When preparing for a possible winter storm or freeze, use this checklist to minimize your facilities exposures. The following checklist is intended to provide you with the general information needed to plan and implement an adequate response to catastrophic winter weather exposures. The purpose of this form is to help protect lives, property, and other assets and to ensure a prompt and efficient transition from emergency operations back to normalcy. (This checklist provided courtesy of Philadelphia Insurance Company)
| Actions to Take Prior to Freezing Temperatures/Winter Storms | Checklist |
| General Precautions | |
| Review and implement a strategy to combat pipe freeze, breakage, and subsequent water damage | Yes __ No __ |
| Initiate a well-trained emergency response team and review annually to ensure duties are current | Yes __ No __ |
| Develop a list of phone numbers for emergency response contractors, and appoint someone to monitor weather reports | Yes __ No __ |
| Buildings | Yes __ No __ |
| Maintain indoor temperatures above 45° F in heated areas to prevent pipe freeze-ups. Install low temperature alarms at remote buildings | |
| Ensure windows, doors, and skylights are weather-tight | Yes __ No __ |
| Insulate walls and investigate concealed spaces for areas lacking insulation. Consider providing temporary interior openings to allow in heat | Yes __ No __ |
| Roofs | Yes __ No __ |
| Assess your roof’s capacity for excessive snow loads | Yes __ No __ |
| Institute a roof snow removal program for after a heavy snow to help reduce excessive snow loads and blocked roof drains from ice | |
| Ensure attics are fully insulated; maintain ventilation in attic spaces to control for ice dams | Yes __ No __ |
| Heating Systems | Yes __ No __ |
| Examine the entire heating system components (e.g. boilers, piping, burners, and controls) prior to the cold weather. Repair all deficiencies | Yes __ No __ |
| Schedule complete routine inspections for all space heaters to ensure safe operation | Yes __ No __ |
| Ensure adequate clearance is maintained between all heating equipment and combustible walls, floors, partitions, platforms, and stock | |
| Fire Protection Equipment/Domestic Water Lines | Yes __ No __ |
| Establish a procedure to ensure snow is routinely cleared away from hydrants, sprinkler control valves, smoke and heat vents, and other essential
equipment, and to make sure this equipment is easily accessible |
Yes __ No __ |
| Lubricate all sprinkler control valves and locks to permit ease of operation | Yes __ No __ |
| Label location of outside sprinkler control valves and hydrants for easy visibility | Yes __ No __ |
| Convert any wet pipe systems in unheated areas to dry or anti-freeze systems | Yes __ No __ |
| Pre-Storm Precautions | Checklist |
| For dry systems: maintain all dry valve rooms above 45°F, insulate enclosure or provide portable heaters if necessary. Check pitch of piping and drain all low points and auxiliary drains | Yes __ No __ |
| Make sure fire pump room is properly heated and the system is operational | Yes __ No __ |
| Inspect all gravity tanks for leaks (ice accumulation can create risk of collapse) | Yes __ No __ |
| Shut and drain “close-in-winter” systems or convert to anti-freeze systems | Yes __ No __ |
| Check the specific gravity of all existing anti-freeze systems to see if more concentrate is needed | Yes __ No __ |
| All wet pipe standpipe systems with piping located in areas subject to freezing should be heated, insulated, and monitored for temperature | Yes __ No __ |
| Connections to all water flow alarms should be properly drained to prevent freezing | Yes __ No __ |
| Use a fire protection impairment kit when shutting off fire protection systems for maintenance | Yes __ No __ |
| Insulate water supply, drain, and condensate lines susceptible to freezing (near doorways, uninsulated outside walls, or adjacent to open
windows) or provide UL listed heat trace insulate |
Yes __ No __ |
| Remove all hoses from outside water faucets and install “frost-proof” self-draining type faucets or isolated indoors and opened to drain | Yes __ No __ |
| Miscellaneous Maintenance | |
| Provide adequate heat for water-cooled equipment | Yes __ No __ |
| Use lubricants on low-temperature applications in equipment such as pumps, blowers, and compressors in areas subjected to freezing temperatures | Yes __ No __ |
| Remove water from oil coolers and water jackets, and drain condensers of chilling units for air conditioning | Yes __ No __ |
| Check pressure vessel vents, relief valves, and safety valves to assure moving parts are functional | Yes __ No __ |
| Construct wind breaks for piping and instruments subjected to low wind chills | Yes __ No __ |
| Verify adequate fuel supplies in the event of a large storm, particularly with oil-fired equipment and for emergency generators | Yes __ No __ |
| Contact manufacturers and contractors of critical machinery to establish a contract for priority support with backups | Yes __ No __ |
| Install water detection devices and/or water flow monitoring systems to quickly identify water leakage | Yes __ No __ |
| Actions to Take Following Freezing Temperatures/Winter Storms | Yes __ No __ |
| Initiate salvage activities immediately, including: | Yes __ No __ |
| Secure site (remove high value or water sensitive items) and assess damage (take photos and video) | Yes __ No __ |
| Implement the action plan for the storm emergency team | Yes __ No __ |
| Institute the emergency repair program with utility contractors after loss of electric or gas power, telephone services, or public water supply | Yes __ No __ |
| Return all fire protection systems to service as soon as possible | Yes __ No __ |
| Contact your insurance agent to report any claims | Yes __ No __ |