If you manage an apartment building, a factory, an office, or any other commercial building, you know how stressful property maintenance requirements can be. From electrical work to odd jobs, you have a responsibility to maintain the safety and quality of your property.
Want to keep on top of your commercial property maintenance service requirements without blowing the budget? To assist you, we’ve compiled a list of common commercial property responsibilities, covering both building maintenance and electrical works.
Your Building Maintenance Checklist
Whether it’s due to compliance, damage, or age, there are a lot of things to watch out for when it comes to commercial building maintenance. Just some of the things you will need to stay on top of include tiling and grouting, carpentry, odd jobs, and general maintenance.
Other items on your building maintenance checklist include:
Painting and Plastering
Whether you’re looking to attract quality customers, clients, tenants, or employees, a coat of paint can go a long way.
You should consider repainting the interior of your building every 3-5 years. Exterior painting will vary from property to property. If your building is exposed to direct sunlight or ocean air, it’s façade will need painting approximately every 5 years, while a sheltered weatherboard exterior may last up to 15 years.
Plastering should be completed on a needs basis with regular inspections to check for signs of damage or wear and tear.
Locksmith Work
Security is everything for commercial properties, whether it’s an apartment building or a factory floor. If your locks have been breached or compromised, you should have them replaced immediately. You should also consider upgrading your locks after a break-in, during building renovations, and periodically throughout a building’s lifetime.
Plumbing
Regular maintenance can prevent expensive breakdowns and plumbing emergencies. Depending on the type of commercial property you manage, plumbing maintenance may be required to meet compliance requirements, including compliance for backflow prevention, air quality, and water disposal. Commercial plumbing maintenance should be carried out annually, if not more often.
Glazing
Replacing the windows on your commercial property can enhance the comfort, appearance, and energy efficiency of the building.In factories, warehouses, and industrial settings, you should also consider noise reduction and security in particular.
Other reasons to replace your windows include glass or frame damage, water or air leaks, overexposure to sunlight, and to prevent constant repairs and maintenance.
Flooring
There are many signs that the flooring in your commercial property requires attention. These include stains, trip hazards and other safety concerns, outdated and damaged appearance, and other signs of wear and tear. You may need to repair or replace your flooring depending on the extent of the damage.
In general, quality commercial flooring can last you 20 years or more, but you should be inspecting it annually as well as on a needs basis.
Your Electrical Maintenance Checklist
When it comes to electrical commercial property maintenance, there are many responsibilities that you will need to attend to. For example, you may need to replace or upgrade aerials, antennas, and electrical appliances due to age, damage, or wear and tear.
Other items on your electrical maintenance checklist include:
Lighting
You can have the lighting in your building checked as often as monthly, although bulbs and lights can generally be inspected and replaced on a needs basis. You may also wish to upgrade to energy-efficient LEDs or install some architectural lighting in your office, retail store, or another commercial setting.
As well as this, your emergency and exit lighting must be professionally tested every six months to meet compliance requirements.
RCD Testing and Tagging
Your RCD, or Residual Current Device, is the part of the switchboard that trips and safely switches off the power in an electrical emergency. To meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760, your RCD and electrical leads will need testing every 12 months.
Thermal Image Testing
To maintain electrical equipment, minimize costs, and uphold safety, you should make thermal imaging part of your electrical maintenance checklist every 6 months to a year. Thermal imaging allows professionals to scan their switchboards and other equipment to identify and resolve faults and potential hazards.
Switchboard Upgrades
Switchboards are essential for minimizing downtime and increasing safety, especially in commercial environments. Your switchboard may need upgrading depending on the results of your thermal imaging tests.
Smoke Detectors
In terms of commercial property maintenance, smoke alarms should be tested and checked for damage monthly. Every year, the battery should be replaced (or the voltage should be tested for rechargeable batteries) and the unit should be carefully checked and cleaned.
Smoke detectors themselves should be replaced based on manufacturer warranty (around every 10 years) or on a needs basis.
Electric Hot Water Units
For commercial properties, electric hot water units should receive preventative maintenance annually as well as services and repairs on a needs basis. Hot water systems generally need to be replaced every 10 years depending on performance.
Heating and Air Conditioning Units
HVAC systems such as split system air conditioners should be serviced at least once a year and should last approximately 20 years with proper servicing.
Communications – Data and Telephone Cabling
Data and telephone cabling should be installed and upgraded on a needs basis to match the requirements of your commercial property. All cabling standards and regulations must be maintained, and all work must be completed by a registered professional.
Schedule Your Commercial Property Maintenance with a Professional
By choosing a team that can handle both electrical and building maintenance, you can be sure that your property remains safe, modern, and up to code at all times. From urgent 24-hour requests to expertly scheduled works, your property maintenance professional should be able to handle it all for an affordable price. With this checklist and a team of professionals on your side, you’ll never have to worry about your property maintenance requirements again!
