Resources
February 2008
Welcome to February's Faith in Maintenance monthly email bulletin. Every month we will be sending you a short reminder of some of the things that you might do to make sure that your place of worship is in tiptop condition.
Things
to do in February:
There has been a lot of rain recently so you should know by now whether your rainwater goods are working well or not. Remember to have a look at your building on a wet day, as you will soon see whether the water is being taken away from the building as it should, or whether it is spilling over the gutters and saturating the wall. If rainwater is allowed to saturate the wall, it will speed up the rate of decay. In the winter this moisture can freeze and expand in the pores of the stone or brick and can shatter the surfaces, a process that can have a dramatic effect if the cycle is repeated a number of times over the winter season.
Storm damage and high winds may dislodge slates, tiles and leadwork so remember to check your building for damage after a spell of bad weather. Dislodged slates and tiles should be put back into place as soon as possible.
February is a good time to think about making sure that roofs and other high areas, including windows and louvres, are bird-proof before the nesting begins in March but take care that you do not disturb any bats. Wire mesh is generally stronger than netting and will last longer. Remember that ventilation is also important so don't block up openings completely. Your architect or surveyor will be able to advise on how best to bird-proof your place of worship.
Whilst you are in the tower check the condition of any ladders and make sure that any handrails and lighting are in working order. You may also need to clear away any debris and droppings left by birds. Small amounts of bird droppings can be removed by hand providing you consider the risks and take appropriate precautions. This might include wearing rubber gloves, a facemask and safety goggles. If the deposits are substantial, you may need to call in a specialist cleaning team.
Ask your tower captain to check that the bell chamber, bell frame and bells are in a good condition and working satisfactorily too. Consider preparing and implementing a maintenance plan for the bells and bell frame.
As some of February's tasks may require you to work at height it is worth saying a brief word about safety. We will look at the issue of working safely at height in more detail in a later bulletin.
- Before undertaking an inspection or carrying out routine maintenance tasks, consider carrying out a risk assessment.
- The most important thing to remember is that no person should take on any task that they do not feel competent or physically able to perform. If you are in any doubt about safe access, particularly on roofs and in roof spaces, use a reputable professional contractor.
- Do not work alone and always ensure that someone else is aware of what you are doing and where you will be.
- Expect the unexpected - for example finding hypodermic needles in gulleys.
The best source of information for all health and safety topics is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Although much of their guidance is aimed at people in the workplace, it is entirely relevant to the issues faced in caring for places of worship. Visit www.hse.gov.uk where you can download a variety of helpful leaflets on issues such as risk assessment and working at height. You may also enjoy the HSE's Myth of the Month feature.
If you have any questions about issues related to maintenance
and repair you can contact David John,
our Technical Advisor, on the Faith in
Maintenance Technical Advice Line.
This service is normally available on Fridays from 9.30am until 4.30pm
on 0207 456 0916. Information about other courses run by the
SPAB can be found here. You can also visit our online bookshop,
which sells the SPAB's range of Technical Pamphlets and Information Sheets.
We hope that you have found this email bulletin useful. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we may improve this service please do get in touch with us using bulletin@spabfim.org.uk.
Sara Crofts Faith in Maintenance Project Director
Stave off decay by daily care ~ William Morris 1877
