As we return from the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s time to turn attention to the wet, cold and windy days that will be coming soon. While we got a short break for Thanksgiving, most schools will have a much longer closure for the latter part of December and early January. We encourage you to make sure your facilities are ready for the beginning of winter, when California gets most of its heavy weather.
Now is the time to make an assessment and take steps to ensure your property can keep flooding and water intrusion at bay. Remind teachers and other staff responsible for securing their classrooms, gyms, workshops and offices to make certain all windows are closed when they leave for the day – especially on the day before winter break. Rain, wind and cold temperatures entering an open window create a potential for serious damage. Vents with operable closures in shop classes and maintenance facilities can also be avenues for allowing outdoor weather to come in. Be sure these openings are double checked before schools are closed.
For schools located in mountainous and other colder climates, it’s important to consider how to manage heavy snowfall and ice accumulation. More than a few inches of snow on a roof can cause structural strain leading to problems like leaky roofs all the way to catastrophic failure. Use caution with sloped roofs where melting snow leads to icicle formation, or a layer of reduced friction resulting in a sudden collapse of snow off the roof that could injure someone. Finally, ice on walkways and parking lots may have to be mitigated before pupils and personnel return to campus.
Even without precipitation, temperature variations can cause damage and create hazards. Water pipes exposed to freezing temperatures can burst, not just outdoors, but also within unheated buildings. Temperature monitoring should be employed in areas where this is a possibility and pipe insulation must be maintained. Thawing and refreezing conditions can cause buckling and breaking of paved surfaces which can become trip and fall hazards.
Keenan can help you assess what you need to get ready your campus ready for winter and help you enjoy your holidays with less to worry about.
