Buyer guides · Delivery and site · 9 min
Prefab cabin site readiness: what must be complete before delivery
A finished cabin can still lose days at the destination. Site readiness is the evidence that the route, support, people and interfaces are ready to receive it.
Published by AeroPodHomes · Updated 30 August 2026
1. Prove the route, not just the address
Record the route from the port or staging yard to the site, then from the site gate to every offloading or assembly position. Check road width, turning radius, gradients, bridge or axle restrictions, overhead cables and trees, gate dimensions, ground bearing and seasonal access. Out-of-gauge capsule and apple formats need the route checked against their transport envelope; container deliveries need room for the tractor, trailer and container handling method.
2. Survey the supports against the issued drawing
Foundations, piers, pads or ground screws must match the current support-point drawing in position, level and capacity. Record the survey before shipping release, including diagonals and finished elevations. A small error repeated across several supports can prevent a module from landing or a panel frame from closing. The local engineer remains responsible for the foundation design and ground response.
3. Reserve the crane and exclusion zone
Confirm crane type, lifting radius, setup area, outrigger support, lifting accessories, operator, signal person and the exclusion zone. Use the supplier's lifting points and weights for the selected configuration, not a photograph of a similar model. Check whether the crane can remain in one position or must remobilise between pitches, because repeated setup moves affect both cost and programme.
4. Bring utilities to named interfaces
Power, water, drainage and data should terminate at the points and tolerances shown on the coordinated drawing. Confirm pressure, voltage, protection, pipe sizes, invert levels and testing responsibility with the local trades. A cable or pipe being 'near the cabin' is not readiness. The handoff point has to be accessible after the unit is placed and before finishes conceal the connection.
5. Prepare people, tools and temporary protection
Issue the installation sequence to the appointed crew, confirm supervision and stop authority, and stage the tools, fasteners, sealants, access equipment and temporary bracing listed for the first phase. Provide dry storage where panelized components wait, and weather protection for any open interfaces. The delivery team should know what comes off first because unload order should follow installation order.
6. Close the release gate
Run a documented readiness review before dispatch: route accepted, supports surveyed, crane booked, utilities positioned, crew and equipment confirmed, permits and inspection bookings in place, storage prepared and forecast acceptable for the planned work. Open items receive an owner and due date. Shipping against an unclosed gate transfers factory certainty into site waiting time.
Decision table
| Readiness item | Evidence before dispatch | Owner usually on site |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Survey, photos and constraint list | Developer / logistics contractor |
| Supports | Signed survey to current drawing | Civil contractor / local engineer |
| Lifting | Crane plan, radius and booking | Crane contractor |
| Utilities | Set-out and test records | MEP trades |
| Installation | Crew, sequence, tools and hold points | Appointed installer |
| Release | Closed checklist and open-item register | Project manager |
Common questions
Who prepares the site for a prefab cabin?
The developer's local civil, MEP, logistics and installation teams normally prepare the route, foundations, crane operation and utility interfaces. The supplier provides the agreed drawings, weights, lifting information and installation requirements.
Can a cabin ship before foundations are complete?
It can physically ship, but doing so creates storage, handling and delay risk. Release should depend on surveyed supports and a confirmed receiving plan unless temporary storage has been intentionally designed into the programme.
What site access does a prefab cabin need?
It depends on whether the building arrives in a container, as a volumetric or out-of-gauge unit, or as panels. Check the exact transport envelope, vehicle, turning path, crane radius and ground capacity for the selected configuration.
When should utilities be connected?
Bring them to the coordinated interface before placement, then complete final connections at the stage defined in the installation sequence. Test responsibility and access after placement should be agreed in advance.
What is a site-readiness hold point?
A formal gate that prevents dispatch or installation from proceeding until named evidence is accepted. It converts 'the site should be ready' into a controlled project decision.