31 Jan 3 Extremely Harmful Weather Conditions for Construction Equipment: ACCL
3 Extremely Harmful Weather Conditions for Construction Equipment: ACCL
Weather conditions have a significant impact on all rigging activities. Industries that include outdoor construction, such as marine, construction, and others, must carefully consider weather conditions when planning and executing their operations. Workers can be seriously injured by strong winds, dust, or fog, and rigging hardware can be severely damaged.
Weather conditions have an impact on the structure’s stability, design, and performance. Because most of the construction industry’s operations are carried out in the open and exposed to all types of weather, such conditions must be taken into account. This means that the rigging equipment and the employees who use it are at a much higher danger.
The following article examines the causes and effects of three meteorological conditions that have a significant impact on all construction sites and workers:
The temperature is chilly
Cold weather can have a negative impact on building, so it’s always a good idea to take the required preparations to mitigate its impacts. For concrete work, the Cement Institution of Canada recommends following the building codes, while for masonry, the Brick Association of Canada (CBAC) recommends following their building codes.
The most important factor in cold-weather building activities is ensuring that mortar and grout receive adequate heat for appropriate cement hydration. Due to a lack of heat, lower temperatures can entirely cease or slow down the process of cement hydration, reducing the masonry’s bond strength.
Before using frozen masonry units, they must be melted and dried. A metallic surface contact thermometer or a flat, instant-read thermometer can be used to determine the unit temperature. Even if the temperature is above 20 F (-6.7 C), heating bricks is recommended. The absorption qualities of preheated brick will be the same as those laid at normal temperatures.
It’s critical to keep mortar safe from freezing temperatures. The compressive strength, bond strength, and water penetration resistance of brickwork are all dramatically reduced by a frozen mortar mill. Also, mortar with more than 6% water content may be damaged, as the frozen ice may melt and increase the volume of the mortar, lowering the binding strength.
To lessen the impact of cold weather, consider changing the constituents and proportions of the mortar within a reasonable range. Increasing the amount of sand in the mortar mixture can also make it stiffer. The use of lime allows the mortar to freely release water.
Weather that is both hot and dry
The construction sector can also be hampered by hot and dry circumstances. As previously indicated, the building regulations include a rule of codes for construction in hot and dry conditions. Rapid evaporation and absorption of water from masonry is a major hazard in hot weather. Lack of moisture can have a significant impact on the materials used in construction.
It’s critical to keep masonry units out of direct sunlight and in cool, shady locations. The mortar may settle prematurely if the temperature is too high. The brick lay will not be able to hang on to a premature mortar because the water content is insufficient. This will weaken the overall relationship between the bricks and mortar, potentially resulting in structural leaks.
Before putting the bricks, spray them with water. Because of the warmer temperature, bricks absorb and lose moisture quickly. This causes them to absorb water from the mortar mixture, resulting in a significant reduction in binding strength.
Dry weather means there isn’t enough moisture in the air, which can lead to the creation of dry dust. Dust clouds in large quantities lingering around the work site might be hazardous. Dust also produces filth, which can cause unnecessary complexities in machinery as well as endangering the workers’ health and safety. Many pieces of site equipment and machinery include filters that must be cleaned and repaired on a regular basis. Working parts might be clogged by dirt and dust, causing malfunctions.
Storms and Wind
Construction work in a windy environment necessitates a great deal of foresight. It’s crucial to know what kind of equipment can withstand the highest wind speeds. This information is usually not included in the user manual, so you’ll have to contact the equipment maker to find out the specifics.
It’s critical to make the required preparations to deal with the dangers before performing an operation in a windy region. It’s also a good idea to check with the weather service about possible thunderstorms in the region.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that wind speed increases as you get higher. So be sure to figure out how high you want the load hoisted. When the wind blows from the front of the crane boom, it may cause it to collapse backward. However, if the wind comes in from the back, the cargo may swing away from the crane, resulting in a crash.
In windy conditions, hoisting and lifting activities can generate weight swinging and rotation. This might endanger the riggers, as well as cause the crane to overload and crash. Examine the load’s size and shape to see if lifting it in windy conditions is dangerous.
The risk of harm and loss is always reduced when the weather conditions are determined and the necessary arrangements are made. The weather not only influences construction equipment and operations, but it can also cause injury to the workers. In hot weather, serious illnesses such as exhaustion and dehydration can impact workers. In cold weather, workers are vulnerable to frost bites, hypothermia, and trench foot. When working in inclement weather, it is usually a good idea to wear personal protective equipment.
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