Adaptation to climate change in construction

The increase in temperature, rains and floods caused by climate change affect not only living conditions but also construction work and the design and maintenance of buildings and the entire infrastructure.

In Finland, climate change is making winters even milder and rainier. Long heat waves, storms and floods are also becoming more common. Change takes different forms in different parts of the country and water bodies.

The effects of climate change must be taken into account in the entire chain of construction, from the planning of the use of areas to the placement of buildings, construction and maintenance during the life cycle. At the same time, it must be ensured that the technical properties and quality of buildings and infrastructures can withstand the weather stress caused by climate change.

Adaptation to climate change in construction

• Climate change affects the built environment by, among other things, increasing the strain on the infrastructure and the exterior surfaces of buildings and increasing the risk of flooding in some places.
• Good planning can prevent the negative effects of climate change and create a comfortable built environment.
• The requirements for timely and properly targeted service, maintenance and repair are growing even more.
• In construction, climate change brings new challenges related to site planning, moisture management and occupational safety.

Rains increase the risk of flooding

Winters becoming milder and rainier affects the seasonal variation of the water level and changes the intensity and temporal distribution of floods. Changes in flood risk areas affect land use and construction conditions. The rise in sea level and the possible increase in sea floods caused by storm winds also affect the conditions for construction in coastal areas. The increase in rainfall and the more frequent heavy rains can increase local urban flooding even far from waterways, if the design of the stormwater system is not sufficient in terms of increasing rainfall.

Moisture and weather changes put a strain on structures

Global warming increases construction requirements and the need for maintenance rather than reducing them. In particular, the external cladding of buildings is subjected to rain, humidity and wind considerably more than at present. Inclined rains water the facades of buildings more often than before. For this reason, structures are needed from which moisture is removed and which are highly resistant to moisture. The service life of the exterior surfaces and the maintenance interval, on the other hand, will be shortened in the future. Mild winters, fluctuating temperatures and an increase in thawing and freezing cycles not only increase the moisture load of buildings, but also strain road structures, for example.

Weather changes affect the comfort of buildings

Climate change can occasionally have negative effects on the conditions in the vicinity of buildings, which should be taken into account in planning. For example, a general increase in wind and rain can reduce comfort, especially on the coasts and in winter. In turn, the hot periods that become more common in the summer can turn urban environments and also apartments into a mess due to overheating. In the design of buildings, more attention must be paid to the control of indoor temperatures than before.

Temperature and humidity must be taken into account during construction

In terms of construction activities, the most important effects of climate change are the warming of winters and the increase in rainfall. For example, concreting and making foundations becomes easier when the frost decreases. Changing conditions also affect the drying of concrete.

The increase in precipitation makes it difficult to operate on construction sites and, for example, to store building materials. Weather protection during construction, careful execution and moisture management are even more important. In addition, an increase in wind may occasionally hinder the operation of construction sites. The increasing variation in temperature on both sides of zero causes its own difficulties. Correspondingly, the bearing capacity of the earth decreases in winter, when the good effects of frost and frost are lost.