Koester Expectations - Photo Documentation
Department: Field Ops
Topic: Photo Documentation
Process: Koester Expectations: Photo Documentation
Objective
Gain understanding of Koester expectations for photo documentation beyond daily reporting.
Background
Photo documentation is crucial to overall project documentation. Almost every element of on-site operations should have some form of photo documentation. Photo documentation covers specific locations on site, individual tasks, safety, quality control and other possible reasons requiring photographic evidence. Photo documentation is not just pictures in a daily log.
Things to Consider
Photos for daily logs are intended to be documentation of work performed on a particular day. Photo documentation as discussed here is related to locations, tasks on site, quality control, etc. Daily log photos could also be used as documentation for locations or tasks but are not always a substitute. Nor do documentation photos document work performed on a particular day as it relates to timeline.
Consider what you are attempting to document. A picture taken too closely or too far away to tell the full story or give the correct amount of detail is not useful. A single picture of a pipe sticking above grade does not document under slab piping effectively. Alternately, a picture of a parking lot does not show the detail needed to document an existing crack in a drive lane that is called out to remain in place. Take the correct amount and type of picture(s) for what you are documenting.
Prerequisites
Daily Log in Procore
Koester Expectations: Daily Log
Steps
1. Determine with team what specific locations, tasks, QC items, etc. outside of standard documentation items below should be documented for the project during the Job Startup Meeting.
2. Setup photos folder structure in Procore at the beginning of the job for all items to be documented by photos. Standard folders should include the following.
a. Preconstruction- Existing site, utilities, etc.
b. Sitework/Site Utilities
c. Concrete
d. Masonry
e. Framing
f. Under slab/Rough ins
g. Finishes
h. Building Exterior
i. Landscaping
j. Special Items
k. ADA
l. QC
m. Owner
n. Safety
o. Deliveries
3. Place documentation photos in folder structure. See Uploading Photos to Procore.
4. In addition to the folder structure, every photo must have a location assigned to it for searchability. Once a location is assigned, all photos can be filtered by a desired location and only those photos will be displayed. For instance, if you assigned a location to all the photos you took during rough ins and need to go back and search through a specific unit or room number to find an electrical box that appears to be behind drywall, you can filter by locations with the unit or room number and only those photos will be displayed.
5. Photo documentation required on every job. If it gets covered up, there is a chance we break it during construction, or it will become a warranty issue, we should have photo documentation.
a. Premobilization. Site as it exists prior to moving on to site.
b. Existing site utilities, especially those to remain.
c. Paving conditions near the site, site entrances, etc.
d. Testing operations, fill, compaction, concrete, etc. All 3rd party inspections should have photo documentation.
e. Site utilities prior to backfill. Include location markers when possible.
f. Footings/rebar pre pour. Include location markers when possible. Try to get gridlines or survey markings in the photo.
g. Under slab piping. Include location markers when possible. If you know the room or unit number, record it in the locations.
h. Slab on grade prep. Include vapor barrier, reinforcement, expansion joints.
i. Structural steel.
j. Structural masonry/ grouting.
k. Wood framing structural hardware/ Simpson, etc.
l. Exterior flashings prior to final material installation. Take these photos through the photos app on your phone and record these photos on the elevation page of your drawing set.
m. Specific critical wall or ceiling rough ins. Take these photos through the photos app on your phone and record these photos on the plan page of your drawing set.
n. Typical wall and ceiling rough in. For example, you may not document each individual sink rough in for an apartment building, but a photo of the typical sink rough in would be expected.
o. Elevators and other specialty items.
p. Finish items prone to damage.
q. Landscaping installations. Document plantings.
r. ADA items. Pictures of ADA required items with measurements. Backing and final installation.
s. Signage backing with measurements.
t. Rental equipment. Photos of equipment on delivery day and when it leaves the site. This includes Koester rental equipment.
u. Deliveries. Verify on truck and after unloading.
v. Safety documentation per requirements and if incidents occur on site.
w. Quality Control documentation for standard items and any issues that occur on site.
x. Owner or specification required items.
y. Owner trainings. Take pictures of staff training on building systems.
See Also
Uploading Photos to Procore
Job Startup Meetings
Safety Documentation
Quality Control Documentation
Locations