Adverse weather is a fact of life for UK construction. More accurate forecasts may give us a better idea of when bad weather is coming, but they don’t necessarily help with managing the impact. To make matters worse, most experts predict that abnormal weather events will become more common because of climate change.
It isn’t just the physical number of days lost when work can’t continue. Poor weather can make working unsafe as tools, machinery and surfaces become slippery. It can degrade building materials that aren’t stored carefully. And the knock-on effects of scheduling follow-on trades can quickly snowball.
Contractual disputes are common as clients and contractors argue over the definition of exceptional or abnormal weather events.
Once a watertight structure is in place weather ceases to be a major problem. Unfortunately, establishing a watertight structure often happens fairly late in the building programme and is, in itself, susceptible to weather delays.
It never rains inside the factory
When a building structure is prefabricated in a controlled factory environment the weather can do its worst. The building fabric won’t be harmed and productivity is unaffected. And when you know that the structure can be fitted together rapidly onsite in almost any conditions to create a watertight space, scheduling follow-on work becomes a more precise science.
SIP based construction even allows watertight spaces to be created floor by floor on multi-storey builds so that fit out can start while the frame is being completed. The early creation of a watertight structure even allows fit out programmes to be accelerated.
Of course, simply selecting SIPs for the structure doesn’t guarantee that the process will flow smoothly and delays will be avoided. There’s still plenty to coordinate, which is why Innovaré manages the entire process from design and manufacture to installation with their System. This embeds efficient communication flows and eliminates uncertainties.
Planning for and mitigating the effects of bad weather is complex and often imprecise. Maybe the most effective way for contractors to shield their clients from the impact of bad weather is to select the most appropriate construction method. One that is least likely to be knocked off schedule, and which prioritises the early creation of a watertight structure in the first place.
Does this sound like the solution that you have been looking for? To discuss this further contact us directly on 0845 674 0020 or visit our website for more information.
