Clocks Go Back: Darker Evenings Checklist

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, which means it'll be getting dark before most people have left work. That makes now a good time to look at how your building copes with the dark.

Lighting, entrances, walkways and access points all work a bit differently in low light, and small problems that go unnoticed in summer can turn into real ones by November. Poor lighting can mean slips, trips and falls, staff and visitors feeling uneasy leaving the building, and areas that are harder to keep an eye on. The good news is that most of it is easy to spot if you know where to look.

Below is a simple checklist you can work through in one walk-round.

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Your darker evenings checklist

1.External lighting Walk the outside of the building, ideally around dusk. Look for blown bulbs, flickering lights, damaged or loose fittings, and any patches that look darker than they should. Car parks, side entrances and bin areas are often the ones that get missed.

2.Lighting timers and controls If your lights run on timers, photo cells or other automatic controls, check they're set for the shorter days. A timer that suited the summer might switch your lights on well after it's gone dark.

3.Entrances and walkways Look for uneven paving, loose slabs, worn steps, trailing cables and anything stored where it shouldn't be. Then have a look at the same areas in poor light. If you can't see it clearly, neither can anyone else.

4.Emergency lighting Emergency lighting only matters when something has gone wrong, which is exactly why it needs checking. Make sure units are lit and undamaged, and that your testing records are up to date. If you're not sure when they were last tested, that's your answer.

5.Access points and security Check doors, gates, barriers and entry systems are opening, closing and locking as they should, and that any out-of-hours arrangements still work now it's dark earlier.

6.Existing security systems If you have security lighting, alarms or CCTV, check they're working and covering what you expect. CCTV is only useful if the cameras can actually see, so look out for dirty lenses and overgrown vegetation as well.

7.Outstanding maintenance Go through any faults or repairs that have been reported but not yet fixed. A flickering light or a loose handrail may feel minor now, but they tend to be a bigger deal when it's dark, wet and busy.

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Why planned maintenance matters

A checklist like this is a great starting point, but it's a snapshot. Planned maintenance means these checks happen regularly, not just when someone remembers or when something fails.

Routine inspections help spot faults earlier, which usually means simpler fixes and less disruption. They also help keep a record of what's been checked and when, which is useful if you ever need to show you've been looking after the building. For commercial properties, that means fewer surprises and a building that's safer and fit for purpose all year round, not just when the clocks change.

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How Elevate FM can help

If your checks turn something up, we can help. Elevate FM provides planned and reactive maintenance for commercial buildings, including electrical maintenance and emergency lighting and repairs to the building itself.

If you have questions about access controlor CCTV, there's more on our security services.

Not sure where to start? Get in touch and we'll point youin the right direction.

📞 0330 128 9898

📧info@elevatefm.co.uk

‍🌐www.elevatefm.co.uk

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