Hurricane Sandy is quickly nearing the Baltimore, Maryland area. In anticipation of what has been deemed the “Frankenstorm,” we at Crockett Facilities Services would like to help you prepare your commercial building and HVAC systems for the impending impact. It is difficult to predict weather but it is always better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Because of this, preventive maintenance measures, like the ones outlined below, are the best way to help ensure a safe passage through the storm and minimize the disruption to your business.
There is still time to prepare your commercial building and ensure the safety of your employees!
Pre-Storm Preparation Checklist
1. Make all of your employees aware of your business continuity plan and ensure they know the proper procedures to take in the event of an emergency
2. Back up all of your critical data off-site
3. Stock up on critical supplies, such as sand bags, water absorbing socks, duct tape, plastic sheeting, wet vacs, floor fans, squeegees, and more
4. Secure all exterior doors and windows
5. Identify any low lying areas that may be prone to flooding
6. Inspect all sump pumps, lift stations, and water transfer pumps to ensure they are in proper working order
7. Inspect roof drains, gutters, parking lot drains, and manholes and clear away any debris that may be obstructing these apparatuses
8 Remove any debris and unsecured items from your roofs, parking lots, and surrounding areas
9. Test your emergency generators (and top off tanks) and transfer switches to ensure they are in working order
10. Contact potentially needed contractors – such as HVAC contractor, electrical, mechanical, water damage remediation company, and more – to verify they are on standby if needed for post storm repairs and clean up
11. List critical shut-off locations for water, electrical mains, emergency generators, fire protection
Crockett Facilities Services Pre-Storm Services: Building Shut-down / Securing of Buildings
1. Shut down HVAC systems, including fans, pumps, AHU’s, and chillers normally.
2. Shut down BAS manually to prevent automatic restart
3. Equipment should be locked out if necessary
4. Disable emergency generator systems to prevent automatic start up
5. Power down package A/C units and lock out to prevent automatic restart
6. Manually shut down and secure boilers, water heaters, and domestic water booster pumps to prevent automatic start up
7. Turn off the main electrical switchgear and motor control center breakers and rack out main breakers if possible
8. Facilitate critical repairs and recovery of building systems
For more tips on how to prepare yourself and your commercial facility for the possible impact of Hurricane Sandy, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Preparedness web site.
Please take precaution as you see necessary. But most importantly, please be safe! We offer 24/7/365 mechanical contracting services to help you weather the storm.
For more information, please contact Crockett Facilities Services by calling 301.262.2771 or click here today!
Preventive Maintenance and HVAC Services For Reliable, Safe and Efficient Building Operations