Extreme hot weather affecting the construction industry

SHAH ALAM - The hot weather has long-term effects on the construction industry, including increasing costs for construction and projects.

The Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis Professor Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah, explained that the hot weather can affect the productivity, profitability, and survival of the construction industry as a whole.

"The extreme hot weather lately has significantly impacted the construction industry.

"This absurd rise in temperature has brought serious challenges to the process of pouring concrete at the construction site. "Workers and concerned parties have to face various problems that arise due to the extreme weather conditions.

"One of the main challenges is the rapid drying of concrete as well as the increasing risk of cracks in concrete," he said in a statement today.

Therefore, Mustafa said appropriate preventive and adaptation measures need to be taken to overcome the challenges during the construction process.

He said measures to overcome the challenge include prioritising working in the morning or evening when the temperature is lower to help overcome the problem of concrete drying too quickly.

Apart from that, he said a regular sprinkling of water on the concrete surface can help stabilise the temperature and reduce the risk of cracking, in addition to using suitable covers or protectors to protect the concrete from the high temperature.

Mustafa said that by practising these measures, it is hoped that the negative effects of high temperatures on concrete and the workers' health can be reduced.

"It is important to have careful planning, effective communication, and continuous monitoring to address the challenges that arise due to the hot weather in the construction industry.

"In the end, this extreme hot weather presents serious challenges to the construction industry, especially during the process of pouring concrete at the construction site.

"By taking appropriate mitigation measures, it is hoped that the negative impact can be minimised and the construction of infrastructure can proceed safely and efficiently," he commented.