Establishing Standard Times for Painting Activities through the Direct Time Study Method

Abstract

Construction management is a crucial process for managing resources to achieve project objectives. The construction industry is inherently complex, as each project possesses unique characteristics influenced by various factors, significantly impacting labor productivity. Consequently, construction schedules for each project are specific and not directly transferable to others. Painting activities are particularly significant in construction and architecture, serving to enhance building aesthetics and protect material surfaces from deterioration due to environmental factors, moisture, or chemicals. However, the previous research indicates that these activities are among the factors contributing to construction project delays, stemming from issues such as inadequate surface preparation, worker skill levels, worksite conditions, fluctuating weather conditions, and a lack of effective construction planning. Moreover, limited existing research on standard times for painting activities may result in a mismatch between planned construction schedules and actual work performance, potentially leading to further project delays. Therefore, this research aims to determine the standard time for painting activities using direct time study method, which focuses on the fire escape staircase painting, an architectural work of the Sujinno Building construction project at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. The study found that the fire escape staircase painting activity, encompassing 14 sub-activities, has a standard time of 587.90 minutes at 9.79 hours per 20 square meters of painted area. The three sub-activities with the longest durations were waiting time for the first coat of paint to dry at 211.40 minutes, waiting time for the primer to dry at 209.90 minutes, and equipment cleaning at 29.80 minutes, respectively. The standard time for these activities may be influenced by various related factors, including construction worker skill and experience, and environmental conditions such as weather and worksite conditions.