Level of Schedule in Planning

Level 3 schedules are the most used in planning. Level of schedule is usually
decomposed into 5. The intention of decomposing schedule level is to manage and control the
project or task to the manageable level.

Level 1 Schedule is the highest level, called overall project summary level.
It includes major milestones or achievements, highlights major activities and key
deliverables. Especially, it is also used in progress reporting.
Established by the client as an initial plan and can be integrated into level 2 and level 3
schedules which involved sub contractor and vendors in puts (commitments). Examples of
level 1 element are
(a) Engineering, Procurement and Construction (For Oil refinery plant expansion project )
(b) Engineering, Procurement and Construction (For Chemical Plant Shutdown Work)

Level 2 Schedule

is the area or system summary (roll up summary of level 3

schedule). It is also called major summary schedule. It is used to integrate into level 3 and
level 4 schedules which involved detail tasks. It can be used to report the project area or trade
progress status.
Examples of level 2 element are
(a) Utility Plant Modification Project, Hydro Cracker Revamp Work ( For Oil refinery plant
expansion project)
(b) Furnace Area, Compressor Area Shutdown Work (For Chemical Plant Shutdown Work)

Level 3 Schedule is a project coordinating and project reporting schedule. Roll up

summary of level 4 schedule. It is a primary tool for the project status tracking and manpower
loading analysis. It shows the summary of each discipline. For instance, piping engineering,
mechanical engineering, civil/structure engineering, process engineering and electrical and
instrumentation engineering are level 3 elements which are the disciplines of design
engineering. Normally developed and established by EPC (engineering, procurement and
construction) contractor. Used as a proposal schedule during the process of tendering. Also is
used as a guide line for subcontractors and vendors for their bid submissions. Applied critical
path method and used as monitoring schedule during the project execution phase. Normally,
level 3 schedule represents the area of responsible manager such as engineering schedule by
engineering manager, procurement by procurement manager and construction by construction
manager. Can be integrated into level 4 and level 5 schedule. The 3 month look-ahead
schedule is produced from this level and distribute to the responsible engineer or manager to
plan
ahead.

Level 4 Schedule is a low level schedule. It consists of the task or work categories
to be carried out. Level 3 schedule is further broken down into level 4 as an execution
schedule (working schedule). The detail task lists and work sequence are shown in this level.
Depending on the nature of project, the level 4 schedule may be level 1 schedule of
subcontractor (and/or) vendors. For example, we have a new project that required the new
pump no- P28 to be purchased and installed. Purchasing of pump materials and
manufacturing steps are apart of pump vendors level 4 element. When the pump vendors
schedule is roll-up into the highest level , the time frame from the purchased order issued date
to deliver date at site, is level 1 element of vendors schedule. That information becomes
main contractors level 4 schedule input. 6 week look-ahead schedule, 3 week look-ahead
schedule are frequently produced form this schedule by filtering the time frame, and
distribute the responsible engineer or manger to plan ahead before getting close to the
targeted
date.

Level 5 schedule is the lowest level of schedule. The task list and work sequence is
usually developed by the task supervisor or engineer and incorporated into level 4 schedule to
monitor day to day work.

Schedule for Hot Tapping construction

Hot tapping work is a critical work especially in process industry such as pharmaceutical
plants, petrochemical plants, offshore platform and FPSO. Hot tapping work is the
connection of branch line piping to existing piping that contains live products such as gas or
oil under pressure. More information on hot tap operation and detail, refer to this site. In this
post, I would suggest the WBS and activities for a hot tap detail construction schedule.
Sample WBS are as follows;
1 Area
1.1 Work pack
1.1.1 Tie-in No
1.1.1.1 Off site Fabrication
1.1.1.2 Preliminary Activities
1.1.1.3 Execution
1.1.1.4 Post Activities
Activities such as fabrication of hot tap (split tee type or stub type), blasting and painting,
delivering to site are of off site fabrication WBS.The preliminary on site construction
activities before hot tap operation are as follows;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Erect spark containment habitat (to avoid fire hazards)

Perform lamination check/UT test/MPI test (hot tap preparation work)
Perform ovality on hot tap location
Submitted UT test/MPI result to consultant/client for review
Approved to weld on hot tap location
Hydro test hot tap valve priority to drilling work
Remove walkway/support for hot tap machine access (this activity may or may not
exist, depends on nature of scope)
8. Hot work permit received
On site execution activities and work steps are as below;
1. Operation line check/gas test
2. Crane and welding machine into position (crane is not required if the hot tap size is
less than 6" and on above ground)
3. Clamp split tee for 14 hot tap
4. Check with operation on flow parameter
5. Fit-up/tack weld split tee on existing pipe
6. Fit-up inspection (contractor/consultant/client)
7. Welding (root run on branch section)
8. Welding (root run on longitudinal section)
9. NDT for both roots (MPT test)
10. Full fillet welding on circumstance existing pipe
11. Cap butt welds
12. Pneumatic test on comp pad
13. Install hot tap valve/blind for hydro test
14. Hydro test hot tap nozzle and valve
15. Inspect hot tap machine prior to drilling operation

16. Hot tap drilling by tapping contractor

17. Close hot tap valve
18. Depressurise and drain the tapping
19. Remove hot tap cutter
20. Install vented blind
Note : Welding type of activities 7,8 and 10 would be different if hot tap fitting is not a split
tee. In this post, Hot tap fitting is split tee type.
Post activities after drilling operation are
1. 1st PSSR by contractor/consultant/client clear punches items
2. Touch-up painting on hot tap nozzle
3. House keeping
Sample hot tap construction schedule is shown as below.

You can also download this schedule