Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • News
Asset Management
Mechanical & Electrical

Equipment breakdown likely after neglected upkeep during lockdown

Open-access content Tuesday 2nd November 2021 — updated 12.32pm, Wednesday 3rd November 2021
Authors
Herpreet Kaur Grewal
web_©Green-Point-UK_Green-Point-compressor-reassembly.png

Compressor reassembly – ©Green Point UK

The dramatic reduction in routine maintenance during the extended lockdowns is causing a spike in refrigeration compressor breakdowns, according to an industry firm.

Green Point UK, BITZER, the UK’s compressor remanufacturing and support arm, is urging air conditioning and refrigeration contractors and end users to re-establish regular planned maintenance and servicing to make sure that cooling plants remain in good condition and that any problems that developed during lockdown are addressed before they result in compromised performance or total breakdown.

Will Pribyl, Green Point UK general manager, said: “A lot of planned, routine maintenance that would normally have been carried out during the lockdowns was suspended, for perfectly understandable reasons. However, refrigeration equipment continued to operate throughout this time and was subject to all the usual wear and tear, with the inevitable consequences for components, wear parts and impact on filters and motors.

“We are already seeing the results of this in terms of compressor failures and system issues. If people have not already done so, we highly recommend that contractors and end users reinstate maintenance regimes so that any issues can be addressed and equipment brought back up to scratch.”

Pribyl added that the coming winter months provide “an essential window of opportunity to carry out this work before the warmer weather in the spring puts pressure on systems and exposes weaknesses that have developed”.

A key part of routine maintenance for multi-pack systems includes planned rotation of compressors. The issue particularly affects packs with relatively simple control systems whose default run sequence results in extended running hours for certain compressors, while other units remain underused or even idle for extended periods.

Pribyl concluded: “On many multi-compressor packs, a small number of compressors often end up doing much of the work due to the run sequencing control and load profile. This is obviously not ideal and invites trouble. Add to this the cutback in routine maintenance during the pandemic, and it creates a serious source of stress and risk for refrigeration systems.”

Image credit | iStock

In other news...

Discrimination concept LGBT

1 in 5 workplaces do not have LGBT support policies

One in five (21%) workplaces do not have any policies in place to support their lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) staff at work, according to a new poll published this week.
Surveys
Thursday 30th June 2022
Open-access content
chefs working in a kitchen © Shutterstock

3 key priorities to save UK hospitality businesses

The profitability of hospitality businesses across the UK is “plummeting”, according to a new survey by the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality.
Surveys
Thursday 30th June 2022
Open-access content
Royal College of Physicians reappoints CBRE to TFM contract at its HQ

Royal College of Physicians reappoints CBRE to TFM contract at its HQ

CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) has been reappointed by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to provide total facilities management (FM) at its St Andrew’s Place headquarters in Regent’s Park, London.
Thursday 30th June 2022
Open-access content
Houston & Hawkes B Corp

Catering firm Houston & Hawkes achieves B Corp status

Houston & Hawkes has announced that its business has become B Corp certified,
Thursday 30th June 2022
Open-access content
web_working-from-home_credit_iStock-1210442243.png

Future of work still 'undecided'

New data from the professional body for HR and people development shows that more than three-quarters of organisations have embraced hybrid working through a mix of formal and informal arrangements.
Reports
Wednesday 29th June 2022
Open-access content
Net Zero goals are being missed.

UK is failing to meet Net Zero targets, says Climate Change Committee

A new progress report by the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) finds "major failures" in delivery programmes towards the achievement of the UK’s climate goals.
Reports
Wednesday 29th June 2022
Open-access content
Filed in:
News
Also filed in:
Asset Management
Mechanical & Electrical

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Project Leader (Maternity Cover One Year Contract)

Cambridge
Circa £50,000 Pro Rata + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56378

Maintenance Supervisor

Surrey
Up to £43,000 + Excellent Package & Opportunities
Reference
56376

Regional Facilities Manager

South West England
Circa £40,000 + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56375
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2022 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ