Rudolph-Libbe Doesn’t Slow Down When Winter Hits by Using Ground Thawing Equipment at First Solar Perrysburg

We in the construction business have been unusually fortunate this winter. How often do we get temperatures in the fifties through December? Not often enough to count on, that's for sure.

Deepening frost posed a threat to Rudolph-Libbe's pouring schedule.

These above-average temperatures have made for shallower frost than in most years. Even a couple of weeks ago it was not uncommon to find only 10"-12” of frost—virtually unheard of in our area this late in the season. That good fortune came to an end, however, when the “polar vortex” blew through. The sudden drop in temperatures stopped most projects in their tracks for at least a couple of days. Not only that, but the previously benign frost reached depths of 2'-2.5' almost overnight.

After an unusually mild winter, the sudden cold brought some projects to a halt.

So what is a contractor to do when the pendulum swings so rapidly?

Well if you are like the Rudolph-Libbe Team, you already have a contingency plan in place. Anticipating the usual winter cold, the team contacted us months ago to discuss ground thaw options (several of which we covered in a previous post). When they outlined the project we understood why.

The team had already anticipated needing ground-thaw.

First Solar’s new Perrysburg expansion is not your standard construction project.

At 1.1 million square foot, it is a massive undertaking. Knowing the milder weather wouldn't last, Rudolph-Libbe got almost two-thirds of the structure under a roof, heated, and protected before the recent wave of cold. The remaining third and the front office area would require more attention, however. This is where the ground-thaw plan came into play.

The team finished covering over half the project before the cold hit.

There used to be very few ground-thaw options available.

The inflexibility of older systems meant that to heat larger areas contractors would have to rent multiple trailers. In First Solar's case, to both thaw and pour out 54,000 sq ft would mean a lot of trailers. A lot of trailers means a lot more money and a lot more time spent in set up and tear down.

Though ground-thaw used to be pricey and inconvenient, Phipps' flexible system is perfect for matching a contractor's specific needs.

Fortunately, today's ground-thaw systems are a lot more flexible.

By taking advantage of our variety of unit and hose-reel options Rudolph-Libbe is able to get the job done for a fraction of the previous time and costs. Thank you to the Rudolph-Libbe First Solar team for including us in this massive project and letting us provide a non-traditional solution to help.