When coordinating a holiday light installation, there are many things you must consider, with safety being the main priority. Installing holiday displays is a magical experience, attracting customers and families to your location while encouraging them to make purchases and enjoy the show. But you need to know the full scope of the installation process to make sure your displays are safe.
Installing lights and holiday displays is no joke; it's a beautiful craft, but it can have dire consequences if not done correctly. Not only could it pose a serious safety hazard, but it can also just ruin the magic of a holiday display. Nobody wants that, including the proprietor or the consumer.
In this blog, Classic Displays will explain the ins and outs of safety when it comes to setting up and maintaining holiday displays this season.
When you’re looking to create a stunning holiday display program, you can have images in your mind of precisely how you’d like it to look. That’s great, but you should always choose the right holiday decoration supplier with a proven track record of quality and reliability.
This isn’t just about getting the best products; you need to work with a supplier who knows all the necessary safety measures and will provide you with products designed to keep you and your patrons safe. This means the business you work with should offer products that not only have safety elements built in but also give recommendations of how to best operate holiday displays.
Simply put: a successful display program requires a lot of planning. And that means doing it well before the holiday season. You know how people complain about holiday decorations and music being released months before their respective dates? You need to be THAT type of early when it comes to designing and sourcing your holiday display. Otherwise, you and your team are likely to be left scrambling, especially if hiccups occur.
Determine the theme and select the Christmas decorations you want to include. Are you going for the classics like a 3D Gingerbread Man or dual Candy Canes? Perhaps you prefer more show-stopping displays, such as the Bilbao Bear, a large, beautiful polar bear display or the Frosty Frame.
The importance of mapping out your display is essential for safety because you need to know what you’re getting into; how much power your display will need; what the size and shape of the displays will mean for how people interact with them – will it cause them potential hazard? If so, what additional measures need to be taken to ensure the display is completely safe? This could mean having rope guards or gates, safety signs, or assigned personnel. Whatever you choose for your display’s design, it needs to also serve a practical and safe function.
Here are some potential and popular themes you can consider mapping out and crafting your dream holiday display:
Winter Wonderland
Classic Christmas Village
Santa’s Workshop
North Pole Adventure
Nutcracker Ballet
Candy Cane Lane
Gingerbread Village
Polar Express Journey
Magical Forest
Twinkling Starry Night
Holiday Around the World
Frozen Fantasy
Victorian Christmas
Enchanted Toyland
Snowflake Spectacle
Festive Fairytale
Reindeer Runway
Holiday Carnival
Icicle Dreams
Yuletide Glow
Mapping out the property or commercial space you plan to host the display is also important to make sure you can appropriately guide the installation while ensuring the space has the means to support it. The last thing you want is to choose design pieces, only to find out that they aren’t going to fit.
Identify which parts of your display need to be bought and which you already have. Assign who will handle the shopping, set a timeline, and make sure everything is ready before installation. Don’t forget to factor in the tools required for setup.
Decide who will oversee the installation and schedule when it will take place. The best time is overnight, outside of business hours, to avoid disruptions and ensure your store or location is ready for customers the next day.
Whether you're a business or a municipality, you need to make sure safety and compliance are top of mind. If accidents happen, serious, expensive damage could occur, leading to not only loss of revenue, but also injury.
Not only is this just objectively horrible, but it can cause serious reputational damage. For Canadian businesses in particular, large Christmas displays (particularly those with decorative lighting) must comply with safety standards like CSA C22.2 NO. 37-17 for lighting products. They also have to bear in mind that there will be local bylaws and regulations concerning public displays, traffic, noise, and safety hazards.
Check local regulation requirements in your area during the planning process to ensure you gain the right permissions to craft your holiday displays.
Electrical safety prevents severe injury and property damage by eliminating the chance for shocks or potential fires. We all want the holidays to be fire-free, which is why it’s highly recommended that businesses use GFCI plugs while also keeping lights from obvious heat sources. You also need to inspect all lights and cords before installation, making sure they’re secure and don’t lie in high-traffic areas where they can be stepped on and worn out. You also need to use weather-resistant products and outdoor-rated components if your display is going to be outside.
When installing large holiday decorations or stringing lights, you're going to need to use ladders. You must ensure all your staff and/or volunteers have been fully educated on ladder safety protocols.
Here are some of the top recommended safety measures outlined by CCOHS:
Use the right ladder for the job.
Inspect before use.
Set up on firm, level ground.
Secure the ladder if needed.
Follow the 4-to-1 rule.
Keep three points of contact.
Face the ladder when climbing.
Don’t overreach — move the ladder.
Don’t carry heavy loads while climbing.
Never stand on top rungs.
Make sure all display components are firmly in place. Falling ornaments or elements of the display can cause injuries, so stability is essential for ensuring maximum safety measures. For safe setup, follow the guidance from the CCOHS as a rule of thumb.
If you're pumping too much electricity into your circuits, you could cause an overload. Overloaded circuits can be extremely dangerous. Putting too many lights into a single power strip can cause the circuit to overheat, catch fire, or melt. It can also cause the breaker to trip, leaving you without power.
Classic Displays not only provides you with the products, but we also provide installation services. We can install anything you buy from the ground up and have been installing Christmas displays since our start in 1977.
Generally, most of our work takes place overnight to avoid impeding business and traffic. All of our products are available with installation services, including our flags & banners and site furniture divisions.
We only require a site map outlining where you'd like your products placed, and we'll handle the heavy lifting. Our experienced team is trained and specialized installers and are equipped to set up all our display products with the utmost care, ensuring your holiday setup is safe, secure, and built to last the season.
This was a lot of information to go through, but there’s always some additional, simple tips to help ensure your holiday displays are completely safe for you, your business, employees, and the public:
Use sturdy, CSA-approved ladders, and equipment.
Keep walkways and exits clear with decorations.
Secure all lights, ornaments, and structures to prevent falls.
Avoid overloading electrical outlets or extension cords.
Choose indoor- or outdoor-rated lights as appropriate.
Inspect wiring and plugs for damage before use.
Place cords where they won’t cause trips or be crushed.
Keep flammable décor away from heat sources.
Schedule installations and takedowns outside business hours.
Follow local fire and safety regulations.
When you’re building a whimsical commercial holiday display, you don’t want to have to stress about things going wrong. That’s why you should choose Classic Displays for all your holiday decor needs.
We not only provide some of the best products on the market, but we’re also a Canadian business that has served Southern Ontario since 1977. We not only work with you to build the most beautiful display possible, but we’ll handle all the heavy-lifting and installation on your behalf. Don’t delay – it's never too early to plan this season’s holiday display. Contact us today.
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