Winter is here so facility managers need to make sure that enterprise assets are
ready to remain up and running throughout winter and whatever the cold weather
brings. Here are some tips for facility managers to ensure that vital enterprise assets
experience little to no damage or depreciation throughout the coming cold months.
Things to Do Before a Snowstorm
1. Inspect Your HVAC System for Repairs and Replacements
For any facility to function at optimal efficiency, the temperature needs to be
maintained even during cold winter months. This is the right time to take a look
at the HVAC units and ensure that they will keep your employees comfortable
and products in perfect condition. Inspect your HVAC system and optimize it by
changing air filters regularly, replacing deteriorated parts on time and cleaning
accumulated dust and dirt. Preventive maintenance will not only extend the
service life of your HVAC units but also help you avoid unnecessary outages and
inflated energy bills.
2. Anticipate Damage During a Storm
Clear the leaves, tree limbs, dirt and debris from drainage areas and walkways as
they may damage property and harm people during a snowstorm. Winterize all
the machinery and equipment that is required to work outdoors. Read the
manuals to check if you would require fluids that need to be changed or topped
off. Certain machines need to run for some time before they can be used because
their internal parts and components need to heat up to run at peak efficiency.
Inspect all the pipes to ensure that freezing temperatures don’t bring your
business operations to a grinding halt. Frozen pipes are not only difficult to repair
but can also cause a lot of damage if they burst.
3. Stock Snow Removal Supplies
Make sure you have all the snow removal equipment in place before a
snowstorm strikes. From shovels to deicing devices, keep everything handy so
that no one is left scrambling for necessities at the last minute. Check vents,
drains, shingles, and gutters to identify problem areas and fix them in time.
Install ice check breakers wherever necessary and stay prepared for snow.
4. Ensure That Your Employees Remain Safe
Snow storms can leave people and processes stranded with no power, heat or
transportation. Install surge protectors, prioritize employee safety and ensure
regular cleaning of entrances to eliminate slip-and-fall hazards. Have an
employee notification plan in place to ensure that in case of an emergency, all the
employees have instant access to critical emergency guidance both during and
after business hours. Always be ready and accessible so that you can offer a
helping hand when needed. Conduct snow preparation sessions where you can
teach important lessons on infrastructure management.
Things to Do Following a Snowstorm
5. Clean Downspouts and Clear Entrances
Cold winter weather can freeze the water in gutters and damage sheathing and
roofs by forming ice dams. So clean all the gutters and downspouts and make
sure all the discharge is emptied onto splash blocks or underground drains and
away from the exterior of the building. Place absorbent rugs at entrances and
ensure that all the entrances remain clean during snowy weather to prevent
hazards and accidents.
6. Make Provisions for Power Loss
Power trips during cold winter months mean lost inventory and frozen pipes.
Make sure that mission-critical machines and equipment operate with the aid
of power stay up and running with a function generator. Heavy snowstorms,
accumulated ice on power lines, and other problems arising during cold winter
months can invite frequent power outages and surges. Consider all these points
and also the conditions that you plan to work through to make sure sensitive
equipment is not damaged and your staff is well-prepared to manage and
reestablish operations following a snowstorm using your current resources and
capabilities.
Be Winter Ready with CMMS Software
Down power lines, frozen pipes, gas leaks from cracked pipes, ice damage and fallen
trees make maintenance very tricky. Deploying CMMS software makes it very easy to
balance work requests and maintenance schedules against limited resources and
unplanned equipment failures during cold winter months. When municipalities are
equipped with CMMS software, it becomes easy to eliminate redundant paperwork,
react faster, and automate maintenance. It enables inspections to be set up for
dispersed assets so that problems can be identified before they become stressful
liability issues.
Plan ahead with NEXGEN CMMS Software and ensure better asset and maintenance
management so that boilers, pumps, HVAC units, and power lines operate at peak
efficiency with as little wear and tear as possible no matter what this winter brings
forth.
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