What Is Facility Maintenance? A Guide for Business Owners

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Facility Maintenance

Just what is facility maintenance and why is it so important for business owners like you? Click here for a comprehensive guide.

As a small business owner, you already have enough on your plate. You have to manage employees, make sure that you’re profitable, stay on top of finances, and track every other aspect of the business.

You also have to manage facility maintenance. What is facility maintenance? If you don’t know what it is, your business could suffer consequences as a result.

A problem as simple as a roof leak could cost a business as much as $40,000 in inventory damages. Even if you don’t have that much inventory, there are reasons why facility maintenance needs to be added to your list of duties.

Read on to discover what facility maintenance is, why it’s important, and how to maintain your facility.

What Is Facility Maintenance?

Facility maintenance is a part of your operations. It entails the maintenance and repair of your building.

Just like you have a procedure in place to manage your IT network and infrastructure, facility maintenance takes care of the building. It could be an office building that you own, a building that you manage, a warehouse, or retail space.

Facility Maintenance

If you don’t do facility maintenance, the costs can add up quickly. You could have minor issues that can be addressed with regular maintenance, but without it, it becomes an expensive problem.

For example, your HVAC unit needs regular inspection and repair. Over time, a minor issue such as a duct blockage can lead to a broken HVAC system. A simple $100 repair can easily turn into a total replacement that would cost your business thousands of dollars.

Facility maintenance can prevent roof leaks and falling tiles, which can contribute to workplace injuries. Workplace injuries that result from slips and falls also cost companies billions of dollars every year. Facility maintenance can reduce your liability and protect employees.

Facility Maintenance Checklist

How do you go about performing facility maintenance? It should be integrated with your operations team. You may have contractors that come in and perform maintenance for you on a regular business.

If you know what to look for, you may be able to perform facility maintenance yourself and then call in the experts to perform repairs. It depends on your level of knowledge and comfort with the task.

Should you decide to take on this responsibility yourself, this facility maintenance checklist is helpful to identify potential issues with your building.

Examining the Building Exterior

You can begin your building maintenance by starting with the exterior of the building. Be sure to check the walls of the building for any cracks or issues with the paint.

Also, check any arches or canopies that support a lot of weight. These are the first things that will sag and show signs of wear and tear.Β 

Look closely at the ground around the foundation. You’ll want to make sure that there aren’t plants and weeds coming up from the foundation of the facility.

Check the drains and gutters around the building. They’ll need to get cleared out at least once a year to ensure rainwater flows away from the building.

Inspect the windows of the buildings and make sure they get cleaned quarterly.

Take a walk around the parking lot of the facility and notice any cracks there and along the walkways. These are other areas that could cause employees to trip and fall. Anything noticeable needs to be repaired right away.

The landscaping around the building needs to be kept up as part of your facility maintenance plan. You want to make sure trees are trimmed and the lawn is mowed regularly.

The roof is the most important part of the building inspection. You should inspect the roof after a big storm and a few times a year. Check the area for any standing water, weeds, or other plants.

If you have a metal roof, look for rust. You’ll need to check the drains of the roof to make sure they’re clear of debris.

Commercial roofing systems can be complex, and it’s a good idea to have professionals look at it, too. You can find a roofing company like temaroofingservices.comΒ to work with.

Checking the Interior of the Building

The interior of the building has many different systems, and each one needs specialized attention. You have plumbing, HVAC, electrical, security, and lighting systems.

Each one needs a maintenance checklist to make sure you have everything covered.

For example, your security system isn’t just about your security cameras but also includes safety measures. First aid kits need to be checked and restocked. Smoke detectors need to be checked, as do the fire exits and alarms.

The fire extinguishers and AED kits need to be kept in good working order. You never know when they will be needed.

You should make a plan to perform the steps of this facility maintenance checklist regularly. A monthly assessment should be done, and you want to keep detailed records of your maintenance plan.

Repairing Issues

Some issues you’ll be able to repair yourself. You’ll need to invest in a facilities repair kit, which is made up of safety equipment such as goggles, a safety helmet, and vest. You’ll also need repair supplies and a toolbox that’s always accessible.

You have to decide which repairs you’re capable of and which ones require professional help. You don’t want to make the mistake of trying to do something yourself to save a few dollars. You’ll end up paying more to have someone repair your mistakes.

You Can’t Afford to Ignore Facility Maintenance

What is facility maintenance? It’s an essential part of planning for your business. When you have a plan, you reduce costs, which can improve your overall profitability.

A facility maintenance plan should be part of your normal operations and performed monthly. Be sure to inspect the conditions both inside and outside of your facility and make repairs as necessary.

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