School districts planning security installation and upgrade projects need to move quickly before the busy construction season charges full speed ahead.
Here are some of the top challenges, identified by Forbes Magazine, facing the construction industry — affecting schools and other projects — as well as the issues school administrators could face.
1. Material and Supply Costs, Availability
This is a challenge facing many industries. Materials are, in general, some of the biggest costs in construction, so the increase in material costs has a significant impact on the industry. Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and now the threat of tariffs, have made the cost of acquiring necessary materials and components more expensive and time-consuming.
2. Worker Shortage
The shortage of skilled workers is one of the most frustrating issues facing the construction industry. For projects to proceed, there must be enough people to get the job done. A shortage of people can lead to burnout, which can lead to further decline in skilled workers as more leave the industry.
3. Weather
Weather has always posed challenges to construction, but it is becoming an even larger problem. Climate change has been increasing the amount of extreme weather phenomenon. For example, according to the EPA, climate change is likely to lead to more heat waves and storms.
Construction workers are heavily affected by the weather. If there is extreme weather, whether it be rain, snow or heat, they cannot work. Storms can also slow down or ruin the progress they make on projects.
At the same time, weather can be dangerous to workers, and construction leaders are responsible for the safety of their employees.
According to Clay Crost, education market director at Sonitrol Great Lakes, demand for security installation and upgrades peaks just ahead of summer vacation months.
Crost adds, “Now is the time to plan for those summer security projects. With all the myriad issues affecting projects, schools need to plan ever earlier – at least six to eight weeks of lead time – to ensure project completion before the start of the new school year.”