Everyone who owns a vehicle agrees that it is important to keep on top of scheduled maintenance. Ignoring oil changes and brakes for too long will always lead to a costly, even dangerous crisis. It works the same with facility management. Prioritizing preventative maintenance (PM) is an important part of keeping a property in good condition – helping to dodge expensive repairs, equipment replacements and critical business interruptions.
Preventative maintenance and cost savings
Regularly inspecting and servicing a facility’s equipment and systems to detect and fix potential problems can sometimes get pushed down the list of business imperatives, but is an essential part of a building’s successful operations. This includes checking for or replacing worn and damaged parts, and cleaning, lubricating and testing all equipment and systems. A good example is sliding doors at a bank branch, which can seize up in chilly weather (with salt and debris in the tracks), causing a costly emergency response or a workplace injury. It is this seemingly inconsequential routine maintenance that FMs can credit to the lack of (or reduced severity of) breakdowns.
Examples of a solid preventative maintenance program include evaluations and repairs of the following:
- HVAC systems/filters/ducts/air quality
- Lighting/electrical systems
- Plumbing/sewage/boilers/water heaters/safe drinking water
- Fire/smoke/chemical detectors and other safety and emergency systems
- Roofs, gutters, storm drains/windows
- Doors and entrance/exits
- Interior – stairs/railings/walls/flooring/bathrooms
- Exterior – e.g. sidewalks/parking lots/railings/fences/outbuildings
- Building foundation/leaks/cracks/corrosion
- Pest control and prevention
- Waste management
- Facility equipment – lifecycle/performance/longevity
It’s important to remember that preventative maintenance and all other facility/janitorial services should be tailored to your operation’s specific needs. For example, a busy manufacturing or industrial facility that employs thousands of people around the clock will naturally require very different servicing than a senior’s residential or health institution. Additionally, the age and condition of the building and its equipment must also be considered when developing or reworking a preventative maintenance plan.
As the adage goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. This is never more true than with preventative maintenance. Work with an experienced FM service that provides sound, budget-conscious advice on the best way to keep your building in good condition and reduce future maintenance costs.
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