14 minute read
Facilities Management
Preparing for winter
With winter approaching, the weather getting colder and wetter and the days getting shorter, there is lots you can do to prepare. GB shares ten top tips for facilities management prep for winter
Over the winter, weather can be unpredictable, snow, ice, rain and wind can all pose significant risk to buildings and you need to be prepared.
Buildings themselves can tend be the main area of focus, and pre-emptive maintenance is a must to try to avoid any nasty surprises. However, management of the site is also important, making sure it is safe and access remains clear.
Below are ten areas to focus on ahead of winter. Water Perhaps the most obvious thing to check is water supply. A burst pipe can cause a lot of problems very quickly. You should check the mains, pipes and taps for any signs of damage and make sure taps are turned off properly to prevent pipes from freezing.
It should be noted that vacant properties are at more risk from burst pipes due to colder temperatures in unoccupied buildings and the longer time it may take for a problem to be discovered. It is important that pipes are adequately maintained and insulated, especially if your property is going to be vacant for long periods over Christmas. Power Power is essential for the running of any organisation and extreme weather can have an effect on this. It may be worth investigating generators or other alternative power supplies such as solar panels, if your power supply is cut off, or even to combat the energy crisis.
If you do have an alternate power supply, ensure it is properly maintained and make sure you have a plan if power does go out.
Perform an energy survey and audit and identify where savings can be made. Make
sure unused electrical items are switched off if the building is closed over Christmas. Heating Though you may not have used your heating for a while, it is important to make sure it works and to identify any problems before Power is essential for the running of any organisation and extreme weather can have an effect on this you actually need it. A comfortable working environment is essential for productivity and comfort in your workplace. Make sure to listen to staff and service users about the temperature of the building. Ensure your boiler is serviced regularly, and make sure the heating is scheduled to come on if the building is to be empty over Christmas to avoid the aforementioned burst pipe. Windows and doors To ensure your power and heating are used as efficiently as possible, make sure all your windows and doors are working properly and there are no draughts. This can also prevent mould. Some handles and catches may become stiff during the winter months, so it is important these are maintained and any issues are identified before they become a problem and you can’t shut the door properly. E
Cleaning and hygiene Virus circulation is expected to be high this year, after two years of reduced mixing over winter and Christmas and it is essential that cleaning and hygiene is maintained to keep staff well, keep your organisation running and reduce pressure on the NHS and other key services.
The colder weather also means people are less likely to make use of natural ventilation – opening a window – giving airborne viruses more chance to spread.
Another part of cleaning is keeping buildings free of visible dirt. Wetter weather and fallen leaves mean dirt, mud, leaves etc can be brought into the building and spread, making it look unclean. Wet leaves and water also present a slip hazard.
The best ways to prevent dirt spreading are a good doormat and regular cleaning.
Roof Though it may not seem obvious or easy, it is critical to check the roof of your building before winter. Roof maintenance is essential to protect against cold and wet weather.
Check for missing, loose or cracked tiles before they get worse and check for leaks. You should also check for pooling water on flat rooves and any signs of damage on ceilings on the inside. Gutters and drains Following on from the above, make sure to check your gutters and downpipes for leaks and blockages. Ice and snow can make problems worse and a damaged gutter or downpipe can cause water to get inside the building.
Make sure to clear leaves from drains and the surrounding area to make sure they are not blocking drains ahead of any heavy rain. A blocked drain in a storm can become overwhelmed very quickly and cause access problems as well as flood damage to a property.
Walkways and roads Fallen leaves can be a slip hazard, so it is important to clear them to ensure your paths and walkways are safe, especially if your facility caters for vulnerable users.
Snow and ice is the biggest issue to face walkways and roads in the winter months. Be prepared for snow clearance and removal and make sure you have a good supply of grit. It is important to grit surfaces before the ice hits.
If you have plants, it is important to look after them too, so they survive the winter and provide a nicer place to work and visit. Outside lighting Outside lighting is essential to keep staff and services users safe, especially if a building is not in a public area with already provided street lights. It will be dark by the time most people leave work now and even when some people arrive. Good lighting reduces the likelihood of accidents, such as trips and vehicle collisions. It also acts as a deterrent for crime and makes those using the facilities feel safer.
Check your wiring and lamps, and make sure any breakages are fixed. Ensure any timers and motion sensors are working.
Security Security is critical if your building is going to be shut over Christmas and as the days get shorter. Make sure your lights and alarm are working properly. You should adjust the timers on your lights as it gets darker sooner and get your alarm serviced. Dark nights and empty buildings are attractive for potential criminals.
Finally, if any problems are anticipated with any of the above or extreme weather is forecast, make sure procedures are in place so that staff and service users are safe at work and can get home safely too. If possible, allow staff to work from home if difficulties are expected. With everything listed above, the most important takeaway is always prevention is better than cure. Make sure you have done what you can ahead of winter, so you are prepared. In all cases, it is important to have emergency plans and clear lines of communication with service providers in case the unexpected happens. L
Light and dark – getting the balance right
Lighting experts Urbis Schréder discuss their approach to lighting and how to manage lighting redesign
Urbis Schréder offer LED lighting and control solutions, connecting spaces and places to enable improved environments, whilst reimagining the way light is used through efficiency, innovation, sustainability, and expertise. We’ve spent over 100 years refining our approach to lighting. Our unparalleled experience in lighting city centres, roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, and workspaces enables us to develop solutions for tomorrow’s needs, connecting global expertise with a local perspective to build legacies for future generations.
Tackling climate emergencies As more and more councils are declaring climate emergencies, environmental issues and impacts are increasingly becoming a key factor in the decision-making process. It’s vital that we put sustainability front and centre of everything we do, and work hard to minimise the impact of the built environment on the natural world. However, we also need to be mindful of maintaining a safe environment for the people who use and inhabit these places.
Momentum for change Councils across the country have faced substantial financial challenges in the wake of years of significant funding cuts, with many forced to review budgets for local services including streetlights, to save money. Streetlighting accounts for a significant proportion of a local authority’s overall electricity consumption, typically 30 per cent (less if street lighting assets have been converted to LED), and outdoor public lighting is also a significant contributor to CO2 emissions. However, as UK government policy drives towards Net Zero by 2050 and with many local authorities declaring climate emergencies, there is momentum for change.
Lighting promotes safer streets for women This focus on energy efficiency and minimising the environmental impact of street lighting is much needed, but is simply reducing the amount of lighting in our public spaces the best solution for everyone? The murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa have prompted a wave of concern about women’s safety on the streets. 63 per cent of women now say they feel less safe walking at night, a rise of 17 per cent since 2018. These women are less likely to go out to dimly lit areas; in fact, they are 50 per cent less likely, and this understandable reluctance is having a significant impact on the night-time retail and hospitality economies. But a recent report from the University of Sheffield revealed that where areas were well lit at night, there was a 36 per cent reduction in all crime and a 38 per cent reduction in rape crime. So, if streetlights are diminished, then so too is the feeling of women feeling safe while they walk.
Clare Thomas, head of applications and solutions shares three top tips on how to start a lighting redesign journey: Don’t just see this as a tick box compliance exercise focused on the financials; take a holistic approach to your design, bridging the gap between the financials and the trust potential of the space. Tap into the alternative central government funding, e.g. the Safer Streets Fund, which is supported by the Safer Streets – Crime prevention toolkit. Connect your community lighting to the environmental, social & governance (ESG) agenda.
By using the right lighting solution and working together to design, procure and implement it, local authorities can immediately impact operational and maintenance costs as well as improve public spaces, connect communities, and contribute to the sustainability agenda. Urbis Schréder’s ‘Logic’ approach Urbis Schréder’s Logic approach allows you to create sustainable and flexible spaces that help you adapt to your community’s changing needs. Individually controlled for local demands but connected too, for a holistic approach. The holistic approach looks at everything and doesn’t solely focus on one area. We think a major part of the issue is that lighting is treated as a separate entity, when really, it’s a fundamental service we are providing for people within those environments. Well-planned and logical, integrated lighting can overcome so many challenges – and we’re helping clients choose lighting that creates spaces and places people love to be in. Of course, the best solution is no lighting, but if we are providing lighting, for example on a dedicated pedestrian/ cycle route, isn’t it important to think about surround lighting to ensure good visibility/feeling of safety? And is this lighting approach inclusive e.g. for those with sight impairment?
Talk to us about making the right connections and how we can offer you bespoke lighting solutions by contacting us below. L
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logic@urbis-schreder.com
With the right design and technology, lighting can completely transform a space and how (or whether) people use and experience it
– Clare Thomas, head of applications and solutions at Urbis Schréder
How we can help optimise your government building
Veolia provides a range of FM services, including waste and water management and energy solutions. Working in a collaborative partnership with Veolia can help deliver benefits for your building
Veolia is a trusted UK leader in resource management. We offer a full range of utility FM services, from energy and water management to building fabric maintenance and mechanical and electrical maintenance services. Our commitment to providing high-quality utility FM services has been recognised, and we have been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s Facilities Management and Workplace Services framework.
On average, our services deliver carbon savings of 20 per cent and cost savings of up to 20 per cent. We offer so much more than just sustainable waste, and water solutions, offering cost effective energy solutions to decarbonise your estate. Ecological transformation remains a key focus of our approach and goes beyond just the solutions and being an active part in helping you understand your building by using innovative technologies. Find out more in our latest video: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=4fq27T1_Trk&t=2s
How could a partnership with Veolia benefit your business? Veolia understands that every building is different, and managing your estate can be challenging but understanding your energy and FM requirements shouldn’t be. A collaborative partnership with Veolia could deliver real results for your government building. We will take the time to get to know what your needs are and adapt our approach. Ongoing investments in new equipment allows you to benefit from the latest technological innovations and help you stay ahead of the curve. We can even embed our employees with environmental knowledge and experience directly into your business - a fairly unusual approach, but one that ensures we understand your objectives and to help your government building achieve its goals across the board. Our holistic approach enables us to utilise our broad portfolio of services across a variety of areas. For example, our work with Carbon Clean is helping us to become the first UK operator of Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs) which utilise carbon capture technology. This will enable us to further utilise waste as part of the circular economy. Working with Veolia means you will have access to industry-leading data analytics and an FM-trained Account Management team that speaks your language.
Unlock your potential - What solutions can Veolia offer? We can support you in initially identifying areas of carbon savings to develop a carbon reduction strategy, and implement new solutions and technologies across your whole government business. These can include integrating green energy into your energy mix, whilst ensuring the security of supply. We can also look at waste when thinking about carbon. With the focus currently on building back better, now is the perfect time to think about reducing your carbon footprint. You need to find ways to decarbonise your building that are cost effective, fit in with existing infrastructure and cause minimal operational disruption. Veolia can support you to look into options such as carbon and hydrogen, to help you innovate and prepare your government business for a less carbon-intensive future, not to mention positioning yourself as a ‘good neighbour’ in your local surroundings to establish your position as a greener building for the sake of your reputation and your environmental credentials.
Can you give us some examples of the work you have done? We are now at the forefront of innovation, and the real dedication to what we can achieve lies in the results we deliver to our customers. In the fight against climate change, we have helped local councils to do more with less. Motivated by the climate emergency we accelerated Leicestershire City Council’s journey to net zero carbon by installing 603 solar panels, drastically reducing resilience on the Grid. We replaced fossil fuel boilers in County Hall and the existing Biomass boiler has been used to feed a low carbon District Heat Network. At Beaumanor Hall, a former stately house used as Military Intelligence in WW2, we replaced high carbon heating with Airsource heat pumps and heavy batteries to provide heat and hot water, saving 75 per cent of CO2. The building has now opened and operates as a training centre and residential facility for young people. Across all three sites, we save 399 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, that’s the same as a Social Cost of Carbon value of £48,112/ year*. Explore our VR experience to find out more: http://app.1stepnorth.com/veolia/
How Veolia can help you achieve Net Zero With Net Zero on the horizon and UK electricity consumption set to double by 2050, by addressing industrial, commercial and domestic energy efficiency, we already have the proven ways to make major cuts in emissions today ready to apply the emerging technologies to help achieve the target. Government buildings need to adopt an innovative approach to reduce and manage their carbon footprint. We offer a one-stop shop approach - our FM team can work with you to identify key areas where efficiency can be improved, manage projects, and utilise the expertise of other areas to deliver the changes that will make real progress taking the pressure off you beyond sustainability and help support the aim to ‘level up’ the UK.
Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2021/22, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.8 billion - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. L To discuss our extensive range of FM services visit us below
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