As one of the leading names for building maintenance in Halifax and the West Yorkshire area we have put together a helpful guide for building maintenance.
The complexity of managing a building is ever increasing. No longer are buildings looked after by an onsite caretaker or handyman. Building Maintenance has become a complex operation requiring increasing amounts of skills, knowledge and technology in order to manage a building, adhere to compliance requirements as well as make continual improvements to efficiency.
The Car Park Barrier – The first point of security to prevent unwanted visitors to the property, requiring regular maintenance to ensure the barrier is in good working order. Additionally, an on call security attendant to respond to the help/call button as well as electrical testing to ensure the electrical components are safe and tested for regular use. Ground maintenance to prevent weeds and shrubbery over growing in to and around the barrier components and road gritting so vehicles can drive up to, park at and drive off from the barrier safely.
The Entrance Way – Many people would assume this is where the Building Maintenance begins, however as per the car park barrier, a whole range of services have already been encountered. The entrance way may have a number of security elements in place, from CCTV, key code access, key card access, intercoms as well as a key holding service for emergency or out of hour access. Staff including security staff, receptionists and cleaning teams work in this area. Electrical components are tested as part of regular inspection and testing, as well as computers and other devices are subject to Portable Appliance Testing. The building temperature will be regulated from this point, Air conditioning may be at work to cool or heat the area.
Why is building maintenance important? There are a number of ways managing Building Maintenance can be done smarter and more effectively. Here is our 6 Point Guide to Building Maintenance Requirements:
1. Take Responsibility & Create a Plan of Action-each market sector has its own responsibilities which affect Building Maintenance, particularly compliance-based requirements. As a Building Maintenance manager, it is essential to know each and every requirement and have a plan of action to ensure the property is safe and compliant. There are a number of areas to consider, ensuring safety and compliance. Electrical Safety – Electrical Inspection and Testing, Electrical Maintenance and Portable Appliance Testing.
Fire Safety – Fire alarms, logs and wardens all contribute to ensuring fire safety.
Emergency Lighting – Emergency lighting help site users are able to remain safe, or safely escape a building in the event of normal lighting failure.
Pest Control – Failure to adhere to pest control measures can cause contamination and put your employees’ and consumers’ health at risk.
Water Testing – Water is a large risk factor for which all employers and landlords are obliged to regularly undertake water treatment and to act to limit this risk, particularly for Legionella.
*This list is not exhaustive and a full assessment of all factors contributing to building compliance should be considered.The management of all responsibilities can be complex. By creating a plan of action which incorporates all responsibilities, compliance requirements inline with time restraints and schedules and undertaking Building Maintenance will become a simpler operation.
2. Plan In Your Planned Preventative Maintenance , preventative maintenance (PPM), more commonly referred to as scheduled maintenance is the maintenance to an element or component to a property, whether it forms part of the building fabric or mechanical and electrical components. PPM is a scheduled visit with an overall aim of ensuring the equipment is operating correctly and remove any potential for breakdowns or downtime. Carried out by a relevantly trained and qualified engineer.
3. Record Keeping Although undertaking the Building Maintenance is the core task, it is essential to keep records. Records may include risk assessments, reports and certificates. This is the case for all repairs, tests and inspections. Record keeping will allow for easier management of Building Maintenance however it also offer a company the security of knowing all legal requirements have been met should something go wrong.
4. Keep Up To Date And Prepare For Change Being aware of new changes relevant to Building Maintenance is essential. Additionally ensuring an action plan is put in to place ahead of the changes to ensure consistency in Building Maintenance and compliance. Sourcing the relevant updates should not be a difficult, time consuming responsibility, once a reliable source has been identified and established, you should be able to keep up to date and prepare ahead of changes and the key dates involved. Planning ahead is the best way to reduce impact on a business and keep costs to a minimum.
5. Things Do Come At A Cost-there is a cost to compliance and Building Maintenance. This may include equipment, maintenance of the equipment, staffing, certification fees for a number of services such as water hygiene, security or portable appliance testing. However these costs are negotiable with your service provider and often greatly reduced by consolidating services to a Total Facilities Management provider. The alternative to budgeting for compliance and Building Maintenance is often the receipt of costly fines.
6. Outsource as mentioned above, there is a cost to compliance and Building Maintenance, however there are significant savings to be made. If you need help with your Building Maintenance JMCD Developments have in-house experts who can support in the management of your Building Maintenance. From water testing to grounds maintenance, road gritting to inspection and testing. Running a business is time consuming, bringing in an expert to manage compliance will free up valuable time so you can concentrate on growing your business.
We operate our building maintenance services in the following areas: