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Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now
Maintenance on major building systems comprises a significant portion of the property’s operating budget. These systems also have the greatest potential for risk in terms of malfunction, loss, and expense.
Routine inspections and proper, quality maintenance can help reduce this risk.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
10. Landscaping
Be on the lookout for poor curb appeal, tree limbs near windows, plants overlapping pedestrian walkways, and improper snow removal.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
9. Pools, Fountains
Common issues include missing signage around the pool, no screen or filter around the pool, pond, or fountain, and broken rails on swimming pool ladders.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
8. Escalators
Inspect for stopped escalators, gaps on the sides of escalator stairs, and loose/broken belts.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
7. ElevatorsInspect for a dirty elevator room, trash in elevator pits, missing signage (load, permit, contact information), a missing or non-working emergency communication system inside the elevator, uneven leveling of the elevator floor, doors not closing completely, the electronic eyes in elevator doors not working properly, and dirty elevator tracks.
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Look for disconnected fire alarm systems, leaking or missing eschelons, locked out/tagged out equipment, lack of signage on mechanical or laundry rooms, and improperly installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
6. Fire and Life Safety
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Common issues include trash or storage in an electrical closet, an extension cord plugged into another extension cord, burn marks on the wall above the baseboard or heater, no GFCI by sink, uncovered junction and/or circuit breaker boxes, and an overloaded duplex outlet.
5. Electrical
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Inspect for leaks, rusted pipes, stains or calcium deposits, running urinals or toilets, dirty or overflowing grease traps, retention ponds that are overgrown or filled with debris, and electrolysis, or copper connected to lead.
4. Plumbing
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Common issues include pot holes, expansion joints, alligatoring, clogged drainage catch basins, and cracked/uneven sidewalks.
3. Paved Surfaces
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Check for dirty filters, dirty coils, dirty vents, loose belts, and residents or tenants covering vents to limit the amount of heat or air conditioning coming through.
2. HVAC
Top 10 Building Systems To Inspect Now.
Be on the lookout for ponding water, flashing failure, clogged scuppers or downspouts, conduit not elevated on blocks, separation of single-ply roofing, bubbles on built-up roofs, exposed felts, and pitch pan issues especially around HVAC units.
1. Roofs
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Learn more in the IREM® Course Managing The Physical Asset, and visit www.irem.org
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