Agree on the erection sequence early, because it sets manufacturing priority and delivery order, and then check that the drawings support it: temporary stability at each stage, crane openings and their infill, connections that can be made in the planned order, and supporting structure that is ready first. Record who designs temporary bracing and rigging before the package is released.
The sequence drives fabrication and delivery
In a WoodWorks-hosted presentation on transportation and staging (Dave Beck, XL Construction, December 2021), the first planning step is to develop the erection sequence, because it informs the priority of manufacturing and the sequence of deliveries. The contractor then works with the timber manufacturer on trailer load sequencing and decides whether pieces are stored on site or in a staging yard with just-in-time delivery.
The Mass Timber Construction Success Checklist from WoodWorks BC and Seagate Mass Timber (April 2025) asks the same questions from the field: are the correct members in the first delivery, and can deliveries match the rate of construction so material is not stored on site? Sources verified October 22, 2026. The installer’s input on sequence is discussed in when to bring the supplier and installer into the project. Site fire and weather protection also matter for builder’s risk insurance for mass timber.
Drawing decisions that change the sequence
| Drawing decision | Why it matters to installation | What to check in the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Panel layout and joints | Panel order follows the layout. Panels that bear on each other must go in a set order. | Panel numbers or marks on the structural layout, and any required setting order noted. |
| Crane openings | Some floors are left open for hoisting and filled in later. | The WoodWorks BC checklist asks whether structural details are provided for crane openings and their infill. |
| Temporary stability | Partly built frames may need support until the lateral system is complete. | Who designs bracing. The checklist asks whether a temporary works engineer provides bracing plans, and whether elements such as cantilevered panels need long-term temporary support. |
| Floor-to-lateral connection | If floors are not tied to the permanent lateral system as they go in, temporary bracing is needed. | Whether the floor system attaches to permanent lateral bracing on installation, or a temporary scheme is required. |
| Supporting structure | Timber cannot be set until concrete or steel below is ready and within tolerance. | Embeds and bearing details, and a survey requirement before installation. The checklist asks whether the existing structure is within tolerance for mass timber. |
| Oversized elements | Large prefabricated pieces may need special rigging. | The checklist asks whether oversized elements need specialized rigging instructions and whether a temporary works engineer provides rigging plans. |
| Exposed surfaces | Bracing and lifting can mark finished timber. | Whether members can be braced without direct fasteners, and the patching requirements if fastening is needed. |
Questions to settle before fabrication
- Sequence drawing. Is there an agreed erection sequence, by level and area, that the fabricator can follow?
- Connections in order. Can every connection be made in the planned order, with access to its fasteners once the next piece is set?
- Bracing responsibility. Is it clear who designs temporary bracing and rigging, and when those plans are due?
- Interfaces first. Are the concrete and steel pieces each stage depends on scheduled and surveyed before timber arrives?
- Openings and infill. Are crane openings, leave-outs, and their infill details shown on the structural drawings?
- Weather. Does the moisture plan match the sequence, so exposed levels are protected as they go in? See moisture management in the drawings.
Record each question so it can be closed
Record the area and level, the sheets involved, the decision needed, and whether it changes manufacturing order. When the sequence changes, check the panel layout, the bracing plans, and the delivery schedule together. The mass timber drawing coordination checklist covers the rest of the package.
Where Groundbook fits
Upload the architectural, structural, and MEP drawings with the relevant specification sections, and run a cross-discipline review. Groundbook flags potential disagreements, such as an opening shown on an MEP plan but missing from the structural panel layout, with links to each source sheet. Your team decides what each finding means for the fabrication package. Groundbook does not check structural capacity, fire ratings, or the fabricator’s model.