In the snowy frosty winter of 2021, the conditions at YIT’s North Tapiola Unified School site in Espoo are like summer: calm, dry and warm. Water roofing, thermal insulation and façade masonry work is carried out according to the Kuivaketju10 model (Dry Chain10), protected from weather.
Telinekataja’s weather protection systems ensure uninterrupted work at large and challenging sites says YIT’s Supervisor, Antti Nurmi.
In 2020-2023, Espoo will build seven new schools and kindergartens. The first to see completion is the North Tapiola Community School, which has just under 1,000 pupils.
In 2020–2023, YIT Suomi Oy will build a total of seven new schools and kindergartens in Espoo for the use of nearly 4,000 children and young people. Construction is already in full swing for the North Tapiola School and the Perkkaa school and youth facilities. The project is carried out in cooperation between public and private activities using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, in which the City of Espoo signed a service agreement with the project company. Partnership schools, a project company formed by YIT and Meridiam, will be responsible not only for construction, but also for financing, planning and maintenance for the next 20 years. The PPP model is part of the Koulut Kuntoon (Repair Our Schools) programme, launched in Espoo in 2018, to ensure healthy and safe facilities for schools and kindergartens.
“A significant part of the Kumppanuuskoulut (Partnership Schools) project is the Kuivaketju10 model, which pays special attention to moisture management during construction,” says Antti Nurmi, Supervisor at YIT.
Kuivaketju10 is RALA ry’s operating model, which prevents moisture damage by focusing on the ten main humidity risks. Good planning is key to identifying risks.
“Already at the design stage, we carefully consider how moisture control is implemented, in practice, at the site. The regulations are strict and the controls are effective. For example, a coating permit cannot be obtained until a third party has made the required humidity measurements,” Nurmi says.
Humidity monitoring is carried out at the North Tapiola School site, for example, with condition sensors that are attached to structures and which measure humidity. In addition, there is a puddle map, to which all possible leaks are documented in detail. In these areas, humidity measurements are carried out more accurately before coating work. Weather protection will not be dismantled until the Kuivaketju10 coordinator has inspected the structures.
According to the Kuivaketju10 model, rooftop work, thermal insulation and façade masonry of the North Tapiola School are carried out under the weather shelters.
“Thanks to the Telinekataja professionals, we can carry out roofing, façade masonry and heat insulation without interruptions – protected from the wind, while dry and warm.
Being prepared for storms is also a significant part of moisture control. “Telinekataja’s preparedness ensures that the object remains dry and protected, even in more challenging weather.
The North Tapiola School, which will be completed in 2022, will have facilities for nearly 1,000 pupils. There are over 10,000 square metres of area.
“The weather protection of a large, diverse school building consists of several blocks, the erection and demolition of which, in a timely manner, poses its own challenges. When the first block is ready, we move to block two to continue working. At the same time, block one is dismantled, to make way for block three,” says Valdek Pilv, Supervisor at Telinekataja.
Even complex weather protection can be constructed when the work is well planned in advance. But flexibility is also needed at the job site. On-site situations are always reacted to, as needed and quickly.
YIT’s Antti Nurmi praises the flexibility and professionalism of Telinekataja – especially how well occupational safety issues have been handled at the site.
“Good communication between the various actors is key on this kind of site. Cooperation with Telinekataja has gone well from the beginning. Things are handled both on the phone and face-to-face, at the construction site and in meetings. Nurmi sums up that it is done flexibly, together, among the professionals.
Weather protection will be erected and dismantled at the Espoo school site as well-scheduled blocks. YIT’s Antti Nurmi praises Telinekataja’s flexibility, communication skills and occupational safety.
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