Isca Barum are recommending that property owners take suitable precautions this winter to minimise the risk of damage to their properties.
These simple and practical steps will help to minimise disruptions and help to save wasted time and money.
These steps were produced by Zurich Municipal.
- Heating systems, particularly boilers, should be inspected and maintained under a full maintenance contract.
- Frost thermostats should be fitted to ensure that boilers and heating systems automatically come on in cold periods. It’s recommended that a minimum temperature of 10 degrees C is maintained
- Heating systems should be left on to ensure the ambient temperature of the building is high enough to prevent the possibility of water pipes freezing. Again it’s recommended a minimum temperature of 10 degrees C is maintained in very cold periods.
- Pipes and water tanks should be inspected to ensure that are adequately lagged. Attention should be given to roof spaces and areas where pipework could be exposed to low temperatures. All exposed pipework should be insulated.
- Roof spaces should be inspected in late autumn to ensure insulation materials are in good condition and correctly installed.
- Ensure that automatic sprinkler systems are fully maintained and that alternate systems are switched to air during winter months (November to May). Make sure that heating is provided in the sprinkler valve room.
- Where buildings are permanently unoccupied, all water pipes, tanks and heating systems should be drained and water supplies disconnected. Where buildings are only temporarily unoccupied, heating systems should be kept on.
- Regular inspections should also be made to ensure the buildings are in good order. A risk assessment should be undertaken to establish the frequency of these inspections.
- Any external water taps should be protected with insulation to protect them from frost.
- Ensure plans of the building which highlight the location of stopcocks are available, so water can be quickly turned off in an emergency.
- Implement maintenance contracts to ensure that gutters are cleared of fallen leaves and debris, to reduce the risk of blockages and subsequent overflowing of water into the building.
