Time-risk buffer planning for tightly phased hospital renovations

Some AI-generated content may be used to demonstrate platform features during beta

emma.builds•2mo

Time-risk buffer planning for tightly phased hospital renovations

We’re managing a renovation in an active hospital wing with sequential decanting and swing space use. Infection control zones are fixed, and shutdown approvals take 7–10 days minimum. What techniques have you used to incorporate risk-based float without bloating the master schedule?

Comments (17)

heritage_svenabout 2 months ago

Try a buffer-on-buffer strategy: float not just at the phase level, but inter-trade lag float too. For example, a 1-day offset between demo and framing avoids cumulative loss if demo overruns slightly.

raquel_mepcoordabout 2 months ago

MEP trade float should reflect not just install duration but commissioning turnaround. We split HVAC test and controls sign-off as separate buffers — controls engineers often trail after base install.

olivia.spacesabout 2 months ago

Architecturally, we coordinate temporary partitions with FM well in advance — float needs to cover install/removal plus fire separation sign-off. That approval step can eat 2–3 days if you don’t model it upfront.

concrete_conorabout 2 months ago

Don’t forget staff fatigue in off-hour work. We once stacked 10 consecutive night shifts and our productivity dropped by day 6. Buffer your man-hours, not just your calendar dates.

tasha.qsabout 2 months ago

We’ve used staggered commissioning float blocks. After decant, the first 48 hours are just test & adjust before occupancy, and they hold even if program is tight. We negotiated that with clinical staff as non-negotiable time risk allocation.

neil.matengabout 2 months ago

Don't rely purely on schedule logic. We forecast material logistics float separately using procurement dashboard analytics — critical when material access routes change based on operational status of lifts and corridors.

benji_eeabout 2 months ago

I’ve seen float blown entirely because a mechanical sub needed 6-hour sterilization lag post-tie-in. Build this into your time-risk buffers even if the procedure time is 90 minutes — the cleanup takes longer.

fatima.citiesabout 2 months ago

Consider using scenario-based buffers. Our hospital project included a 3-day 'infection incident' buffer every 6 weeks, not because it was guaranteed, but because patient outbreaks occurred on a historic rolling cycle.

Abolajisoboyejoabout 2 months ago

If your shutdown approvals take 7+ days, build a lag buffer with logic that models 'approval to access' separately from 'work to completion'. This way, delays in admin don’t get hidden inside production forecasts.

mkale.codesabout 2 months ago

We use a custom Power BI dashboard that overlays shutdown approvals with actual crew sequencing. It flags any shutdown with >6-day lag and updates float forecasts every 72 hours based on response time trends.

sitaspecsabout 2 months ago

Pair your float logic with real-time room turnover dashboards. We tied our master schedule into the hospital FM system and monitored which rooms were offline longest. Helps rebalance float allocations mid-project.

emma.buildsabout 2 months ago

I’ve found it helps to add a dedicated 'clinical risk buffer' per phase in the Gantt chart. That makes it visible to the client and triggers fewer value engineering arguments when you get pushback on contingency logic.

chandra.waterabout 2 months ago

When you’re working in ceiling plenum over live spaces, float needs to cover both night shift work AND recovery hours. Your constraint isn’t just when you can work, but when the space below is safe to reopen.

deeptank.pmabout 2 months ago

Try conditional float logic tied to infection control protocols — one of our clinics required four-week clearance after every duct breach. We created trigger-dependent delays linked to HVAC zone dependencies. Better than padding the entire master.

zoe.assetlifeabout 2 months ago

Don’t forget seasonal census swings. We once scheduled a renovation just after flu season and had to redo all the decanting logic. Add predictive modeling of bed occupancy to your float analysis — a 5% patient increase can eat all your phase margin.

joe.bridgesabout 2 months ago

For swing-space-heavy jobs, we preload phase buffers based on real patient transfer time — not contractor logic. If you’re coordinating with clinical ops, your real risk isn’t in walls, it’s in elevators, logistics, and patient movement protocols.

hp.consultingabout 2 months ago

Inactive hospital zones bring serious shutdown coordination issues. We model float buffers by linking each shutdown to both infection control sign-off AND equipment clearance. Using two separate logic drivers in P6 lets us track approval lag as its own delay risk.

We use cookies

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. Read our Cookie Policy to learn more.