Maintenance: To keep something in its desired state of repair

MOST of us are aware of the need to keep things maintained.

On a personal level, we know to brush our teeth twice a day, at home it might be hoovering once a week, or cutting the lawn and the car needs a regular service and MOT.

If we don’t take these actions the consequences may be painful, in the case of the teeth, just unsightly with regards to the housework or the lawn, but downright dangerous when it comes to the car.

However, when it comes to building services are FMs (facilities managers) as diligent and conscientious and do you consider the consequences not only for yourselves but also other staff members and the fabric of the building itself?

By planning, the maintenance of air conditioning systems, water systems and other associated building services can not only save time and money, but will, in many cases avoid an unexpected crisis.

For some building services, such as emergency lighting and fire detection systems there are clear and stringent legal requirements that stipulate what should be tested and at what frequency. Less safety critical elements may not be overlooked until it is too late and to avoid this we would advocate a programme of planned preventative maintenance.

Planned preventative maintenance can be defined as any form of maintenance on a piece of equipment, or building fabric, that’s scheduled and conducted on a regular basis. With this type of scheduled maintenance, equipment inspections, testing and services are carried out regularly by specially-trained technicians. For educational establishments, being able to schedule major refurbishments or new installations for the school holidays is obvious. But, with every school wanting work done at the same time, planning ahead and booking the necessary skilled staff well in advance, not only gives you peace of mind but may also save money.

Here at SMS, we have the expertise, knowledge and understanding to work with you to survey and understand your building services, evaluate the status of the various components and systems and work with you to devise a viable, cost-effective programme.

Initially it may seem that committing to regular planned maintenance is costlier, but consider the alternative.

If the boiler fails, the school may close, if the pipes burst then then not only can people not use the office but other key assets may be damaged, leading to further disruption and additional costs. By investing in maintenance, you are ensuring that you get a full ROI on your initial building services expenditure.

So, if you can’t remember when the boiler was serviced, the last time the chillers were checked or there are other services that may not be in quite the desired state of repair, then maybe now is the time for a full review of your site’s maintenance programmes.

For more information or advice about the maintenance of your heating, airconditioning, pipework or controls then please contact Kevin Tarbox at Southern Maintenance Solutions by emailing info@ smsmainenance.com or by calling (01635) 33363.