No matter if you’re the owner of a beauty salon or fast food takeaway, or the manager of an office building or warehouse space, you’ll know how important it is to keep your premises safe.
Managing risks when you’re in the building is, 9 times out of 10, pretty straightforward, but it can be more difficult during prolonged closures, like during your Christmas shutdown, for example.
If you’re one of the many companies implementing a week (or two-week) long closure for the festive period, you should familiarise yourself with the potential problems this can bring and do everything you can before rolling down the shutters to protect your property and fulfil your duty of care.
In this blog, our expert insurance brokers at Rigby Financial share some of the most common challenges commercial buildings face during Christmas shutdowns, and everything you can do to prevent them.
Frozen and burst pipes
With plummeting, sub-zero temperatures, frozen pipes are a problem for every property owner, and insurance claims for burst pipes have been known to skyrocket during the winter months.
It can be easily monitored when you’re still in the office, but when you close up for Christmas, the issue can quickly spiral out of control – leading to ruptures and costly repairs.
Before you go home for Christmas, you should take the following steps to avoid returning to any nasty surprises:
- Turn off your water
- Check that water tanks and pipes are well-insulated
- Set the heating to a low level
Flooding and other storm damage
Here in the UK, we’re no strangers to a winter storm or two.
Whether it’s heavy rain and gale-force winds, or a snowstorm brought on by a cold snap, unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do as a business owner to protect your premises against extreme weather damage, especially if it’s vacant during Christmas and New Year.
Weeks before you head off, make sure to inspect your roof for any damage or missing tiles and arrange for any repairs, if necessary, to prevent water damage, mould, and – worst case scenario – structural damage.
You should also make sure your gutters are clean and free from debris, as blocked gutters can lead to inefficient drainage and, ultimately, flooding.
Fires
In the UK, there were around 7,000 workplace fires recorded in 2023/24, with some of the most common causes being faulty appliances and leads, and misuse of appliances.
As a business owner, ensuring fire safety is your responsibility, but it is, of course, difficult to monitor risks whilst you’re away from the office.
Before shutting up shop, make sure that everything that can be switched off, is switched off (including any Christmas decorations), test your fire alarms are working properly, and make sure you have all the correct fire safety equipment.
Theft
Vacant retail establishments, offices, and warehouses are prime targets for thieves during the festive period. And research shows that properties without security measures in place are five times more likely to be affected.
To reduce the likelihood of a burglary, make sure that:
- All windows, doors, and other entry points are shut and locked
- Your CCTV is in good working order and left active whilst your building is empty
- Your property alarm is activated, if you have one
You can also put your lights on an automatic timer to give the impression that your building is occupied, but make sure that all your electrical equipment is working properly and that sockets aren’t overloaded to avoid the above issue!
Have you got commercial building insurance in place?
Regardless of the measures we take, problems can crop up regardless.
But with a commercial building insurance policy in place, you can rest assured that your commercial property is protected against a whole host of issues – like fires, theft, and weather damage – even during your annual Christmas shutdown.
To find out more about commercial building insurance at Rigby Financial, get in touch with our expert insurance brokers today by calling 01744 886 077 or emailing enquiries@rigbyfinancial.co.uk and we’ll be in touch with further information.
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