Concrete Cutting
Prepare an opening schedule for core drilling
- scope planning
- trade handover
What does the receiving trade need to confirm before a coring enquiry?
A blank opening register separating requested dimensions from approved locations.
Give every opening its own reference
A request for several holes is easier to review when each opening has an identifier that appears on the drawing and on site. Separate a requested opening from an approved drilling position. The plumbing, mechanical or electrical installer should identify the use, finished opening requirement and the drawing revision behind it.
Do not estimate an opening from the outside diameter of a pipe alone. The receiving trade needs to account for its installation detail. Record an unknown dimension as unknown, then ask that trade to resolve it before the cutting layout is finalised.
Record both sides of the slab or wall
Describe the material, available thickness information and access on both faces. Note the occupied room, equipment or finish below a floor opening. Access for collecting water and handling the core can be as important as access for the drill.
Supply the available drawings and scanning information without interpreting a clear-looking area as approval to drill. Structural review and the relationship to embedded services remain separate decisions. The post-tensioned slab guide explains why a small hole can still require a wider review.
Close the schedule with a trade handover
Use the same opening IDs when the receiving trade checks the completed work. Record any location that was held, revised or not drilled. Assign sealing, firestopping where applicable, waterproofing and the installation itself to the responsible contractor rather than assuming they are part of coring.
Bring the register to a core-drilling site review. It gives the crew a clear set of questions while keeping design and installation decisions with the people responsible for them.
Copy this planning record
Use one entry per item or work area. Add the drawing or photograph reference, record unknowns explicitly and name the person who will resolve them. Keep the completed record with the agreed scope; the blank fields below are a discussion aid.
- Opening ID / drawing revision: ____________________
- Use and receiving trade: ____________________
- Requested finished opening: ____________________
- Substrate / access both sides: ____________________
- Review status / handover owner: ____________________
Bring the scope to a site review
Request an estimate with the location, the proposed removals and what must stay. Mention the unresolved items in this record so they can be discussed before the scope is agreed.
Primary planning references
Source links checked 6 October 2026. Confirm the requirements for your property and scope with the relevant authority and qualified professionals.