The summer season is here, ushering in months of sunshine, vacationing…and hurricanes forming in the ocean. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and this year, it’s especially important to make sure your buildings are ready. According to the Atlantic Defense Fund, hurricanes in recent years have been accompanied by higher storm surges, stronger winds, and more destruction. These storms are becoming stronger and intensifying faster, which is causing hurricanes to become more costly for property-owning businesses and homeowners.
Commercial building managers not only have to worry about the integrity of their buildings but also the safety of their rooftop equipment. Hurricane preparedness is critical for avoiding hurricane roof damage. There are many things that commercial building owners and business owners can do to prepare their commercial property before an impending storm. The real key to bringing your commercial building through a hurricane is to have a plan and to prepare your building in advance.
There are a variety of risk factors that can cause damage during hurricanes, including:
As a building manager, there are many things you can do to prepare your commercial building for a hurricane.
Your business disaster response plan can prevent hurricane roof damage, but your plan must be written months in advance of a potential hurricane or tropical storm to ensure that everyone in the building and all managers know their roles in the days and hours before a storm. Some suggestions:
When a storm approaches your business:
Your building's rooftop is especially vulnerable during a hurricane, for a variety of reasons. A rooftop that has not been well-maintained, for example, can be more vulnerable to damage from wind and heavy rain.
Roof leaks during hurricanes can cause mold to grow inside your commercial building. In addition, a poorly maintained rooftop can have rotten places beneath the roofing membrane, which can cause your building's roof to tear apart at the height of the storm.
Perform inspections. Keep your building's rooftop in good condition throughout the year. Get regular inspections from a roofing contractor and keep up to date with roofing maintenance. Perform repairs as needed.
Protect equipment on your roof. Install rooftop support systems that can help protect equipment from risks posed by hurricanes. Rooftop support systems keep equipment, HVAC ducts, plumbing and other exterior systems in place during a hurricane, and prevent these systems from causing punctures in your building's roof membrane.
PHP produces rooftop support systems such as equipment supports and cable tray supports. PHP rooftop support systems are designed to last. To find out more about getting rooftop support systems for your commercial building, contact us today about pricing.