The phrase "building maintenance" is a broad, umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of services and tasks aiming to keep a property in a good state of repair and functioning efficiently. But what is building maintenance called in more specific terms, and what converse it covers? Let's delve into this, starting with the different names and titles associated with building maintenance.
Building maintenance can be referred to by various job titles, depending on the scale, scope, and type of building. Some of these include:
Facility Management (FM)
Facility management, or FM, is a broader term that often encapsulates building maintenance. It involves coordinating the physical workplace to support the core business of an organization. FM includes everything from maintaining the building's fabric and services to managing relationships with suppliers and service providers.
Consequently, facility management can also be referred to as:
- Building maintenance management
- Property management
- Immovable asset management
Hard Services
Hard services are a subset of FM/facilities maintenance, referring to physical maintenance tasks that directly involve the building's infrastructure. These include:
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance
- Electrical and lighting maintenance
- Plumbing and drainage maintenance
- Maintenance of lifts, escalators, and access control systems
Hard services are often the responsibility of building engineers or technicians.
Soft Services
Conversely, soft services relate to building maintenance that is more people-oriented and doesn't directly involve the building's infrastructure. They include:
- Cleaning and waste management
- Security and reception services
- Grounds and landscape maintenance
- Catering and vending services
Soft services are typically handled by service providers rather than in-house staff.
Preventive Maintenance and Reactive Maintenance
Beyond job titles, building maintenance also encompasses different types of maintenance strategies:
Preventive maintenance, as the name suggests, involves regular, scheduled maintenance to prevent failures and anticipate future repairs. This includes:
- Regular cleaning and inspection
- Scheduled servicing of equipment
- Performance monitoring and optimal calibration
Reactive Maintenance
On the other hand, reactive maintenance, also known as corrective or breakdown maintenance, is performed in response to a failure or damage. This could include:
- Repairing leaks or faulty equipment
- Resolving issues caused by wear and tear
While reactive maintenance is necessary, the aim of building maintenance is often to minimize its occurrence with a solid preventive maintenance strategy.
In conclusion, understanding the various aspects of building maintenance, from job titles to maintenance types, is crucial for creating effective maintenance strategies. This insight enables you to handle maintenance more efficiently and ultimately extend the lifespan of your building. Therefore, don't overlook the benefits of getting to know building maintenance inside out, no matter your role.