Construction Assistance: Staying Safe Before, During, and After a Storm

If you live in a part of the country that is at-risk for hurricanes and major storms, it’s imperative that you are extremely careful when constructing a building. In addition to remaining safe throughout the actual construction process, it’s just as important to ensure the commercial or residential building is structurally sound and secure.

From the moment you begin drawing up blueprints to completing the project, here are some important things that you need to keep in mind throughout the construction process:

Safety must always be maintained

Throughout the entire construction process, you and your team must act as safe as possible. That’s not enough, however, as you’ll have to ensure that the building itself will be safe for the months, years, and decades after it’s been completed. That’s where hurricane impact sliding glass doors come into play. The Florida Building Code (FBC) requires windows to be impact-resistant if located within one mile of the coast where hurricane wind speed reaches 110 mph or greater. Hurricane proof windows and hurricane glass doors are necessary for any structure in Florida or other hurricane at-risk areas. Hurricane impact sliding glass doors and window systems with impact-resistant glazing systems of 105 over negative 130 can withstand winds traveling more than 100 mph.

Pay attention to the weather — at all times

Again, as soon as you start planning your construction timeline, you need to constantly be checking the weather in your area. If a major storm is approaching the week you hoped to begin construction, you should probably call an audible and push everything back. Once you have started the project, you need to regularly monitor your local weather reports, as well.

Have necessary materials and equipment

Additionally, it’s essential to have all the right equipment in order to secure everything and cover incomplete construction structures prior to a major storm striking. At any construction site in a hurricane at-risk area, make sure you have the following hurricane preparation materials and equipment:

• Water
• Wire
• Concrete anchors
• Sand bags
• Duct tape
• Garbage bags
• Shoring and bracing
• Generators
• Ground anchors
• Fuel
• Rope
• Pumps
• Plywood
• Netting
• Plastic sheeting
• Miscellaneous hardware and fasteners
• Safety kits

If you want to learn more about the importance of having hurricane impact sliding glass doors and windows inside your newly constructed building or work with quality door and window manufacturers in Florida, give Engineering Glass Systems a call today. And remember: stay safe out there!