John Wheaton CEO of Wheaton & Sprague Engineering, shared a small piece of wisdom on X this week. It’s a simple but crucial message that just having the talent and the technical knowledge is not enough anymore. Being able to communicate that knowledge effectively is what really moves the needle.

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Wheaton & Sprague is a US-based specialist engineering and consulting firm in the Building Envelope, building facades, curtain walls and cladding systems industry.

Working on tall buildings presents a unique set of challenges for construction professionals all over the world. Let’s investigate some of the key issues we face and how we can understand and overcome them:👇👇👇

Materials:

Engineers continually explore innovative materials to construct tall buildings. Whether it’s traditional steel and concrete or newer options like carbon fibre, the goal is to enhance strength and efficiency.

Lighter materials reduce overall structure weight, minimising foundation loads and improving economic viability. The use of composite cladding panels being used from the beginning of this century may introduce the risk of the propagation of fire.

Vertical Transport:

Hoist technology becomes limiting as buildings grow taller. Wind will affect hoist operation, leading to service disruptions on windy days, ultimately leading to potential lengthy delays. As buildings get taller the provision of vertical transport becomes more critical. The material transport is usually well controlled by booking the hoist for deliveries, however, the provision for the vertical transport of operatives is not well controlled, in my experience. A 50-storey building I have been working on recently was subjected to a hoist wait time of over 30 minutes, regularly. This is exasperated at the beginning and end of the day as well as break times.

Human Comfort:

Wind-induced Chill (exposure) is a critical consideration for any Safety Leader, especially when working at heights. When working on the Shard, the company we worked for provided warm suits for all site staff, these were the same grade as those worn by people working in freezers. The opposite is applicable during warmer months, we had to include the provision of drinking water for everyone up the building and whilst at those heights it becomes very problematic.

Safety:

Wind is a significant factor for safety when working on very tall buildings. Wind speed is increased with height which makes the glazing panel essentially act like a large glass kite. This explains why the maximum permitted wind speed for lifting glass panels is so low and why we approach this issue with extreme caution.

Evacuation during emergencies is crucial. In taller structures, ensuring swift and safe evacuation becomes more challenging, especially if there is a casualty. Ensuring the emergency services have access to the higher levels of the buildings brings us back to the hoist delays, every minute is crucial in our vertical transportation and the efficiency of these is not only schedule related but also human safety related too.

Fire safety protocols are a priority for every company on site, building robust escape routes, and devising reliable communication systems all contribute to the overall safety plan of the project.

Perception of Towers:

Iconic structures like The Shard in London stimulate conversations about tall buildings’ role in future cities.

Structural engineers continually push boundaries to match increasing demand and as buildings become more complex geometrically, engineers innovate to achieve stability and safety. As our cities evolve, tall construction demands a delicate balance between aesthetics, functionality and safety.

Collaboration between architects, engineers, and builders is essential to address the challenges we face, working together will help us implement the solutions necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone on-site.

Danny Cowell
Senior Health, Safety and Environmental Manager
Yuanda Europe Ltd
London, UK