Commercial building maintenance during winter
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With COVID-19 restrictions having been lifted in the UK, more and more buildings have been opening up for commercial use. Now, with winter on the way, it’s time for building owners to start preparing their establishments to avoid any problems and unexpected repair costs due to cold weather. The frostier temperatures that we see during fall and winter can take a significant toll on commercial buildings, and can make usual maintenance a challenge. With the right measures, commercial building owners and facility managers can beat the winter months and ensure proper maintenance to keep their buildings running effectively and efficiently. Identifying any damage early can even allow owners to repair the problem before it worsens and becomes even more costly.
Review The HVAC System
Understandably, colder weather calls for commercial building owners to inspect their heating systems to keep others comfortable and to avoid heat loss and energy waste. Sources of heat loss can include heat transmission through walls, floors, and ceilings, or through openings, holes, cracks, or gaps, as well as air leaks. This can result in excessive wear on equipment, inconsistent heating, and unnecessary expenses.
A commercial building’s heating system should be checked regularly with a written plan that outlines which tasks need to be completed on a daily, weekly, monthly, as well as annual scale. In addition to this, an energy audit will be able to thoroughly assess the energy needs and efficiency of a commercial building, and can identify if any air leaks need to be sealed. Energy audits can also often reveal the location of obscure spaces where heat loss may be occurring. For certain buildings that are older or more difficult to maintain, their heating may need to be serviced, repaired, or entirely replaced. For example, church heating requires specific heating systems.
Cooling systems that are not in use should also be prepared for winter. This can include shutting down chillers, draining the cooling tower, or emptying a condensate drain trap. This way, any necessary repairs can be addressed during winter rather than when the cooling system is needed in the warmer months of the year.
Inspect the Building’s Insulation
A commercial building with poor insulation shouldn’t be ignored. Appropriately insulating a commercial building, including in the walls, floors, and ceilings, can also prevent the possibility of heat loss during the colder months. This could mean ensuring to add blanket-style insulation between beams and joists in the walls or floors, or installing foam insulation or loose-fill insulation in attics, wall cavities, and other areas that are irregularly shaped or difficult to reach. Many commercial building owners also consider installing automatic door closers on entrance and exit doors to ensure that they are not left open for long periods of time after they are used. Another aspect of insulating a commercial building for winter includes blanket-insulating ductwork and sealing them with a specialized sealant or with metal tape.
Review Plumbing Systems
Burst frozen pipes can often be a cause of costly damage in commercial buildings, so it’s important not to overlook them. When a pipe bursts due to pressure, it can cause significant property water damage, and may even result in a building closing down for safety reasons. Always keep interior temperatures above 12.8 degrees celsius and instruct tenants to do the same.
Reviewing a commercial building’s plumbing system will save time, trouble, and money come the colder season. Remember to also test freeze stats and valves to ensure that there are no possibilities of leaks, and check any exposed or exterior pipes for signs of freezing. Look out for any signs of excess moisture or mold and mildew, and be sure to respond by drying the area.
Inspect the Building’s Roof
If a commercial building’s roof is in poor shape, then what is below it will immediately become vulnerable too. The winter weather conditions can be more than just cold and slippery – a heavy build up of snow or ice has the potential to collapse roofs, especially on older buildings with weaker structures. The roof of a commercial building can also be susceptible to a host of undetected issues, such as damage or holes that can create leaks due to snowmelt.
While most areas in the UK seldom experience heavy white winters, it’s still important to maintain a building’s roof to uphold the safety of others and to prevent any further issues. There are multiple ways to ensure good roof maintenance during winter, including inspecting the roof for any loose shingles and other damage that is caused by high winds or ice, as well as monitoring heating costs and increasing attic insulation if necessary. When inspecting a commercial building’s roof, it’s also vital to inspect all flashing and seals to ensure that the structure is stable enough to hold the weight of any extreme winter weather such as ice or snow.
Examining the commercial building’s roof offers owners an ideal opportunity to remove any organic material or debris that may have unknowingly accumulated. It’s also recommended to routinely monitor the appearance of the roof throughout the winter season to ensure that there aren’t any buildups of any winter matter, such as icicles in the gutter or piles of snow blocking an access ladder.
Monitor the Exterior
As snow and ice can cause water damage and direct damage to a building’s exterior, it’s important that those responsible for the upkeep of commercial properties are checking the exterior regularly. For the safety of others, it’s also important to de-ice pavements and car parks with rock salt to avoid any slips, trips, and falls. When heavy snowfall does occur, be aggressive with its removal – being proactive when it comes to snow and ice removal can prevent damages to a commercial building as well as create a safer environment for both pedestrians and drivers. Commercial properties with irrigation systems should also be properly winterized in order to prevent any damage from occurring during winter – this can be achieved through draining the irrigation system of water and shutting down the control box until the warmer months arrive again.
