Keep Your Warehouse Cool and Productive This Summer

4. Refresh Your Dress Code

• Allow employees to wear breathable, lightweight clothing (where appropriate). Light T-shirts, shorts, and summer-specific gear can help staff stay comfortable and happy as long as it is not compromising on protection.

 

• Provide PPE upgrades. Cooling vests and moisture-wicking fabrics can be lifesavers during hot shifts, while still meeting compliance.

 

• Remember, any work based dress code should conform to minimum PPE requirements dependant on the workers role. For example, you cannot replace steel toe capped boots for flipflops!

 

5. Use Reflective & Insulating Surfaces

• Apply heat-reflective roof coatings. White or reflective paints can reduce rooftop temperatures by 5–6°C - just as city planners found in Los Angeles road trials. Roof materials can become extremely hot, putting AC units under serious strain.

 

• Painting exterior walls and interior spaces in a bright colour, such as white, can really help in keeping the temperature down in summer months.

 

• Add internal insulation. Radiant heat barriers and insulated panels can also cut thermal gain inside your warehouse.

 

6. Shade Outdoor Areas

• Protect external staff areas. Tarps or fixed canopies over break spaces and loading zones reduce heat exposure and safeguard heat-sensitive stock items.

 

• Add (more) greenery. Placing shade trees or climbing plants near doors can lower ambient temperatures with natural cooling. Just don't forget to water them!

 

7. Implement Continuous Monitoring

• Install IoT sensors. Modern systems report real-time temperature and humidity data - helping you to forecast spikes in high temperatures and adjust HVAC proactively.

 

• Schedule performance audits. After summer has finished carry out evaluations to help refine strategies, replace any worn out struggling equipment and perhaps prepare for even hotter seasons.