By Jack Rubinger, freelance writer

Construction is the livelihood for many Americans, but with wildfires in Washington, Oregon and California, and fierce and frequent storms in Florida and the Eastern U.S., dramatically changing climate (and other conditions) are impacting construction decisions in a major way.

In some cases, entire supply chains and economies are shifted, and sometimes destroyed.

“Specialty contractors are more likely to get “blown away” because they operate in the middle of the supply chain,” said Andrew G. McCabe, a Bend, Oregon insurance claim consultant.

“When those up the chain stop doing work, the subs stop getting fed. The only folks working after natural disasters are the disaster guys,” he said.

The nature of every construction project is a series of problems to solve. There are new challenges every day. Some of those problems are easy to solve. Some are very difficult. None are impossible. 

EXTREME WEATHER 

Many have worked outside when it during sub-zero temperatures. In Arizona, 100 degree days go on for months. Working in knee-high flood waters is no picnic.

“Severe weather can create electrical problems, workers can slip, trip and fall; trenching, scaffolding and potential buildings may collapse if the structures are not properly formed during high winds and flooding. Just a wind of 15 mph can be deadly working on scaffolding, roofs, or scissor lifts,” said David A Ward, Sr., National Accounts Safety Consultant at Sentry Parker Services.

A Michigan restoration contractor, for example, whose work typically involves demolition of building materials and some extraction had to pivot and adapt to help customers whose homes have been destroyed by floods caused by broken dams.

Floods generate tons of mud, so contractors are busting out their shovels, blasting water and using extraction machinery to clear away the mud. 

With heavy use, extraction machines tend to break down more often.  This means abbreviated maintenance schedules and overhauls.

But where there’s a need and an immediate demand to pitch in and help, mud sucking subcontractors must continue to evolve — never mind what it says on their website.

DETERIORATING AIR QUALITY

“The summer of 2018 was particularly terrible, with many days of “unhealthy” or even “very unhealthy” air quality. During these periods of poor air quality, people are advised to stay inside—often not a possibility for construction workers,” said Shonnessy Gilmore, a senior industrial hygienist from Seattle.

It took Washington State occupational health resources a year to come out with written guidelines for workers, but in the meantime, work was shifted inside when possible.

In some cases, workers rushed to get health clearances to wear respirators. Goggles and full face respirators were used to help with the constant eye irritation.

Increased PPE requirements for construction workers have also been a factor during the current COVID-19 pandemic, including masks, gloves, using hand sanitizer.

On the upside, there have been some positive environmental and climate changes.“Just take a look at the changes since COVID-19. The air seems cleaner and there’s less traffic on the road,” said Ward. 

FIRES

Wildfire smoke continues to be a climate change force on workers. If warming trends continue, there might be an additional smoke season added to normal summers, where wildfire smoke obscures the skies and brings air quality to unhealthy levels.

ADAPTABILITY IS KEY

“You just do whatever you have to do to keep moving. There’s no question the climate is changing, but not so rapidly that it can’t be dealt with. I have never totally shut down or abandoned any project, and have never been more than 5 weeks behind schedule,” said John Forgos, a construction cost and constructability consultant from Dublin, Ohio.

Economic and political climate change are all part of the challenge in the construction industry.

“It’s June and private and public construction projects are continuing without decline,” observed Laura Alexander, a traveling federal construction project manager, of the current economic climate and its impact on the construction industry. 

“In many states, governments are ensuring that projects are distributed to small businesses, minority owned, and other classifications.  In Memphis all projects have quotas. Los Angeles responded by creating a construction training program for workers. There are many states that have put the disadvantaged first in line, increasing the economy of those workers, their families, and the community,” she said.

Modern construction has to accept both the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, as well as be energy efficient and sustainable. Through digitization, design teams, architects and engineers are able to model buildings in ways they never have before to improve designs for the impact of extreme weather. Once completed, cutting edge IoT technologies are able to manage the systems within the building to maximize energy efficiency to reduce costs as well as environmental impact.

Climate change — rising sea levels, expanding floodplains and more frequent extreme storms are beginning to redraw the lines on the map in terms of habitability. As time goes on, planners and construction teams will increase emphasis on data analytics to determine where to build.  

“New and emerging technologies are delivering more accurate information and projections to aid in decisions that lead to structures that are built in ways and locations that are capable of withstanding the ramifications of climate change,” said Will Johnson, Viewpoint Construction Software.

Technology is allowing architects and engineers to design structures that are both more efficient and more capable of withstanding the physical effects of climate change. At the same time, increased digitization and technology on the job site are allowing construction teams to deliver those new designs in more reliable, more efficient ways. Additionally, there is an evolution in the materials used in construction.  

The Green Revolution of the last few decades has brought an emphasis on building sustainability. Building materials that are strong, energy efficient and environmentally friendly will see increased demand. The sourcing of these materials is also important as planners weigh costs and the environmental impact of local material options against those that must be shipped.

Many believe the key to thriving in construction is simply this:
Be flexible or die. In this increasingly volatile world, you can’t go wrong with that way of thinking.

About the Author

Jack Rubinger is a freelance writer, with more than 10+ years of workplace safety and construction industry writing experience. Looking for an article on a specific topic? Contact: jackrubinger814@gmail.com or call 503-964-4877.