Building Maintenance

How do you maintain a building?

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    It is important to maintain the office building so that it can continue to serve its purpose of protecting workers from the elements and environmental hazards. Make sure it is secure and well-maintained, but also presents well to customers. All of this calls for work, and it may get pricey if you don't keep up with it on a regular basis.

    There is a direct correlation between the condition of a commercial building and its resale value, so keeping up with routine maintenance is essential. Do you know of any neglected structures? Seem like solid financial investments to you? A business building's future is doomed and its desirability is reduced if maintenance is neglected.

    In this post, we'll take a look at the upsides of commercial building maintenance as well as some strategies for keeping commercial structures in good shape. This is a great ride.

    We have a wide range of property maintenance Melbourne services at Hitch Property Constructions.

    Ways to Maintain Your Buildings

    Building Maintenance

    Maintain the Operational Configuration

    Occupied buildings and other critical institutions like  hospitals, research centres, and museums should keep their current layouts. The need for constant environmental regulation is motivated by the value of the assets housed there and the relevance of the services they provide.

    Building Schedules

    It is recommended to modify the BMS building schedule in underutilised non-critical buildings, such as a classroom building at a technical college or university, such that mechanical equipment functions occasionally to maintain indoor air quality, but not to condition empty rooms to occupied conditions. You could think about operating machines for an hour or two twice a day. Keep an eye on the heating and cooling needs during the peak and off-peak hours (12 hours). A combination of dehumidification and ventilation would reduce the potential for mould and other microorganisms to flourish inside a building. Each establishment takes a different approach.

    Revisit Kitchen Schedules

    In businesses where kitchen space is underutilised, running makeup air units and exhaust fans only when food is being cooked is a smart move. When the kitchen is not in use, the exhaust fans and makeup air units should be switched off to save energy. Important if the makeup air heating system is installed.

    Reset Water Temperatures

    If you use chilled water to cool the facility, you may want to raise the chilled water supply temperature while the building is empty. The system is meant to consider the rejection of both sensible and latent heat produced by the occupants inside the building during the peak summer months. In the spring, when temperatures are on average lower, empty buildings have lower cooling loads and hence require less heat rejection because there are no residents in the building to generate heat.

    Focus in Maintenance 

    Focus your maintenance efforts on the mission-critical demands and places that must be operational at all times. Keep in mind that there is currently no foolproof method for automatically detecting maintenance issues like a leaking roof. Those are typically reported by the resident themselves.

    The current situation is far from ideal; nonetheless, it may be feasible to turn this challenge into an advantageous chance. Determine if the structures or spaces that are currently not in use are eligible for an early start of a planned upgrade or renovation. A renovation that was originally slated for the summer could be moved up if it becomes clear that extra room is needed during that time.

    Invest in Security Guards and Lock Down All Entrances

    Security precautions are crucial when dealing with a big number of employees and clients. Keeping track of everyone who enters and exits the building might seem overkill, but it's for the best. Your primary duty is to ensure the safety of everyone in the premises and to safeguard the company's physical property. Only permitted personnel will be allowed in the building and on the grounds. If you implement these policies, there will be less of a chance that criminal conduct will endanger the people, property, and infrastructure in your charge.

    Exterior and Interior Should Be High-Quality

    Always use the best high-quality materials when adapting a building to your liking and needs. This also applies when building a business structure. The material's quality will prevent fast deterioration and keep your building in good condition in all seasons. If one crack appears, others will follow. This means you should act quickly to repair all exterior problems and ensure they don't spread to the interior.

    Perform regular HVAC and elevator maintenance

    Modern air conditioning and heating systems are an essential component of any functional office structure. Its function is to condition the temperature and quality of the air inside the structure. The most severe consequence of HVAC neglect is Legionnaires' disease, a pneumonia-like respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila.

    Elevators can be dangerous, but unlike in the movies, they rarely get detached and fall to the ground. Those who suffer from heart problems or anxiety should avoid becoming stuck at all costs. Visitors aren't impressed by broken elevators, therefore maintenance should be routinely scheduled.

    Check Window and Door Seals

    In order to keep the structure dry, it is important to inspect the seals around all of the windows and doors. The reduced environmental impact and monthly costs associated with operating such an efficient structure are obvious benefits. Having good sealants on your windows and doors will keep the heat in and stop mould and damp from wreaking havoc on your walls. Sealants are simple to use, so they can be applied either after-hours or in the morning before staff come.

    Looking for comprehensive services on property maintenance? Look no further! Hitch Property Constructions has you covered.

    Get Professional Cleaners to Help You Out

    Visitors, whether they be employees, clients, or tourists, frequently litter a workplace with their trash. As such, it is something we must always keep in mind. For a company that takes cleanliness seriously, the only choice is to hire a cleaning staff to come in after hours. One proven way to draw in and keep a dedicated, devoted crew is to keep the workplace clean and organised.

    Clear All Debris From the Roof and Gutters Regularly

    It is the job of roofs and gutters to keep structures dry and safe from the weather. The building and the business are both vulnerable to the effects of clogged gutters and roof leaks. Short circuits and electrical fires caused by water damage might temporarily shut down operations and, in the worst case scenario, endanger lives.

    Regular gutter cleaning and roof checks can prevent this, as can quick response to interior leaks or damage. Hiring ASAP Sydney Painters to paint your roof and building will keep them in good shape.

    Life-Cycle Costing and Standardization

    Unfortunately, not every aspect of the design process is compatible with one another. When funds for both the design and construction phases are limited, value engineering is employed. Value engineering formerly meant developing with long-term costs in mind; now it means decreasing costs.

    As a more comprehensive approach to cost estimation, life-cycle costing can inform design choices that cut down on overall facility expenses. It is the sum of a product's (here, a building's) annual expenditures, such as purchase price, setup fees, running expenses, and repair bills. Over the facility's lifetime, maintenance and operation expenditures will be high (energy and staff) (energy and personnel). Customers/owners who are ultimately accountable for facility expenses will benefit greatly from this approach.

    When rational and cost-effective, standardising a product decreases inventory and purchases. Equipment manufacturers can be standardised based on criteria such as quality, repair response times, local parts availability, the need for manual maintenance, and the availability of online maintenance instructions. Standardization is recommended for many aspects of a building, including the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the plumbing system, the electrical system, the flooring, the lighting, the doors, the door hardware, the roofing slopes (avoid flat roofs), and the materials. The expenditures of stocking supplies, educating employees, and fixing things are all reduced when uniformity is achieved. Because of this, upkeep costs will decrease and be less burdensome. While consumers and service technicians are generally receptive to novel products and concepts, it helps if they have a proven track record and reasonable total cost of ownership. Long-term costs can be substantial even if upfront costs are considerable. Standardization should begin early in the design process for architects and designers.

    Why Do Buildings Fail?

    As construction progresses, the duty to perform routine upkeep shifts from the contractor to the building's owner. (And as the demand for maintenance services rises in tandem with the construction of new government facilities, many agencies have had their staffing levels and funding frozen or cut, exacerbating the issue.) It is not the job of the architect/designer to maintain the facility, and this component may not be adequately considered throughout the design phase.

    Making design decisions without considering maintenance needs can result in a facility that is more expensive to keep up than necessary or has components that are beyond repair.

    • After installing lights in the ceiling that can only be reached and replaced by means of scaffolding, the entrance to the building was closed for a week so that the lights could be removed and replaced.
    • A portable air conditioner that can be put up in a bathroom or office with no room for a ladder. Only by standing on a partition in a restroom or office can the technician reach the unit (not a good safety practice). Because of this, the unit is unlikely to be serviced often and may require relocation.
    • Lights in brand-new, inaccessible structures that will be abandoned once their bulbs burn out.
    • Luminaires whose ballasts are hidden behind walls that need to be ripped through.
    • Lighting fixtures and lamps in parking garages that are both high-priced and custom-made. The faulty ones will be swapped out for cheaper alternatives as they wear out.
    • Air conditioners located on the roof without a convenient way to transport chemicals there. Technicians often have to lug chemicals all the way to their machines.
    • Extremely close proximity between newly planted trees and constructed structures. This is a typical issue that causes roofing to deteriorate before its time because of clogged downspouts in the wetter months.
    • There aren't enough power outlets, phone jacks, or USB ports for everyone's electronic devices. Adding new features to a building during its operational phase is much more cost-effective than doing it after it has already been completed. It's not uncommon for this to result in unsightly consequences like exposed wires, damaged finishes, and other visual flaws.
    • In order to save money initially, it involves installing low-quality parts. One such product is carpet. The long-term savings are substantial in comparison to the modest up-front expense increase. Carpets with non-prorated guarantees of 20 to 25 years are available for installation.
    • It costs $1 million to buy special equipment to make cleaning the glass facade of a new building easier after it has been installed.
    • Putting in external "uplights," which are lights set flush into the concrete or ground, and hence are doomed to fail due to water seepage.
    • When the final walls and other finishing touches are put in place, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get to equipment that was placed readily during construction.
    • Security systems with a high required level of upkeep are being installed.
    • The installation of high-maintenance machinery without access to adequate service from regional suppliers.

    Check out Hitch Property Constructions for a huge range of Melbourne property maintenance services.

    Repairing imported goods on a regular basis might be hard on your property. The untidy parking lot and walkway may discourage potential tenants from choosing your commercial building. Improving the property's value and upkeep will increase its appeal to potential buyers and hasten its sale.

    Maintain the cleanliness of your workplace as though it were your own residence. Since you're in charge around here, you need to make sure everyone can do their jobs without endangering themselves or others. Early preventative maintenance might reduce the need for costly repairs and updates later on.

    FAQs About Property Maintenance

    An SMP or a Standard Maintenance Procedure is a vital part of keeping your equipment in top shape, keeping your employees safe, and maintaining your plant's overall productivity. An SMP is a document containing instructions on how to perform maintenance tasks correctly and efficiently.

    Vacuum refrigerator coils. Clean gutters and downspouts. Inspect roof for damaged or loose shingleWash windows and screens. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

    For Organizational Management users, Simple Maintenance is best used to establish the basic framework in organizational plan development. Simple Maintenance uses a tree structure, which allows you to create a basic framework for organizational plans, using streamlined procedures.

    Repairs and maintenance expense is the cost incurred to ensure that an asset continues to operate. This may involve bringing performance levels up to their original level from when an asset was originally acquired, or merely maintaining the current performance level of an asset.

    Fixed. A scheduled maintenance work order is generated at a fixed interval set by the user, irrespective of when the last scheduled maintenance was completed.

    Conclusion

    The market value of a commercial property is proportional to its level of repair. Without regular maintenance, a commercial structure will eventually fall into disrepair, so here are some guidelines for keeping your building in top shape for the sake of your company's bottom line. Empty buildings in the spring have lower cooling loads and energy needs. Examine abandoned buildings and rooms to see if they could benefit from a makeover. Employ security guards and lock all doors to protect your business's employees, customers, and property.

    Regularly inspecting the building's windows and doors can help prevent the growth of mould and dampness inside. It is possible to lower total building costs through the application of life-cycle pricing and standardisation. It is advised that the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system of a building be standardised along with other parts of the structure. When there is more consistency across the board, it costs less money to do things like stock up on materials, train new workers, and fix broken parts. Architects and designers should start thinking about standardisation at the very beginning of the design process.

    There is a shortage of plugs, phone jacks, and USB ports, making it difficult for people to charge or use their electronic devices. It costs one million dollars to outfit a new building with the specialised equipment needed to make cleaning the glass facade a breeze. Prospective buyers will be more interested in your home if you invest in its value and upkeep.

    Content Summary

    • It is important to maintain the office building so that it can continue to serve its purpose of protecting workers from the elements and environmental hazards.
    • Make sure it is secure and well-maintained, but also presents well to customers.
    • There is a direct correlation between the condition of a commercial building and its resale value, so keeping up with routine maintenance is essential.
    • Keep an eye on the heating and cooling needs during the peak and off-peak hours (12 hours).
    • Focus your maintenance efforts on the mission-critical demands and places that must be operational at all times.
    • Keep in mind that there is currently no foolproof method for automatically detecting maintenance issues like a leaking roof.
    • Determine if the structures or spaces that are currently not in use are eligible for an early start of a planned upgrade or renovation.
    • Always use the best high-quality materials when adapting a building to your liking and needs.
    • The material's quality will prevent fast deterioration and keep your building in good condition in all seasons.
    • Perform regular HVAC and elevator maintenance Modern air conditioning and heating systems are an essential component of any functional office structure.
    • Its function is to condition the temperature and quality of the air inside the structure.
    • Visitors aren't impressed by broken elevators, therefore maintenance should be routinely scheduled.
    • In order to keep the structure dry, it is important to inspect the seals around all of the windows and doors.
    • Having good sealants on your windows and doors will keep the heat in and stop mould and damp from wreaking havoc on your walls.
    • For a company that takes cleanliness seriously, the only choice is to hire a cleaning staff to come in after hours.
    • One proven way to draw in and keep a dedicated, devoted crew is to keep the workplace clean and organised.
    • It is the job of roofs and gutters to keep structures dry and safe from the weather.
    • When funds for both the design and construction phases are limited, value engineering is employed.
    • As a more comprehensive approach to cost estimation, life-cycle costing can inform design choices that cut down on overall facility expenses.
    • Equipment manufacturers can be standardised based on criteria such as quality, repair response times, local parts availability, the need for manual maintenance, and the availability of online maintenance instructions.
    • As construction progresses, the duty to perform routine upkeep shifts from the contractor to the building's owner. 
    • It is not the job of the architect/designer to maintain the facility, and this component may not be adequately considered throughout the design phase.
    • Making design decisions without considering maintenance needs can result in a facility that is more expensive to keep up than necessary or has components that are beyond repair.
    • Adding new features to a building during its operational phase is much more cost-effective than doing it after it has already been completed.
    • In order to save money initially, it involves installing low-quality parts.
    • It costs $1 million to buy special equipment to make cleaning the glass facade of a new building easier after it has been installed.
    • The installation of high-maintenance machinery without access to adequate service from regional suppliers.
    • Repairing imported goods on a regular basis might be hard on your property.
    • Improving the property's value and upkeep will increase its appeal to potential buyers and hasten its sale.
    • Maintain the cleanliness of your workplace as though it were your own residence.
    • Early preventative maintenance might reduce the need for costly repairs and updates later on.

     

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