Resources
January 2008
Welcome to the first 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 January:
Your electrical systems should be checked by a
qualified person at least once every five years. This inspection needs
to be carried out by a suitably qualified professional such as an
NICEIC registered contractor. Moreover, a routine check
should be carried out by someone who is competent to understand the
electrical system (not necessarily a qualified electrician) every year.
The annual routine check should look for any wear and deterioration,
missing parts, correct labelling, and operation of test buttons etc.
Details of the routine check should be included in the log book and
appliances that are found to be faulty should be repaired or replaced.
Useful guidance on implementing an appropriate inspection and testing
regime can be found on the Methodist Church website here.
Portable appliances should also be inspected for damage or defects on a regular basis. Further information on maintaining portable electrical equipment can be found on the Health and Safety Executive's website here. You might also like to look at ‘Electrical Safety and You' published by the HSE.
It is worth checking that the heating system is
operating correctly. You should also
check that all exposed water tanks, water pipes and heating pipes are protected
against severe frost and that the frost thermostat is working. Localised flooding through pipe or tank
bursts, caused by winter freezing, can be prevented by proper lagging.
If there is snow in January, this should be cleared away from parapet and valley gutters to prevent melt water rising above the leadwork and causing damp internally. However, you must be extremely careful when working on the roof in icy conditions. If access is difficult or you do not feel confident about working on your roofs seek advice from your architect or surveyor.
If you are unsure about how to look after your place of worship or 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.
We are also keen to hear your stories about looking after your place of worship. If you have an interesting story relating to maintenance or a cautionary tale about what can happen if you don't clean your gutters regularly please tell us about it. You can write to us at SPAB FiM, 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY or email us at info@spabfim.org.uk.
The SPAB also runs training courses for homeowners, professionals and contractors throughout the year. Details of upcoming courses may be found below:
02-03 February 2008: An Introduction to the Repair of Old Houses (London)
Our long established weekend courses aim to provide homeowners with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about the repair of their own property and offer the sort of expert guidance that is often hard to obtain. Click here for details.
11 March 2008: Environmental Monitoring and Control (Yorkshire)
Why undertake environmental monitoring? How do you interpret the data produced? What conflicts arise? Topics at this full day training session will include the principles behind environmental monitoring; how to address problems and identify symptoms; the monitoring of damp and decay; the effects of air pollution on historic buildings; and the impact of environmental conditions on wall paintings. Click here for details.
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 as
well as a selection of related conservation and repair titles.
We hope that you have enjoyed this first monthly email bulletin. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we may improve this service please do get in touch with us.
Sara Crofts
Faith in Maintenance Project Director
Stave off decay by daily care ~ William Morris 1877
