Snowy overview of Phase II on January 20, 2025. (Photos courtesy of TFC and JE Dunn.)
Central Texas winters are milder than many parts of the country, however, we still experience freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. Weather events can potentially delay the work schedule, create work hazards, and affect the performance of construction materials. The Phase II project team cannot wait for the perfect weather to match the construction schedule, so they have proven protocols to keep everyone on the site safe and the project moving forward.
Where Site Safety and Productivity Meet
The American Concrete Institute recommends a minimum of 50° F. to cure (dry) concrete. When the temperature falls below this temperature, the strength and durability of the concrete can be affected. The Phase II team is currently pouring the concrete deck levels for the new State office buildings; therefore, they must get creative when Mother Nature isn’t cooperating.
JE Dunn Superintendent, Mike Hamline, explains, “We pour concrete on days when the temperature is 40° F. and rising. We set up several propane heaters on the level below the formwork and tarp the sides of the pour. This creates a “warm zone” beneath the pour. The warm zone also provides an area for workers to take breaks from the cold weather. Even when the pour is complete, the project team keeps a smaller warming area beneath the deck for the workers.”
On top of the deck, the team checks the formwork for ice before work begins. The formwork on the 1501 Lavaca site includes a flat wood platform on top of shoring. Panels called “metal pans” are placed on the wood platforms. The metal pans have long ribs where the concrete will be poured. The panels create the rises and valleys in the concrete for the desired structural effect. In cold weather, ice may form on the metal pans creating a fall hazard for the concrete crew. If ice is detected, the affected section is shut down and the ice is removed before work resumes.
During the daily safety Toolbox Talks, workers are reminded to watch their foot placement and look for and report icy patches.
Tarps line the sides underneath a concrete pour creating a “warm zone.”
Metal pan formwork system.
Orange blanketing covers newly poured concrete on the 1501 Lavaca site.
Once the deck pour is complete, the workers cover the concrete with large, 10 x 30-foot blankets. The blankets help retain heat and will cover the new deck for up to forty-eight hours depending on the ambient temperature and the moisture in the air.
The team has used this concrete warming process on five deck pours this winter.
Managing a Snow and Ice Event
Weather monitoring is critically important on a construction project. Justin Parker, Superintendent for JE Dunn explains, “In January, we knew a winter storm was approaching. We prepared the site to protect the materials and equipment, and the project management team met daily to discuss go-no-go situations for stopping work as the storm moved closer.”
Snow covering the 1501 Lavaca site on January 20, 2025.
Snow started falling in the early morning hours of January 20. Justin checked webcams and drove various routes around Austin to assess road conditions. The project team decided to close the site for the safety of the workers. The team sent a message through the project’s text-based communication system to notify all workers about the site closure. A small crew remained onsite throughout the day to monitor site conditions.
About half an inch of snow accumulated onsite, and by the morning of January 21, the snow had frozen to ice. A skeleton crew of about a dozen workers identified ice and snow hazards and cleaned the site. On January 22, normal work resumed. The team worked Saturdays to make up for the downtime.
An early morning safety Toolbox Talk meeting on Capitol Complex Project Phase II.
Toolbox Talks to Keep Workers Healthy
The JE Dunn project management team uses daily, safety Toolbox Talks to discuss foot placement awareness and remind the workers to check for ice or moisture during winter weather events. They also encourage the site workers to continue drinking water to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration is a real threat for construction workers during winter months. Cold weather can suppress thirst giving workers a false sense that they do not need to drink the same amount of water in winter as they do in summer. Also, sweat evaporates quickly in the cold, making the onset of dehydration less visible.
Performing construction in the winter months requires thoughtful planning and execution. We thank everyone on the Capitol Complex Project Phase II team for their diligence in providing a safe and productive work environment as they make the project vision a reality.
