Showing posts with label BRE (Building Research Establishment). Show all posts
Showing posts with label BRE (Building Research Establishment). Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

How to Manage Construction Projects During a Rainy Summer

Experts are predicting an increasing number of extreme weather events as a result of global climate change, an important reason for construction firms to look very closely at how they manage the risks associated with bad weather. Build the expectation of bad weather into your planning this summer to keep projects moving and profitable, Construction Global writes.

The weatherman never lies
Recent events have shown the severe impact that extreme weather can have. Heavy snowfall during the 2010/11 winter period in Germany saw construction output in the country decline by a staggering 24 percent. In France, heavy rainfall in February 2012 forced many construction sites to suspend work, delaying the country’s economic recovery from recession.
Across Europe the weather has become more extreme, with wind speeds in Sweden predicted to increase by 0.8m/s per month and winter rainfall to rise by 50mm per month over the next century. In the UK, a recent study by BRE (Building Research Establishment) predicted a six percent increase in wind speeds and every site manager knows the effect that crane downtime as a result of wind can have on productivity.
Plan for bad weather
A proactive and well-planned construction project should allow for unforeseen weather conditions and have in place measures on site designed to mitigate the effects, protect worker safety and cut down on wasted materials and manpower. Construction project planning software can help you to build this contingency into your project management.
A specially-tailored construction weather forecasting service such as the one offered by the Met Office, could provide invaluable advanced warning of bad weather to help plan for delays or re-programme work accordingly.
Take protective measures
Rain on sites can create difficult working conditions for operatives, potentially loosening their grip on tools and machinery and creating slippery surfaces, leading to accidents. Site managers might therefore consider installing protective sheeting around scaffolding, which can also mitigate against wind, or temporary roofing structures.
In addition, polythene sheets can be used to cover construction materials to prevent water damage and straw-filled matting and polyurethane foam used to protect materials from the effects of frost and snow in the winter.
Understand your contractual obligations
If you are forced to stop work as a result of bad weather and the project is delayed, you should understand your contractual obligations in such a situation.
According to the solicitor Gullands, bad weather is treated as a 'neutral' event under most building contracts. This means the builder is normally entitled to an extension of time if the delay is likely to prolong the completion of works, but not to payment for any loss or expense suffered as a result of the stoppage.
In general, if a contract overruns, a financial penalty is imposed on the builder. So, when a delay occurs as a result of bad weather it is important to make an application to the contract administrator for an extension of time on the basis that the delay was not caused by you.
To ensure an extension of time is granted, you must give full details of the delay and identify any event considered a 'Relevant Event' as well as estimate any delay to the completion of works beyond the original completion date.
Takeaways
To limit the impact of bad weather on your construction project, make sure you do the following: Build a contingency into your project plan to allow for unexpected delays; protect your site from adverse weather conditions to prevent accidents from occurring; understand your legal obligations in the event of bad weather delaying your construction project; use construction project planning software to manage any delays that are caused by bad weather.
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