The drying time of concrete on a construction site often determines when the next phases of work can begin. Aura Rakennus ensured progress on this challenging project by utilizing Vertia’s comprehensive climate control service. The schedule was met, and the concrete dried even faster than expected, providing some leeway.

Freya in Turku is an exceptional new development, as the apartment building will contain only 19 units. It is located in the city center, in the courtyard of an existing residential block. The goal was to keep the construction period as short as possible, and work had to proceed from one floor to the next according to a carefully planned schedule.

“In this project, we saw just how critical site conditions—such as air temperature and humidity—are to concrete curing. Continuously monitoring and controlling these factors provided us with significant benefits,” says the site foreman at Aura Rakennus Sami Lehto.

Ready for waterproofing well ahead of schedule

The project required rapid production without delays. According to Lehto, Vertia’s comprehensive real-time environmental control service proved its effectiveness, as the concrete dried ahead of schedule despite the tight timeline.

The building’s concrete slabs were poured on site in layers over the course of a week. In a small house, the work following the pouring of a single layer takes only a short time, after which it’s time to move on to the next floor.

“The lead time for building the hull was exceptionally short. A specific timeline had been set for each stage of the work, and there was hardly any leeway,” Lehto explains.

Normally, drying is monitored by taking only occasional spot moisture measurements, which are used to estimate the schedule for the next steps. Lehto notes that this method is inadequate and involves scheduling risks that the project team did not wish to take in this project.

Expertise put to use right from the preliminary planning stage

Aura Rakennus had been working with Vertia for years prior to this. Now, the new comprehensive climate control service has sparked interest, as the climate control plan included in it allows for more accurate forecasting of when different work phases can begin. This made it possible to include apartment-specific start dates for contractors in the preliminary plan.

– We refined the calculations together with Vertia about a year before the waterproofing work began. Their expertise was invaluable in scheduling the work phases. The drying schedule was very tight, and the process began with the agreed-upon equipment. We soon noticed that the structures were drying faster than expected, Lehto says.

– We were able to start the waterproofing work a week and a half earlier than planned. Even though we’re talking about just a few days, it makes a big difference to the overall schedule. We were able to proceed floor by floor without overlapping work phases, which made the contractors’ jobs easier.

Many benefits from a smooth-running project

When the right conditions are in place, structures dry faster and more predictably. This can significantly shorten construction time, which in turn improves the project’s profitability without compromising on quality.

As part of its comprehensive environmental control service, Vertia manages site conditions on behalf of the construction company. The service may include, among other things, heating, dehumidification, dust control, and humidity measurements. Vertia monitors and manages site conditions and takes the necessary measures if conditions do not meet the targets.

The BuildStat software included in the service is a construction site management tool that helps monitor site conditions and predict the drying of structures. The software collects real-time data from construction sites using IoT sensors installed on-site and moisture measurements. BuildStat also predicts the remaining drying time of structures in real time based on the measurement results.

The software clearly illustrates the need for corrective action, making it easy to take immediate steps. The database Vertia builds from measurements at various sites helps improve the accuracy of forecasts and reduces the risk of delays.

Our comprehensive climate control service also includes, among other things, the delivery and relocation of heaters and dehumidifiers as needed, regular site visits, humidity measurements, and reporting.

Aura Rakennus will use the reports generated through the service directly as part of the documentation for Turku Freya’s RTS certification.

Up-to-date information provided peace of mind

According to Sami Lehto, the most significant benefit of the service was the certainty that the schedule would be met. By notifying contractors well in advance that work could begin as planned, unnecessary downtime was avoided.

– Without Vertia’s service, we would have had to conduct several separate moisture measurements. Now we were able to accurately predict the drying process and stick to our planned schedule. That gave the whole team peace of mind, he sums up. Lehto also praised the collaboration with Vertia.

– From the very beginning, the team at Vertia took our needs seriously and worked to find practical solutions for us, starting with the preliminary design phase. Communication has been excellent throughout the project, the measurement reports have arrived on time, and we’ve always known exactly where we stand.

Lehto notes that Vertia is a partner that ensures the project’s success, not merely a provider of measurement services. He also sees the potential of environmental control in future projects.

– The more information is available, the more likely the project is to stay on schedule. This applies not only to exceptional projects like Turku’s Freya, but climate control is undoubtedly beneficial in conventional construction as well.

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