In the winter, your building’s heating system is the most critical tool for protecting its occupants from the elements. If it stops working, your situation can quickly become a legitimate emergency. A heating malfunction or power outage can pose health concerns and cause extreme discomfort. Therefore, being prepared with emergency heating solutions is critical.
How to Prepare a Commercial Building for Power Outages During Winter
Winter weather is the second most common cause of power outages, responsible for 23% from 2000 to 2023. Cold weather events can cause a power outage, disrupting business operations. In some cases, it can even pose a threat to the building’s occupants, especially if your building is a school or a health care facility.
Preparing your building for winter prevents damage to the structure and its contents while ensuring employee and visitor safety. It can reduce the risk of business interruption and the cost of damage. Proper building preparation can also decrease energy costs by reducing heat loss and improving energy performance.
The following steps can help you prepare your building for the winter:
- Inspect the heating system: Your heating system can be your lifeline throughout the cold months. Inspect it before cold weather arrives to identify and address any issues. If necessary, schedule preventive maintenance with professionals.
- Remove the roof and gutter debris: Dirt and debris can clog your gutters, and over time, a lack of maintenance can cause water damage. Check your roof for signs of wear, including missing or broken tiles.
- Check for air leaks: Inspect any openings in the building for any air leaks and make the necessary repairs.
- Safeguard the plumbing: Burst pipes are a common issue in winter, leading to mold, damage and expensive repairs. Ensure you winterize all pipes and address any structural damage before winter arrives.
- Provide additional heating for cold areas: If areas of your building are prone to becoming colder than others, consider temporary heating, such as renting portable heaters, for these spaces.
- Have an emergency plan: If the power goes out, the safety and well-being of your building’s occupants are always the first concern. Write an emergency plan with clear guidelines on how to stay safe. Define procedures for evacuation and identify assembly points.
- Plan for temporary heating: Instead of waiting until the power fails, you can rent temporary heating solutions in advance. Work with a professional rental partner to access the highest-quality equipment.
What to Do When the Heat Goes Out
Although preparations can significantly affect your situation, you still need to act decisively. Whether you have a power outage or your heating system fails, you can take specific steps to protect your building and its occupants, including:
1. Pinpoint the Problem
Assuming your issue is not a power outage, your first step is to try to identify the cause. Inspect your heating equipment to determine how significant the problem is and whether you can fix it.
If it is a power issue, you can also check your distribution board to eliminate the possibility of an internal malfunction. If your troubleshooting still leaves you uncertain, you can seek assistance from your HVAC or energy provider.
2. Launch Your Emergency Plan
Open communication channels with your building’s occupants and other external stakeholders and let them know you’re launching your emergency plan. Keep them informed about any steps you take to rectify the issue. Move them into predetermined assembly points so you can heat those areas and keep them comfortable. If you have an estimated timeline for restoration, let them know so they can plan.
3. Bring Out Your Emergency Heat
You can set up your temporary heaters once you know how long the power issue will persist. Your emergency heating solutions will likely run on fuel and many need ducting. Work with a professional rental partner to install your temporary heaters, as they will help you find a safe space for them. You can move occupants into the heated spaces to keep them warm and comfortable.
Depending on your issue, you can choose from several types of temporary heaters, including:
- Indirect-fired heaters: An indirect-fired heater heats air by passing it over a heat exchange, which then exhausts the by-products through a value. They remove potentially dangerous fumes from the heated area, which is ideal for indoor use. You will require ducting to remove the exhaust and bring in the warm air. These heaters often run on gas, ideal for power outages.
- Flameless heaters: Flameless heaters provide reliable indoor heating without the risk of open flames, making them perfect for schools, health care facilities and more.
- Direct-fired heaters: These natural gas or propane heaters have an open flame, eliminating the need for electricity. However, they are only suitable for open areas and cannot be used indoors.
- Self-contained heaters: Diesel or kerosene self-contained heaters provide localized heating and specific temperature control. They can be used in large spaces to thaw the ground and remove frost.
- Electric heaters: You can use an electric heater anywhere, provided you have power. If you have an HVAC issue but the electricity is still on, they could be an excellent option for heating an indoor area.
4. Prioritize Safety in Your Building
Temporary heating is essential in commercial buildings but can create safety hazards without careful management. When fuel-burning heaters are operated in enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide (CO) accumulates quickly, making people nauseous and dizzy. These machines also emit significant heat, which can ignite flammable materials and cause burn injuries.
Take the following steps to ensure your temporary heater operates safely:
- Focus on ventilation: Kerosene or propane heaters can release CO, leading to severe consequences for your building’s occupants. If you install your heater haphazardly, the gas can leak, increasing the risk of explosion or fire. Install CO detectors in your buildings and ensure the space is ventilated per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. You can also include exhaust fans to move fresh air into the heated area.
- Set your heaters up on a stable surface: Install your heater at least 3 feet away from flammable materials on a flat, stable surface. Route all hoses and fuel lines to minimize tripping hazards.
- Have a fire safety and evacuation plan: Each heater you rent has specific evacuation plans and emergency shutdown instructions. Familiarize yourself with these procedures and have Class B or C fire extinguishers on hand. Switch your heaters off when they’re unattended, and place warning signs near your heater and fuel storage area.
Guidelines for Emergency Heating in Commercial Buildings
OSHA has comprehensive requirements for temporary heating in commercial buildings, such as:
- Fire protection and prevention for temporary heating devices under 29 CFR 1926.154 – Temporary heating devices.
- CO exposure limits under 29 CFR 1910. 1000 – Air contaminants.
- Electrical safety standards under 29 CFR 1926. 403 – General requirements.
Keep Your Building Warm This Winter With Herc Rentals Emergency Heating Solutions
The most important steps you can take this winter are to prepare for power outages and heating system malfunctions. Some careful planning can make all the difference if something goes wrong. At Herc Rentals, we have the equipment and tools you need to keep your building safe and functional in a power outage or heating failure.
Our temporary heater rentals include installation, fuel supply, delivery and removal. We’ll work with you to find the right heater for the job, even in an emergency. Feel free to explore our comprehensive range of solutions, from emergency and standby power to air quality.
Reach out to us and keep the heat on this winter!
