If you manage a business, you’ll want to do everything possible to keep the inside of your building from getting too hot during the summer. Excessively warm temperatures can be detrimental to the health and comfort of your employees and negatively affect business productivity. Not only is it harmful to your employees, but extreme heat like many have experienced in previous summers can cause serious damage to the physical building itself. Here are some of the best ways to prepare your company for the hot season.
Check Your Windows
The windows in your business should be able to open properly circulate fresh outdoor air, which can help keep the inside of your building cool and comfortable. When air isn’t allowed to properly circulate, stuffy heat can make the air stale and lacking in oxygen. This will directly affect the mental capacity of your employees and the efficiency of the workplace. It’s also best to have bug screens covering your windows so that you can still enjoy the outdoor air without having to worry about attracting pests that could cause distractions and health concerns. The smells of office lunches and the shelter of indoor spaces can be very attractive to summer bugs looking for a good place to settle and breed. With this in mind, make sure your employees are getting fresh air without exposing your workplace to insect infestation. If an infestation does occur, however, it’s important to deal with the problem as soon as possible by contacting a pest control company (like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/exterminator/arizona/) to clear the office from any sign of pest issue.
Inspect Electrical Wiring
It’s important to have your wiring inspected to determine if you need to replace any of your wires. Old or damaged wires are sometimes more prone to overheating or melting on hot days, especially where the coatings may be worn or frayed. In addition to malfunctioning from the high summer temperatures, faulty wires can still overheat if they aren’t able to handle the heat of the electricity that runs through them for your lights, office equipment and other electrical components. In the hottest period of the summer, this can put your building at greater risk for electrical fires. Before spring ends and summer comes, you should hire an experienced commercial electrician to inspect all of your wiring and make any needed updates.
Evaluate Fire Safety Measures
As mentioned, your business may be especially vulnerable to fires starting during the summer. Fires can also start when electrical components overheat because of high temperatures. Fires can also be easily started if your employees don’t practice safe cigarette disposal or if appliances become overheated when not monitored. According to the Waverley Council, your business should have a working automatic sprinkler system along with fire extinguishers, fire exits and a smoke detection and fire alarm system. Take a moment to test your current system to make sure that everything is in working order in the event of an emergency so that you aren’t caught unprepared.
Check Your HVAC System
Even if your windows are able to open, this won’t do any good if the temperature outside is a broiling as inside. The air conditioning component of your HVAC system should be capable of cooling the inside of your building below the temperature of the air outside. This means that just running a fan won’t be enough, as circulating air won’t make a difference on the hottest days. This is especially important for employee health, as just like your building, your body can’t lower its internal temperature if the temperature outside of it is too high. This can lead to heat exhaustion, even if your employees are sitting at a desk. Along with checking how your unit functions, it’s a good idea to clean or replace the filters so that air containing dirt, germs and allergens doesn’t circulate throughout your building. If you need to buy a new air conditioner, energy-efficient models can reduce energy use and save your company money.
You and your staff will be able to enjoy the summer season more while working if you take the measures to ensure that your business can handle the heat.
The right modifications can help your company transition through the summer season with greater productivity and vastly reduced risk.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
