Quick answer
Treat delivery as a transfer of responsibility, not the start of installation. Before the vehicle arrives, agree who can receive, count, photograph and store each package. Compare the actual labels and packing list with the approved order, record visible damage before unpacking, and reserve a dry, protected route to the agreed staging area. Do not infer what is inside a closed crate from its exterior photograph.
Plan the route before accepting the load
Start with the vehicle access, unloading equipment and the path from the unloading point to storage. A package can fit through the site gate yet fail at a lift, stair landing or turning point. The contractor should check the measured clearances against the actual package dimensions on the shipping documents, together with any lift capacity and handling restrictions. Keep a workable route separate from occupied public areas where the project requires it.
Assign one receiving lead and a named backup. Give them the current purchase order, packing list, drawing revision and supplier contact before delivery. If the project uses several rooms or wall systems, mark which package belongs to each area without opening or relabeling material prematurely. A date in the programme is not proof that the destination space is ready.
These genuine wooden crates were photographed on a truck. The image illustrates the space and handling access needed for a real delivery; it does not identify the contents of each closed crate or establish a safe lifting method for a particular site.
Use one receiving record for the actual packages
At the unloading point, count packages against the carrier paperwork and supplier packing list. Record the visible shipping marks, package condition, arrival time and any difference in quantity. Photograph all sides of damaged or wet packaging while the carrier is still present, following the project contract and carrier process for notation. Do not sign a clean receipt for an unresolved exception without recording it according to that process.
- Identity: match package marks to the approved order and destination area.
- Condition: note visible crushing, punctures, water marks or broken closures.
- Quantity: record package count separately from the count of panels or parts inside.
- Custody: note who accepted, where each package was moved and who received the exception report.
This first check is external. It cannot confirm that panels, track, seals or accessories inside are complete or undamaged. Schedule a controlled opening and detailed count with the responsible team; keep photographs and a dated discrepancy list linked to the same delivery record.
Choose storage for the next construction step
A good staging location protects the material and preserves the installer’s ability to find the correct parts. Identify a dry area away from active wet trades, uncontrolled traffic and overhead work. Confirm floor loading and any project-specific storage instructions with the site team and supplier. Keep packaging labels visible and avoid stacking beyond the documented handling guidance.
The photograph shows a long wooden transport crate inside a truck. Its visible size is a useful reminder to check the entire route and staging footprint, but the photograph cannot establish its exact weight or contents.
Sequence storage by planned installation area. Do not place track and small accessories where they can be separated from the matching panels or hidden under later deliveries. The top-hung partition will require its approved overhead track and connected route to parking; the site team should not improvise an alternative movement path because a crate was staged in the wrong location.
Close exceptions before installation depends on them
When the detailed count is complete, distinguish three cases: missing package, visible package damage and hidden item discrepancy. Each needs its own evidence, affected item reference, owner and resolution date. Share the discrepancy with the supplier and contractor through the project’s agreed channel before the installation sequence relies on that material.
A damaged outer wrap is a reason to inspect, not proof that a panel is damaged. The reverse is also true: an intact crate does not prove all internal parts are present. Keep packaging until the inspection and claim process says it may be discarded. Record any repacking, movement or temporary protection so later teams can trace the condition at each handoff.
This authentic photograph shows a cardboard-wrapped transport unit on a vehicle. It is visual context for external receiving checks, not proof of the identity or condition of components under the wrap.
Frequently asked questions
Can we approve the contents from a sealed crate photograph?
No. Compare the paperwork and external marks first, then complete a controlled opening and item count with the responsible team.
What if the carrier delivers fewer packages than the list?
Record the actual count and the difference on the receiving documents under the applicable carrier process, then notify the supplier and project owner promptly.
Can panels remain beside an active wet trade?
Use the supplier storage instructions and the site risk review. A protected, dry area away from uncontrolled work is the safer planning assumption.
Should a floor running track appear on every packing list?
No continuous floor running track is assumed for the maintained EBUNGE top-hung movable wall. Check the selected-system packing list rather than using a generic parts list.
When is the receiving handoff complete?
When package identity, count, visible condition, storage location and open exceptions are documented and acknowledged by the responsible parties.
Make the handoff usable for the installer
Give the installation lead the signed receiving record, package location map, photographs, detailed component count and unresolved exception list. Link each exception to the affected area and approved drawing, then agree whether installation can proceed on unaffected work. EBUNGE can review a project-specific material list and package questions when the purchase order and evidence are supplied. For system context, see the operable partition range and resource centre; neither replaces the approved shipment documents.