WINTER MAINTENANCE AHEAD OF THE WEATHER
As autumn approaches, facilities managers should look beyond salt bins and snow clearance. A proactive winter maintenance strategy can identify vulnerabilities across the estate and address them before the colder and wetter conditions create problems, explains Karl Cundill, Executive Director at Litmus FM.
For facilities managers, winter preparation can easily become synonymous with gritting, restocking salt bins and snow clearance. These are, of course, essential tasks when temperatures fall, but effective winter maintenance starts much earlier - and extends much further.
The most resilient estates and facilities are not necessarily those with the biggest maintenance budgets. They are very often the ones where teams have identified and prepared for the risks at an early stage, having prioritised the areas that matter most and put a programme of preventative measures in place before winter weather arrives.
As autumn arrives, it becomes the time to look beyond the obvious and consider how the entire external estate will cope with colder, wetter and windier conditions.
Start with a detailed site assessment Every site has its own vulnerabilities, so winter preparation should begin with a thorough assessment of the estate and facilities.
Which pedestrian routes are most heavily used? Where does water tend to collect? Are there areas that become difficult to access in poor weather? Are trees or branches close to buildings, pathways, car parks or power lines? Which entrances, emergency exits and accessible routes need to remain operational regardless of the weather?
Identifying these areas early
means resources can be directed
where they will have the greatest impact. It also provides an
opportunity to address relatively minor issues
before they become significant 18 | TOMORROW’S FM
problems. A damaged pathway, for example, may be manageable in autumn, but introduce ice, standing water or poor visibility and it can quickly become a serious safety risk.
Don't underestimate drainage One of the most important - and frequently overlooked - elements of winter preparation is drainage.
Autumn leaves, soil, silt and other organic matter can quickly accumulate in gullies, drainage channels and surface water systems. If these become blocked, heavy rainfall can lead to standing water, flooding and damage to external areas. When temperatures subsequently fall, that standing water can freeze, creating another layer of risk.
Drainage systems should therefore be inspected and cleared before the worst of the winter weather arrives, with particular attention paid to locations where water has historically pooled. The same principle applies to gutters and downpipes. Ensuring that they are in good condition, will ensure that rainwater will be moved away from buildings, thereby preventing leaks, water ingress and damage to the building fabric.
These may sound like relatively straightforward preventative measures, but they all make a significant difference to how well an estate performs through the winter months.
Trees need attention too Winter storms can expose weaknesses that may have gone unnoticed during the summer. Deadwood, unstable branches and diseased or damaged trees can become hazards in high winds, while fallen branches can block roads, pathways and entrances. Overhanging vegetation can also interfere with lighting and visibility.
The undertaking of an annual tree inspection programme should form part of the wider maintenance strategy, with any preventative remedial works scheduled well before severe weather arrives. Hedges and shrubs should also be cut back where necessary to maintain clear sightlines around both pedestrian and vehicular routes.
Leaf clearance also needs detailed consideration. Wet leaves can create slippery surfaces, particularly on steps, ramps and heavily trafficked pedestrian routes. They can also obstruct drainage gullies and channels. contributing to the deterioration of external hard surfaces. A planned clearance programme should prioritise entrances, walkways, steps, ramps, car parks and other high-use access areas.
https://www.reznor.co.uk/nor-ray-vac/?utm_source=tomorrows-fm&utm_medium=%20third-party-website&utm_ twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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