The Importance of Correct BMS Setup Over the Christmas Period
As the years winds down and buildings across the UK prepare to switch off for the holidays, it’s easy to focus on wrapping presents and last-minute shopping and forget about what’s happening behind the scenes in your building management system (BMS).
For many commercial sites, schools, and offices, the Christmas period brings reduced occupancy or complete shutdowns. While that’s great news for your team, it can cause problems if your BMS, heating, or cooling system aren’t set up properly. From unnecessary energy waste to frost-damaged pipework, a few small oversights can quickly turn an efficient building into a costly one.
So, before you lock up and set the out-of-office message, it’s worth double-checking that your systems are configured for the season.
What is a BMS and Why Does It Matter Over Christmas?
Your Building Management System (BMS) is the brain behind your site’s comfort and efficiency. It controls your heating, cooling, and ventilation, deciding when they run, how hard they work, and how much energy they use. When set up correctly, it ensures that the building operates efficiently, balancing comfort and cost. But when settings are left unchanged for a quiet period, systems can end up running unnecessarily, heating or cooling empty spaces, consuming energy, and inflating utility bills.
This is especially important over Christmas when many buildings are empty for up to two weeks, without proper scheduling, you could be paying to heat an unoccupied building for days on end, the equivalent of leaving the lights and kettle on while you’re away on holiday.
Common BMS Issues During the Holidays
Even the most advanced systems rely on human input, and that’s often where things go wrong, and typical issues that crop up during the seasonal shutdowns include:
Outdated schedules: Systems left on “normal working hours” mode, even when the site is empty.
Disabled setback settings: Meaning temperatures aren’t lowered when heating isn’t needed.
Uncoordinated zones: Some areas of a building are programmed differently, leading to wasted energy or uncomfortable cold spots when staff return.
Missed frost protection checks: Leaving pipework and coils at risk during freezing weather.
What’s the result? Higher energy usage, preventable wear on plant equipment, and potential downtime when everyone returns in January.
Energy Savings Through Smarter Programming
One of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy over the Christmas break is to review and adjust your system schedules, and by programming reduced setpoints and occupied days, you can:
Cut down heating and cooling hours to only essential periods.
Reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint over a typically quiet time.
Prolong the life of your equipment by avoiding unnecessary runtime.
For example, setting your heating to a lower background temperature of around 12-14 degrees is enough to prevent frost and damp issues while stull saving significant energy compared to maintaining a full comfort level. It’s a quick win, and one that can make a measurable difference to your energy bills when multiplied across multiple buildings or large commercial sites.
Frost Protection: The Unsung Hero
When temperatures dip below zero, frost protection becomes more than a setting, it becomes your first line of defence. A properly configured BMS or standalone controller should monitor external temperatures and automatically activate heating or circulation pumps when needed. This prevents pipework, coils, or tanks from freezing, avoiding the kind of damage that leads to costly repairs and downtime.
It’s also important to test these systems before the coldest weather hits. Engineers should confirm that frost stats are working, valves respond correctly, and pumps start when triggered. Many winter breakdowns occur not because frost protection failed, but because it was never checked.
The Benefits of a Pre-Holiday System Review
Whether you manage a large commercial building, a school, or an office complex, taking the time to review your controls before Christmas offers several key benefits:
Reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs.
Extended equipment lifespan through reduced wear.
Improved sustainability performance, a growing focus for many organisations.
Peace of mind, knowing the building is protected while unoccupied.
It’s a small task that pays back quickly, both financially and environmentally.
A Smart Start to the New Year
When staff return in January, you want your building to be comfortable, efficient, and ready to go, and taking a little time now to check schedules, frost protection, and BMS settings helps ensure just that.
If you work with an HVAC partner, it’s a good idea to have them carry out a pre-holiday service or controls review. They’ll make sure everything is optimised, protected, and ready for the colder months ahead, so you can enjoy the holidays without worrying about what’s happening behind the boiler room door.
When it comes to building comfort and efficiency, prevention always beats cure, and a smartly set up BMS can make all the difference between a calm Christmas and a costly one.
Written by: Will Judd
Published: 13/11/2025