As the festive season approaches, many commercial buildings begin to quieten down. Offices close, warehouses reduce staffing, and some sites shut entirely for the Christmas break. But while festivities pick up, winter hazards do too and an unprepared building can easily become vulnerable.
To help businesses stay safe and compliant over the holidays, here are the 12 Hazards of Christmas every company should be aware of, and how to mitigate them with proper planning and support.
1. Electrical Overload & Faulty Festive Lighting
Christmas decorations, portable heaters and extra electrical equipment increase load on sockets and distribution boards. Damaged or outdated lights also pose fire and shock hazards.
What to check:
- Avoid overloading multi-sockets or extension leads.
- Ensure Christmas lights are UKCA/CE marked and undamaged.
- Minimise the use of daisy-chained extensions.
- Switch off decorations when the building is unoccupied.
Need help? FMS can support with electrical testing, repairs and planned maintenance to keep systems safe and compliant.
2. Heating System Inefficiencies & Winter Shutdown Risks
When a building is closed or running with reduced occupancy, it’s tempting to switch off the heating, but doing so risks damp, mould, building-fabric damage and expensive energy spikes in January.
Best practice for the holiday period:
- Keep heating on low to maintain constant background warmth.
- Check timers, BMS settings and frost-protection controls.
- Have boilers, plant rooms and radiators inspected before shutdown.
Support: we provide reactive and planned heating maintenance to ensure efficient, safe operation through winter.
3. Frozen Pipes, Water Damage & Stagnation (Legionella Risk)
Low temperatures and unused outlets create a perfect winter storm for pipe-freezing, leaks and water stagnation.
Reduce the risk by:
- Insulating all exposed pipework.
- Keeping heating at a steady temperature.
- Flushing little-used outlets before shutdown.
- Ensuring tanks, calorifiers and TMVs are maintained and compliant.
Alternatively get us in to carry out water hygiene checks and maintenance to minimise Legionella and cold-weather water risks.
4. HVAC, Ventilation & Air-Quality Issues
With reduced staffing, ventilation is often overlooked, but poor airflow can cause condensation, damp, mould and stale air, especially when heating schedules change.
Recommended checks:
- Service air-conditioning and ventilation systems.
- Clear ducts and replace filters.
- Ensure humidity and temperature levels remain stable.
Top Tip: It is a good idea to maintain HVAC and AHU systems year-round to support healthy, energy-efficient spaces.
5. Drainage, Gutters & External Water-Management Failures
Autumn leaves and debris can block gutters, drains and downpipes, leading to flooding, damp patches and water ingress during heavy rain.
Essential tasks:
- Clear gutters and roof lines.
- Check drains for blockages or slow flow.
- Inspect flat roofs for pooling water.
Don’t know where to begin? We can carry out pre-winter inspection and maintenance to prevent costly leaks.
6. Slips, Trips & Falls in External Areas
Winter darkness sets in as early as 4pm, increasing the risk of accidents on car parks, walkways and loading bays.
Improve safety by:
- Gritting car parks and footpaths.
- Clearing leaves and debris.
- Ensuring PIR or dusk-till-dawn lighting is operational.
- Repainting or refreshing faded line markings.
No time? We offer full external maintenance, including lighting, gritting arrangements and car-park safety solutions.
7. Fire Safety Compromises Over Christmas
Decorations, increased electrical load and reduced staffing heighten fire risk.
Check that:
- Fire doors remain unobstructed and never propped open.
- Extinguishers are accessible and serviced.
- Alarms, call points and emergency lighting work correctly.
- Escape routes are clear of festive clutter.
Remember – FMS provide complete fire-safety maintenance, testing and compliance support.
8. Roof & Building Vulnerabilities
Winter weather exposes weaknesses in roofing, cladding, insulation and external building fabric.
Pre-holiday checks should include:
- Inspecting tiles, flashings and roof coverings.
- Checking industrial cladding for damage or gaps.
- Ensuring insulation is intact to reduce heat loss.
- Looking for signs of water ingress or draughts.
Need an expert hand? FMS deliver roofing projects and external envelope repairs that keep buildings secure and weatherproof. Ask us for a free site survey!
9. Security Weaknesses, Intruder Risk & Car-Park Vulnerability
Empty premises attract opportunists. Recently in Milton Keynes, there has been increased activity targeting unsecured car parks, making security even more important.
Review your security by:
- Testing alarm systems, CCTV and access control.
- Securing gates, barriers and bollards.
- Locking external yards and compounds.
- Ensuring car parks cannot be accessed or occupied out of hours.
If you need a hand? FMS provide complete fire, security, access and perimeter solutions.
10. Poor Internal Housekeeping in Offices & Warehouses
It’s easy during busy periods for clutter to build up, escape routes to become blocked or racking to be left unstable.
Avoid hazards such as:
- Overfilled bins or storage areas.
- Unsafe shelving or uninspected racking in warehouses.
- Obstructed emergency exits.
- Machinery or equipment left connected without checks.
Book a free warehouse safety review
11. Temporary Heating, Power or Hot-Water Failures
Cold weather places extra strain on heating and hot-water systems. Failures can go unnoticed for days over Christmas without proper monitoring.
Plan ahead by:
- Checking all heating and hot-water systems before shutdown.
- Installing temporary heating or hot-water solutions if needed.
- Arranging reactive cover in case of breakdown during closure.
Don’t forget! We offer emergency temporary heating, cooling and hot-water solutions, ensuring continuity even in the coldest periods.
Lack of a Proper Holiday Shutdown & Re-Opening Plan
Most Christmas incidents happen because buildings aren’t prepared for temporary closure.
Create a holiday plan that includes:
- Heating and HVAC schedules
- Water flushing and hygiene checks
- Fire and security testing
- External safety measures
- Maintenance inspections
- Emergency contacts and contractor readiness
A clear reopening procedure for January
The 12 Hazards of Christmas
Christmas should be a time of celebration, not building failures, costly repairs or avoidable safety incidents. With proactive planning and professional support, you can keep your building safe, compliant and winter-ready.
FMS provide comprehensive facilities management, maintenance, safety and building-support services across Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bedford and the surrounding areas. If you’d like help preparing your premises for the festive period, our team are ready to assist.
Get in touch to arrange your pre-Christmas building check or discuss emergency cover options. Email us on info@fmsolutions.co.uk or call us on 01908 034040.