During summer in Saudi Arabia, commercial construction goes from a careful exercise of advancement to a careful exercise of precaution. The hot summer months can see temperatures exceed 45 degrees C (113 Degrees F), and therefore, everything from cooling times on concrete to protocols ensuring worker safety and health must adjust. In addition, machinery can degrade in the heat, and materials will respond differently in extreme temperatures, meaning the scheduling must be smart and, where possible, heavy labor is only done in the early mornings or at night. In a desert heat like this, it is more than just about building; it’s about smart building – where timing, technique, and technology must align in order to outsmart the extreme temperatures.
In this extreme summer climate, heat safety regulations for commercial construction are not simply regulations. They are legal parts of worker safety and, in turn, life-saving procedures. The Ministry of Human Resources has mid-day work bans enforced formally as of June, meant to ensure that workers are not susceptible to heat stress or heat exhaustion. This ban is routinely enforced each summer, usually between June and September, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Companies agree to provide shaded rest areas, adequate hydration stations being readily available to workers, weekly checks of employee health, and general proper construction safety protocols.
All personal protective equipment (PPE) is adapted to provide more ventilation, and the structure of the safety briefings is adjusted to explain the signs of heat exhaustion or stress. The health of worker pay will not be missed to ensure continued progress on any project. Orders are in place to ensure the importance of a continued safety-first culture is consistently upheld on every project job site.
Worker Health and Safety Risks
Saudi Arabia has extreme heat for construction workers, which increases their health risk. Extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. Heat causes confusion and other symptoms that decrease focus and physical performance. Tired workers are more likely to make mistakes or injure themselves. Along with heat stress, there are direct consequences from working in the sun for too long. Skin damage is very real if there isn’t the proper equipment. Heavy equipment adds more stress to workers. Safety regulations require plenty of breaks for rest, shaded areas, and ample access to enough drinking water.
When properly trained, workers can identify when they are experiencing heat-related symptoms. Supervisors also have a role to make sure to watch over their workers during the hottest part of the day. Preserving worker health focuses on preventing accidents and enhances productivity on the site. In summary, overall safety always comes first.
Increased Equipment Wear and Breakdowns
The environment in Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in terms of temperature. This means that construction equipment generally wears out and breaks down sooner than in other climates. For instance, engines may overheat, leading to breakdowns and repair costs. The hydraulic systems can also lose efficiency as they operate in extreme heat, which diminishes the machine’s performance. Tires and rubber components may crack or degrade due to prolonged exposure to the sun, and dust and sand, along with heat, will clog filters and moving parts. Regular maintenance and checking of filters and moving parts are essential when working at these temperatures.
Cooling systems also need to be particularly monitored to avoid overheating equipment. If the owner or operator was able to keep the equipment out of the heat or stored in a shaded area while not in use, that will, at the minimum, prolong some pieces of equipment sooner than usual. Moreover, keeping to a regular schedule of maintenance, no matter how simple or periodic diminishes the chances of the equipment not failing. It will also help reduce layover time on construction activities if these planned activities are done timeously to ensure that the piece of equipment is working.
Reduction in Productivity and Efficiency
During the hot months of summer, commercial construction sites in Saudi Arabia experience a situation where a significant reduction in productivity and efficiency impacts workers. Physical endurance is severely compromised in extreme heat. In extreme heat, workers fatigue faster and can perform tasks slower and more tentatively. Workers will require more breaks for rest and hydration, which is good for health and safety but excessive and reduces their total hours of productive work. Hot weather conditions also result in decreased levels of concentration.
The longer the worker is exposed to high temperatures, the more limited their capacity to work safely and efficiently over time. Many companies have resorted to nightwork, early mornings, and crew rotations to deal with this issue. They also provide cooling clothes to their employees. Even with these undergraduate measures, productivity and overall efficiency will still see some quantifiable reduction in high summer heat.
Material Performance and Durability Issues
In the scorching summer heat of Saudi Arabia, materials can also be negatively impacted in terms of performance and durability over time. Generally, most construction materials—especially glues, adhesives, sealants, and insulation—will deteriorate or perform unpredictably when exposed to extreme heat for longer periods of time. For instance, metal can expand, which hinders proper structural alignment, and plastics and composites can fatigue.
The life expectancy of surface coatings and finishes will diminish with increased exposure to UV light. Hot asphalt can soften up and become unusable, especially when installing roads. Engineers and contractors should always consider using a material that has been specifically designed to be heat resistant, use protective coatings, and carefully select the time for deliveries and installation. If it isn’t serious, the overall long-term cost and safety would be increased if not classified as critical.
Concrete Curing Challenges Under High Temperature
Concrete curing is one of the most important activities related to construction. As in the case of Saudi Arabia, intense heat creates difficulty with concrete curing. If temperatures exceed the levels suitable for concrete curing, a high risk of moisture loss will be created. High temperatures lead to the evaporation rate of the water in the concrete exceeding the rate of hydration for the cement particles. This can lead to surface cracking, lower compressive strength and durability.
If the concrete curing is particularly bad, the concrete could experience shrinkage that would be difficult to manage, or the desired strength and performance may be compromised. Contractors address these issues by introducing additional steps to the curing process, such as fogging, wet covering, chemical curing compounds, and scheduling pours during the evening hours. At times, they will reduce the temperature of the concrete mix by introducing chilled water or even ice to the mix. These changes to the curing process are very critical to the long-term quality of the structures in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Higher Cooling and Operational Costs
The effects of increased cooling costs and operational costs while performing construction activities in Saudi Arabia’s extreme heat will have economics tied to it. The climate necessitates an investment in cooling construction sites to ensure workers’ safety and productivity (fans, A/C, and misting systems increase energy costs). Water for hydration and venues for cooling and drinking also costs more. Lastly, equipment wear creates the need for potential maintenance sooner than normal.
Suppose work hours are adjusted to allow work to be performed in the cooler parts of the day. In that case, that also prolongs the schedule and adds more to the construction labor costs, and the overall construction and development allowance budget was placed for commercial construction work. However, the possibility of construction planning could lessen expenses by investing in efficient and sustainable cooling solutions or products while allowing for safe and productive work conditions.
Scheduling Delays Caused by Heat Restrictions
Extreme heat in Saudi Arabia often changes the construction project schedule. Work to be done may be scheduled for early morning and late afternoon work only, so it may not be too hot during the hottest hours. During extreme heat, outdoor activities may be limited or stopped altogether to protect workers working for those hours. This means the total working hours in a day greatly reduces the total hours worked.
Ultimately, it could lengthen the project timeline, which causes delays in finishing on time. It may also cause staffing and equipment-related delays, resulting in delays in the project and potential costs with labor and equipment. Planning and flexible scheduling help mitigate the impacts of heat on projects scheduled in the commercial construction sector, which is essential to limiting heat impact on scheduling in extreme conditions.
Strategies to Minimize Heat Effect on the Construction Site
When extreme heat occurs in our construction projects in Saudi Arabia, an overall schedule adjustment can prevent unnecessary delays. Scheduling work to be done for early morning or late afternoon hours when the heat is not at its peak from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Providing workers with adequate shaded rest areas are encouraged and taking regular breaks to cool down and hydrate. Provide workers with an available supply of water and make sure to encourage the workers to hydrate often so that there isn’t any potential for dehydration or heat illnesses. Workers must also wear light, durable, and breathable clothing and protective clothing designed for hot climates.
Construction managers should integrate cooling modalities, such as fans and misting systems, to mitigate temperatures in working or break areas. Work task rotations can limit sun exposure and prevent high-exposure physical tasks from being conducted during peak times. All workers should have regular training about the evidence of heat stress and heat/stress safety considerations. Supervisors should recognize the signs of heat stress. If any worker experiences health issues on a job site, it is essential to be proactive in mitigating these issues. These operational strategies also promote the workers’ safety, including normalizing a lower productivity loss due to inclement weather, especially when work tasks are too physically demanding to force workers into completing tasks exposed to extreme heat.
Silver Foundation Construction Services__Commitment to Quality & Safety Standards
Silver Foundation is the backbone of reliable construction throughout Saudi Arabia. Our unrivaled competency and forefront technologies enable us to produce constructed solids related directly to safety, quality, and durability. Our commercial construction project delivery systems ensure that any Corporate or individual client completes projects on time and within budgets, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial use. When your vision is ready to gather together and sign for us to complete, our purpose becomes the delivery into a constructed solid. Silver Foundation is your next partner on a journey to a constructed solid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of projects does the Silver Foundation do?
We perform residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects in Saudi Arabia.
How do we manage your construction quality?
We adhere to strict safety procedures, perform strict supervision on all job sites and only the highest quality materials will be utilized, by skilled labourers!
Can we do custom foundation solutions?
Yes, we take pride in customizing our construction services to suit a specific project.
What area does Silver Foundation operate in Saudi Arabia?
Our clients are from all over Saudi Arabia’s major cities.
