Winter, Ice, and Your Facility
What can you do to keep your facility running efficiently and effectively throughout the winter? Your planning should start with keeping your HVAC system running at all times in order to protect your whole facility.
Midwestern winters can be cold and unpredictable. When temperatures drop suddenly, unexpected damage often happens. For any large facility, damage can also be related to the fire prevention sprinkler system.
According to Chapter 9 of the International Building Code, any facility over 12,000 square feet is required to have an installed and functioning automatic fire sprinkler system. Facilities with these systems might include:
- Warehouses
- Production Facilities
- Large office buildings
- Fulfillment centers
During extreme winter temperatures, if your facility is not kept at an appropriate temperature, significant damage can occur to the system.
Frozen Sprinkler Systems
In the coldest months of winter, even an unoccupied facility must be kept at optimal temperatures to protect the sprinkler system and keep the facility secure. When temperatures drop suddenly in a building without a functioning HVAC system, water in pipes will freeze and expand. This can cause the seam in the pipes to split or cast iron fittings to break. The result is a cascade of icy water throughout the facility.
The aftermath of burst pipes involves a long series of water remediation plans. No facility owner wants to go through this process and expense. Not only is the facility damaged by water and ice, but owners are responsible for meeting codes related to mold regulations when water is found throughout the facility. The remediation and clean up from this event is time-consuming and extremely expensive.
Plan in Advance with your HVAC maintenance
Good maintenance begins with sound planning. The National Fire Protection Association provides tips for winterizing your fire sprinkler system and to avoid damage.
Your HVAC system is your first line of defense against winter damage to your sprinkler system. Even if your facility is vacant due to changing tenants, you must keep your HVAC system functioning at all times, especially during the winter months. Make sure to have Midwest Mechanical service your HVAC system regularly to keep it functioning properly.
If you are a building owner, it is your responsibility to provide an environment that keeps all systems functioning optimally at all times. During the winter, this includes keeping the facility at an optimal temperature.
How can we help? Midwest Mechanical provides services to help you be prepared for any winter issues in advance. We can install a control system in your facility. This web-based system will send an alarm when temperatures drop too low in your facility, so that you always know when there is risk. This is especially helpful in situations where a tenant may have vacated a facility and the building is at risk with changes in weather.
Contact us for your advance planning so that we can provide one of our useful services.
- Preventative maintenance services for HVAC
- Installation of web-based control systems
- Inspection of existing HVAC systems
- Installation of new systems for your facility
Don’t let the winter months catch you by surprise. Contact Midwest Mechanical today to help prevent any unexpected expense for your building.
