4/5/18
Brian Driskell, Sr. Strategy Manager, Education, W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Instead of waiting for that critical system or piece of equipment to break down, include these six areas in your institution’s preventive maintenance program.
As college infrastructures continue to age, institutions are in a race against the clock to keep up with the demands of existing space while also renewing the functionality and performance of their educational spaces. “An older campus presents more maintenance challenges and it may or may not be able to meet programmatic needs,” according to Sightlines’ 2017 State of Facilities in Higher Education, which says that the average U.S. higher education campus age is now 34.2 years old.
One of the best ways for institutions to preserve existing buildings and facilities is by performing regular, preventive maintenance (i.e., regularly servicing equipment on a predetermined schedule) in key areas. “Timely replacement of parts is a simple way to keep equipment running at top efficiency, and should not be delayed until equipment fails,” the Department of Energy states in its Guide to Operating and Maintaining EnergySmart Schools.
Here are six areas of campus that should be included in your institution’s preventive maintenance program:
As you develop your institution’s preventive maintenance plan, avoid the urge to push key pieces of equipment over to a “breakdown maintenance” plan, where nothing is done until that critical item breaks down. And while the latter may “sound like a cost-saving approach to maintenance,” SchoolDude notes in 5 Education Operations Management Trends to Know for 2018, “precisely the opposite is true.”
Brian Driskell is the education segment senior strategy manager for Grainger Industrial Supply. His roles and responsibilities are to truly be the expert related to trends and initiatives within the education segments. He partners with school districts, higher education campuses, and educational organizations to ensure that Grainger offers the most relevant solutions to its education clients. Brian has been with Grainger for over 22 years and has been serving government and education customers for over 10 of those years.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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