Businesses need to take cold weather precautions

With the holiday period fast approaching, now is a good time to think about the risks brought about by the freezing winter weather.

Burst water pipes are a big concern for companies that are closing down for Christmas and simple precautions can be made to prevent expensive damage. Failure to conduct basic preventative measures before shutting down for Christmas, particularly if there is a cold snap, could potentially lead to thousands of pounds worth of damage.

It is recommended that you maintain a certain amount of heat at the business premises and heating systems should not be switched off, even when the premises are empty. This is really the key to avoiding problems such as burst pipes and the subsequent water damage. When setting heating controls for the shutdown period, you need to ensure that the heating will operate in good time to prevent frost damage if temperatures drop suddenly. Ideally the heating system and temperature should be controlled in conjunction with an automatic frost-stat. The loss of heat from people, machinery and equipment should also be taken into account when determining the level required.

Special attention also needs to be given to businesses with automatic sprinkler systems in place and it is important that alternate wet and dry systems are charged with air during the winter months. For wet pipe systems it is essential that sufficient heating be maintained throughout the protected property at all times. If property owners are in any doubt as to what action they need to take, they should contact their insurance broker and the sprinkler company who service the system.

For small businesses particularly, it is also important to know where your mains water stop valve is, making sure you can turn it off and on, and to repair any dripping taps. Also, if possible, examine the condition of the insulation on any pipes and tanks, which may be liable to freezing, making sure it's intact and thick enough. Making sure that someone visits the premises over the Christmas period is also recommended, so if you do suffer from a burst pipe, it will be detected as early as possible and damage will be minimised.

For advice on all your business insurance needs contact our Business Insurance Division on 0800 093 4470 or email us at commercial@ryan-group.co.uk