Temporary Facilities and Controls

Rev 1 · Updated Jun 18, 2026 · View history

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1 Scope

NOTE This standard governs the temporary facilities and site controls the Contractor furnishes, operates, maintains, and removes for the duration of construction. (1.1)
NOTE Temporary facilities are everything installed solely to support the work and removed before substantial completion: temporary electrical power and lighting, temporary water supply, temporary heating and ventilation, temporary enclosures, portable sanitary facilities, field offices and storage, site access and parking, construction fencing and hoarding, tree and property protection, and site-operation dust and noise control. (1.2)
1.3The Contractor shall furnish, install, operate, maintain, and remove all temporary facilities required to execute the work safely and in compliance with the authority having jurisdiction.
1.4Before installing any temporary facility, the Contractor shall document the pre-existing condition of all areas to be occupied by that facility with dated photographs, establishing the restoration baseline.
1.5The Contractor shall restore all areas disturbed by temporary facilities to a condition equal to or better than that documented in the pre-installation photographic record, to the standards stated in this section.
NOTE This standard does not cover the following — see the referenced standards for each: (1.6)
  • Permanent site fencing and gates intended to remain after construction (Fencing And Gates).
  • Permanent stormwater infrastructure and post-construction erosion and sediment controls (Erosion And Sediment Control); only active-construction dust suppression and temporary site-drainage measures are covered here.
  • Site clearing and grubbing operations (Site Clearing).
1.7Cost responsibility for each temporary utility shall be assigned to an accountable party in the datasheet below; no temporary utility shall be left unassigned.
Temporary utility cost responsibilityselect
Contractor-furnished and Contractor-paid
Contractor-furnished, Owner-paid (reimbursable)
Owner-furnished and Owner-paid

2 Referenced Standards

2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or a more recent edition is mandated by the authority having jurisdiction.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
Standard Title
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (Article 590, Temporary Installations)
NFPA 241 Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations
NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
NECA 200 Installing and Maintaining Temporary Electric Power at Construction Sites
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 Construction Industry — Sanitation
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.52 Construction Industry — Occupational Noise Exposure
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.56 Construction Industry — Illumination
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.151 Construction Industry — Fire Prevention
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.403–.408 Construction Industry — Electrical, General Requirements
ANSI Z4.3 Minimum Requirements for Nonsewered Waste-Disposal Systems
ANSI/ASSE A10.6 Safety Requirements for Demolition Operations
IBC International Building Code (Safeguards During Construction)
ACI 306R Guide to Cold Weather Concreting
EPA 40 CFR Part 122 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Construction Stormwater)
ADA Standards Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design

3 Submittals

3.1 Action Submittals

3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before the affected temporary facility is installed:
  • Site utilization plan showing locations of field offices, storage, staging areas, access roads, parking, fencing, and gates.
  • Temporary electrical one-line diagram showing service or generator source, panel locations, feeder sizes, and GFCI protection method.
  • Temporary lighting plan demonstrating the foot-candle minimums of this section by area type.
  • Temporary heating and ventilation plan identifying equipment type, fuel, and combustion-product handling for each enclosed area.
  • Tree and property protection plan showing barrier locations and critical root zone radii.
Action submittalscheckbox
Site utilization plan
Temporary electrical one-line diagram
Temporary lighting plan
Temporary heating and ventilation plan
Tree and property protection plan

3.2 Informational Submittals

3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals at the intervals stated:
  • Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP) written procedure and daily inspection logs, where AEGCP is used in lieu of GFCI devices.
  • Backflow preventer installation certification by a licensed plumber for each temporary potable-water connection.
  • Generator emissions certification (EPA Tier rating) and fuel-storage approval where on-site fuel storage exceeds code thresholds.
  • Portable sanitation servicing records confirming the servicing frequency of this section.
  • Noise monitoring records at the property line where a municipal limit applies.
Informational submittalscheckbox
AEGCP procedure and daily inspection logs
Backflow preventer certification
Generator emissions and fuel-storage approval
Portable sanitation servicing records
Property-line noise monitoring records

3.3 Closeout Submittals

3.3.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals before final acceptance:
  • Photographic record of each staging, parking, and access area restored to its required final condition.
  • Confirmation of removal of all temporary utilities, including disconnection and metering reconciliation with the serving utility.
  • Restoration certification for tree-protection zones and disturbed landscape areas.
Closeout submittalscheckbox
Restoration photographic record
Temporary utility removal and metering reconciliation
Tree-protection and landscape restoration certification

4 Quality Assurance

4.1The Contractor shall maintain a single accountable superintendent responsible for the condition, safety, and code compliance of all temporary facilities throughout construction.
4.2Temporary electrical installations shall be installed and maintained by a licensed electrician in accordance with NFPA 70 Article 590 and NECA 200.
4.3Temporary potable-water connections shall be made by a licensed plumber in accordance with the local plumbing code.
4.4A fire prevention program complying with NFPA 241 shall govern all temporary heating, hot work, and combustible-material storage on the site.
4.5The Contractor shall inspect all temporary facilities at the frequency required by the applicable code, and at minimum weekly.
4.6The Contractor shall correct any deficiency that creates a safety or code-compliance hazard before continuing work that depends on the affected temporary facility.
4.7Other deficiencies shall be corrected within the time directed by the Architect.

5 Environmental and Service Conditions

NOTE Temporary facilities shall be selected and rated for the climate zone, exposure, and duration of the project, including wind, snow, and temperature extremes anticipated during the construction period. (5.1)
5.2Equipment installed outdoors shall be rated for wet locations; electrical enclosures shall be NEMA 3R at minimum, and NEMA 4X where exposed to corrosive or marine atmospheres.
5.3Temporary facilities shall not impose loads on, obstruct drainage from, or encroach upon adjacent properties or public ways without written authorization from the affected party and the authority having jurisdiction.
Project climate zone (ASHRAE/IECC)select
Zone 1-2 (hot)
Zone 3-4 (mixed)
Zone 5 (cold)
Zone 6 (cold)
Zone 7-8 (very cold/subarctic)

6 Temporary Electrical Power

NOTE Temporary power is the highest-risk temporary system on a construction site; NFPA 70 Article 590 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.403–.408 govern its installation, protection, and duration. Specifying the source, capacity, and ground-fault protection method removes the most common cause of RFIs and site electrical incidents. (6.1)
6.2The temporary electrical source shall be provided as selected below; where a generator is used, the unit shall meet EPA Tier 4 Final emissions and shall be located to limit noise and exhaust intrusion into occupied buildings.
Temporary electrical sourceradio
Utility company temporary service drop
Contractor-furnished portable generator(s)
Utility service with generator backup
6.3The temporary service shall be sized for the connected construction load with reserve capacity; the service ampacity shall be not less than the value selected below.
Temporary service ampacityselect
100
200
400
800
1200
2000
6.4Temporary feeders shall be sized so that voltage drop from the source to the most remote outlet does not exceed 5%, in accordance with NECA 200 practice.
6.5Temporary distribution panels shall be located so that feeder voltage drop from the source to the most remote outlet complies with the 5% limit of this section.
6.6Temporary distribution panels shall be mounted, secured, and protected from physical damage and weather.
Temporary distribution panel configurationselect
120/240V single-phase
120/208V three-phase
Temporary panel enclosure ratingselect
NEMA 3R (rainproof, outdoor general)
NEMA 4X (watertight, corrosion-resistant)

6.7 Ground-Fault Protection

NOTE Ground-fault protection is mandatory on construction sites; NEC 590.6(A) requires GFCI protection on all 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles, and 590.6(B) requires either GFCI protection or a documented AEGCP for other receptacles. Choosing the method up front and binding AEGCP to written daily logs prevents an unenforced program. (6.7.1)
6.7.2All 15A and 20A, 125V receptacles used by personnel shall have GFCI protection regardless of the method selected for higher-rated circuits.
6.7.3The ground-fault protection method for receptacles not covered by 590.6(A) shall be as selected below.
Ground-fault protection methodradio
GFCI circuit breakers in temporary panels
GFCI receptacles at point of use
Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor Program (AEGCP)
6.7.4Where an AEGCP is used, the Contractor shall maintain a written program and shall test and log each cord set and receptacle daily; missing logs shall constitute noncompliance and shall require reversion to GFCI devices.

7 Temporary Lighting

NOTE OSHA 29 CFR 1926.56 sets enforceable minimum illumination by area type; specifying "adequate lighting" is unenforceable. The schedule below converts the regulation into citable minimums that a field inspector can verify with a light meter. (7.1)
7.2Temporary lighting shall provide not less than the minimum illumination in the schedule below, measured at the working surface, for each area type.
Area type Minimum illumination
General construction areas 5 fc
Concrete placement, loading platforms, active storage, refueling 3 fc
Stairways, corridors, exits 5 fc
General shops, mechanical and electrical rooms 10 fc
First aid stations and infirmaries 30 fc
7.3Temporary luminaires and lamp strings shall be wet-location rated.
7.4Temporary luminaires and lamp strings shall be guarded against breakage.
7.5Temporary luminaires and lamp strings shall be supported independently of the work.
7.6Temporary light strings shall be LED type and shall be spaced to achieve the scheduled illumination, with lamp spacing not exceeding the value selected below.
Temporary light string lamp spacingrange
ft
615
Default: 10 ft

8 Temporary Water

NOTE The potable-water source shall be as selected below; a municipal tap-in is preferred where available because it avoids recurring delivery cost and supports hand-washing and dust control. (8.1)
Potable water sourceradio
Municipal tap-in
Bottled water delivery
Tank/trucked supply
8.2Every temporary connection to a municipal or building potable-water supply shall be protected by a backflow preventer installed by a licensed plumber and inspected by the authority having jurisdiction before use.
8.3Potable drinking water shall be provided for all personnel.
8.4Where the on-site ambient temperature measured in the shade exceeds 90 °F, the Contractor shall supply potable drinking water at not less than 1 quart per person per hour for outdoor work.
8.5Temporary water lines exposed to freezing shall be insulated, heat-traced, or drained to prevent freeze damage during the construction period.

9 Temporary Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation

NOTE Temporary heat protects in-progress work — concrete cure, gypsum board, paint, and adhesives all have minimum temperatures — and it is also a leading fire and carbon-monoxide hazard. NFPA 241 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.151 govern equipment, clearances, and fire watch. (9.1)
9.2Temporary heating equipment shall maintain not less than the minimum air temperature in the schedule below for the activity in progress.
Activity Minimum air temperature
Concrete placement and protection (per ACI 306R) 40 °F (4 °C)
General construction work 50 °F (10 °C)
Gypsum board installation and finishing 55 °F (13 °C)
Painting, coating, and adhesive application 65 °F (18 °C)
9.3The temporary heating system type and fuel shall be as selected below; direct-fired combustion equipment shall not be operated inside enclosed or partially enclosed occupied spaces.
Temporary heating systemradio
Indirect-fired forced-air (diesel/kerosene), ducted
Direct-fired forced-air (propane)
Electric resistance
Hydronic
9.4Only indirect-fired or electric heat shall be used inside enclosed or enclosed-adjacent spaces, so that combustion products are not introduced into the work area.
9.5Where any fuel-fired heating equipment operates within or adjacent to an enclosed space, the Contractor shall provide continuous carbon-monoxide monitoring and a fire watch in accordance with NFPA 241.
9.6Fuel-fired heaters shall have thermostatic control.
9.7Fuel-fired heaters shall have automatic tip-over shutoff and automatic flame-failure shutoff.
9.8Fuel-fired heaters shall be located with the manufacturer's required clearances from combustible materials.
9.9Temporary ventilation shall be provided in enclosed work areas during coating, welding, and concrete curing operations to maintain airborne contaminant concentrations at or below the OSHA permissible exposure limits of 29 CFR 1910.1000.
9.10Humidity control during concrete curing, adhesive application, and similar operations shall comply with the minimum and maximum relative humidity limits stated in the applicable product manufacturer's instructions; this section does not independently establish a humidity limit.

10 Temporary Enclosures

NOTE Temporary enclosures weatherproof in-progress work and contain temporary heat; the enclosure type must match the work being protected, particularly cold-weather concrete cure. (10.1)
10.2Temporary enclosures shall be the type selected below and shall be secured against wind uplift and tear-away.
Temporary enclosure typeselect
Polyethylene sheeting on framing
Insulated blankets
Engineered weather-barrier panels
Heated insulated enclosure
10.3Heated enclosures used to protect cold-weather concrete in climate zones 5 through 7 shall provide an effective enclosure thermal resistance of not less than R-4.
Heated enclosure thermal resistancerange
R-value
412
Default: 4 R-value
10.4Enclosure materials and any heat source within them shall comply with the flame-spread and fire-watch requirements of NFPA 241.

11 Portable Sanitary Facilities

NOTE OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 mandates toilet ratios, hand-washing, and potable water; ANSI Z4.3 sets servicing practice. Projects with owner or public access must also provide an ADA-accessible unit. Specifying counts, servicing, and accessibility prevents the most common AHJ citation on this topic. (11.1)
11.2Portable toilets shall be provided at not less than the ratio in the schedule below, based on the maximum number of workers on site.
Work-shift duration Minimum toilet ratio
Shifts up to 3 hours 1 toilet per 20 workers
Shifts longer than 3 hours 1 toilet per 40 workers
11.3Portable toilets shall be serviced at not less than the frequency selected below, and in no case less than once per week per ANSI Z4.3.
Portable sanitation servicing frequencyselect
Once per week
Twice per week
Three times per week
11.4Hand-washing stations with potable water or an approved sanitizer shall be provided adjacent to toilet facilities and at food-consumption areas.
11.5Where the Owner or the public has access to the site during construction, at least one ADA-accessible toilet unit shall be provided, and not less than 5% of the total units shall be ADA-accessible.
ADA-accessible portable toilet requiredradio
Yes — Owner/public access during construction
No — restricted Contractor-only site

12 Field Offices and Storage

NOTE Field offices and storage trailers support project administration and material protection; specifying who furnishes them, their size, and their services avoids mid-project disputes. (12.1)
12.2Field offices and storage trailers shall be furnished as selected below, leveled, anchored against wind, connected to temporary power, and maintained in clean, safe condition.
Field office responsibilityradio
Contractor-furnished
Owner-furnished
Field office floor arearange
sf
160720
Default: 320 sf
12.3Field offices anticipated to receive visitors shall be served by an ADA-accessible path of travel from parking to the office entrance.
12.4Field offices shall be climate-controlled and shall provide voice and data connectivity sufficient for project administration.
Field office servicescheckbox
Climate control (heat and cooling)
Internet/data connectivity
Telephone
Security alarm
Potable water and sanitary connection

13 Site Access, Parking, and Staging

NOTE Temporary access roads, parking, and staging areas keep the site operable; their locations are project-specific and belong on the site utilization plan rather than in a datasheet field. (13.1)
13.2Temporary access roads and parking areas shall be constructed and maintained to support construction traffic in all weather, with dust and mud tracking controlled at public-street interfaces. Locations are shown at site utilization plan.
13.3Staging and laydown areas shall be located to avoid tree-protection zones, drainage paths, and adjacent-property encroachment.
13.4Material stored on site shall be protected, separated by the fire-prevention clearances of OSHA 29 CFR 1926.151, and arranged to maintain emergency-vehicle access.

14 Construction Fencing and Hoarding

NOTE Perimeter fencing secures the site and separates the public from construction hazards; the IBC requires upgraded barriers and covered walkways where the public passes near building construction. (14.1)
14.2A site perimeter barrier shall be the type and height selected below and shall be maintained plumb, continuous, and secured for the duration of construction.
Site perimeter barrier typeselect
Chain-link fence, 6 ft
Chain-link fence with privacy screen, 6 ft
Solid hoarding (plywood), 8 ft
Jersey barrier with fence
14.3Solid hoarding not less than 8 ft high shall be provided within 10 ft of public pedestrian areas in accordance with IBC safeguards during construction.
14.4Covered pedestrian walkways and protective barriers shall be provided where the public passes adjacent to or beneath building construction, in accordance with the IBC.
14.5Gates in the perimeter barrier shall be lockable, sized for construction equipment, and closed and secured outside working hours.

15 Tree and Property Protection

NOTE Construction staging and traffic damage tree root zones and adjacent property unless physical barriers are specified; root damage frequently surfaces as an owner claim after project close, so the protected radius must be explicit. (15.1)
15.2Protective barriers shall be installed at the critical root zone of each protected tree before any site work begins, at a radius of not less than 1 ft for each 1 in. of trunk diameter measured at breast height.
15.3No storage, staging, vehicle traffic, grade change, or trenching shall occur within a tree-protection zone.
15.4Adjacent structures, pavements, utilities, and landscaping to remain shall be protected from damage by temporary operations, and any damage shall be repaired to match existing.
Tree-protection barrier typeselect
Chain-link fence on driven posts
Welded-wire fence on posts
Wood-rail barricade

16 Dust and Noise Control

NOTE Active-construction dust suppression and site-operation noise control belong to this section; permanent post-grading erosion control is governed separately by Erosion And Sediment Control. Drawing the line explicitly prevents both duplication and enforcement gaps. (16.1)
16.2The Contractor shall suppress airborne dust generated by site operations using water trucks, misting, wetting agents, or enclosures as conditions require, so that dust does not migrate onto adjacent property or public ways.
NOTE Dust suppression under this section addresses active-operation airborne dust only; perimeter silt fence and post-construction soil-stabilization BMPs are specified in Erosion And Sediment Control. (16.3)
16.4Construction noise at the property line shall not exceed the limit selected below where a municipal ordinance applies; this site-operation limit is separate from the worker-exposure limits of OSHA 29 CFR 1926.52.
Property-line noise limitrange
dB(A)
5575
Default: 65 dB(A)
16.5Where work occurs adjacent to occupied buildings, the Contractor shall restrict high-noise operations to the hours permitted by the local ordinance.

17 Fuel Storage

NOTE On-site fuel for generators and heaters is a regulated fire hazard; NFPA 30 and the local fire marshal set the thresholds above which secondary containment and approval are required. (17.1)
17.2On-site above-grade fuel storage shall not exceed 25 gallons in approved containers without secondary containment; larger quantities shall be provided with secondary containment and shall be approved by the fire marshal in accordance with NFPA 30.
17.3Fuel-dispensing and storage areas shall be separated from ignition sources and shall be equipped with fire extinguishers rated and placed per OSHA 29 CFR 1926.151.
On-site fuel storage provisionselect
None — off-site fueling only
Up to 25 gallons, approved containers, no secondary containment
Bulk storage with secondary containment and fire marshal approval

18 Removal and Site Restoration

NOTE Specifications that list what to install but not when and how to remove it leave the costliest ambiguity in this section. Tying removal to a defined milestone lets the Contractor schedule demobilization and protects the Owner's final site condition. (18.1)
18.2All temporary facilities shall be removed and the affected areas restored before substantial completion, except facilities expressly required to remain through final completion.
18.3The construction perimeter barrier shall be removed at the milestone selected below, coordinated with site security and final landscaping.
Perimeter barrier removal milestoneselect
At substantial completion
30 days before substantial completion
At Owner occupancy
As directed by the Owner
18.4Staging, laydown, and parking areas shall be restored to the surface condition selected below, with subgrade repaired, compacted, and finished to match adjacent undisturbed areas.
Staging-area restoration standardselect
Restore to original landscaped/turf condition
Restore to original pavement section
Restore to finish per landscape drawings
18.5Temporary utilities shall be disconnected, capped, and removed by the licensed trade that installed them, and final metering shall be reconciled with the serving utility.
18.6Pavement, curb, and utility damage caused by temporary operations shall be repaired to the standard of the original construction and to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction.

19 Coordination

NOTE Temporary facilities touch several other site standards; the cross-references below keep responsibilities from overlapping or falling between sections. (19.1)
19.2Temporary erosion best management practices used during active grading shall be coordinated with, and shall not duplicate, the permanent requirements of Erosion And Sediment Control.
19.3Any temporary fencing intended to be converted to or replaced by permanent fencing shall be coordinated with Fencing And Gates.
19.4Demobilization sequencing and final punch-list administration shall be coordinated with Closeout Procedures.

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