Servicing external lighting as clocks go back

With the clocks going back yesterday, it’s time to start preparing your business premises for winter.

External lighting is a crucial part of both your workplace security and employee safety during the darker mornings and afternoons.

As detailed in our previous article, external lighting is one of the ways to keep your work premises secure in winter. Along with other elements such as CCTV and a security alarm system, it can ensure your business premises remain a safe environment throughout the year including the darker months.

It’s therefore essential for the operation of your business and the safety of your employees to make sure any external lighting on your commercial building is well maintained and serviced. This will ensure it functions as efficiently as possible.

It will also save you time and money in the long run. Being proactive and regularly servicing your external lighting will help you spot any issues before they become a real problem.

Maintaining and servicing your external lighting

Maintaining your outdoor lights is straightforward and doesn’t take long if you keep up to it. Follow these tips or contact us for assistance.

Check for general wear and tear

External lights will naturally be exposed to general pressures from the outside environment so check regularly for any signs or deterioration particularly at the connection points. There may also be parts that have come loose. Just be careful not to touch delicate elements such as diodes and strips. You should be able to fix minor damage yourself.

Inspect wiring

As well as general wear and tear and minor damage, you should also be able to recognise any more serious damage to your outside lights. It’s time to call a professional electrician if wires are frayed or damaged by, for example, rodents or water. Damaged wiring can be a fire hazard so it’s vital that you check for signs of faulty or frayed wiring, loose fixtures or weak connections. Inspecting your wiring should include checking every point of electrical contact such as fuse boxes and sockets.

Replace parts correctly

Should you find that any parts need replacing, make sure to use the correct components.

Clean light fixtures regularly

A build-up of dust and dirt can reduce illumination and cause light fixtures to overheat or even catch fire. This can be prevented with a simple clean once a month. Turn off the power before wiping the light with a soft cloth or brush. You may also wish to use some washing up liquid or mild detergent, but make sure to avoid harsh chemicals Ensure it’s dry before switching the power back on.

Check external lights after bad weather

Even the most robust outdoor lighting is vulnerable to bad weather. Extreme wind, rain, snow and sun can cause rust or corrosion. After such occurrences, check your lights for additional dirt, debris or water that has seeped inside the fixtures. Replace fixtures that are showing signs of weathering as soon as possible to protect the lighting.

Lights that don’t work

All light bulbs, even long-lasting LEDs, have a certain lifespan and will eventually stop working. But if during regular maintenance you spot particular lights that burn out more often than you’d expect, the cause needs investigating. Common issues that can lead to bulb burn-out include loose sockets, power surges, faulty wiring and the incorrect wattage.

Cut back vegetation

Bushes, tree branches and ivy can obscure or grow over exterior lights. This can reduce the amount of illumination coming from the lights, and may also cause fixtures and wiring to come loose. Such vegetation should be regularly cut back to prevent this issue occurring. Just be careful to avoid damaging your lighting fixtures while cutting and trimming.

Contact us

Our team at DRF Electrical have years of experience installing and maintaining security and external lighting at a range of commercial premises. For advice or more details about our services, please call us on 0113 257 8212.