5 tips for setting up a weather-resistant jobsite

Mother Nature is unpredictable, and bad weather can significantly disrupt construction operations, negatively impacting timelines and budgets. Heavy rain, snow, high winds and excessive heat or cold can threaten productivity, damage equipment and materials and even put workers’ health at risk.

The best defense against inclement weather is a weather-resistant jobsite. Below are five ways to prepare a site for the expected and unexpected.

RELATED: Prepare Now for Hurricane Season

1. Install ground protection mats to weather mud and water

Rain, snow melt and flooding can make the ground soft, slippery, muddy or unlevel. In these conditions, equipment may get stuck, and workers face a harder time getting safely around the jobsite. Installing ground protection mats at the start of a project helps guard against weather-related downtime.

Made from timber or composite materials, mats can be used to create sturdy, level, non-slip temporary access roads, walkways, parking pads and clean, mud-free staging areas for equipment and materials. Timber mats create a raised surface that allows for water runoff underneath and reduces water pooling. Installing them under temporary infrastructure such as office trailers and storage containers keeps them level and stable.

Mats can also be installed under portable equipment such as generators and pumps to prevent it from sinking into wet or muddy ground or sliding down an incline.

2. Store tools, materials and small equipment

Wet conditions can damage valuable tools, materials and equipment. Storing them in weatherproof steel storage containers keeps them near the tasks at hand but out of the elements. Hazardous material storage containers can be used to protect caustic chemicals, fertilizer, pesticides and other hazardous materials.

On long-term projects, free-span fabric structures serve as temporary warehouses for large equipment, materials and weather-sensitive jobsite essentials. They don’t require a foundation, and a temporary equipment vendor that offers them will provide installation and removal. Some of these heavy-duty fabric structures are insulated and equipped with HVAC to maintain a controlled environment. Snow-loaded temporary structures protect equipment and materials in areas of the country that receive a lot of snow.

3. Create climate-controlled break areas

Work doesn’t necessarily stop when the mercury soars or dips. Protecting the well-being of workers in extreme temperatures is critical.

In summer, heavy-duty tents can help by providing shade, especially if the area under them is cooled with a fan such as an evaporative cooling fan.

Climate-controlled mobile office trailers provide comfortable spaces for supervisors and managers to gather. Choosing a larger trailer with a conference space gives nearby crew members a place to briefly take shelter, warm up or cool down. Office trailers rest on a wheeled chassis and generally sit a few feet above the ground, above any water or mud. Installing ground protection mats around them limits the amount of mud that’s tracked onto the stairs and into the unit.

On large jobsites and for long-duration projects, insulated temporary structures with heating and cooling make excellent break rooms that offer refuge from the elements. They can be quickly set up, relocated and reconfigured as needed.

4. Provide adequate lighting for visibility

Temporary lighting may be necessary to maintain safety and efficiency on a jobsite during fog, rain or snow. Portable lighting equipment such as LED light towers and other work lights featuring anti-glare and fog-penetrating bulbs can be used to illuminate critical work areas, pathways and high-risk zones. Portable light stands can be used to light up smaller work areas.

All portable work lights used outdoors should feature waterproofing and be rated for outdoor use.

5. Choose sturdier fencing

Some temporary fences withstand weather better than others. Match the fence to the duration of the project and likely weather conditions. For example, driven-post chain link fences are among the most durable options for longer-term projects.

Base weights can be added to other types of temporary fencing to increase stability. Unlike sandbags, base weights don’t wear down or break, and they can be painted with yellow stripes to minimize tripping hazards. Fence stabilizers increase wind resistance. Adding wind screens to temporary fencing helps keep dust and debris out of the jobsite.

A week or even a few days of lost work due to weather can extend the project timeline and increase expenses to the point of squeezing profits. Given today’s already-thin profit margins and high material and labor costs, upfront investments in keeping the jobsite operational are worth considering. United Rentals can help project managers choose temporary site infrastructure that increases safety, safeguards materials, protects workers from heat and cold stress and reduces weather-related delays, helping to keep projects on schedule and on budget.

Visit your local United Rentals branch for help creating a weather-resistant jobsite for your next project.