Planning
Trade sequencing
Define the safe and buildable order of trades, handovers, inspections, curing, drying, access, and protection.
How to execute this stage
Micro-stage control plan
Work through each applicable step in order. A hold point means pause the dependent decision or work until the stated evidence and authorised review are complete.
01Map predecessor and successor activities for every workface, including approvals, temporary works, inspections, testing, curing, and weather protectionLevel 1 · Planning
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Map predecessor and successor activities for every workface, including approvals, temporary works, inspections, testing, curing, and weather protection.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Coordinated construction drawings, Consented project specification, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Trade stacking. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Coordinated construction drawings is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Consented project specification and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the trade readiness meetings sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Coordinated construction drawings and Consented project specification.
- Check specifically for: Trade stacking.
- Avoid this known mistake: Starting trade sequencing without confirming the current documents and responsibility.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed trade sequencing work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Coordinated construction drawings or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Trade readiness meetings result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Trade readiness meetings and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Trade stacking
- Starting trade sequencing without confirming the current documents and responsibility
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Coordinated construction drawings
- Consented project specification
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of trade sequencing. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Confirm access, scaffold, lifting, storage, shared penetrations, service zones, and close-up responsibilities between trades.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
02Confirm access, scaffold, lifting, storage, shared penetrations, service zones, and close-up responsibilities between tradesLevel 1 · Planning
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Confirm access, scaffold, lifting, storage, shared penetrations, service zones, and close-up responsibilities between trades.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Service layouts, Contract scope, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Work covered too early. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Service layouts is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Contract scope and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the workface handover checks sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Service layouts and Contract scope.
- Check specifically for: Work covered too early.
- Avoid this known mistake: Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed trade sequencing work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Service layouts or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Workface handover checks result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Workface handover checks and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Work covered too early
- Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Service layouts
- Contract scope
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of trade sequencing. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Use two-to-six-week lookaheads to confirm readiness and remove blockers before crews arrive.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
03Use two-to-six-week lookaheads to confirm readiness and remove blockers before crews arriveLevel 1 · Planning
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Use two-to-six-week lookaheads to confirm readiness and remove blockers before crews arrive.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Temporary works and access plans, Manufacturer instructions where relevant, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Access removed too soon. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Temporary works and access plans is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Manufacturer instructions where relevant and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the trade readiness meetings sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Temporary works and access plans and Manufacturer instructions where relevant.
- Check specifically for: Access removed too soon.
- Avoid this known mistake: Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed trade sequencing work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Temporary works and access plans or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Trade readiness meetings result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Trade readiness meetings and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Access removed too soon
- Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Temporary works and access plans
- Manufacturer instructions where relevant
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of trade sequencing. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Close the trade sequencing stage, link its evidence, resolve outstanding defects and release only the next applicable stage.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
Trade-to-trade control
Interfaces and release gates
Use the actual consented design, specification and authorised reviewers. These controls help expose gaps; they do not approve work.
Release this stage to the next team
Prerequisites
- • Current consented/contract documents and scope are available
- • Preceding work, access, safety and materials are ready
- • Named people own open RFIs, defects, inspections and evidence
Interface checks
- • Work matches the current documents and actual site condition
- • Interfaces with the preceding and following trades have been walked
- • Cost, programme, change and evidence consequences are recorded
Evidence before release
- • Location and detail photographs
- • Dated checklist/inspection/RFI references
- • Daily report and linked action/defect records
Next team: The next applicable project team
Open the related Workspace control →What happens in this stage
- Map predecessor and successor activities for every workface, including approvals, temporary works, inspections, testing, curing, and weather protection.
- Confirm access, scaffold, lifting, storage, shared penetrations, service zones, and close-up responsibilities between trades.
- Use two-to-six-week lookaheads to confirm readiness and remove blockers before crews arrive.
Before work starts
- Confirm the latest issued-for-construction and consented documents for trade sequencing are on site, including Coordinated construction drawings.
- Check Consented project specification, approved product data, RFIs, minor variations, and amendment status before work starts.
- Confirm the subcontractor understands the scope, hold points, access, protection requirements, H&S controls, and quality evidence required.
- Check the programme sequence so this stage does not start before earlier work, inspections, testing, or concealed-work photos are complete.
- Confirm materials delivered to site match the specification, are dry/undamaged, and are stored according to manufacturer instructions.
During the work
- Walk the work face early, mid-shift, and before close-up. Compare actual work with the consented drawings, specification, and manufacturer details.
- Check set-out, levels, falls, clearances, penetrations, fixings, bracing, waterproofing, or protection points that will be difficult to see later.
- Ask trades to show their own quality checks rather than only saying the work is complete.
- Keep weather, site condition, delivery, delay, inspection, RFI, variation, and safety notes in the daily report.
- Photograph any work before it is covered, backfilled, lined, clad, tiled, painted, or otherwise hidden.
After the work
- Complete a close-out walk with the subcontractor and mark defects immediately while access is still available.
- Confirm required inspection bookings, council results, producer statements, LBP Records of Work, warranties, test certificates, or installer declarations are obtained.
- Update as-built notes where service routes, drainage, fixings, penetrations, or dimensions differ from the design.
- Confirm the area is protected from weather, other trades, impact damage, contamination, or premature loading.
- Update the lookahead programme and tell affected trades what is ready, what is blocked, and what must not be covered.
Common problems and step-by-step solutions
Trade sequencing information is incomplete or conflicting
- 1Stop the affected trade sequencing activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Trade sequencing is not ready when the programme requires it
- 1Stop the affected trade sequencing activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Trade sequencing evidence or approval cannot be located
- 1Stop the affected trade sequencing activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Verification
Source / where to check
Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.
The issued consent drawings, stamped specifications, engineering drawings, RFIs, minor variations, and amendments control the specific project.
Use WorkSafe NZ for construction health and safety duties, risk management, and practical guidance for residential construction work.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.
The issued consent drawings, stamped specifications, engineering drawings, RFIs, minor variations, and amendments control the specific project.
Use the exact current installation manual, warranty requirements, BRANZ/Appraisal information where applicable, and product data sheet for the product on site.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.
Project-specific consented documents and professional advice override generic guidance.
Common inspections required
- Trade readiness meetings
- Workface handover checks
Common risks
- Trade stacking
- Work covered too early
- Access removed too soon
- Wet work damages finishes
Common mistakes
- Starting trade sequencing without confirming the current documents and responsibility
- Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date
- Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence
Required documentation
- Latest consented drawings and specifications
- Relevant RFIs, site instructions, amendments, minor variations, and variation approvals
- Subcontractor scope, QA checklist, delivery dockets, product data, and installation records
- Inspection booking/result records and photos before cover-up
- Daily site report notes covering labour, weather, progress, delays, risks, and decisions
Photos or diagrams needed
- Wide photo showing where trade sequencing is happening on the site
- Close-up photos of critical details, fixings, laps, seals, penetrations, clearances, levels, or falls
- Photo of product labels, batch numbers, delivery dockets, and installer marks where relevant
- Marked-up drawing or simple diagram showing any changed location, clash, defect, or agreed remedial detail
Construction manager checklist
- 1Scope, drawings, specification, product data, and latest revision confirmed
- 2Trade briefed on hold points, tolerances to verify, evidence required, and inspection sequence
- 3Access, storage, protection, temporary works, and safety controls in place
- 4Work checked against drawings during installation, not only at completion
- 5Photos and records captured before work is concealed
- 6Defects, RFIs, delays, and variations recorded with owner and due date
- 7Inspection/producer statement/warranty/Record of Work requirements tracked for CCC
Questions to ask the subcontractor
- Which drawing, detail, or manufacturer instruction are you working from?
- What needs to be checked before this is covered or handed to the next trade?
- What could stop you today: weather, access, materials, information, inspections, or other trades?
- Does anything on site differ from the drawings or specification?
- What evidence will you provide for the quality file and CCC file?
Red flags to stop work
- Work differs from consented drawings or specification and no approved variation/RFI exists
- A structural, weathertightness, waterproofing, drainage, fire/safety, or H1 detail is unclear
- The trade wants to cover work before inspection, testing, or photos are complete
- Specified materials are missing, substituted, damaged, wet, expired, or installed outside manufacturer instructions
- A safety control is missing for excavation, heights, plant movement, electrical work, asbestos, silica, or public protection
What to record in the daily report
- Exact location and quantity of work completed
- Trade headcount, company names, plant used, deliveries, and material batch/product details
- Weather, site conditions, delays, instructions received, RFIs raised, and inspections booked/passed/failed
- Photos taken before cover-up and any defects or non-conformances found
- Next-day lookahead, blockers, and who is responsible for each action
Use this in my project
Turn trade sequencing into controlled action
Open the relevant workspace register, create the project-specific record, link the controlling documents and preserve evidence. The guide does not automatically approve or verify the action.