Most people automatically picture a man when thinking of a construction worker. However, women are just as qualified and capable of being successful in the industry. Construction careers require high levels of skill and determination, perfect for anyone who enjoys creating and working with their hands.

Currently, women make up 10.3% of the construction workforce in the U.S. Just two years ago, that number was closer to 9%. While that number has not jumped significantly, it has steadily increased over the past decade.

Although still inadequately represented, 31% of women in the industry hold professional or management roles, many of which have moved into those roles in recent years. This shows that companies have been increasing efforts to promote and educate women about the benefits of working in construction.

Technological advancements, such as hydraulic equipment, have also made brute strength less important to get the job done. Regardless, some men still feel that women cannot carry their share of the workload and some women are concerned they might be considered masculine for working in the industry. Recruitment bias and non-inclusive work cultures also remain a concern.

Despite stigmas, more women are seeing the earning potential and diverse opportunities available in the industry. They are steadily working towards changing views about gender norms and leveling the playing field. Additionally, nearly 87% of women who work in the industry hold office positions, squashing most of the gender concerns.

In recent years, the construction labor shortage has presented an opportunity to hire more women than ever. Diversity is important in solving the labor shortage crisis and research has shown that gender diversity brings economic benefit to companies. Those companies with higher gender diversity in their workforce who have proved to be much more likely to outperform the industry average. Hiring more women in construction is a win-win situation.

Many organizations, like Professional Women in Construction, provide mentorship, networking and opportunities for growth and business development to women in the industry. The goal of Women in Construction Week is to bring awareness to those opportunities, directing interested women to training programs and local mentorship groups, and encouraging women to become role models. By highlighting the value of construction jobs for women, other women and young girls can see the industry as a viable career path.

The RK Apprenticeship Program began an all-female apprentice class last year with great success. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about our apprenticeship program, click here.

 

The Rise of Women in the Construction Field, National Center for Construction Education & Research, December 3, 2020
How Women in Construction Positively Impact Profits and Collaboration, Digital Builder, March 5, 2020
Just 9.1% of America’s construction workers are women—here’s what it’s like to be one of them, CNBC Make It, January 29, 2019
Women in Construction: The State of the Industry in 2021, Big Rentz, January 19, 2021

By: RK Mission Critical

Anyone who works with electricity knows how important it is to be aware of potential safety hazards. These hazards include shock, arc flash heat and explosions that can take place due to electrical mishaps. Predicting the level of hazard can be calculated thanks to the NFPA 70e Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

The NFPA 70e was officially adopted by OSHA and is now a standard that employers and employees must abide by, in addition to ensuing all electrical equipment complies. This compliance is required on any equipment emitting over 50 volts and can effect solar DC systems and UPS batteries.

Electrical safety standards are constantly improving and the NFPA 70e committee updates their standards every few years. David Weszely of Lewellyn Technology highlights changes to the standards for the upcoming year in his article: The Most Important 2018 Changes in NFPA 70e.

Here’s a synopsis of his review:

Weszely suggests that companies make sure all qualified workers have access to the 2018 NFPA 70e standard, update their electrical safety program and schedule on-site NFPA 70E electrical safety training.

RK Mission Critical offers prefabricated modular facilities and skidded MEP equipment for multiple industries. The facilities and equipment we produce require complex electrical system installation and commissioning – meaning our team understands the importance of the NFPA 70E standard and requires all team members working on electrical systems to be properly trained. RK Mission Critical has a certified electrical safety professional and Electrical Engineers on staff that can personally answer questions on electrical safety integration of our systems with theirs. Contact us at info@rkmissioncritical.com.

By: RK Mission Critical

HISTORY OF DATA CENTERS

Since the late 1990s, when data centers became mainstream, to now, companies struggle with:

  1. Building their own data centers from the ground up
  2. Leasing space in an existing data center
  3. Buying or leasing an existing building and renovating it

Each of these options comes with some drawbacks. Companies that build their own data centers often experience sticker shock when they realize the hard costs involved, such as acquiring land in a suitable location, hiring an experienced construction team to build the facility and investing in the right mechanical, electrical and security systems. Weather and other construction-related delays often lead to budget overages and missed deadlines. In addition, executives have to make an educated guess as to how much capacity they will need over the next several years making growth or reduction difficult.

Organizations that outsource their data center needs don’t always fare better. Finding a data center provider in the right location is often a challenge. Some IT teams want their technology assets in close proximity to their organization’s headquarters. There are also concerns that moving to an outsourced data center means having to use pre-set technology and vendor services from the data center provider, making customization impossible.

Another challenge with outsourcing data center needs is that IT teams have very specific location requirements. For example, data centers should be located away from certain industrial operations or commercial flight patterns. Plus, not all data center providers are created equal, so finding an experienced partner with the right infrastructure and systems in place is also challenging.

Some enterprises lease or purchase existing buildings and perform tenant improvements to transform them into data centers. One benefit of this approach is that they don’t have to build the structure themselves, which saves money and shortens timelines. However, since these structures are not purpose-built to serve as data centers, there are often physical limitations that force the enterprise to compromise their standards. Finally, leasing a building exposes enterprises to rent increases as well as the possibility of being pushed out by their landlord.

MODULAR DATA CENTERS ALLOW FOR GROWTH

Modular data centers, or what the industry often refers to as prefabricated modular (PFM) data centers, are the solution to traditional data center downfalls. Using the same technology and components found in traditional data centers, PFM data centers are constructed in a climate-controlled facility with mechanical and electrical systems integrated prior to shipment, as well as varying levels of the IT stack. The data center components are then transported to the customer site and assembled like building blocks that accelerate the construction schedule while providing potential cost savings. The resulting data centers are fully self-contained, weather-tight and only require utilities and network connections.

High costs, capacity and systems limitations found in traditional data centers have caused enterprises to turn to PFM data centers for their flexibility and scalability. Compute space, power and cooling are matched to current IT demands, so organizations only pay for the facilities they need at any time. And as IT demands change, modules can be added like building blocks. This keeps IT and facilities continually aligned without risk of over- or under-investing in data center resources. Finally, some PFM data centers are technology and vendor agnostic, so IT teams have the freedom to use any technology suppliers they choose without fear of vendor lock-in.

RK Mission Critical is an expert in prefabricating modular data centers. We construct the major components in our quality-controlled fabrication shop, then quickly assemble everything at the customer’s site. This not only accelerates the construction schedule but can also offer financial benefits over traditional construction. Contact us for a free consultation on the many benefits of prefabricated construction at info@rkmissioncritical.com.