BUSINESS AND TRAINING 17
When placing concrete , unless a special mix is used , the structural integrity of an element may be compromised when temperatures fall to below 5 ° C or exceed 35 ° C . In such conditions , either heating or insulation , or cooling with ice may be required . If fresh concrete is exposed to sudden temperature changes , including wind gusts , thermal cracking may result thus impairing the structural integrity .
Wind Windspeed more than 40 km / h will make working on scaffolding , on a roof or using a crane unsafe . Most current generation tower cranes have monitoring equipment installed to automatically record the date , time , wind speed and direction . Goods lifted by crane may be blown against the structure ( damaging the item and the structure , with falling debris injuring personnel ) or be dislodged from hooks or a sling . Handling ‘ hot ’ metal roof sheeting may require further care in windy conditions to prevent ‘ twisting ’ of roofsheeting , or being blown away before fixing can occur .
Electric storms When lightning flashes are followed by thunder within 30 seconds all outdoor activities must be suspended , and employees must be warned to avoid hilltops , open water , trees or isolated structures .
Flooding Rain more than about 40mm per hour is likely to cause flooding and other damage particularly to excavations and foundations that may require extensive repairs . Depending on the nature of the site it may be appropriate to prepare a construction site to facilitate drainage of sudden flooding .
Conclusion Should any weather-related event occur , or any other unforeseen activity ( for example , local community unrest ) the construction manager must be prepared to react speedily and appropriately – possibly warning personnel on site by activating a siren . PA
Steps to a successful exhibition
By
Rory Macnamara
Exhibitions serve two critical functions , and the successful launch of Plumbing Travelling Exhibitions ( PTE ) shows both to be true .
PLUMBING ’ S TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
PTE
SA ’ s Travelling Exhibition Company
Of course , the travelling exhibition concept is built on a 30-year-old success formula in the mining and industrial industries and the same input is valid for all our travelling shows .
Visitors must come to these exhibitions / shows with the intention of learning and challenging the exhibitors who would be grateful for feedback as this assists them to improve their offering after hearing from the end user .
It is established that the plumbing supply chain is managed through merchants and even with the best will in the world the merchant cannot present every item in their range . So , it relies on the manufacturer / supplier to hear what the end user ’ s needs are to ask for products by name and not rely on the visitor ( merchant ’ s customer ) to ask for something vague .
Hence the visitor attending the exhibition to look for new products / services , talk to exhibitors and engage with them as to the on-site problems they have . The visitor is the one that must make quick decisions on-site , not always for the better !
The exhibitor on the other hand needs to have clear objectives as to what they need to achieve – be it listening to the plumber as well as establishing any problem areas at the merchant , being the point of sale , or creating awareness of their existence , or make a sale or plain and simple branding ( reinforcing their range , services , back-up offered ).
While most manufacturers do offer on-site backup , an exhibition provides the ideal opportunity to engage with the visitor-plumber in a relaxed manner .
Branding is in some quarters regraded as not providing any ROI . Such thinking has no place in 2023 or ever as some have found to their cost . Branding is providing a return on investment by a presence , particularly at an exhibition .
Without the manufacturer the merchant has no role to play and the exhibition provides an ideal time to engage with those merchant exhibitors , especially those at PTE who see the advantage of reinforcing their own brand .
In the areas we go to one is seeing visitors who would not normally attend exhibitions due to the time factor of travelling to far places and that provides yet another reason to invite one ’ s own and known customers .
While PTE will provide top line promotion in terms of radio , local newspapers and invites to its own substantial database with telephone follow up , it also provides the exhibitor an opportunity to invite your own clients / customers as another way of interacting with them and branding . PA
“ Hence the visitor attending the exhibition to look for new products / services ,”
June 2023 Volume 29 I Number 4 www . plumbingafrica . co . za