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That job on the 55th floor in Chicago changed how I prep for high winds
I was up on a high rise in the Loop about 5 years back. The wind was kicking up more than the forecast said, and I had to shut down for almost 2 hours while we waited for it to die down. Cost the crew a full day of schedule and the foreman was not happy. Now I always check three different weather apps before I head up, especially on anything over 30 stories. Any of you guys have a close call that made you change your routine?
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jessica7071mo ago
22 mph gusts on an open 30 story frame taught me that lesson real quick. I was hanging trim on a windy November day, felt like I was wrestling a drunk sail. My tool pouch caught a gust and damn near swung me off balance. Now I zip tie everything down and keep a constant eye on the little flags on the crane. You guys ever add weight to your bags just to keep from being a human kite?
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max_brown1mo ago
Mary_nelson71 makes a good point about those codes being more like suggestions. I've had a few close calls where the wind just grabbed everything. Adding weight to the bags helps but then your back hates you by lunch. Best trick I learned was just tying a rope between me and a column, keeps you anchored without carrying extra lead.
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mary_nelson711mo ago
Hold up, I gotta push back on that 50 story thing a bit. In my experience, Chicago's code gets a little fuzzy depending on the exposure and the specific building design. I've had city inspectors flag me for having guys on a 35 story building with open perimeter scaffolding when the gusts hit 25 mph, regardless of what the official threshold says. That 55th floor job I had, we were dealing with a brand new tower that had no neighboring buildings to break the wind, so it made even 30 stories feel like we were in a wind tunnel. Your mileage may vary for sure with that Hancock logic, but I've learned the hard way that the actual wind at face level can make those code numbers feel like a suggestion rather than a rule.
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river9521mo ago
Hold on, didn't you mean 50 stories? I thought the city code says you need a separate wind plan for anything over 50, not 30. That's just what the safety guy told me on a listing I worked near the Hancock, so your mileage may vary. But double checking that threshold could save you some headache with the city inspectors.
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