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Planning a Project to Limit Winter-Sensitive Activities
Successfully managing a construction project during winter requires careful planning, particularly for activities sensitive to cold weather. The timeline and approach largely depend on the project owner’s requirements and the expected duration of work. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges we’ve faced during cold-weather construction and share the best and most effective strategies to save time, energy, and money in overcoming these issues.
The Impact of Winter Weather on Scheduling
Winter conditions can present a significant challenge to project timelines. Most projects allocate 23–28 weather-related delay days. Our team has had projects where a significant portion of these days were used early due to rain and high winds. Certain activities, such as precast wall placement, are particularly susceptible to weather conditions. If wind speeds exceed safety limits, crane operations must be halted, delaying progress. Cold temperatures also impact construction, preventing concrete from being poured even when additives are used.
Winterizing Materials and Managing Costs
Now despite proactive planning, bad weather can still often disrupt project timelines. When winter conditions are unavoidable, our team takes several steps to protect materials and maintain quality. A cold weather concrete/masonry plan is submitted to the architect for approval, outlining measures for mitigating temperature-related risks. Additionally, an on-site testing engineer verifies compliance with specifications and ensures that proper winter procedures are followed.
Managing Snow and Frost Removal on Job Sites
Managing snow and frost removal on job sites is another crucial step in maintaining construction progress and preventing delays. Effective frost prevention/removal techniques include tenting and heating specific areas to melt frost before construction, using ground heaters to prevent frost from forming in critical locations, and laying blankets over designated sections to retain heat and minimize frost penetration. For example, for a 60×60 ft warehouse slab, a tent can be erected to warm/thaw the ground before pouring the slab. Severe cold can push deadlines back due to deeper frost penetration, increasing project costs and requiring additional manpower. Another effective method is cement stabilization, a process where a machine spreads Portland cement over the soil and tills it in. The Portland cement extracts moisture from the combined materials and creates a hardened surface. This process stabilizes the top 12 inches of soil, providing a hard durable surface making it as hard as concrete and preventing ground damage from heavy equipment while also reducing water infiltration. Cement stabilization is especially useful during winter, helping to control frost transfer into the soil and keeping job sites more manageable.
Selecting and Managing Temporary Heating Solutions
Temporary heating solutions are another crucial process for winter construction, but selecting the right method depends on the specific challenges faced. There are a number of heating strategies our team may choose to implement on a given jobsite. For example, enclosed tenting with forced-air heaters is a common strategy for maintaining worksite temperatures and controlling conditions in smaller areas of a job site. Radiant heating systems are also used for targeting the warming of materials, while portable ground heaters can be used to keep soil from freezing before concrete pours. When choosing a temporary heating solution, it is crucial to consider energy efficiency solutions that prioritize safety, and site-specific requirements.
Maintaining Quality Standards in Cold Temperatures
To ensure high-quality construction in cold weather, our team works closely with the owner’s testing agency to ensure internal quality control measures are met. This process prevents winter conditions from compromising structural integrity or material performance. One of the most critical aspects of Cold Weather concreting is quality control. Since cold temperatures can prevent proper strength curing, winter-specific procedures, such as heated enclosures, concrete blankets, and chemical additives, help maintain consistency and durability.
Tilt-Up and Precast Warehouse Construction
In warehouse construction, the timing of wall installation often depends on the season and whether tilt-up or pre-cast walls are used. Tilt-up walls are formed and poured directly on a slab before being tilting/lifted into place. An alternative approach is using precast walls, which are manufactured in a controlled environment and transported to the site, where a crane positions them accordingly. This method ensures that cold weather conditions have minimal impact on wall production.
When choosing the pre-cast route, one significant challenge is that the sub-grade remains exposed to the elements throughout the winter. Once the roof and walls are in place, the absence of sunlight dramatically slows down the snow melting process, requiring focused management to keep the project on track.
To keep the site stable for traversal, stone is placed before precast elements, though snow and rain can still create some mess. Water management strategies, such as using a Vac truck to extract water from interior column footings, can help mitigate water accumulation issues from melting snow, ice, and rain.
Despite these challenges, several mitigation strategies can be implemented to stay on schedule. For example, tenting over sections of foundation soil & rebar helps raise temperatures, allowing the concrete mixture to bond properly before pouring. Concrete blankets can also be used to prevent freshly poured concrete from freezing. Ground heaters are another option for controlling cold temperatures on job sites. These are portable water heaters that use coiled tubes to prevent the buildup of frost on and below the ground. Finally, adding cold-weather concrete additives at the plant can be one of the simplest ways to ensure the concrete sets properly in low temperatures while improving its strength and durability.
It is important to note that winter construction can also lead to increased project costs, including:
- Snow removal efforts to keep job sites functional
- Structural steel work delays due to accumulated snow, requiring costly removal and drying procedures
- Budget allowances for planned winter work, such as roofing in winter months
- Additional manpower for snow and ice removal
Prioritizing Safety During Winter Construction
At Mowery, “Safety is not an Option”. Safety remains a top priority for our team year-round, but winter conditions introduce new hazards such as ice, rain, and snow accumulation. Some of the most pressing concerns include:
- Snow removal from elevated surfaces, such as metal decking, poses fall risks
- Cold exposure can lead to frostbite if proper precautions aren’t taken
- Slippery conditions increase the likelihood of falls and injuries
To mitigate these risks, winter protection procedures are in place to protect workers and materials. Daily safety huddles emphasize weather-related risks and precautions while additional breaks help workers stay warm and avoid cold-related injuries. Proper winter PPE also ensures that workers are properly equipped for winter conditions.
Winter construction presents unique challenges, but partnering with our team ensures that your project stays on schedule and within budget, even in the harshest conditions. Our team excels at proactive planning, strategic budgeting, and implementing effective winterization techniques to minimize weather-related disruptions. By leveraging precast elements, ground heaters, tenting, and cold-weather additives, we maintain safety and quality standards without compromising efficiency. If you’re ready to optimize your winter construction process, reach out to us today.
