Best Practices for Building Owners, Property Managers and Facility Managers
Whether you are responsible for the maintenance of a data center, luxury apartment building, corporate office space, or a sprawling university campus, true preventative care is the key to excellence in facility services.
Routine care, done well, can avert minor mishaps and major disasters. Here’s how to get the most from your investment.
Engage an expert — and build a relationship
You begin with a partner who has a strong track record with customers and demonstrated experience in your field. Then, ensure the team assigned to your space gets trained and onboarded for your specific space. Working with a facility services expert with a record of retention means less turnover – and turmoil – in your space.
Take data centers, for example. Our specially trained teams know that every customer needs a rigorous preventative maintenance schedule, tailored to the customer’s space, addressing CRACs, generators, chillers, RTUs, humidifiers and more.
Familiarity with your facility combined with a focused attention to detail will ultimately allow you to focus more on maintenance and less on time- and cost-consuming repairs. UG2 facility managers often walk the property every day checking for issues that need attention. Seemingly minor concerns like a crack in pavement or a dripping facet can easily become major inconveniences if they go unaddressed.
Avoid costly repairs, lost productivity, and potential injury
The cost savings benefits are clear when you compare timely replacement of a worn valve to flooding from a major leak. But the benefits of true preventative maintenance run much deeper. You and your team will operate more efficiently when you are not bogged down with unanticipated repairs. You will avoid disastrous down time that dampens morale, impacts productivity, and wreaks havoc on your schedule for days, weeks or months.
Preventative maintenance is also a core component of a strong safety program. Stair and walkway hazards become trip-and-fall risks. Damaged doors, windows and infrastructure can pose a threat to building security. And emergency situations in your facility increase the likelihood that you’re exposing untrained staff to take risks in addressing issues beyond their expertise.
Put your best foot forward, convey competence – and shine
The concept of “curb appeal” has taken on new meaning in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any evidence that suggests a property is less than pristine and well-cared for can undermine the confidence of tenants, guests, visitors, and employees.
Conversely, maintaining a facility with stellar services helps you create a welcoming space, establish trust, build a reputation for excellence, and set yourself apart in your industry.
An added bonus: Many routine maintenance tasks result in changes that improve systems efficiency and save energy, making for a greener environment. Ask your facility services provider to include energy assessments in your routine maintenance schedule.