of the basement works. Both of them are using steel I-beam section.
ii. The steel I-beam section is installed into a bored hole and the length of the beam
shall be sufficient to cover the depth of the 5 basements including pilecap.
iii. The bored hole shall be bore according to approved drawing and to be concrete
up to the cut off level. The steel I-beam then shall be lower down and embedded
into the concrete so that the load of the construction can be transfer to the cast
in-situ pile.

d) Top-down slab preparation and construction

i. The plunge-in column/ temporary king post shall be excavated and weld-in
supporting corbel as per approved drawing prior of leveling the earth to receive
lean concrete as the base of the slab.
ii. The formwork shall be then placed on top of the lean concrete prior the steel bar
fabrication to ease the striking of formwork and removal of lean concrete during
the next level earthworks.
iii. A coupling system is to use for some of the columns, beams or slabs so that the
protruded steel bar would not affect the logistic and crainage on Level 1 slab and
surrounding the ring slab opening. It is also safer and tidier at such working
environment.
iv. All pipe sleeves, all opening with trimming bar, all M&E fittings or
Architectural fittings within slab and all starter bars for future casting
horizontal/vertical structural member shall be installed based on the construction
drawing prior of the slab casting.

4.3 Earthwork
i. The earthworks excavation for the subsequent basement floor shall be executed prior the
completed slab above gain 70% of the compressive strength of the slab.
ii. During the excavation, excessive earth at the slab opening shall be remove lower than the
level of the subsequent basement slab and the earth excavation underneath the slab shall
be commence almost concurrently.
iii. A number of temporary earth sumps with temporary drainage shall be provided to pump
up the underground water to the silt trap prior discharge to the public drain.
iv. As the existing ground consists of existing old foundation piles and limestone, the
existing old foundation piles shall be hacked away by using hydraulic excavator breaker
or manual hacking whereas the existing limestone above the final excavation level shall
be removed by using mini excavator breaker.
v. While the earthworks excavation proceed further to unreachable level by using long arm
excavator, a patented “earth bucket” system by Econpile shall be used to lifting the earth
up to Level 1 slab.
vi. All removed earth material with concrete debris are then transport out from site to a
designated and approved dumping ground by using 10/12 tires lorries.
 4.4 RC work

4.4.1 Sub-sequent top-down slab preparation and construction

i. After the first top-down slab construction and earthworks activities to the
subsequent slab level, all the formworks and lean concrete sticking to the soffit
of the slab above shall be clear entirely to ensure safe working environment.
ii. A number of slab opening are provided during the Level 1 slab casting for
material transportation by using crainage and concreting. Therefore, the slab
opening shall be allowed at each sub-sequent floor to ensure the delivery of
materials and concreting is smooth.
iii. Furthermore, a number of exhausting fans and mobile spot light shall be
provided to ensure the ventilation and visibility of the working environment
underneath the slab.
iv. An adequate electricity and water supply shall be provided for working use and
all workers or visitor must wear personal protection equipment (PPE) during the
whole period of works.
v. A walkie-talkie system shall be adopted to communicate at different floor level.
vi. The construction of the sub-sequent basement top-down slab is similar to the
Level 1 slab except the final basement 5 slab. While reaching the final
excavation level, the methodology of construction of lift core pile raft, pile caps
and basement slab shall be using the conventional method

4.4.2 Vertical structural member construction

i. With the support of plunge-in columns and temporary king posts, a large number
of columns can be cast from top rather than casting from lowest slab with
completed pile caps.
ii. However, a full waterproofing system approved by Engineer shall be implement
prior of any casting of water retaining structure to ensure the water tightness of
the structure elements.

4.4.3 Basement slab construction at slab opening

i. Upon reaching the final excavation level, the basement slab at the designed ring
slab opening shall follow the conventional method from bottom up by using
scaffolding system as false work.
ii. All completed floors shall be always rubbish free by providing sufficient
workers to do the daily housekeeping.

5.0 ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH & SAFETY

i. Before start the operation, Boring Unit operator must observe the safe access to Boring Unit
machine. And can put the steel plate along the road it to give stability to the BU machine.
ii. Pre-inspection for crane and lifting gear to ensure all equipment in good condition
iii. Make sure only the crane operator which is have JKKP CRANE COMPETENCY to operate the
crane.
iv. Worker must use the tagline or long rope for the lifting purpose to avoid the load from swinging.
v. All hooks shall be installed with safety latches. Hooks can be installed with swivels to allow the
load to revolve.
vi. Must have permit to work for lifting before starting the work.
vii. To prevent the wall from landslide during raining we must use the safety canvas and close all the
soil.
viii. Make sure all during the excavations must use trained operator while do the excavation.
ix. A mean of safe access and egress must be provided at excavation area.
x. Excavations must be designed to protect against intrusion of storm water run-off.
xi. Workers must not enter an excavation with accumulated water. Excavations must be inspected by
 a competent person after a rainfall event.
xii. Persons who work in a trench must be protected from falling materials. Tools and other
items/materials must be positioned at least 1 meter from the edge of the excavation or secured
from falling by a suitable restraining device.
xiii. Use the water spray while hacking it to make sure to reduce the concrete dust.
xiv. Job rotation for the hacking piles to make sure the worker have enough rest before continue work.
xv. Fire extinguisher must be placed at the site for the hot work to make sure to give early prevention.
xvi. Make sure the oxyacetylene must have flashback arrestor.
xvii. Must have hot work permit before starting the work.