Winter facilities preparation
From parking lots and roofs filled with snow to sustained below-freezing temperatures, winter brings with it a long list of facility maintenance concerns for retailers. Here are some tips to ensure facilities are properly vetted for cold weather.
&bullInspect the roof. Roofs are a particular concern during the colder months, especially in areas that receive heavy snow. The best way to protect against winter-related roofing damage is to make sure the roof is in good shape in the first place. A comprehensive fall roofing inspection by a qualified expert will provide a good review of the overall condition of the roof while pinpointing possible areas of concern that need to be corrected. Weekly inspections in the winter are recommended. Have a plan in place for snow removal as well, as flat roofs require continual maintenance. Also, have a contingency plan for roofing emergencies that identify shut-off valves for gas, water and electricity.
&bullCheck heating and cooling systems. Heating is responsible for a significant amount of energy a building uses during the winter. A thorough inspection of the HVAC system is necessary to ensure the system is ready to handle the increased heating demand in the most efficient way possible. This will also help protect the facility against outages. And make sure to swap out any air filters that are due to be replaced, according to the manufacturer’s schedule. To prevent freezing pipes and disruption to other systems, many experts advise a minimum set point of 68 degrees for “unoccupied” mode in cold climates. Gas lines should be checked in facilities that are heated by gas to ensure they are not clogged or corroded.
&bullInspect the building envelope. To reduce wasted heat, the building should be thoroughly checked for cracks, drafts and leaks. Fix the problem before the cold settles in and heat starts escaping from the building. Insulating doors and windows and locating and eliminating leaks can help reduce energy costs during winter.
&bullWinterize floors. Customers are likely to track in ice, snow, rock salt and other ice-melting materials in the winter months. Protect the store’s flooring by putting down an effective matting system at entrances. This not only protects floors from getting damaged, it also decreases the chance of slips and falls. Experts recommend five feet of coarse matting outside a building and five feet of matting directly inside the building, with another five feet of interior matting as a final barrier against floor damage.
&bull Be prepared for power losses. Losing electricity at any time shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it’s particularly worrisome during winter as it can lead to frozen pipes — and resulting water damage. Test generators before winter comes to ensure that critical equipment and systems will continue to operate. Also, equip offices holding critical data with surge protectors in the event of a power surge.
&bullProtect irrigation systems. Irrigation systems are most prone to damage during cold seasons. “Temperatures drop, which can freeze any water left in the pipe or sprinkler system, possibly leading to broken pipe and sprinkler heads,” Dentco president Scott Miles said. Miles recommends disabling the water supply, and draining and tagging backflow preventers. All valves should be drained and left partially open.
“Also, blow out the system, or utilize previously installed automatic drain valves to ensure all water is removed from pipes and sprinkler heads,” he said, “and turn off automatic controllers and power.”
Precautions should also be taken to winterize irrigation systems in the South, Miles advised. This includes adjusting the system’s controller to reduce watering times running the system monthly to prevent dry-cracks in rubber parts and conducting monthly inspections of above-ground components. In the event of a freeze, the system should be drained.
&bull Don’t ignore “dark” stores. Vacant facilities also need to be prepped for the winter months.
Parking lot prep
There’s more to preparing parking lots for winter than having snow removal contracts and emergency plans in place. Here are some recommendations from Rose Paving’s B.J. Schlageter to ensure parking lots are ready for the season:
Replace (full depth) any potholes or severely cracked areas to ensure there are no winter emergencies.
Replace (full depth) any heaved concrete curbing or flatwork.
Seal all linear asphalt cracks with a rubberized sealant.
Seal all linear concrete cracks with an approved concrete sealant.
Re-stripe any faded lines.
Photograph lot to track deterioration.