Behind the scenes of every building lies a crucial element that ensures its longevity,
safety, and efficiency: building maintenance. In this article, we will delve into the
importance of regular building maintenance, its objectives, and the risks associated with neglect. Join us as we uncover the essential role of facilities maintenance managers and explore common building maintenance services that keep buildings in top shape.
So what is building maintenance? Operating behind the scenes to ensure the well-being of the built environment, it involves a range of essential activities aimed at preserving the functionality, safety, and longevity of a building.
At its core, building maintenance is about diligent care and attention to detail. It
encompasses routine inspections and cleaning, repairs, and preventive measures to
identify and address issues before they escalate. From routine dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning to maintaining essential systems like plumbing and electrical; building
maintenance covers a broad spectrum of tasks.
Regular upkeep holds tremendous significance when it comes to building maintenance. It serves as the foundation for preserving the integrity, functionality, and aesthetics of a facility. By prioritizing regular maintenance, building owners and managers can reap numerous benefits and avoid potential pitfalls in the long run.
First and foremost, regular upkeep ensures the safety of occupants and visitors. By conducting routine inspections and addressing any issues promptly, potential hazards can be identified and mitigated before they pose a threat. This proactive approach to maintenance helps prevent accidents, injuries, and property damage, creating a secure environment for everyone within the building.
Building maintenance also ensures continuous functionality by performing regular tasks like cleaning and preventative maintenance that prevent wear and tear that could cause downtime at inconvenient and costly moments. Issues with facility functionality can also affect occupant comfort and client impressions, which can be avoided with regular upkeep performed as part of building maintenance services.
The objectives of building maintenance encompass a range of goals aimed at
preserving the integrity, functionality, and value of a building. These objectives are
essential in ensuring that the building remains safe, comfortable, and efficient for its
occupants and include:
1. Safety and Risk Mitigation
2. Cost Management
3. Aesthetics and Functionality
4. Compliance with Regulations and Standards
From safety hazards to financial burdens, while it may not seem like neglecting building maintenance in the short-term has a significant impact, the long-term implications of poor building maintenance add up overtime and can be dangerous as well as costly.
Neglecting something like carpet cleaning for years and even months can seriously
effect the longevity of your carpets. Assets that might have lasted 15 years with regular maintenance could be worn and require replacement earlier, which can cost more in the long term than the maintenance itself.
With mechanical systems like HVAC, this reality is even more significant – the cost of
unexpected breakdowns can break your budget and set you back significantly, not to
mention the downtime of your facility or business can create a loss of revenue.
When you wait for your assets to breakdown or leave them to wear and tear, this also
presents a safety risk to your occupants if these systems fail when they are present or
in harms way.
That’s why preventative maintenance (sometimes called proactive maintenance) is a standard practice for facilities maintenance managers to prevent shutdowns and incidents before they happen. The consequences of neglect are not only high, but the benefits of a proactive approach are increased longevity, and lowered risk.
So what does a facilities maintenance manager do? Unraveling the responsibilities and expertise of facilities maintenance managers means understanding a facility as a whole and the moving parts it needs to function properly, safely, and efficiently.
A facilities maintenance manager is the hero of the building, responsible for its upkeep and managing everything from repairs to routine service and the installation of upgrades. A good facilities maintenance manager has strong communication and
organizational skills in order to document requests for repairs and work completed
under their watch.
 The role of a facilities maintenance manager involves:
What are some of the essential building maintenance services required to keep a
building up and running? Facility services are generally divided into hard and soft
maintenance services, with regular soft maintenance activities including:
Hard maintenance activities include:
Your facility maintenance manager may be responsible for delivering some or all of
these tasks, depending on the relationship with the facility manager/management
provider or the scope of tasks for the facility maintenance manager.
In the world of building maintenance, there is much more than meets the eye. It is an essential investment that ensures the safety, efficiency, and longevity of facilities. By understanding the importance, objectives, and potential risks, we can understand how indispensable facility maintenance is.
GDI can work with you to provide customized and integrated facility maintenance services to protect and upkeep your building for the long term. Explore our soft services or visit our sister company and technical services provider Ainsworth for our suite of hard building maintenance services.
Looking for one provider to provide facility management and maintenance all in one? Explore our integrated facility services and connect with us for customized solutions for
your facility.
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