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WHEN WINTER approaches 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