Weather conditions, technical capabilities and general wear and tear can take their toll on your business facility and buildings. Your business will need regular check-ups to ensure that it’s running safely and to legal standards. Avoiding these checks would be classed as negligence and could even be dangerous for you and your workers. You will need to have official inspections every so often but in order to make these go more smoothly, most things you can check yourself. Here is a checklist to get you ready for the official inspector.
Exterior walls
Check the stonework and if any construction work needs attention. Look for cracks in walls. Arches, eaves and canopies are more prone to ruin so pay more attention to these. Outdoor surfaces must have repairs at least every ten or twenty years.
Roof
Routine roofing checks must always be carried out twice a year and especially after rain or adverse weather conditions. Check all tiles, contracts and warranties. Look for debris from drains. Check for leaks and if you need to conduct a moisture survey. Make sure the connections to the wall are still secure. Inspect any solar panels around areas of penetration.
Plumbing
Check water heaters and boilers. Check contacts for wear and tear. Make sure you check sewage pumps at least once a year. Look in the restrooms and check everything works, check the toilets and the faucets flow normally. Check the sinks in bathrooms and communal kitchen, there could be leaks underneath. If you notice any damp smells or mould there could be an internal leak in the pipes. Problems with plumbing can be more difficult to detect sometimes. It’s a good idea to have a look at a plumbing checklist as this can be a bit more complicated. Not everyone can tell when a valve needs replacing.
Doors and windows
Doors and windows tend to last a long time but check they open, close and lock properly without getting stuck. It’s easy to replace locks and it won’t be common that you need to replace the whole door or window.
Lighting
It’s important to test the lighting and power supply daily. Lighting is easy to see faults straight away. It might be advisable to change your lighting to make it more efficient. For parking lots and large industrial facilities it’s recommended to use 200w led shoebox light. These have a more modern design and are more ecological and economical.
Fire safety
Fire extinguishers and exits need to be clearly labelled. They also need to be serviced at least once a year. Doors and crawl spaces need to be inspected at least a couple of times a year.
Heating
The central heating, along with the air conditioning needs to be regularly checked and maintained. You’ll find out quickly if there’s a problem as your workers will complain if it’s malfunctioning in anyway.
Parking lot and entrance
Again ensure that LED lights are fitted and functioning in the parking lot as this is a safety hazard.
