Basic Guides for Hot Weather Concreting

 Dear Readers,

This article is in continuation with my previous posts of Hot Weather Concreting and Concrete Precautions. Following points are the simple basic guides for Hot Weather Concreting.

While hot weather conditions are commonly encountered in summer, combinations of high temperatures, winds and low humidity could result in conditions leading to problems with concrete placement and finishing at any time. Hot weather is any combination of:

High ambient temperature;

Low relative humidity;

High wind

AS 13791 places a 35°C limit on the maximum concrete temperature at the time of delivery. However, when the air temperature rises above 30°C, it is usually recommended that precautions be taken, particularly if there is also hot dry wind.

1.     Plan in advance. Have equipment and materials ready before the hot weather arrives during the pouring day.

2.       Keep the subgrade and forms moist so they do not absorb water from the mix.

3.       Keep sunshades and windbreaks available and use them whenever possible.

4.       Have everything prepared before the ready-mix truck arrives. Don’t make the truck wait for you.

5.     Keep in constant communication with the ready-mix concrete provider. Coordination between the contractor and the producer is key.

6.       Concrete should be placed, struck off and Darby immediately.

7.     Use evaporation retardants, fogging or misting with water, or cover with a vapor-proof sheet after screeding (Finishing works). This will help prevent rapid drying, crusting, plastic shrinkage and rubber sets.

8.     Temporary covers, like continuously moistened burlap, may be placed over the fresh concrete and removed in small sections immediately ahead of the finishers.

9.      Substituting a burlap drag or broom finish will eliminate other high-risk finishing practices, such as smooth trowel finish.

10.   Curing should take place when the surfaces are hard enough to resist marring.

11.   Seal with a good, quality sealer for a minimum of 30 days after placing and curing.

12.   Remember to protect the crew in high temperatures. Drink plenty of fluids and be careful with long exposure to the sun.

13.   Use PPE’s for workmen and rest shed (minimum 15% additional workforce)

14.   Ensure the machinery technicians at work location to attend minor repairs immediately.

15.       Have standby equipment and manpower for all stages

16.       Programme concreting for the cooler parts of the day, or even schedule night-time placement if possible.

17.       Plan the locations of construction joints ahead of time with hot weather contingencies in mind.

18.       Keep all equipment that touches the concrete cool (chutes, conveyors, pump lines, tremies, reinforcement and buggies). Protecting equipment from the direct sun will If it can’t be kept continuously cool, spray-cool it as necessary with water.

19.       Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature at which concrete is being delivered, and call for adjustments at the plant if necessary.

20.       Avoid delays at all stages. 

Wish You all the Best for Excellent Concreting during Hot Weather. Have a Nice Day!!! 

Employees' State Insurance Act (ESI Act)

 Dear Readers,

Wish You a Happy May Day - 2023

The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 is beneficial and social legislation. Its main aim is to provide economic security to people who work in certain factories and establishments. 

The ESI scheme provides complete medical care to the employees registered with the ESIC during the period of his/her incapacity and working capacity. It also provides financial assistance to compensate for the loss of wages of the employee during the period of his/her abstention from work due to sickness, maternity and employment injury. The ESI scheme provides medical care to family members of the employee also. The Act contains several important definitions and provisions that regulate these workers.

At present, the ESI scheme is applicable to all factories and other establishments as defined in the Act with 10 or more persons employed in such establishment and the beneficiaries’ monthly wage does not exceed Rupees twenty-one thousand (Rs 21,000) are covered under the scheme. In future this limit may change subject to government policy.  Whether the employer has employed 10 or more employees, all employees employed by the employer, agnostic of the salary are reckoned. The applicability of the scheme is explained through a flow chart below:

Please take a note that Construction Industry does not cover under ESI if it is a green field project. For the similar benefits Construction Industry used to follows BOCW Cess Act. However, it may differ for brown field project hence follow the principle employer guidance.

Establishments that are covered under the ESI Scheme

The Central Government issued a notification that all factories where 10 or more persons are employed are covered under the ESI scheme mandatorily. The following establishments employing 10 or more persons are also mandatorily covered under the ESI scheme:

1). Shops.

2). Hotels or restaurants not having any manufacturing activity, but only engaged in ‘sales’.

3). Cinemas, including preview theatres.

4). Road motor transport establishments.

5). Newspaper establishments.

6). All private educational institutions and medical institutions.

Benefits of the ESI Scheme

Broadly, the benefits under this scheme are categorized under two categories:

Cash benefits (which includes sickness, maternity, disablement (temporary and permanent), funeral expenses, rehabilitation allowance, vocational rehabilitation and medical bonus) and,

Non-cash benefits through medical care.

Complete medical care and attention are provided by the scheme to the employee registered under the ESI Act, 1948 at the time of his incapacity, restoration of his health and working capacity.

During absenteeism from work due to illness, maternity or factories accidents which result in loss of wages complete financial assistance is provided to the employees to compensate for the wage loss.

The scheme provides medical care to family members also.

In case a worker under the Act dies during employment, the ESI Corporation pays some money to his dependents. According to the Act, dependents are certain relatives of a deceased worker. These include his widow, a son below 25 years of age, an unmarried daughter and his widowed mother. A son/daughter above 25 years can also be a dependent if he/she is wholly dependent on the worker.

Pregnancy which leads to the birth of a living child is called “confinement” under this Act. It can also mean the birth of a child (living or dead) after 26 weeks of pregnancy.

The ESI Act contains a few categories of disablements for which employees can claim compensation. These may be either permanent or temporary. Permanent disablements may further be either partial or total.

For More Details about BOCW Cess Click Here
For More Details about Rules and Regulations Click Here 
For More Details about Labour Law's of Construction Industry Click Here
For More Details about Labour Welfare Fund Click Here