Industrial Cold Weather Risk: Preventing Water Damage

Paulina Ramirez
Jan 21
4 min read

What You Will Learn In This Article: 

Primary Threat: Learn why the freezing and bursting of fire suppression and industrial pipes is the most common and costly cold-weather risk.
Key Prevention Strategy: Understand the importance of using pipe insulation and electric heat tracing for exposed and critical lines.
Temperature Rule: Discover the minimum temperature of that all facility areas must maintain to prevent freeze-ups.
Actionable Water Management: Learn which lines (like exterior hoses) must be completely drained before deep freezing occurs.
Emergency Response: Identify the most critical step after a burst: quickly operating the main water shut-off valve to minimize catastrophic damage.

Industrial facilities in Canada face a particularly severe set of challenges when prolonged periods of extreme cold hit. The combination of extensive piping, critical machinery, and large industrial structures makes these environments highly susceptible to damage from freezing temperatures, leading to costly downtime, substantial repairs, and significant water damage. Given the severity of the Canadian winter, proactive planning and maintenance—often called winterizing—are essential for mitigating these cold-weather risks.

The Primary Threat: Pipe Freeze-Ups

The most common and destructive cold-weather threat to industrial operations is the freezing and bursting of pipes. When water freezes, it expands, placing immense pressure on the pipe walls.

Vulnerable Areas: Pipes located in unheated areas, along exterior walls, near loading docks, or in suspended ceilings are the most susceptible. Crucially, fire suppression system pipes—which often run through exposed, uninsulated spaces—are extremely high-risk, making their maintenance a top priority across the country.

The Chain Reaction: A single burst pipe can rapidly cause widespread flooding, damaging equipment, inventory, and electrical systems, and compromising the facility’s structural integrity. Even a minor leak can create hazardous conditions, such as dangerous ice patches outside.

Impact on Operations: Beyond the direct damage, a major freeze-up can necessitate a complete facility shutdown, resulting in lost productivity, missed deadlines, and significant financial setbacks.

Burst pipe damage

Key Strategies for Freeze-Up Prevention

Effective cold weather preparedness a multi-layered approach focusing on inspection, insulation, and active heating.

1. Enhanced Pipe and System Insulation

While most indoor pipes have insulation, areas exposed to cold drafts or low heat require immediate attention before winter settles in.

Insulation Integrity: Routinely inspect pipe insulation for gaps, tears, or compression that reduces its effectiveness. Replace damaged sections immediately.
Heat Tracing: For critical lines, especially those outdoors or in perpetually cold areas, install or verify the function of electric heat tracing cables. These cables automatically heat up to maintain a safe process temperature, preventing freezing.

Insulated Enclosures: Protect exposed external components like backflow preventers, valves, and utility meters by placing them in secure, insulated, and ideally heated enclosures.

2. Maintaining Minimum Temperatures

Sustained low temperatures are the primary catalyst for freeze-ups and must be aggressively managed.

Heating Systems Check: Ensure all HVAC systems, including those that heat seldom-used areas (e.g., remote storage rooms or unused office space), are fully operational and set to maintain a temperature above 4.4 °C.

Perimeter Checks: Conduct a thorough review of the building envelope. Seal any noticeable gaps around windows, doors, and foundations that allow cold air penetration, paying special attention to utility access points and wall penetrations.

Ventilation Management: Ensure proper ventilation without creating excessive drafts that draw cold air into vulnerable pipe chases.

3. Water Management

Managing the water within the system is a crucial line of defense during the harshest months.

Draining Unused Lines: Any exterior hoses, irrigation systems, or non-critical process lines should be completely drained and shut off at the source well before the first deep freeze event.

Low Flow for Critical Systems: In extreme cold and for high-risk pipes, maintaining a very slow, continuous drip from a faucet may be necessary to relieve internal pressure and help prevent freezing, though this must be weighed against water conservation efforts.

Mitigating Water Damage and Aftermath

When a burst occurs, particularly one caused by the expansion of ice, quick action is vital to limit the extent of the water damage.

Emergency Shut-off Plan: All facility personnel, particularly maintenance and security teams, must know the exact location of the main water shut-off valve and how to operate it safely and quickly. This immediate action is the most important step in limiting a catastrophic flood.

System Monitoring: Implement or enhance system monitoring to detect sudden, abnormal drops in water pressure (indicating a leak) or sudden drops in temperature in critical zones.

Post-Flood Action: After shutting off the water, immediate steps must be taken to pump out standing water, thoroughly dry the affected area, and ventilate the space to prevent mold and mildew growth, which can cause long-term structural and air quality issues.

By establishing a robust cold weather emergency plan specific to the Canadian environment, routinely inspecting vulnerable systems, and prioritizing insulation and active heating, industrial facilities can significantly reduce the risk of freeze-ups and minimize the devastating consequences of water damage. This investment in preparedness ensures continuity of operations and protects valuable assets throughout the long Canadian winter.

How ARS Responds Canada Can Help

When prevention fails, ARS Responds Canada acts as a critical partner for industrial facilities. Our expert teams specialize in 24/7 emergency response for catastrophic events like burst pipes and large-scale flooding.We rapidly mobilize with commercial-grade equipment to perform water extraction, structural drying, and precise moisture monitoring to prevent secondary damage like mold. By providing comprehensive mitigation and restoration services, we help stabilize the site quickly, manage complex insurance claims, and focus on restoring the facility to its pre-loss condition with minimal disruption to your critical business operations.