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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