10 Best Practices for Post Construction Maintenance
After all the construction is done and dusted, the real boggling work begins. To ensure seamless operation of your commercial space, post-construction maintenance can’t be overlooked. Wait, is that a whole new concept? What are the best practices? We’ll answer all such questions in this blog post. Let’s get started!
What’s Post Construction Maintenance for Commercial Spaces?
The end is just the beginning. You’ll realize this a whole lot better now. Post-construction maintenance for commercial spaces is an ongoing effort to maintain the functionality and appeal of your building. Since the space has already been constructed, it’s solely your job now to ensure that its value is preserved. You’ll have to do it in a way that exceeds the expectations of your occupants, customers and other key stakeholders. Post-construction maintenance involves activities like flooring, plumbing, electrical systems and security maintenance. In addition, you’ll have to reconsider the exterior and interior aesthetic appeal every now and then. No worries, we have encapsulated 10 best practices for you to excel at this. Scroll down!
Top 10 Best Practices for Post-Construction Maintenance of Commercial Spaces
#1 Outline an Elaborate Maintenance Plan
Before anything else, you need to have a plan. Create a well-defined post-construction maintenance plan outlining the schedules, tasks and resources required. It will inform you about all the routine inspections, the property areas to be covered, cleaning schedules, and maintenance activities among other aspects. A well-thought-out maintenance plan minimizes the risk of costly surprises and contributes to the sustained functionality, safety, and value of your commercial space.
#2 Oversee Post Construction Cleaning
You must be quite familiar with post-construction sites. We bet you have witnessed dust, debris, and construction materials lying all around with the smell of oil and paint. What a sight! Not only does it deteriorate the appearance of your commercial space but also poses safety hazards. Therefore, post-construction cleaning is the best practice to help you impress the occupants while ensuring their safety. The process includes cleaning the windows, floors, doorframes, ceilings and sanitizing all surfaces.
#3 Tune Up Your HVAC Systems Post Construction
The next thing you’ve to look out for is the HVAC system. The post-construction maintenance includes inspecting and cleaning the ductwork, and replacing air filters if required. This helps to maintain a comfortable indoor environment with optimal air quality, room temperature and lighting.
Read more: Tips for HVAC Maintenance to Prevent Costly Repairs
#4 Ensure Safety Through Electric System Maintenance
Make sure to do routine checks on the building wirings, circuit breakers and overall electric system of the commercial space. As you know electrical issues can lead to catastrophic damages like fires. Therefore the best practice is to regularly maintain the electrical infrastructure and enforce prompt issue addressal.
#5 Check For Leakages and Clogs
Next comes post-construction plumbing maintenance. There could be some inadvertent damage or leakages in the pipes. You need to ensure that all the sinks, pipes and drainage systems are intact and without any water tripling out. Furthermore, plumbing maintenance also includes maintaining the water pressure and other water hygiene issues to foster an ambient working space.
#6 Maintain Your Building Exteriors
Appearance helps you survive in the property business. Post-construction, you have to ensure that the exterior of the commercial space is appealing and has aesthetic value. You can schedule cleaning, power washing and painting the walls and window frames for this purpose. Furthermore, inspect the sealants to prevent water infiltration. What are the other exterior elements of your commercial space? Yes, you must touch up your parking areas as well. Make sure that the area has proper boards and markings. Ensure that the cafes, recreational clubs and walking spaces have a comfortable ambience.
#7 Do Regular Security Checks
The safety of your occupants and equipment is non-negotiable. Post-construction maintenance also encompasses regular checks on the security systems like theft alarms, video surveillance, access control etc. Moreover, you should also reinstate the security protocols and emergency response plans to the security personnel.
Read more: How to send alerts to security personnel in case of any emergencies like fire theft?
#8 Document Your Post Construction Upkeep
Being meticulous is another best practice. You must keep detailed records of all the post-construction maintenance activities undertaken for the commercial space. This historical data helps track the trends and provide evidence for warranty claims. Go for digital records of the upkeep rather than maintaining a mountain of paper files. This documentation helps ease the administrative load and provides a clear picture of the past and current maintenance needs.
#9 Invest in Training the Maintenance Team
Another best practice is to train your maintenance personnel. Your team must keep abreast of all the latest tech and trends in post-construction maintenance and facility management in general. Educate them well on the best practices and safety protocols. Your team is the ultimate caretaker of the commercial space. So investment in its training will result in cost-savings and a competitive edge in the long run.
Related Read: Why Technicians have Digital FM Tools?
#10 Conduct Regular Inspections of the Commercial Space
Finally, you have to regularly inspect the commercial space to check for any deviations from the post-construction maintenance expectations. You must thoroughly scrutinize the HVAC systems, plumbing and electrical systems along with the building’s security features (surveillance cameras, access controls etc.). Get your checklist to ensure no element falls through the cracks. Such a proactive approach helps you identify potential malfunctions before they turn into major breakdowns.
Final Words
Wrapping it up, post-construction maintenance helps you ensure that your commercial space is ready to attract customers and is operational. From checking your HVAC and electric infrastructure to training your maintenance team, as a facility manager you’ll have to document all the activities undertaken to assess future maintenance needs. You can always streamline this entire process using Factech’s state-of-the-art FM software.
Contact us for a free demo of how our expertise can help you achieve your business goals to the best.
