Is Your Property Ready for Who’s Coming to Town?

Here are a few precautions to keep your property safe and secure during the holidays.

Watch out for a heavyset man with a herd of large ruminants who may park his vehicle on your roof!

A roof designed to carry a snow load of 20 lbs. per horizontal sq. ft. will support nearly 12 inches of wet, heavy snow.

Make sure your roof load can also handle the weight of an obese individual, 8 reindeer*, and a baggage-laden sleigh.

* Large male reindeer can weigh as much as 700 lbs.

Roof:The condition of your roof is a vital part of the protection of your property. In winter, snow and ice can compromise the integrity of your roof.

Roofs should be inspected regularly as part of a preventive maintenance program. In late December, roofs should be inspected for deer droppings and damage caused by the skids of a sleigh.

Chimney:Inspect chimneys annually for obstructions or combustible deposits.

Chimneys are designed to carry smoke, heat and other gases from a building.

Chimneys should never be used as a means of entrance or egress.

Insurance:When purchasing insurance for your property, determine the most appropriate coverage for likely risks.

Liability insurance covers property damage or bodily injury due to the property owner’s negligence or inappropriate action.

What if a reindeer gets sick from eating the vegetation on a green roof?

Property insurance covers accidents that are not specifically covered by standard exclusions.

What about a fire caused by a jolly old elf drinking too much eggnog and dropping his pipe?

Security:Unanticipated or unwanted visitors to your property compromise the safety of those who live and work there.

Maintain a list of expected visitors and regular service personnel. Ask unexpected visitors for identification.

Possible visitors for December 24: Santa Claus (aka: Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle); Dasher; Dancer; Prancer; Vixen; Comet; Cupid; Donner; Blitzen; Rudolph.

Ensure that security systems are appropriate for your property and are maintained regularly.

Follow the NORAD SantaTracker during the night of December 24th for the most up-to-date information on when Santa might arrive on your property.

• How to prevent or remove deer from your property• The North Pole’s Turbo Supply Chain• Santa Physics

Additional Information:More information on maintenance, security and insurance is available in the IREM course Managing the Physical Asset (MNT402).

Happy Holidays!From the staff at IREM Headquarters

Have a safe and secure holiday season!