We are all aware of the global phenomenon of climate change. But do you know what impact it has on the building and construction industry? Climate change has global implications. It has a tangible impact on the physical environment, which in turn, can put construction sites and workers at elevated risk. Here, we share a detailed article on the climate change impacts on construction industries.
Climate is crucial for human survival because it creates the necessary and suitable conditions for life. Climate change is a fascinating and well-documented phenomenon that has quickly become an urgent global concern. It has many effects on the world and how we work. These changes are hard to ignore, especially in the construction industry. The construction sector is exposed to extreme weather conditions since the majority of its activity is performed directly by people. Because so much work in the construction industry relies on human labour, it is vulnerable to the effects of severe weather.
Climate Change Impacts On Construction
There are many negative impacts of climate change, but the effects it has on construction projects are significant. Let’s learn some climate change impacts on construction point wise:
01. Impact on Planning and Design
Climate change has an impact on planning and design, such as site selection, construction delays, and structural and material damage. Accordingly, prior to the design and planning stages, all considerations should be made. It also increases the difficulty of design and impacts the cost of design methods. The buildings are being built to the minimum standards required, and as the climate changes quickly over the years, the minimum requirements of the building code will change, which will cause the buildings to deteriorate quickly.
02. Threat to Safety of Workers
Rain and flooding, which are becoming increasingly common due to climate change, pose a significant threat to construction workers’ safety on the job site by eroding wooden structures and creating slippery surfaces. Temperature increases can result in heat stress and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Additional instances of climate change may involve extremely strong winds that cause injuries from falling or being hit by building debris. Also, when it’s cold, people wear more clothes, which make them bulky and make it hard to move around. This can make accidents more likely.
03. Impact on Machines and Materials
Climate change has a greater impact on machines. Machines will experience issues due to the dust brought on by hot temperatures. Cold weather reduces the efficiency of water-cooled engines. Cold lubricant will be ineffective, and operational equipment will be inadequately lubricated, resulting in rapid equipment wear. Changes in the weather have a negative impact on construction materials and structures. Brick and wood, for example, might deteriorate and degrade more quickly because of the higher temperature. Significant changes in the composition and manufacturing of building materials is required. Material costs are increasing as stronger, lighter, and more durable materials are required. Eventually, the construction companies will have to pay for these costs.
04. Requirement of Skilled Labour
In order to complete projects on time, more skilled workers must be hired to implement changes in adverse weather events. The construction business relies largely on skilled labour. This leads to labour shortages, which are an industry-wide problem, and new building guidelines are being formulated to add to the industry’s challenges.
05. Impact on Construction Process
Low strength and poor finishing are the results of excessive water evaporation from concrete during dry weather. As a result of the dry conditions, the mortar sets too quickly, reducing the bond strength. If the bricks are not adequately wet during construction, the resulting bonds will be poor. Low temperatures cause ice crystals to form and retain moisture. It retards curing, decreasing strength, promoting spalling, and destroying finishes. Muddy conditions continue for longer periods of time due to the site’s inability to dry up once it freezes.
06. Project Delays
Excessively hot or cold weather conditions and exposure to these conditions are resulting in increased worker compensation claims and subsequent project delays. Also, concrete cures slowly, causing construction projects to be delayed, incurring additional expenses.
07. Insurance Cost
Lastly, construction companies are facing higher insurance costs because of project delays. These delays are often caused by extreme weather and (real and perceived) labour risks. This means that construction companies will have to raise the cost of the project to cover the rising cost of insurance, or they will have to stop working on some projects because they can’t afford insurance.
Mitigation Measures
Continued irresponsible human activities have ushered in a new climate regime characterised by more intense storms, longer droughts, more frequent flooding, and more regular instances of wildfires. Taking steps to lessen climate change’s impact is essential for reducing the likelihood of climate change-related risks. For life to persist on Earth, it is crucial to adapt to this new climatic era. Moreover, climate change mitigation is essential for sustainable development. This section discusses climate change adaptation and mitigation techniques.
01. Green Energy
In developing countries, fossil fuels are the primary source of energy. Emissions from fossil fuels greatly contribute to greenhouse gas effects. Green energy is energy that has minimal or no impact on the environment. It comprises all forms of renewable and clean energy. This includes wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, and bio-fuels. Green energy mitigates the occurrence of climate change-related risks.
02. Sustainable Construction Materials
Many conventional building materials have embodied energy that is gradually lost during the building’s lifetime. Embodied energy is the energy required to produce a component, which includes the energy obtained during extraction, manufacturing, transport, and assembly. Emissions from buildings’ embodied energy also contribute to greenhouse gas effects. This requires the development of sustainable alternatives through intensive research into construction materials. Sustainable building materials can be substituted for traditional construction materials in order to reduce aerosol loading and greenhouse gas emissions, the two major contributors to climate change.
According to Afshin Pourmokhtarian et al, concrete is a significant contributor to the carbon emission in construction, with cement production being the main culprit contributing 8% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally. Low-carbon concrete is an emerging solution to reducing concrete emissions. Other alternate materials are also being manufactured and proved to be perfect alternatives for traditional concrete.
03. High Rise Building
Biodiversity is a key component of Earth’s life-support system. Biodiversity is the set of differences that exist among plant and animal species found in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, as well as how these species interact with the environment. The effects of building construction and other infrastructure projects on terrestrial habitats are soil sealing, soil compaction, and fragmentation. Additionally, large hectares of land are cleared yearly for residential estates, commercial use, and tourism. This destroys terrestrial habitats and disturbs biodiversity on the planet. High-rise structures help prevent biodiversity loss. Although not all soils have the adequate load-bearing capacity, certain foundation designs, such as piles, rafts, and pads, are particularly designed for such soils. Less terrestrial land is utilized in high-rise construction, thereby conserving more land and maintaining plant and animal species.
04. Innovative Design and Building Technique
Innovative designs and construction techniques can reduce the environmental impact of conventional construction and the consumption of natural resources. Buildings with dry construction might consume less fresh water. A dry building is one that utilizes little or no water. It incorporates glass, aluminium, and steel. Additionally, modular design and the use of precast building materials can reduce the amount of water used during construction. There are more creative systems that can be utilized to regulate building water consumption. High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) and High-Efficiency Urinals (HEUs) are examples of such systems.
Conclusion
Climate change is an impending multi-faceted concern that is continuously evolving, and its extent is constantly being researched. Climate change has already had a significant impact on the construction industry, building materials, buildings, the methods used in the construction industry as well as the planning and designing of future projects. Climate change impacts on construction are severely increasing. The need of the hour is to become sensitive to the implications of climate change, construct a road map for attaining sustainable growth, and develop and follow the correct mitigation methods.
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Author Bio
Fathima Israr –