To help protect your premises against theft, harsh weather, fire and damage, roller shutters are ideal for their incredibly robust and secure properties. Whether you have a shop, warehouse, school or large building to protect, this clever piece of machinery is easy to operate. Like any piece of machinery in a workplace, it needs to be properly maintained and looked after, so we’ve put together a handy guide to roller shutter maintenance to keep you organised.
Regulations and legislation
First things first, the importance of roller shutter maintenance is not just to ensure a shutter is doing its job correctly, but to make sure that you’re following crucial legislation. These regulations are there to help protect you, your employees and any visitors to your premises. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 covers occupational health and safety in Great Britain, setting out the general duties which employers have towards their employees and members of the public.
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 legislation states that “The workplace and the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be maintained (including cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair […] Where appropriate, the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be subject to a suitable system of maintenance.”
PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) requires that equipment provided for use at work is “safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected to ensure it is correctly installed and does not subsequently deteriorate.”
If you’re placing goods on the UK or EU market previously subject to CE marking, make sure you understand the transition to UKCA marking and about placing work equipment and machinery on the market after Brexit.
Why is roller shutter maintenance a smart idea?
Aside from ensuring you’re abiding by the law, regular maintenance means you can avoid costly and unexpected repairs that may pop up because you abandoned your checks. By regularly carrying out these checks, you can spot any faults early on and fix and address them before they lead to unsafe faults and expensive repairs. If your employees are clued up on your maintenance, they will also feel safer and much more at ease and motivated in the workplace knowing their safety is prioritised.
Performance checks
It starts by scheduling in regular performance checks to look out for any signs of damage, weakness or fault, delay or issue that’s compromising the operation, or could potentially do so. Is there any indication of forced entry? Are safety mechanisms showing wear and tear? Is the roller shutter functioning as it should? If you’re not sure what to look out for, ask your supplier, contractor or a professional who offers maintenance checks.
Our team at SSS Industrial Doors are fully knowledgeable of the legislation and mechanics of roller shutters, that’s why we offer a servicing contract to help with maintenance and your compliance to the law. We also offer a 24-hour call-out service for all customers. Speak to our team today for any queries on 01204 853243.
Cleaning
Not only are clean roller shutters a symbol for your brand and how well you take care of your business, but regular cleaning also helps with the functionality of the system. For instance, any build-up of debris or dirt can actually hinder the performance of a roller shutter, causing a major safety issue. Entryways may get blocked from debris and fail to close properly, the shutter may run slow, or the dirt and debris can cause a jerky operation – all of which will violate legislation as you will be putting your employees and customers at risk.
Along with performance checks, make sure to bring a cleaning kit out: a hose, a sponge, an absorbent cloth, a bucket of warm water and soap, and a stiff bristled brush. Use the brush to clear out ventilation holes and where dirt may be trapped. Give it a good hose down and remove any grime with soap, warm water and a sponge, and wipe it down dry with the absorbent cloth.
Greasing and oiling
To help reduce the need for any replacement parts, it’s important to keep your roller shutters lubricated. Rollers, bearings, and guide rails should be greased or oiled for smoother operation and to prevent them from rusting.
Handling with care
For manual roller shutters, take care when operating these. The shutter shouldn’t be slammed against the ground due to possibly causing mechanisms or screws to loosen or snap. Shutters can be secured without slamming down, and you’ll increase their longevity by being less forceful. Electrical roller shutters work with a remote control, so just make sure to take care when using the remote control to avoid any damage to buttons and compromising safety and security. Make sure nothing obstructs, leans on or gets thrown at the shutters. Think about any changes to the work environment and whether staff are working closer to shutters. You should also be carrying out regular risk assessments to spot any increased risk to overall health and safety, and fire safety.
Repair quickly
It’s vital you have a shutter repaired as soon as possible, even if it’s a small fault to begin with. Leaving it to get further damaged and worsen over time will just put you, your visitors and staff at risk, from both a safety and security perspective. If you know of any faults and an incident happens, you will be liable. It is your duty to ensure you address any safety issues. Luckily, you can benefit from a 24-hour call-out repair service with us at SSS Industrial Doors, where we aim to repair your shutter within 24 hours of being contacted about a fault.
Scheduling maintenance
With all the work you have to do month on month, day after day, organisation is key, especially when you have a duty of care for everybody who comes into your premises. Whatever alert system works for you, make sure you’re scheduling in those reminders to carry out these crucial, law-abiding maintenance checks. If you’re stressing just thinking about having to remember, don’t sweat, as you can take out a maintenance and service contract with us to ensure you’re fully compliant with legislation, as well having the professionals know what to look out for.
You should also make sure they are regularly cleaned. A tired, dirty and weak-looking shutter can give the wrong impression, and when it comes to security, you need to give the impression your business is of the highest standard and has good security measures in place. Whether it’s insulated roller shutters, manual roller shutters, industrial roller shutters or shop front roller shutters, they are all brilliantly robust and can be easily maintained and cleaned to help your business give off a strong impression.
Contact our team today to find out more about how our maintenance service works, or for any questions about any of our roller shutter products. You can reach us on 01204 853243.
