Winter work at the building: snow, ice and icicles

What needs doing daily. Clearing footpaths and driveways, gritting slippery spots, and keeping access to the bins and the entrance clear.

Who does it. The caretaker. If there’s more snow than can be cleared by hand, machinery gets brought in.

Icicles and snow on the roof. This is a safety issue. If icicles form above an entrance, the area gets cordoned off and the snow gets cleared.

Why icicles form in the first place. It’s almost always a sign of heat loss. Heat escaping from the attic melts the snow, the water runs down to the coldest part of the eaves and freezes there. A building with a well-insulated attic forms far fewer icicles.

What residents can do. Report dangerous spots right away. Avoid parking under the eaves after a thaw.

What to ask the manager in autumn. Who will clear snow at your building this winter, and on what basis.