Interstate Electric shares facility management checklist for the fall back to standard time

When standard time hits and darkness comes earlier, lighting loads jump and building operating profiles shift overnight. Facility managers can use the fall time change as a reliable time to run a complete electrical and building systems audit before winter sets in. 

Here’s an essential checklist to help prepare your facility for the fall back to Standard Time on November 1^st: 

1. Clocks and Automation Schedules
Start by adjusting all time-sensitive equipment to ensure operational schedules match standard time. Manually set back mechanical timers for exterior parking lot lights, security and exterior wall-mounted lighting, and interior fixtures, taking care to clear any temporary overrides. Verify that your Building Management System (BMS) successfully updated its scheduled lighting sweeps, fan runs to coincide with building occupancy, and temperature setbacks so HVAC economizers stay aligned with tenant occupancy. Check that card access controllers, video management systems, and fire alarm panels reflect accurate local time to maintain legally valid security logs. Finally, update peak/off-peak schedules on commercial EV charging stations to match winter rate structures.

2. Sensors & Environmental Controls
Clean and recalibrate all daylight and temperature sensors to account for shifting sun angles and colder weather. Inspect outdoor photocells and clean dirt build-up off lenses to prevent exterior lighting from turning on prematurely. Validate that interior daylight harvesting controls correctly dim perimeter fixtures as late-afternoon sunlight angles change. Prepare heating systems for freezing temperatures by energizing and testing all electric unit heaters, cabinet unit heaters, and self-regulating heat trace cable on exposed plumbing and fire sprinkler lines.

3. Life Safety & Emergency Power
Use the seasonal shift as a reminder to handle critical life safety and code-compliance checks. Perform required battery push-button tests on exit signs and emergency lights to meet NFPA standards, replacing any weak battery units immediately. Conduct full load testing on backup generators and verify battery float voltages on UPS systems to prepare for winter grid instability or severe weather outages. Lastly, replace annual batteries in all stand-alone smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors located throughout common areas and mechanical rooms.

4. Energy Efficiency & Documentation
Maximize system performance and establish a clear record for future maintenance. Have facility staff wipe accumulated dust off high-bay fixtures, lenses, and reflector housings. Dust buildup alone can reduce light output by 15% to 20% without reducing your electricity bill. Finish by documenting all manual timer changes, sensor recalibrations, and battery replacements in your facility logbook to streamline troubleshooting and set a baseline for next spring.

Take the time now to proactively schedule these maintenance check-ins to prevent system failures, reduce energy waste, and secure the continued reliability of your essential building infrastructure.

John Henry is a project manager at Interstate Electrical Services Corp., Billercia, Mass.