How Can Temporary Shelters Support Construction Industries?

Construction never stops in the UK, whether it is improvements to current infrastructure, commercial builds or large-scale civil projects, the country is always building. Regardless of the challenges, these projects need to be completed in good time and ideally on budget.  

When it comes to building, the unpredictable British weather can hamper progress significantly. Slowing down work with high winds, temperature fluctuations or wet weather. 

In particular, keeping the materials used in construction dry on the project site can be a problem. 

Aggregates are one of the cornerstones of those building materials. The UK uses 250 million tonnes of aggregate each year, with about 90 per cent of that used in construction.

Add in materials and components such as timber, bricks and electronics and add millions more tonnes of building supplies. 

Included in the list are approximately 10-15 tonnes of cement used to mix millions of cubic metres of concrete used each year in the UK, which needs to be kept dry.

What happens if building materials get wet?

The resilience of building materials in wet weather very much depends on the type of material and what it is going to be used for. 

Structural timber, for example, can warp or rot if left wet long enough. Drywall plasterboard becomes structurally unsound, and insulation materials such as fibreglass lose their ability to insulate when wet. 

In the case of aggregates such as gravel, if they are to be used for driveways, for example, they might not need to be kept completely dry. 

However, in the case of sand and cement, additional water will change the ratio needed for concrete mixing, potentially impacting the structural integrity. 

What are the benefits of using pop-up shelters on construction sites?

Materials are often delivered to a construction site far in advance of when they need to be used, and therefore, somewhere to store them is needed. This is particularly important on projects with a long build time, where materials will be needed at different stages. 

Having somewhere dry and weatherproof on site can ensure that the supplies are not damaged or rendered unusable before they are needed. 

A PVC shelter in the form of a canopy between containers or a free-standing temporary shelter can provide that protection, without the need for foundations or planning permission. 

As building work progresses, it can be used to shelter different materials from those used in laying foundations to the products needed for interior finishing. 

What else can shelters be used for on project sites?

Temporary shelters and canopies are incredibly versatile and adaptable, so they can also be used for other purposes on a construction site, including:

• Vehicle storage, for example, excavators, loaders and forklifts

• Tool storage, from standard wheelbarrows to specialised and handheld equipment

• A temporary workshop for fitting and finishing 

• Storage for palletised goods 

• Shelter for workers, including wellbeing areas or site office space

For long-term projects, a PVC shelter can make managing tools, materials and stock easier. Expert installers can erect and dismantle temporary shelters on-site to ensure they are safe and structurally sound. 

Talk to our team at ShelterIt about bespoke and off-the-shelf options that could work for your construction project’s specific needs.