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Whether you are a retail operation with a warehouse, or your business is based on storage and distribution, the colder temperatures at this time of year can make life a lot harder for you. Damaged stock and frozen pipes, for example, can mean broken contracts, business interruptions, and delays as well as leaving you facing repair and replacement costs. Worst-case scenario if the damage is severe enough, is that you have to stop trading altogether.
Don't panic though; Strip Curtains are here to help. We've pulled together some of our top tips for avoiding a business disaster this winter:
Use Insulation
The ideal situation for a warehouse is that all of its walls are insulated in order to prevent pipes freezing, but this isn't always possible due to costs and timescales. The best thing to do is to ensure the areas which lose the most heat - such as windows and doors - are insulated. Bulk PVC roll is a great way to do this, as it can be used in doorways to prevent heat from escaping while still allowing the free flow of traffic and vehicles. This will really save you lots of money in the long run.
Keep on Top of Maintenance
Metal shelving and fixtures can become brittle in the cold weather, and could, therefore, deteriorate to the point of breakage which could cause damage to the products that are stored on them. It is vital that you keep on top of maintenance and repair of your pallets, shelves and other storage equipment too.
Pay Attention to your Pipes
If you have blocked or leaking pipes, then these can drip onto your warehouse floor, causing a health and safety hazard. If not dealt with quickly, the water could also settle into grooves and dents in the floor, where if it freezes and unfreezes repeatedly, can cause cracks to appear. To prevent costly situations like this, you should keep on top of pipe maintenance and make sure they are regularly lagged.
Improve Air Circulation
If you have bought heaters to combat the cold temperatures in your warehouse but aren't really feeling the benefit of them, then you need to check that your air fans are working correctly. If they are not, then the hot air will just rise to the roof, which benefits nobody. You could also use PVC strip curtains to separate your warehouse into various sections and heat the areas that people are working in if you want to keep costs to a minimum.
Check your Forklift Trucks
The unpredictable weather that we often experience in the UK in winter can have a negative impact on warehouse vehicles such as forklift trucks. Keeping on top of regular maintenance should help to identify any potential issues, and you may want to think about changing the tyres to winter tyres to increase the grip. It may also be beneficial to come up with a checklist for forklift drivers to use before they start work - including things such as engine warming, checking fluid levels and adding weight blocks for stability.
Help to ensure your warehouse, products, vehicles and employees are protected against the cold weather this winter with one of our made to measure strip curtains.
