The types of work carried out by a facilities maintenance provider is generally split into one of two groups; hard or soft maintenance. Hard services relate to a property’s hard and physical structure and facilities that are required to keep the building safe and in full working order. These can include the repair and maintenance of air conditioning, lighting, fire safety features, plumbing and internal and external decor and refurbishment.
Soft facilities include non fixed assets that assist in the day to day maintenance, comfort and safety of the building. This can include implementing pest control, cleaning, waste disposal as well as furniture, grounds and IT equipment repair and maintenance.
Facilities maintenance is considered a far more cost effective and energy efficient approach to running a commercial or public sector building as regular surveying, maintenance and preventive repairs reduce the need for emergency repairs which can be costly and disruptive.