Making your commercial property winter-proof

Protecting your practice

Get ready for the cold

It’s not just humans that can suffer from the cold! Your building will benefit from a little TLC during the colder and wetter months to try and mitigate potential issues caused by the seasonal weather conditions. Here are some suggested steps you can take to help to protect your commercial property.

Protect your practice from problem plumbing

Get a plumber to give your pipes their own health check, looking for potential leaks, especially around the joints. We all know how joints suffer in the cold and any signs of green verdigris on copper pipes could be a sign of leaks. And just like us humans, we need to make sure that pipes and cold-water tanks are wrapped up well, with adequate lagging and insulation to help prevent freezing. Wrapping pipes in a stonewool type of pipe insulation keeps them warm enough to continue functioning even in the lowest temperatures.

If you do identify a frozen pipe, you can thaw it out slowly by using a hot water bottle or towels soaked in warm water.

Even seemingly small leaks can cause significant problems for property owners, The ABI state that a claim relating to a burst pipe costs nearly £9,000 on average*, as often cost of repairs extends far beyond the actual pipe.

If you have a burst water pipe, turn off the water supply immediately, by turning the valve to stop the flow of water – this will prevent any further damage until you can get it fixed. Like arthritic hands, stop cocks can get stiff, so it’s a good idea to test them occasionally-don’t wait til an emergency to find out they have seized up. There are switch types of stopcocks now available, that provide a faster shut off solution either via a switch or some can be controlled remotely via your smartphone app.

For added peace of mind, you can also install a leak detector in high risk areas, which will detect leaks and alert you via text.

Boiler breakdowns

Whilst you have a plumber on site, get them to check your boiler too. It’s going to be working hard during the winter months and a breakdown would be very inconvenient. According to the UK Boiler Breakdown Study 2019, conducted by Boiler Guide, November through to February are the busiest months for boiler repairs, with January being the peak. If your boiler breaks down during a cold snap, the condensate pipe that drips the condensation from the boiler into an outside drain should be the first thing you check.

Prevention is better than cure.

We may be preaching to the converted here, but a few steps taken early on will potentially prevent a whole heap of trouble later.

Ensure pipes connected to major appliances are secured properly
Keep drains, gutters and downpipes clear and free from debris
Prune back bushes and overhanging branches that may drop debris or possibly break and fall onto your building or people.
Turn off the water supply if the property is to be unoccupied for a long period of time
Insulate/lag and/or secure pipes in vulnerable or exposed areas
Is the insulation in roof spaces adequate and properly ventilated?
Keep heating on a low temperature (minimum 12 Celsius) to prevent freezing

Watch your step

It is a good idea to undertake a risk assessment of ice, flood and snow hazards, such as snow slipping off a roof or even causing a roof collapse due to the weigh, hanging icicles falling after a thaw etc. Get plenty of grit stocks in, as whilst patient visitor numbers actually visiting practices may be lower than normal, standing around the icy car park area is a potential slippage hazard you want to avoid. If it snows, make sure you’ve got snow shovels ready in advance to clear snow and ice from walkways and car park areas.

Are there any areas where water ‘pools’ on your pavement or path areas? If so, get them levelled out, otherwise when any puddled water freezes you’ll have a dangerous slip hazard.

Remember that hard floors in entrance areas can also become very slippery during wet or snowy weather. The last thing you need is a patient slipping and hurting themselves. Whilst we can provide insurance against damage claims, let’s not put that to the test!

A bright idea

Dark winter days and short daylight hours mean poor visibility. External lighting is essential for people’s safety and security, so make sure that your paths and access points are well lit. Now is the time to undertake and repairs and replacements and ensuring that any daylight sensors are also working properly.

Installing outdoor lights with PIR sensors that will switch on when they detect motion is a good idea. In addition to keeping your building secure, they are also eco-friendly, only switching on when someone is outside.

LED bulbs are more sustainable and improve the quality of your lighting. Whilst initially more expensive than standard bulbs, over time they offer cost savings through energy savings and lower maintenance. There are a number of government-funded energy efficiency incentives and LED light bulb rebates available to you such as the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme.

External lighting should minimise the amount of shadows being cast, with uniform illumination and also avoid glare. It is also important to avoid excessive contrast in illumination when it comes to external security lighting.

Let it snow, let it snow

Whilst snow may be festive and ethereal, it can cause a great deal of damage.

Although we may not endure winters quite like the winter of 1963, (one of the coldest on record where temperatures consistently reached lower than – 20 °C)² you still need to take precautionary measures.

For example, check your roof for broken or damaged slates. Ensure any gas flues and outlets cannot get blocked with snow. These could freeze over potentially causing carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wetwetwet

The word winter comes from the Germanic ‘wintar’ which in turn is derived from the root wed meaning ‘wet’ or water’, and so signifies a wet season. So basically- be prepared for rain!

How are your windows and windowsills? Are they draught proof? Doors and windowsills are major culprits when it comes to letting heat escape. Is water collecting on the frames? Your building would probably benefit from secondary double glazing, which provides insulation and helps to reduce heating bills. Caulking and weather-stripping can help to reduce the likelihood of heat loss, as well as the possibility of water seeping into your home due to ice dams. (see below)

It’s worth carrying out the following steps to help prepare yourself and your property for possible flooding:

Check the relevant environmental regulators websites to see if your property is in an area that might be affected by flooding from a river, sea or other water source.
Sign up to receive flood warnings. The Government runs a flood warning service

Review the Environment Agency’s guide for preparing your property for flooding. This guide gives more information on the appropriate measures that could protect your property.
Health & Safety executive also offer advice

In extreme cold conditions, keep an eye out for “IceDams” which occur when meltwater freezes near the edge of the roof (the last 6 to 18 inches of a roof is often colder). Flat roofs with no pitch are more prone to ice dams, since the water does not drain off so well.

With the Cairngorms, Shetland Isles and North Pennines being cited as some of the snowiest places in the UK, investing in a roof rake, to manually pull snow off the roof, may be a wise idea!

Ventilate, insulate, seal

Make sure air vents are open and clear of snow, to allow warmer air to escape.

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type. You can’t really overdo the insulation, it’s more likely that your attic is not ventilating properly, resulting in warmer air on the highest floor and an overheated attic.

Seal any cracks in the window areas or doorframes, to prevent draughts. Also check external walls/brickwork for cracks and damage and get them repaired as soon as possible, to prevent water getting in and causing damage as it freezes and expands.

These key tasks will help ensure your property survives whatever winter throws at us!