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Managing Adverse Weather in Construction: Guidance in UK, USA, and Canada

Written by Josh Graham | Sep 25, 2025 6:48:13 PM

Below is a comprehensive list of key guidance documents, standards, best practices, and recommended practices related to managing adverse weather impacts in construction. These are organized by region (UK, USA, Canada) and include short-term site safety measures and long-term scheduling/risk management approaches. Each entry notes the issuing body, title, publication (or withdrawal) year, focus area, and current status (active or historical).

United Kingdom (UK)

  • Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Complex Projects (1st ed. 2010; 2nd ed. 2018) – Establishes a standard for construction project time management (scheduling), including guidance on incorporating weather allowances into schedules – Current (2nd edition)designingbuildings.co.ukdesigningbuildings.co.uk.

  • Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) & Institute of Actuaries: RAMP – Risk Analysis and Management for Projects (1st ed. 1998; 2nd ed. 2005; 3rd ed. 2014) – A strategic framework for project risk management that explicitly includes weather and climate risks as considerations in project planning – Current (3rd edition, 2014)emerald.com. (Jointly published by ICE and the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.)

  • Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): ICE Manual of Health and Safety in Construction (1st ed. 2010; 2nd ed. 2015) – Comprehensive health & safety manual covering construction site hazards and controls, including working in adverse weather (e.g. precautions for extreme cold, heat, high winds) – Current (2nd edition)icetraining.org.uk. This manual provides practical guidance to maintain worker safety under various weather conditions.

  • UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE): HSE Guidance for Outdoor Work (Web Guidance, updated 2023) – Official guidance on managing workplace temperature and weather exposure. Advises measures for cold environments (adequate PPE, heated break areas, hot drinks, frequent breaks, rescheduling work to warmer periods) and hot environments (rescheduling to cooler times, shade, hydration, rest breaks)hse.gov.ukhse.gov.uk. These HSE guidelines emphasize that unmanaged weather can pose immediate and long-term health/safety risks and outline simple protective actionshse.gov.uk. (Note: HSE’s broader construction safety guide HSG150 (3rd ed. 2006) also reinforces providing protection from adverse weather on siteshse.gov.uk.)

  • Met Office / Historical UK Practice: Use of Met Office Weather Averages and “Winter Working” Allowances (traditionally used in UK construction planning – Historic Practice). Planners historically relied on long-term Met Office climate averages to estimate “normal” rain days, temperature delays, etc., and often adopted winter working calendars (e.g. reduced productivity or shutdown in winter months)blog.ehab.coblog.ehab.co. However, this approach (while once standard) is outdated and being supplanted by data-driven methods, as averages can misrepresent variability and extremesblog.ehab.co. (Industry now recognizes the need for more localized and probabilistic weather planning tools beyond these older general guidelinesblog.ehab.coblog.ehab.co.)

  • ICE Conditions of Contract (historical reference): The ICE standard contracts (e.g. ICE Conditions, pre-NEC) included provisions for “exceptionally adverse weather” as grounds for extensions of timeblog.ehab.co. While not a guidance document per se (and now largely superseded by NEC and JCT forms), this reflects historical contract mechanisms in the UK for long-term schedule impacts of weather. Status: Historical – ICE Conditions are mostly withdrawn in favor of NEC; weather provisions carried into modern contracts (e.g. NEC defines exceptionally adverse weather as statistically rare eventsdesigningbuildings.co.uk). (Contract terms are excluded from scope here, but noted for context.)

  • Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA): Guidance on Climate Change Risks in Construction (e.g. CIRIA reports in development on managing climate-related impactsrskgroup.comciria.org) – Emerging best-practice guides focusing on long-term resilience of construction projects to extreme weather and climate change. Status: Under development (as of mid-2020s), indicating industry’s forward-looking stance on weather and climate resilience in construction planning.

United States (USA)

  • AACE International: Recommended Practice No. 84R-13 – Planning and Accounting for Adverse Weather (original 2013, public release 2015) – Detailed guidelines for project schedulers to incorporate weather impacts into project schedulesweb.aacei.orgweb.aacei.org. It covers methodologies to determine expected “normal” adverse weather delays from historical data, approaches to model weather days in schedules, and tracking actual weather impacts vs. planweb.aacei.orgweb.aacei.org. Focus is on schedule planning & development (TCM Framework 7.2) and project control. Current (Active recommended practice).

  • Construction Industry Institute (CII): Best Practices for Risk Management – While CII has no weather-specific standard, their risk management publications (e.g. CII Implementation Resource on Project Risk Assessment) treat weather as a key risk factor. For example, CII identifies extreme weather as a contributor to project delays and cost overrunsdub-l-ee.com. Status: Current (CII continues to promote integrating weather risk into project risk management, aligning with broader standards like ISO 31000).

  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Construction Institute: Standard CI 67-17 – Schedule Delay Analysis (2017) – This ASCE standard provides a methodology for analyzing construction schedule delays (including delays from adverse weather). It establishes a consistent forensic approach to determine excusable weather delays versus contractor-caused delays. Current (often used in resolving disputes, though focused on analysis rather than preventive planning).

  • OSHA / ANSI-ASSP: ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024 – Heat Stress Management in Construction and Demolition Operations – A newly published American National Standard (Feb 2024) addressing heat stress prevention on construction sitesassp.org. It provides minimum requirements and guidance for protecting workers from heat-related illness, including acclimatization schedules, work/rest regimens, monitoring heat index/WBGT, training, and emergency responseassp.org. Current (first edition – the first dedicated heat stress standard in U.S. construction).

  • OSHA & NIOSH Guidelines (Heat and Cold): Although OSHA has no specific regulations for temperature, it issues guidance and runs campaigns:

    • NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hot Environments – 1972 (rev. 1986, rev. 2016) – Authoritative scientific guidance from NIOSH recommending heat exposure limits and controlscdc.govcdc.gov. The latest revision (2016, Pub. No. 2016-106) updates guidance on heat stress prevention based on new research. Current (2016 edition).

    • NIOSH/OSHA Cold Stress Guidance: NIOSH and OSHA provide guidance for cold weather work (NIOSH had earlier recommendations in the 1970s; OSHA leverages NIOSH info since no cold standard exists). OSHA’s website and publications (e.g. OSHA QuickCard “Protecting Workers from Cold Stress”, OSHA 3156-2014) give practical tips: monitor wind chill, provide warm breaks, recognize frostbite/hypothermia signsosha.govexperidoc.com. Current (OSHA updates these guidance materials as needed; e.g. OSHA’s Cold Stress Card was updated in 2014osha.gov).

    • OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Campaign materials – OSHA has issued Heat Stress QuickCards, factsheets, and is developing a formal heat standard (as of 2025). These resources advise scheduling heavy work during cooler hours, hydration, rest breaks, and training workers on heat illness symptomsccohs.cahse.gov.uk. Current (active nationwide campaign).

  • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): Engineer Regulation ER 415-1-15 – Construction Time Extensions for Weather (1989) – USACE’s official policy for factoring weather into contract time. It provides guidance on how to establish anticipated “normal” adverse weather delays for a project’s location and season, and how to grant time extensions for unusually severe weatherpublications.usace.army.mil. (USACE contracts typically include a weather chart of expected monthly delay days based on this regulation.) Status: Active policy (1989 reg with minor updates; still used as baseline method for Corps projectspublications.usace.army.mil).

  • USACE Engineering and Construction Bulletins: ECB 1996-13: Developing and Analyzing Adverse Weather Data – A guidance bulletin outlining the methodology (per ER 415-1-15) to develop site-specific adverse weather calendars and criteriawbdg.org. It instructs construction field offices on using historical weather data to determine monthly anticipated delay days to include in schedules. Status: Historical (issued 1996; provides clarification but considered alongside ER 415-1-15).

    • ECB 2002-32: Construction Contract Durations and Schedule Slippage – Reinforces including anticipated weather delays in determining contract duration. References the ER 415-1-15 procedure and emphasizes upfront consideration of weather to avoid later slippagewbdg.org. Status: Historical (2002).

  • National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP): NCHRP Synthesis 47 – Effect of Weather on Highway Construction (1978) – A classic study (still cited) surveying how adverse weather affects highway construction productivity and delaytrb.org. It documents measures used by U.S. highway agencies to mitigate weather impacts on various construction activitiestrb.org. Focus areas include rain, cold, and seasonal limitations on earthwork, concrete, paving, etc. Status: Historical (1978 synthesis, noted in 2020 as “remains highly relevant” given more frequent extreme weather)trb.org.

  • Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): Construction Hazard Control Guides – AGC and partner organizations provide best-practice guidance for contractors on weather-related hazards (e.g. toolbox talks and manuals on storm preparedness, winter safety, etc.). For example, guidance on securing sites and cranes during high winds, evacuation plans for lightning or hurricanes, and protecting materials from rain. Status: Current (industry best practices, typically updated by safety committees). (These are advisory and vary by source; e.g., the AGC-supported “Safety Management Handbook” includes weather emergency planning.)

Canada

  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA): CSA A23.1 – Concrete Materials and Methods of Construction (latest 2019) – This national standard for concrete construction includes mandatory cold-weather and hot-weather concreting practices. It defines “cold weather” as when air temperature is forecast below 5°C within 24h of placing concretermcao.org and prescribes precautions (e.g. preheated materials, insulating and heating concrete) to prevent damageweb.mit.eduweb.mit.edu. Likewise, it covers hot-weather measures. Current (A23.1 is regularly updated; cold/hot weather clauses are active – derived from ACI 306R and 305R guidance). (CSA A23.1’s weather provisions ensure quality and safety of concrete works under adverse temperatures.)

  • CSA S502:21 – Managing Changing Snow Load Risks for Buildings in Canada’s North (2021) – A standard guiding northern communities in safe snow management for existing buildingsuphere.ca. It provides methods for monitoring snow accumulation, assessing roof load risks, and safely removing snow to prevent structural failures. Focus is long-term maintenance planning and safety under extreme snowfall conditions. Current (published 2021 as part of climate resilience initiative).

  • CSA S505:20 – Techniques for Considering High Wind and Snow Drifting for Northern Infrastructure (2020) – Technical standard addressing design and planning for high winds and drifting snow in northern regionschangingclimate.ca. While oriented toward infrastructure design, it informs construction-phase measures like temporary bracing and site layout to mitigate wind/snow impacts. Current (2020). (These CSA S500-series standards reflect emerging best practices for climate resilience, ensuring construction projects in harsh climates plan for severe weather conditions.)

  • Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS): OHS Guidelines for Hot & Cold Environments (online guidance, updated regularly) – CCOHS provides user-friendly guidance for employers and workers on managing thermal stress. Key recommendations include scheduling strenuous work for cooler times of dayccohs.ca or warmer parts of the day in winter, using heated shelters or shaded areas, providing warm or cool drinks, appropriate clothing/PPE, and training on recognizing heat stress or cold injury symptoms. Current (CCOHS updates these advisories; e.g., “Cold Environments – Control Measures” emphasizes heated protective clothing and work/rest scheduling in extreme coldccohs.ca).

  • Provincial OHS Guidelines (Canada): Many provinces issue advisories or codes of practice for working in extreme weather (e.g. Ontario Guideline #33 “Working in Extreme Temperature Conditions”ontario.ca). These typically mirror CCOHS guidance and require employers to take “all reasonable precautions” under OHS law when weather poses a hazard. Status: Current (jurisdiction-specific, updated as needed; not an exhaustive list here).

  • National Research Council Canada (NRC) – Historic Digests: Canadian Building Digests (CBD series) – The NRC’s Division of Building Research published numerous guidance notes on construction in adverse weather in the mid-20th century:

    • CBD-7 “Winter Construction” (C.R. Crocker, ~1959) – Discusses the feasibility and techniques of continuing construction during Canadian wintersweb.mit.eduweb.mit.edu. It covers problems like frozen ground excavation, concrete curing in cold, and notes that with proper methods (heating, insulation, scheduling), winter work can be done successfully – an idea pioneering for its time. Status: Outdated (historical reference).

    • CBD-123 “Cold Weather Masonry Construction” (J.I. Davison, Mar 1970) – Provides guidance on laying masonry in freezing conditions, based on research and field experiencenrc-publications.canada.cacanadamasonrydesigncentre.com. Recommends warming bricks and mortar, maintaining enclosure heat, and protecting new masonry from freezing for at least 48 hoursweb.mit.eduweb.mit.edu. Status: Outdated (superseded by later standards like CSA and industry manuals, but illustrates evolution of best practices).

  • Canadian Construction Association (CCA): Best Practices for Weather Planning – While no formal national standard, the CCA and regional construction associations often publish best-practice guides (e.g. for winter construction planning). These include using temporary enclosures and heaters, planning winter breaks in schedules, securing sites ahead of forecast storms, and contractual strategies (like winter allowances). Status: Current practice guidance (varies by region; e.g., Quebec’s construction industry has well-defined winter shutdown periods, whereas Western Canada uses different approaches due to climate differences).

  • Engineers Canada – PIEVC Protocol (2005–present): Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Protocol – A risk assessment framework for evaluating infrastructure vulnerability to extreme weather and climate change. While applied mostly at design/asset level, some project teams use it to inform construction-phase contingency planning for extreme events (floods, storms, etc.). Current (voluntary tool, updated through 2010s). (This shows the integration of long-term climate risk considerations into project planning, beyond traditional weather norms.)

Note: The above list includes both active guidance (in current use) and historical/retired documents, illustrating how practices have evolved. For instance, older guides like NRC Digests or NCHRP 47 (1978) remain valuable for context but should be contrasted with modern standards (e.g. ANSI A10.50-2024 or updated CSA/NIOSH guidance) to ensure up-to-date measures. All entries focus on technical and procedural guidance for managing weather impacts – contract clauses and legal case precedents have been excluded per the scope. Each document’s relevance (safety, scheduling, planning) and currency have been noted so that practitioners can evaluate which guidelines best apply to their needs and verify if a document has been superseded by newer information.

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