Agenda

1. Effects of rain at construction sites

2. Effects of rain on Storage of materials
3. Pre-monsoon inspection & ideal storage
conditions
4. Impact of the rain on concrete works
5. Impact on laid pipes & valves
6. Effect of rain on the Finishing works
7. Preventive Measures
 Effects of Rain at Construction Sites

Work stoppage due to inaccessibility , Slushy work area

- No equipment or man movement possible , absenteeism
of workmen
What are the effects of the work stoppage?
 Time delay : If the precautions are not ready before rains , it can bring the
work to halt. The work gets stopped due to landslides / slushy work area /
improper access; hence time delays are inevitable. Any stoppage of work leads
to monetary loss.
 Inventory Loss : As the materials are piled up due to non utilization , the
inventory cost increases. This indirectly affects the cash flow & the margins.
 Wastage of materials & finished product rejections : Due to
inundation / prolonged exposure to rain, the materials get adulterated &
becomes non usable. More efforts & time is needed to make it acceptable.
Many times the materials are so badly affected that they cannot be used even
after repair.
 Cost increase due to reworks & Rectifications : As the work carried
out doesn't satisfy the specification requirements, rework need to be carried.
This rectification not only increases the cost but also time.
Rain cut in the Embankment - Leading to Erosion &
Destabilization
 What can happen to Excavation & Fill areas due to
rain?
 In the excavated trenches, the Soil tends to be softer & side slope collapses are inevitable.
Due to collapse of side slopes, soil fills the work area & no further work is possible till it is
de-mucked.

 Water fills up the trenches & all materials & equipment's gets inundated.

 Possibility of further sliding & risk to workers in the vicinity.

 In filling areas , like embankment formation / area filling rain makes the side slopes to get
eroded due to run off water. This effects the stability of the embankment.

 Soil layers gets disturbed & settlements can take place in the embankment.

 Excess water in soil affects the compaction properties & the work gets
delayed for want of right OMC.
 Site Scenario in Rain Condition

LargeLoa Vibration
d Insuffici
ent
Shoring

WaterSeepage
 Water fills up the trenches /
Pedestal foundation

Formation of Cavity due to Washing

way and settling of bottom soils leads
to settlement of foundation
 Filling
• In order to minimize the impact

• Soil shall not be left uncompacted at the end of the day. All soil
dumped shall be leveled & rolled.
• Special channels shall be made to facilitate rainwater run off in
designated route. This reduces the impact of the uncontrolled soil
erosion.
• Slopes protection shall be taken up before rainy season to avoid
slope destabilization.
 What are the effects of rain on Storage of
materials ?
If proper material storage methods are not employed, materials get adulterated
& deteriorate. Material having storage / shelf life gets damaged easily. Shelf life
of the materials like cement , admixture , grinder discs , welding consumables
comes down in case of moisture ingress.

 Bulk materials like aggregates gets contaminated with soil /mud coating or
soil / clay mixing in them. Use of such materials reduces the strength &
durability of concrete structures. Any ingress of clay / silt in fine aggregates by
1 % reduces the strength of concrete by 10%. The bonding of coarse aggregates
with cement gets reduced due to presence of soil in between. This brings
down the strength of concrete.

 Bulk materials gets mixed with soil below & permanent loss of material is
inevitable.

 Cement when stored in leaking sheds , sets & become useless. If partially set
cement is used in construction, the strength of the concrete
/ mortar falls drastically.
 Storage Conditions - Material Deterioration

Improper Way of Stacking of Cement Re - Bar laying on ground &

Bags which gets effected in rain, results Mud getting coated to them reduces
in wastage. bonding in Concrete
 Storage Conditions - Material Deterioration

• Due to ingress of rain water, stored / Stacked aggregates gets contaminated with
soil /mud coating or soil / clay mixing in them.
• The bonding of coarse aggregates with cement gets reduced due to presence of soil
in between.
• As shown in the image Wastage of Fine Aggregate occurs due to
washing out in rains from the bottom portions.
 Following material storage areas needs to be
inspected before monsoon season
 Cement Godown
 Reinforcement storage
 Admixture stock yard
 Bulk Material Storage Yard:Coarse aggregate (10mm, 20mm) &
fine aggregate stockyard material or any other such material
 GP2 grouting or related storage area
 Concrete Cube casting / preservation area
 Storage of finishing item like – Tiles & paints,
Aluminium/wooden/plastic/steel door window & frame, water
proofing, glass, PVC pipes etc.
 Site store area
 Temporary storage in construction location
 Store Yard

• Rebar should be placed on • Rebar directly in contact

Timber with
soil which leads to corrosion
 Electrical Storage System

Electrical storage items such as transformers, Compact power stations, motors

storage shall be on sufficiently elevated platform preferably covers sheds, due to
rainwater seepage damaging of Panel Boards, resulting project delay, inviting
hazardness at the time of trial commissioning.
Electrical storage items such as panels, transformers,
Compact power stations, motors storage shall be on
sufficiently elevated platform / concrete platform
preferably in covers sheds, to avoid rainwater seepage
& damage to electrical items.
 Storage & Handling of Equipment

1. Laid Pipe lines (MS pipe, DI, HDPE, RCC, DWC and uPVC) free
ends (Open ends) shall be closed with strong end caps and
leak proof material. Otherwise, entry of foreign materials
inside the pipe will lead to incidents especially in the dense
habitants.
2. Electrical storage items such as transformers, Compact power
stations, motors storage shall be on sufficiently elevated
platform, preferably in covers sheds. Rain water seepage will
cause damage to equipment and time delay in projects.

3. Prominent to be given Like Valves,

Attention
Centrifuge to prevent Decanters,
the rodent entry into the precision
moveable parts & slush entrapment in machined components.
4. To eliminate the safety incidents motorable access roads to be
made prior to monsoon in the storage yard & ease access to
reach the equipment's, pipes, valves etc., for handling.
What is the impact of the rain on concrete works ?
Non availability of proper protecting of
Concrete getting mixed with rainwater

 Fresh Concrete adulteration.

 Loss of strength & Durability.
 Surface defects in concrete like soft surface, cracks, pitting Etc.
Rains causes damage to concrete works during all three
stages: 1.2. Impact 3. Impact
1.1. Impact Prior
During concreting After
to Concreting concreting
activities. activities. activities.
 Impact Prior to Concreting Activities
The supports of the forms gets
 Adulteration of materials : All destabilized
due to softness of soil surface.
stored items gets adulterated
[Tightness of the supports to be
with soil / water ingress. ensured prior Concrete]
Aggregates need to be washed
prior to reuse if soil / mud gets
coated.

 Formwork supports : The

supports of the forms gets
destabilized due to softness of
soil surface. This leads to failure
of forms & ultimately
misalignment / collapse. Forms
may settle upon load transfer
which leads to structural cracks
formation.
 Impact Prior to Concreting activities
Form release oil gets washed out:
The form release oil like REEBOL— EMULSION / FORM OIL are water soluble. When rain or
inundation takes places they get washed away. This results sticking of concrete to the forms.
If any oils are used other than emulsion, they rundown & settle in the concrete construction joints.
This results in weak bond of concrete & ultimate bond failure.
Re-bar:
 Rebar's get coated with mud due to inundation of the pit with rainwater.
 This reduces the bond of bars with concrete thus weakens the structure. Many a times due
to prolonged exposure of the bars to water they tend to rust.
 This even reduces the cross section of the rebar's. All the rebar's shall be cleaned thoroughly using
water jet, wire brush before placing the forms. If the rust / mud coating is stubborn , the forms shall
be removed & rebar's be cleaned thoroughly.
 Impact during preparation of concrete:
Mixing of concrete :
If the ingredients gets adulterated, the ultimate durability & strength
properties of concrete gets affected. Hence care shall be taken to
prevent the adulteration of ingredients.

Workability change:
As the moisture content in the aggregates increases , the
concrete tends to
exhibit more workability due to increased water content.

This leads to segregation of concrete , leakage of slurry & reduction

of strength & durability. Moisture content shall be verified after the
rain & water content in the mix shall be adjusted.
 Water stagnation—Concrete placement :
Water gets stagnated in the pits. If this water is not
removed & made dry , then concrete gets mixed with
the stagnated water & slush. This leads to segregation
& adulteration of the concrete mix .

Water stagnation - Concrete placement

Leaching of the cement from the concrete on

the surface & deep down from PCC

Surface erosion , soft / damaged surface:

If rain lashes during concreting , it leaches the cement
from concrete on the surface & deep down. It is hard to
replenish this loss. In case this happens , the top 50mm
concrete from joint areas or top surfaces shall be
removed & replaced with good concrete. In order to
prevent such is-sues tarpaulin shall be kept ready for
every pour & covered immediately. After the rain ,the
surface shall be refinished to remove the undulations /
cement loss.
Cement usage for finishing : Masons tend to use dry
cement to speed up finishing ,which leads to formation
of shrinkage cracks & discoloration of concrete surface.
Impact after placement of concrete
Mixing of water / delay in setting : Due to the presence of excess water , the concrete setting
gets delayed.
Chemical attack : The toxic chemicals in run off water coming from land fills / storage yards
may eventually pose threat to the concrete structure which is gaining strength. This can effect
the durability of concrete. This water shall be prevented from stagnation.
Rebar corrosion : Rebar's when exposed to water for long time , leads to corrosion which
reduces the cross- sectional area & bond.
Discoloration of concrete surface : Concrete gets discolored due to inundation. To reduce
such effects , water shall not be allowed to be accumulated .
Erosion & settlements : Soil below the unfinished open areas can erode due to movement of
water & lead to settlements or damages to structures. To avoid such situations , correct
construction sequences shall be followed.
Impact On Laid Pipes & Unprotected Valves
 Laid (HDPE) Pipe lines free ends (Open ends) are
closed with strong end caps and leak proof material.
Impact On Laid Pipes & Unprotected Valves

Laid (MS) Pipeline ends are closed to avoid ingression

of water & other foreign materials
 Effect of rain on the Finishing works

1. Erosion of freshly laid brickwork mortar / plaster

2. Discoloration of finishing works like plaster &

painting
 Finishing works like brick work, plastering, painting, flooring, water proofing,
Joinery works Etc. gets affected by the rain.

 Sand used in the mortar preparation becomes too wet / saturated. If proper
moisture corrections are not applied, water content in the mix increases and
mortar turns to be fluid.

 If the rain comes in the middle of construction , the mortar gets washed out. In
such cases, Based on the extent of damage & depth of rain penetration, the
mortar can be topped up.
Plaster & Paint:
 If the rain comes during application / before setting , the portion exposed
to rain gets damaged. The same shall be re-moved & re- laid.

 Moisture ingress / dampness to the building is another dam-age rain can

bring in. This effects the appearance & functionality of plaster & paint to
a great extent.

 If external plaster is not carried before rains & the internal painting was
completed before the external plaster is done, the damage due to the
efflorescence & fungal growth is inevitable. This leads to discoloration of
the surface & peeling off the same.

 Due to the presence of moisture, adhesion of paint to the plaster /

Wooden / Steel works reduces.
Preventive Measures

What could be done

Well in
Advance!!!
and
During
Rains
 Construction works should be programmed to minimize soil excavation works in
rainy seasons (April to September).

 If Excavation in soil could not be avoided in these months or at any time of year
when rainstorms are likely, for the purpose of preventing soil erosion, all open
excavation sides shall be protected using sheet Piling or shoring / side supports or
covered with tarpaulins & barricaded.

 Intercepting channels should be provided (e.g. along the crest/edge of excavation)

to prevent storm runoff from washing across exposed soil surfaces. The angle of
side slopes shall be increased.

 Construction of Temporary access roads & approaches to the work area should
be protected by crushed stone or gravel and planned in advance.
Preventive
Measures

Vibro-hammer
 Earthworks final surfaces should be well compacted, and the subsequent permanent
work or surface protection should be carried out immediately after the final surfaces
are formed to prevent erosion caused by rainstorms.
 No overburden shall be placed on the excavation sides to avoid collapse.
 Provision of drains for draining the water out.
 Pump facilities to bailout the stagnated water.
 Proper working condition of pumps & associated equipment's. Dewatering
arrangements shall be kept in place & equipment's be maintained for reliable
performance.
 Shelf life items shall be Stored in moisture proof / leak proof sheds /
containers.
 Only required amount of materials shall be stored in the Cement go-down. Cement
godown shall be elevated & the cement bags shall be stored on elevated platform
with tarpaulin wrapping.
 Bulk material storage shall be minimized & strong base shall be pre-
pared beneath the storage to minimize contamination.
 Proper drainage facilities shall be made around the storage yard to remove
rainwater & prevent accumulation.
 To Mitigate the
Effects
• Keep the tarpaulins always ready before concreting.
• Ensure no ingress of water into the work.
• Check the moisture / dampness before painting.
• Wait till the surface is dry before applying non cement based
paints.
• Avoid planning of plastering and painting works the
times of Rains.
 Why precautions needed when it rains?
(for electrical items / equipment’s)

 Moisture / Water ingress in Electrical equipment's

resulting reduced reliability and failure

 Electrical Leakages from cables and electrical

machineries immersed in the water may cause safety
issues: Chance of Short circuit

 Chance of electric shock

 Outdoor electrical work should be avoided in the site in monsoon. Extra
precautions must be taken if it is unavoidable.
 All exposed electrical panels/ junction boxes should be covered by shed for
protection of rainwater.
 Ensure double earthing for all equipment’s.
 Dry type transformers shall be stored indoors in sheltered, clean and dry
place.
 Control panels shall be stored indoor.
 Cables damage by run over of vehicles to be prevented.
 Follow LOTO system for maintenance work for equipment’s operated by
electricity.
 Regular inspection and renovation of silica gel is essential.
 Insulation check of Electrical equipment's shall be done
regularly and
recorded.
 Instruments shall be stored on racks in closed storage and in air-conditioned
storage.
Precautions for Storage of Rotating Equipment's
 Preferably, the rotating electrical machines must be stored in a closed, covered,
clean and ventilated place free from moisture.
 The storage place shall have electric power for space heaters.
 It is not recommended to store rotating electrical machines outdoors without
cover, it may cause serious damage to equipment.
 Minimum resistance of motor winding insulation is 5 Meg ohms or the
calculated minimum, which ever is greater.
 Minimum resistance is calculated as follows: Rm = kV + 1 where: (Rm is
minimum resistance to ground in Meg--Ohms and kV is rated nameplate voltage
defined as Kilovolts.) Example: For a 480 V AC rated motor Rm
=
1.48 meg—ohms. For a 4160 V AC rated motor, Rm = 5.16 meg--ohms.
 Don’t left open the glands of Motors during rainy season
 Silica Gel packet shall be kept inside the stator of Generator to avoid
ingress of moisture.
 IR of Generator shall be monitored after every 7 days.
Do’s & Don'ts
Do’s & Don'ts
Do’s & Don'ts
Don'ts
Quality in a service or product is not what you put into
it. It is what the client or customer gets out of it.

- Peter Drucker

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