The winter season brings us holiday gatherings with family and friends to compensate for the colder weather. But for those who have to work outside, especially in the northern climates, winter weather is hard.
Heated Blankets and Electric Heaters for a Safer Jobsite
When you work in locations where the temperatures are regularly below freezing, it’s rough on equipment and building materials. Here are just a few of the common problems caused by cold winter weather:
- Workers are at risk of frostbite, trench foot, and hypothermia.
- The frozen ground can cause wheeled equipment to skid.
- Liquid material can separate or freeze solid.
Any of these problems can lead to downtime and missed deadlines. But with the right construction equipment, you can be prepared and avoid these issues.
Heated blankets and electric heaters can protect workers, equipment, and materials. With these two items on hand, you can keep the frigid temperatures from slowing down your construction or renovation work.
All About Thermalay Heated Blankets
Heated blankets aren’t just for mattresses! Construction heated blankets, like those made by Thermalay, have multiple uses on the jobsite:
- Cure concrete:
- Concrete needs warmer temperatures to cure properly.
- Without proper curing, concrete can have quality problems, such as cracking.
- Heat the ground:
- Makes digging and trenching easier.
- Prevents slipping, skidding, and falling.
- Great to use before laying pavers or other stonework.
- Maintain material above freezing temperature:
- Prevents liquid material from separating or congealing.
- Keeps shingles, gravel, and sand from freezing and sticking together.
|
Tip: Don’t lose precious daylight time thawing out the ground, material, or equipment. Before leaving the job site at the end of the day, lay the heated blankets down overnight.
|
How Thermalay Heated Blankets Are Constructed
Thermalay heated blankets are constructed with all four edges of the blanket sealed. This keeps the warmth in the blanket and repels moisture, snow, and ice.
The blankets have several layers comprised of:
- Heated coil elements
- Micro foam insulation
- Waterproof reinforced PVC
What You Should Know About Construction Electric Heaters
An electric heater works by blowing air over a heated coil. The coil heats the air as it passes through it.
A wide variety of construction electric heaters are available (such as forced air, infrared, and propane). However, electric heaters are popular on construction jobsites because they:
- Are easily moved from one location to the next
- Raise the temperature from 30 – 90 degrees (depending on the BTU rating)
- Move warm air to different indoor areas with a building’s duct system
How to Choose an Electric Heater
When choosing a heater, you’ll want to consider:
- The highest level of temperature you’ll need
- The size of the areas you need to heat
In general, the higher the heater’s BTU rating, the higher it can raise the temperature. Before purchasing or renting a construction electric heater, make sure the proper electrical outlet is available for the heater.
The two most common style of electric heaters include the milkhouse and salamander.
Milkhouse-style heater:
- Easy to carry
- Good for heating small rooms
Salamander-style heater:
- Better for large rooms
- Has wheels for easy portability
Keep Workers, Equipment, and Material Toasty Warm
It takes a few extra steps to keep your workers, equipment, and material warm during the winter season, but it’s worth it. Besides being safer, your workers will be more comfortable. They also won’t have to deal with the frustration of ruined work materials or damaged equipment.
A smoothly running jobsite helps you build a good reputation. A business that is known for meeting deadlines on time and under budget will never be short of work!
