The architecture and construction sector in Spain it is governed by a "chaos" in regulations. year after year, we verified it, and when we entered the Communities Autonomous, it goes up one more step. Faced with the pandemic of coronavirus (COVID19), we are the same.
We continue in the "chaos" of the construction sector, no longer of regulations, but of the guidelines that we must take as responsible in a work, of the project or as Coordinator Safety and Health.
A document with very clear guidelines for the construction, firm and official - at the national level - duly signed by the public administrations authorities in conjunction with the college representatives professionals or the architects' associations themselves, quantity surveyors or engineers, it doesn't exist directly!
So it is time to assume as recommendations and guidelines the guides that appear at the same time that they are coined general application decrees.
Content menu:
To understand what has happened and what is happening in the construction sector, we have created a simple scheme:
We are not telling the reader anything new with the outline above, but our "schematic thinking" already prevents us from that the described cycle can be repeated with greater severity or less, and therefore we should take note of all those actions that we have practiced and of those that we could improve if in the future it returns change things.
The stoppage of works due to force majeure requires a important effort for all those involved in the plays; facultative direction, the direction of work, the developers, masons, etc. Where to take into account many factors and we believe that we explain it coherently in the article on how to act in works before the Coronavirus (Representative of Phase-1) with guidelines and recommendations to follow.
We remember that we added a video of interest that dealt with the theme of coronavirus in construction (The video was made in Phase 1, so that we understand each other):
We continue to delve a little deeper into the context and identify how the pandemic affects the works and how the administrations are acting accordingly.
The latest news is that we should «divide» the work into two typologies; new construction and rehabilitation or reform (activities related to works of intervention in existing buildings), to avoid the risk of spread and contagion of COVID-19 in a context of necessary of prudence.
That is to say… “the construction workers can share certain common spaces, with residents or others users, which enables an increase in contagion" (See application standard Order SND/340/2020 for Spain and the exceptions noted). So we would have the following schema:
Now we have to try to understand a little the protocol of action in construction sites , what measures must be adopted on site to control the risk derived from COVID 19 (In the following section we already We will see where it fits within the Spanish regulations, as well as its supervision and the possible case of stoppage).
Each company participating in the work should have a specific and concrete protocol on the measures to be applied regarding COVID-19 . Companies must count with the advice of External Prevention Services (or own if they have more than 250 workers on the payroll) for the implementation of these protocols. Things to consider:
The containment protocol and measures to be adopted must be consistent with the provisions of the Ministry of Health in the document: Action procedure for occupational risk prevention services against exposure to SARS-CoV-2 see document HERE (You must read the document yes or yes) where we can extract a first look with:
From the document previously reviewed by the Ministry of Health, there are also three schemes that are useful, in addition, We provide more information about masks. He scheme of the masks is made by Pablo Medina Sanchez (Senior ORP Technician)
The previous infographic can be enlarged from HERE (It can be open new window). Documentation that we should review and complementary to coherently write protocol of action on site in the face of the pandemic:
As a note, and article of interest we can see cameras thermographic: How to detect fever against Coronavirus COVID 19.
Here, we have to put ourselves in the context of the applicable Spanish regulations. And the truth, although the most professionals are clear about who should verify that everything is fulfilled, the issue of the possible stoppage of the works is being a constant debate on social networks.
We, given the current situation, have extracted a opinion based on three documents of interest and that we believe They provide quality and well-explained information:
BEWARE! The above scheme represents our opinion. The competent technicians should contact their schools professionals to provide them with the considerations timely and legal .
This article on our blog has only tried to clarify a little how it is affecting both the pandemic and the different guidelines that are appearing on the sector of the construction. It must be taken into account that every day new guidelines and applicable regulations that affect and can substantially change the concepts presented here.
Note: Please, if the article is cited or used images – diagrams of the same. You must cite the source «Home Repair Care» and corresponding link, either to the article or the overall platform.
