Windy Conditions and Construction

Windy conditions are a fact of life in this area during many times of the year. The goal is to maintain safety and production while dealing with this issue. Sometimes it is just too windy to work. A collapsed wall, employee injury or other related incident will cost far more than any production gains that can be made in high-wind conditions.

Wall Bracing:
How much bracing is needed? Watching the weather report is a good plan to take. A sunny day can turn into near-tornado conditions by the next day. There is no formula for proper bracing. However, experience is the primary method. Be conservative and brace assuming strong overnight wind.
- The future weather should always be a concern that is monitored.
- Some crews have made California Corner braces to increase the breaking strength of the brace.
- The point of brace contact on the floor needs to be strong. A brace nailed into the flooring needs to be nailed through a floor joist as well.
- The point of brace contact on the wall should not be damaged or split wood. Damaged lumber will not likely hold a substantial wind load without failure.

Standing Walls:
A plan needs to be established when placing walls with regard to wind. (The goal is to take precautionary measures to avoid an incident rather than reacting to a wall tip-over.)
- Make certain the appropriate man-power is available.
- Wall braces may need to be placed prior to standing the wall during windy conditions.
- The bottom of the wall may need to be strapped even on 8 foot 2x4 walls if the winds dictate.
- Determine if it is too windy to lift the walls. This may be your best decision of the day.

Bracing Roof Trusses:
Proper bracing is usually left to the discretion of the roof crew. Keep in mind that a gable truss recently broke a 2 x 4 support causing an injury. The supporting brace may subject to loads that will break a standard 2 x 4 during windy conditions. If it is becoming windy, additional bracing and sway bracing will be needed. When monitoring this on the job, ask the roof crew to support the trusses for substantial wind. Be willing to stop the work.

Roof Sheathing:
Sometimes the best protection is to suspend work. If the work will continue based on the best judgement of the foreman, the following items should be considered:
- Nail down what you place the same day.
- Always walk on the wind-side of the plywood sheet. This way, you can let go of the sheet rather than being blown off the roof. (If it is this windy, you should probably suspend roof work.)
- Storing material on the roof: The top several sheets of plywood need to be secured to prevent them from blowing off the roof. The entire plywood bunk may need to be secured based on wind or anticipated wind.

Other Operations:
- Suspend top plate work if the wind creates an unacceptable hazard.
- Unsecured material stored in a vertical position are at risk at being blown over and should be taken down or secured.
- Ladders should not be stored in a leaning position.
- Caution needs to be paid to cutting operations. Always stand up wind of the cut so the saw dust will not blow in your eyes.

This information was provided by: Assurance Agency