CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Routine building maintenance is a set of activities which preserve the condition of the building itself. After all, like everything else, buildings are subject to wear and tear due to the passage of time and particular events.
The Consolidated Building Code includes maintenance among the activities it considers, divided into routine and extraordinary maintenance.
Routine maintenance includes all work required to repair, renovate and replace the finish of a building, as well as to keep its infrastructure working properly or repair it.
This means that routine building maintenance does not affect the structure of the building or integrate/implement new infrastructure.
The definition of maintenance is also given in UNI EN 13306 , although in a generic fashion not specific to the construction sector. It is nonetheless interesting since it considers maintenance to be the set of actions required to preserve an entity (such as a building) in the condition required for it to provide its function throughout its life cycle.
Why building maintenance is important
The importance of building maintenance is already expressed in the definition of maintenance given in UNI EN 13306
the purpose is to make sure that a building is adequate to its intended purpose.
This means that routine maintenance must not only preserve its functionality, but also its safety, comfort and aesthetics.
Throughout its life, therefore, a property must be kept intact, and that is what routine maintenance – especially preventive and scheduled maintenance – achieves.
Doing so will prevent problems, failures and breakdowns, which in the long run may require more costly and time-consuming extraordinary maintenance and repairs.
This is a major concern, regardless of the building’s intended use.
Finally, we must consider the value of the property, which is no small matter for owners, and which must be preserved to the same extent that the building is well maintained.
A well-maintained building protects the owner’s initial investment.
Building maintenance: what to do on a regular basis
The work to be done regularly will vary, and the frequency of the work depends on both the nature of the component being worked on and its condition. The work in question includes:
Cleaning the facades
The purpose of cleaning the facades is to preserve the aesthetics of the building and to remove any substances which are corrosive or hazardous to the underlying layers of plaster or finish.
Cleaning can be done in various ways, including washing with water, dry blasting, wet blasting, or even using chemicals. This retards the degradation of the facade.
Plaster maintenance
Maintaining the plaster, which as such is constantly exposed to the elements, protects the building. The type of maintenance depends on the condition of the plaster.
An example of maintenance of a facade in good condition will consist, after adequate cleaning of the surface, in applying a new layer of finish of limited thickness, and filling in any cracks in the plaster.
Postponing this type of work risks having to repair the entire exterior of the building. In such cases, it is often necessary to renew and replace the plaster as a whole.
Maintenance of window frames
Maintenance of window frames keeps them in good working condition and preserves them aesthetically.
The work to be done will depend on the material, but as a basic rule, a regular thorough cleaning of the frames and gaskets with appropriate cleaning agents should be done, in addition to checking that all hardware is functioning properly.
Floor maintenance
The maintenance of floors and other finishes involves regularly cleaning them with appropriate products.
In some cases, such as parquet, routine maintenance may also include polishing to restore the surface layer.
In cases where the finish is compromised, broken or no longer functional, appropriate repairs or replacements are made.
Infrastructure maintenance
Infrastructure maintenance is of the utmost importance because the proper functioning of such systems is critical to the well-being, comfort, and safety of the occupants.
Regularly servicing the electrical system, for example, reduces the risk of fire or electric shock. It is important to always check that every component of the system is working properly.
Maintaining the central heating system is also essential, and must be scheduled with a proper program for the boilers and other equipment.
Nor should one neglect the proper cleaning of the ventilation system filters and ducts, which otherwise risk compromising the health quality of the air in the building.
Thanks to the skills of our technicians and synergies with qualified suppliers, CAMS provides maintenance services for civil buildings, and has also gained experience over the years for industrial sheds, universities, monuments (churches, heritage buildings), stalls, barns and warehouses.
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