When winter hits the UK , there are some common and recurring talking points that come with it . For instance , you might hear around the office the talk of crisp , cold , refreshing morning air , time off around Christmas , winter warming beverages and comfort foods . What isn ’ t normally discussed around the watercooler is securing the office for long nights , protecting your building ’ s occupants from potential attacks , checking your external openings are secured against would-be burglars and not losing heat from the building through draughty gaps in doors . These discussions are normally reserved for the facilities managers and building owners . Why is this ? Well , these issues are not so visible and known – not everybody knows how cold temperatures can affect doors and their furniture . They are also obviously not so popular . Lastly , topics such as break-ins are almost talked about in hushed voices – nobody wants to think about what could happen , and people tend to think it ’ ll never happen anyway . However , that is a dangerous mindset to take , as the winter brings many dangers . These topics should be at the top of the agenda for any person responsible for the building when the cold season strikes , not just to secure your building ’ s valuables , but to ensure the health and safety of occupants inside . With that in mind , here are five common scenarios in winter and what you can do to avoid the problems they bring .

LOW OCCUPANCY AT CLOSING TIME By 5pm in December , the night has drawn in and darkness has enveloped the building . Normally around this time , most office workers are leaving or will have already left for home . The last to leave is given the task of locking up the building . Of course , if you work in a densely populated urban area , attacks might seem less likely ; however , if your place of work is on a business park or estate where it may not be as well-lit and protection from footfall is not as great , then you are more susceptible to becoming a victim . To deter or prevent would-be attackers , use of timed access control systems can automate the process of locking up . This also means that you can lock down entrances to the building from a single tap of a button on your smartphone or desktop computer and make sure that , should access be needed during the night , only those authorised and known to the person responsible for the building can gain entry . Use of exit devices that have been tested above and beyond the standard security grading can also protect your building and its contents . Installing floodlights and CCTV is a good way of keeping your building from becoming a target .

DOOR SWELLING AND CONTRACTING Door swelling is a major problem to external doors , frames and even windows . Just as the summer heat will cause doors to expand , the cold of the winter can shrink doors back down and cause doors to swell as they absorb moisture , causing problems for both the door and the operating components . For example , a swollen or bowed door can cause door locks to move out of line and jam against the strike plate , or can also bend the arm of a door closer . This is problematic for a number of reasons . If users with reduced upper body strength need to open these doors , they might be unable to do so . Or , if the door doesn ’ t latch to the frame , particularly if it is an

external door , then there ’ s a huge problem with regards to security . In addition , for a certificated fire door , it may be illegal to have more than a 3mm gap between seal and frame , and if it doesn ’ t latch , then it ’ s not performing its fire-resistance duties . To prevent against unwanted access , operation difficulties and legality problems , facility managers should put in place a maintenance schedule to check over these doors regularly , both before winter begins and during the course of the season . Use of latchbolt monitor switches can also be a smarter way of checking whether doors are latched properly . These products work by sending a signal to a central monitoring station , giving confirmation of when the door is shut and secure .

Heavy duty cast iron door closers are also advised . Their all-weather fluid maintains viscosity and stability to assure maintenance-free performance , while double heat treated oversized pinions withstand wear and tear .

AIR PRESSURE CHANGES IN WINTER A common misconception is that , in summer , doors slam due to the oil in the closers becoming more viscous . However , it is actually sometimes due to air pressure changes with windows being opened within the building . Whilst this is true when a vacuum is created in residential homes where no door closers are used , it is not correct for buildings where closers are in effect . What actually happens is that when winter arrives , doors and