Winter construction presents unique challenges due to harsh climate and environmental conditions, leading to a higher risk of quality and safety incidents. Ensuring the quality and progress of construction during this season is difficult, as many issues remain hidden until spring. For example, scaffolding erected on frozen soil may become unstable and prone to tilting or collapsing once the ground thaws. Therefore, it is essential to implement safety precautions ahead of time to protect prefabricated construction projects. Below, we review key management points to ensure safe winter construction.
Winter Construction Planning and Management
(1) Thoroughly review design drawings and coordinate with design and construction teams in advance to identify subprojects unsuitable for winter construction, proposing reasonable modifications when necessary.
(2) Before starting winter construction, conduct detailed briefings based on the approved winter construction plan or technical measures, and implement regular inspections. Assign dedicated personnel to each task to ensure compliance with regulations.
(3) Strictly follow the approved winter construction plan. Any changes require approval from the original approving authority, accompanied by a supplementary winter construction plan.
Temperature Measurement and Insulation Management
1. Temperature Measurement
(1) Establish a temperature monitoring team on-site before winter begins. Assign a dedicated person to measure ambient air temperature, as well as concrete and mortar temperatures daily.
(2) Record measurement times and values in detail. These records must be reviewed and signed by technicians, then submitted to the technical lead for verification. Technicians should archive these records regularly for future reference.
(3) Temperature measurement personnel must stay in close communication with heating and insulation teams. If irregular heating or insulation causes rapid temperature fluctuations or cooling, immediate reporting to the project technical lead is required for corrective action.
(4) Quality inspectors should perform daily random checks of temperature measurements, incorporating this into overall quality control.
2. Insulation Management
(1) Pre-insulate water sources and fire hydrants to prevent freezing.
(2) Ensure all water and heating pipes for temporary facilities are well insulated and maintained before winter to guarantee uninterrupted water and heating supply.
(3) During severe winter conditions, install windproof curtains on windward sides of exterior frames used in decoration. If necessary, erect warm shelters.
(4) Cover concrete and mortar transport containers with insulation materials.
(5) During decoration work, promptly seal and insulate doors, windows, openings, stairways, and elevator entrances.
(6) Submit insulation material plans to the materials department alongside the winter construction plan, detailing quantities, types, specifications, and delivery schedules.
(7) Upon arrival, stack and cover insulation materials properly, keeping them away from fire sources and preventing exposure to snow and water. Materials used for turnover should be sorted and dried before each use.
3. Winter Construction Admixtures
All winter construction additives must meet the relevant technical quality standards and hold valid product certification. Each batch must be sampled and tested on-site before usage is permitted.
Winter Construction Safety Management
(1) All workers must undergo winter construction safety training before starting work. Conduct safety briefings tailored to engineering tasks, prepare adequately for winter work, and equip teams with appropriate protective gear.
(2) Workers in specialized roles—including electrical, scaffolding, lifting, boiler operation, welding, machinery operation, tower crane operation, outdoor elevator driving, and vehicle operation—must receive professional training and certification prior to employment. Annual retraining and assessments are mandatory.
(3) All materials, formwork, concrete components, acetylene and oxygen cylinders, and other storage facilities must comply with safety standards and be carefully managed on-site.
(4) Enhance labor protection measures during winter by preventing slips, frostbite, and gas poisoning. Install anti-slip measures on scaffolds and pedestrian pathways, promptly clear frost and snow, and inspect scaffolding after strong winds or snowstorms to prevent falls.
Deep Foundation Pit Support Safety
(1) Strictly enforce the “Regulations on the Management of Deep Excavation.” Control and manage all aspects of deep excavation, including design, review, excavation, support, and monitoring.
(2) Reinforce foundation pit walls and establish observation points to monitor slope and adjacent structure movement continuously, enabling timely detection of hazards and implementation of corrective measures.
(3) Increase monitoring frequency and density during adverse weather, with professional staff conducting uninterrupted inspections. Take immediate action if hazards are detected.
(4) Apply advanced support and reinforcement during construction. Improve safety protection and winter freeze prevention measures. Install clear warning and weight limit signs around foundation pits, prohibiting large material stacks nearby.
(5) Implement drainage systems in foundation pits to prevent water accumulation and soil collapse caused by repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Apply insulation at the pit bottom, using measures like mud retention or grass bale layers, and remove ice, snow, and insulation materials promptly before backfilling.
(6) Do not backfill indoor foundation pits or trenches with soil containing frozen blocks. For outdoor pits, frozen soil blocks may be used, provided they do not exceed 15% of the total fill volume.
Scaffolding Construction Safety
(1) Use high-quality steel pipes and fasteners that comply with national quality standards. Conduct necessary safety and quality inspections before materials arrive on-site.
(2) Implement anti-slip measures on scaffolding during winter. Clean scaffolding and materials promptly after snow, rain, fog, or frost. Protect against fire hazards and properly store dangerous goods.
(3) Scaffolding workers must hold valid job certificates and strictly follow safety technical specifications for clip-type steel pipe scaffolding during construction.
(4) Do not erect scaffolding on untreated frozen soil. If unavoidable, treat the frozen soil first and install drainage ditches around the scaffold foundations.
(5) Stop outdoor scaffolding work immediately during strong winds (level 6 or above), heavy rain, snow, severe frost, or thick fog. Address any tilting, sinking, loosening, or collapse issues promptly.
(6) Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of scaffolding and foundations throughout construction. After thawing in cold regions, strong winds, or prolonged inactivity (over one month), inspect scaffolding before use.
Lifting Machinery Safety in Winter
(1) Focus on anti-freezing and condensation prevention for machinery and equipment. Perform equipment testing, maintenance, and seasonal upkeep. Conduct seasonal maintenance alongside routine checks for all lifting machinery.
(2) Carry out basic inspections and monitoring for tower cranes and material hoists. Enhance equipment’s anti-freezing, windproof, and anti-collapse capabilities to ensure safety devices and limiters function reliably.
(3) Install standardized protective facilities such as tool sheds and guardrails on-site. Display registration nameplates on lifting machinery and enforce strict acceptance and registration procedures.
(4) Drain water from equipment and containers for machinery out of use for extended periods, recording inspection results. For regularly used machinery, drain water after daily operations.
(5) During operations, cover working surfaces as much as possible and maintain safe distances between adjacent lifting machinery. Adjust tower arm lengths according to nearby building layouts and the horizontal distance between machinery. If horizontal staggering isn’t possible, ensure vertical staggering to maintain safe height differences.
(6) Immediately halt lifting machinery operations during severe weather, such as winds of level six or higher and heavy fog. After conditions improve, organize inspections of work surfaces and machinery to confirm safety before resuming work.
Winter Electrical Safety Management
(1) Include detailed site electrical circuit and equipment layout plans in the winter construction plan and organizational design. Electricians should install, maintain, and manage all electrical equipment. Non-electricians are strictly prohibited from unauthorized dismantling or modifications.
(2) Bare wires are strictly forbidden on prefabricated construction sites. Wiring must be protected against crushing, rolling, and freezing in ice or snow. Inspect power lines after strong winds or snowstorms to prevent electric shock hazards from wire breakage.
Fire Safety During Winter Construction
(1) Flammable facilities are strictly prohibited on construction sites. Do not use flammable insulation materials during winter construction.
(2) Store flammable and explosive materials, along with pressure vessel cylinders, separately in dedicated warehouses. Maintain fire separation distances between warehouses and buildings according to fire prevention regulations.
(3) Keep flame-retardant insulation blankets, polystyrene, and other flammable insulation materials for winter concrete in safe, dry, and ventilated locations. Implement wind and snow protection measures and maintain stacking distances compliant with fire safety requirements.
Management of Fire Risks on Site
(1) Obtain a “fire permit” from the firefighting department before using temporary open flames on-site. The permit is valid only for the day issued and must be returned after use.
(2) Assign a dedicated supervisor for flame operations. Fire watch personnel responsibilities include removing flammable materials near the fire or wetting them if removal is impossible; providing asbestos cloth or spark-catching plates when using fire or welding on scaffolding; ensuring fire safety equipment is ready and regularly checked to prevent freezing from compromising fire extinguishing; never leaving posts without permission; and thoroughly inspecting the fire area, especially where sparks may have fallen, before leaving.
Woodworking sheds, warehouses, paint spraying workshops, and paint batching rooms must not use stoves for heating. Smoking and open flames are strictly forbidden within 15 meters of these areas.
Article source: Architectural Technology Magazine
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