Extreme Heat Requires Design, Construction Change

Construction companies are beginning to adjust to the realities that come with how extreme heat can impact their employees. But it’s not only the builders that need relief — it’s the buildings, too.

Engineering and construction experts are pushing for design changes as climate change leaves a more noticeable mark on the world, the Wall Street Journal reported. The experts say standards aren’t keeping up with the warming climate.

Infrastructure like roads and bridges, which can buckle under the scorching sun, are already showing strain under the extreme heat. It’s harder, however, to see the effects on buildings.

Extreme heat can wear down buildings and stack up major repair costs in maintenance. Sealants, glues and polymer-based adhesives that hold pipes and windows together can crack under extreme heat, leaving structures open to leaks.

The heat also presents a risk for other construction materials like steel and concrete. High temperatures in Phoenix are making steel plates and iron girders expand, making it harder to properly set beams into concrete blocks. Adjustments have included adding buckets of ice to concrete and mortar and pouring at night, when temperatures are cooler.

Another concern is the double-edged sword of glass-and-steel skyscrapers. Poor insulation requires massive cooling systems that will only need to be upgraded as temperatures continue to rise. The way buildings with glass facades reflect sunlight can spike temperatures in the surrounding cities by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Demand for air conditioning during the summer will rise 13 percent above current levels if the average temperature rises by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to one study. The same researchers predicted up to two weeks without air conditioning due to power outages as summer months get warmer.

Much of the world has experienced some of the hottest temperatures on record this summer, but milestonewill likely grow more common as climate change continues to alter the planet.

Making the necessary adjustments promises not to be cheap for landlords. It’s particularly strenuous in New York City, where some property owners already have pricey upgrades on the horizon to come into compliance with Local Law 97, a buildings emissions cap that could lead to drastic fines for violators.

— Holden Walter-Warner