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How to Weather-proof Your Construction Site

How to Weather-proof Your Construction Site

The US has always had its fair share of flooding throughout the years. It’s estimated that infrastructure costs from flooding amount to $9 billion annually.

And states more prone to severe weather events encounter more financial losses than those less prone.

For example, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Florida is considered a high-risk state. This means that residential homes are vulnerable to flooding, and investments can dry up over the years.

Though such alarms are matters of concern, ensuring your construction site is safe and protected from harsh weather conditions can help your business overcome potential financial losses.

Knowing where to develop your project, showing investors you’re confident about the location, and ensuring your construction workers are safe, are some factors to consider when weather-proofing your site.

Investing in long-term and short-term projects during risky weather events can seem too drastic. But let’s not forget tech like construction drones that can scan your construction job sites and ensure there are no fault structures that can cause accidents.

And if the Japanese can make earthquake-proof buildings, you can take on a construction project you’ve set your eyes on and minimize your losses!

This article will cover five ways you can weatherproof your construction site. So keep reading!

5 Ways to Weather-proof Your Construction Site

A job site that’s an office is different than a construction site.

At construction sites, the threat of being swept by torrential rain and strong winds can endanger the lives of construction workers and destroy your project development.

So what can you do to mitigate such dangerous weather conditions?

Here are a few tips to consider:

1. Understand Your Threats and Store Your Materials Appropriately

Depending on your State, the level and type of weather threats can differ.

For example, in Kansas, there are more tornadoes than in Florida. But Florida is more prone to floods than Kansas. If you’re planning to start a new project next to the coastline, but your site is more wind-proof than flood-proof, you need to revise your construction plan.

Some areas of the coastline are more vulnerable than other regions, for instance. Cape Coral, a relatively densely populated place, presents a substantial risk of flooding.

Knowing what to expect during the different seasons can also be helpful. So ensure to check weather reports and follow the news for any updates concerning weather patterns in your area.

And finally, storing your brace building components and another construction material in safe locations is important. Construction materials that have high corrosive potential are especially vulnerable to rain and floods. So it’s crucial to create a checklist before kickstarting your project development.

2. Pay Attention to Timing

If you’ve got short-term construction projects that can be completed within a few months, ensure to consider the weather forecast during that time.

For example, heavy rain that falls non-stop during the months of winter can be avoided if you plan your projects earlier. This way you can get them done before any weather disaster strikes your area.

3. Invest in a Proper Construction Envelope

Besides, your short-term projects, you also have long-term ones. And with long-term projects, there’s sometimes no escape from unforeseen weather events that bring with them severe winds or extreme flooding.

That’s when having proper construction envelopes help save the day. Ensure the ones you invest in are mold-resistant, durable, and consist of fully tensioned panels for ultimate protection.

4. Train Your Construction Team

While you’ll be in charge of managing and organizing projects, your team is the one who’s going to be present on-site.

So it’s of utmost importance to have meetings where you discuss potential weather threats and how to deal with them. This way, you’ll rest assured you won’t have to face preventable emergencies or equipment breakdowns.

Tip: Hire a Disaster Expert

A lot of the time, you might be dealing with harsh weather conditions that are simply out of your control and you might need more expert knowledge.

That’s when hiring a disaster expert can come in handy. They can explain to your workers the best ways to handle such events and how to quickly react to find solutions. They can even organize drills for your team to make them better prepared.

5. Have a Plan B

Looking to Google weather on your phone or the local weather report sometimes isn’t enough.

Weather can be unpredictable. And with global warming changing seasons and inducing unstable weather, there’s more pressure on construction businesses.

So it’s crucial to outline a plan for your team so they’ll know what to do in case of hurricanes, snow, and thunderstorms. Your plan should include measures to protect workers and materials.

Start Your Weather-proofing Plan Today

In the construction industry, managers or owners can face unexpected situations; from economic crises to extreme weather disasters.

That’s why planning your project carefully is essential to help you avoid financial blunders and safety issues.

Consider adding weather-proofing guidelines to your project management plan and see how you can plan, organize and work better, for yourself and your whole team!

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