Toby's Take On - Planned & Preventative Maintenance Surveys
Welcome to this edition of Toby's Take On - Today, we are going to explore the ins and outs of Planned & Preventative Maintenance Surveys (PPMs). They are a key part of property management, but let us be honest, they can be a bit puzzling. What is a PPM exactly? Do you really need one? Who is the right person to conduct a PPM,? Do not worry, we are going to answer all these questions in this edition. So, let us dive in!"
What is a Planned & Preventative Maintenance Survey?
Think of a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) survey as a proactive check-up for your property. It is a thorough building survey designed to spot potential issues and plan out necessary maintenance tasks time blocked from 1 year to 5 years to 10 years to 15 years. It outlines the current and future maintenance needed to keep the building's structure, fabric, and facilities in great shape. It can also include quantities and pricing rates to help with budgeting. This type of survey will help to ensure that, you can avoid expensive repairs and prolong the life of your building.
Why is a Planned & Preventative Maintenance Survey Important?
The reasons why a PPM is important can be broken down into 6 key areas:
Building Maintenance Cost Savings -
Spotting and tackling issues early with PPM surveys can cut down the cost of surprise repairs and downtime.
Extended Building Lifespan -
Regular upkeep helps to prolong the life of the building's components and the structure as a whole.
Improved Building Safety -
Proactively dealing with potential safety risks ensures a safer space for everyone inside.
Enhanced Property Value -
A well-kept building is more attractive to potential buyers and tenants.
Effective Budgeting -
PPM surveys make it easier to budget accurately for maintenance and repairs.
Compliance -
These surveys help you stay on the right side of building regulations and safety standards.
How do I know if I need a Planned & Preventative Maintenance Survey?
When considering if you require a Planned and Preventative Maintenance survey ask yourself these questions;
How old is the building?
Mature buildings are more susceptible to concealed issues that a PPM survey can effectively reveal.
Do we have an up to date maintenance schedule?
If you do not currently have a maintenance plan for your property, a PPM survey can assist in establishing one.
Are we constantly dealing with persistent maintenance issues?
If you find yourself repeatedly addressing re-occurring maintenance issues, a PPM survey can help pinpoint the underlying cause and plan for repair to prevent future recurrences.
Have you some safety concerns with your building?
A PPM survey can detect potential safety hazards, ensuring your property adheres to legal requirements and compliance.
Is your building living up to its potential?
By proactively identifying and addressing maintenance needs, like mechanical and electrical wear and tear, you can boost the lifespan of your building's components and enhance its overall performance.
Are operational costs of your building getting out of hand?
Implementing planned and preventative maintenance can diminish the necessity for costly emergency repairs, thereby extending the life of your assets.
If you have answered yes to any of these questions its time to consider a Planned & Preventative Maintenance Survey.
Who should I contact to do a Planned & Preventative Maintenance Survey?
Typically, a Building Surveyor with a focus on building consultancy, is the professional equipped to conduct Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) surveys. A building surveyor possess the necessary expertise to evaluate the condition of a building, identify necessary repairs, and formulate comprehensive long-term maintenance strategies. Their training is specifically tailored towards building pathology, construction, and property maintenance. It is worth noting that a PPM survey may necessitate contributions from other specialists, such as mechanical and electrical system engineers or vertical transport consultants for lift systems.
In Summary
A Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) survey is like a proactive check-up for your property, designed to identify potential issues and plan necessary maintenance tasks over a set period. It helps to keep your building in top shape, aids in budgeting, and can extend your building's lifespan.
PPM surveys are crucial for several reasons. They help save costs by identifying issues early, extend the lifespan of the building through regular upkeep, improve safety by proactively addressing potential risks, enhance property value by maintaining the building well, aid in effective budgeting for maintenance and repairs, and ensure compliance with building regulations and safety standards.
You might need a PPM survey if your building is old, you don't have a current maintenance plan, you're dealing with recurring maintenance issues, you have safety concerns, your building isn't performing optimally, or your operational costs are high.
At Leyson Building Consultancy, we are here to help with your Planned Preventative Maintenance Surveys (PPMs). We offer a custom scoring matrix that is based on condition ratings and the urgency of maintenance tasks. Plus, we provide a summary of any breaches to Health and Safety and Statutory compliance. If you're thinking about a Planned and Preventative Maintenance Survey for your building or buildings and not sure where to start, get in touch with us and we will help you organise it.
