Construction Site Shutdown and Mothballing Checklist

How to use this checklist

The checklists should be used

Frequently Asked Questions

A construction site shutdown is the planned, orderly process of stopping or suspending work at a site for an extended period. Mothballing is the related practice of protecting the site, plant, equipment, and partly built structures so they stay safe and can be restarted without undue risk or loss. The process is temporary, but the risks during it are real: unoccupied sites are more exposed to theft, vandalism, fire, water damage, and weather. The checklist supports this work by providing a structured framework to plan, execute, and document the shutdown or mothballing, covering insurer notifications, risk assessment updates, emergency response readiness, site security, housekeeping, utility isolation, and the maintenance of plant and temporary works.

A shutdown or mothballed site is often unoccupied for weeks or months, which changes its risk profile. The checklist addresses this directly: notify the insurer and insurance broker formally that operations will cease, review and update the Project/Site Emergency Response Plan, and prepare a Project Recommencement Plan for a safe and orderly return. It also covers keeping the site securely enclosed by a robust security fence, maintaining remotely monitored CCTV connected to a 24-hour manned Alarm Receiving Centre, and keeping intruder and automatic fire alarm systems operational and connected. Housekeeping, removal of waste and combustible materials, isolation of non-essential utilities, and safe storage of plant all reduce the chance of fire, theft, or water damage while no one is on site.

The checklist starts with formal notification to the insurer and insurance broker that operations will cease. It requires the Project/Site Emergency Response Plan to be reviewed and updated for the shutdown period, a Project Recommencement Plan to be documented for the return to operations, and the Project Risk Register to be reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals. It also covers scheduling of any required equipment maintenance or statutory inspections that must continue during the shutdown. These items ensure the site is safe to leave, remains covered by insurance, and can be safely and orderly restarted.

The checklist asks you to confirm that the site will remain securely enclosed by an adequate and robust security fence for the entire shutdown or mothballing period, and that remotely monitored CCTV covers the site perimeter and any critical or vulnerable internal areas. It also asks whether CCTV is connected to an approved 24-hour manned remote monitoring facility or Alarm Receiving Centre, and whether systems feature PIR movement sensors with a voice challenge facility operated from the CCTV control room. You must also confirm that intruder alarms and any automatic fire alarm systems remain operational and connected to a 24-hour manned approved Alarm Receiving Centre.

Yes. The checklist contains dedicated sections on preventing water damage, additional water damage mitigation, and water system monitoring and controls. It asks you to verify that all premises are fully water-tight with no evidence of existing or potential water ingress, to isolate and drain down water systems and supplies to prevent leakage or freeze damage, and to install remotely monitored leak detection equipment where water systems remain active. It also asks that the locations of all water shut-off valves and stopcocks are clearly identified and displayed on a site plan provided at the main site entrance. Flame-resistant temporary covering materials meeting LPS 1207 or equivalent may be used to protect vulnerable areas, installed equipment, or high-value items.

It should cover insurer notifications, emergency response and recommencement planning, risk register updates, and site security including fencing, CCTV, intruder and fire alarms. It should cover housekeeping and storage, removal of waste and combustible materials, isolation of non-essential utilities, and safe storage of plant and machinery with keys and batteries removed. It should cover electrical and mechanical equipment, plant room integrity, fixed fire protection, utility and fuel supply assurance, water damage prevention, earthworks and drainage, and temporary works. It should also set out inspection and maintenance arrangements for the shutdown period, including statutory inspections and reviews of structural integrity. The checklist is organised into sections reflecting these areas.

Work through the checklist section by section and record all actions taken. Start with planning: notify the insurer and broker, update the emergency response plan, prepare the recommencement plan, and keep the risk register current. Secure the site and confirm fencing, CCTV, and alarm arrangements. Tidy the site, remove waste and combustibles, store materials off the ground and away from flood-risk zones, and isolate non-essential utilities. Shut down and de-energise electro-mechanical installations in line with the manufacturer's instructions, and confirm plant rooms are free of combustible materials and secured. Protect against water damage by draining down systems and identifying shut-off valves. Check earthworks, drainage, pumps, and temporary works, then set out the inspection and maintenance arrangements that will run through the shutdown. Use the tool to schedule periodic inspections and to document everything for a safe restart.

The checklist includes items on formal notification to the insurer and insurance broker, and on keeping the Project Risk Register reviewed and updated at appropriate intervals. It also stresses documented arrangements for required equipment maintenance and statutory inspections, and for inspections of temporary works. Confirm that intruder and fire alarms stay connected to a 24-hour manned approved Alarm Receiving Centre, that water systems are isolated and drained down, and that plant rooms are free of combustible materials and secured. Use the guidance to record all actions taken, schedule periodic inspections, and ensure the site is safe, controlled, and well documented for restart.

Construction plant and equipment should be removed from site or parked and stored in a secure compound outside any flood risk zone. Keys and batteries should be removed from large items of plant to prevent theft and unauthorised use. Fixed fire protection systems for electro-mechanical installations should remain fully operational during the shutdown period. Any electro-mechanical equipment on site but not yet installed or commissioned should be stored and preserved in line with the manufacturer's recommendations, and where possible covered with flame-resistant temporary covering materials meeting LPS 1207 or equivalent. Documented arrangements must be in place for any necessary maintenance or statutory inspections during the shutdown.

A shutdown or mothballed site must be inspected and maintained throughout the period it is closed. The checklist asks for documented arrangements for the continuation of required equipment maintenance or statutory inspections, for inspection and maintenance of installed electrical and mechanical equipment, and for regular inspection and maintenance of temporary works and dewatering systems. It also asks for regular reviews and re-assessments of the continued structural integrity of structures at appropriate intervals. Where pumping systems are critical, remotely monitored alarms on pump operation should be installed and tested. Use the tool to schedule these periodic inspections and record the actions taken.

Yes. The checklist includes items on earthworks and drainage management, asking whether temporary storage and stockpile areas associated with earthworks have been cleared of unnecessary combustible materials and secured against unauthorised access, whether large sections of exposed earthworks are covered or otherwise protected from the elements, and whether all temporary and permanent drainage runs are clear and flowing freely, including discharge points, oil interceptors, silt traps, and settlement traps. It also covers regular inspection and maintenance of pumps and dewatering systems, and assessments of wind loadings on structural integrity, including any temporary covering materials.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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