Facilities can be compared to the human body. They all have a useful life, they live and breathe, they age, they get sick or injured, and they have a final disposition.
The more attention to detail and care we give a facility, the longer the serviceable life the facility will give in return.
The life expectancy of newer construction is much different than the buildings constructed in the World War I and World War II era. Early generation construction theory was to build to last. The theory of later generation buildings is that it may be cheaper to dispose of major operating systems and components than to repair or rebuild them.
With buildings and the infrastructure continually aging “Deferred” maintenance has become a very well known concept. This concept, often conducted in a piecemeal fashion, has caused enormous amounts of money to be wasted. The newer generation of building management is beginning to see that it is more economical in the long run to be proactive instead of reactive.
The proactive approach of building analysis, including conditional assessment, on a periodic basis can greatly improve the facilities management comprehension of all pending issues. It is also the best tool in the development of worthy capital improvement plan for the facility.
