The significance of maintenance

Why maintain?

It is the nature of things that many building components deteriorate and wear out with time and use. Maintenance is the act of rectifying or preventing this deterioration. It is self-evident that maintenance goes hand-in-hand with owning or occupying a building.

The rationale for maintenance will vary by:

  • building type;
  • organisation; and
  • finance.

Typically maintenance is carried out to:

  • retain the value of assets;
  • ensure efficient and reliable functioning of built assets;
  • ensure health and safety compliance;
  • comply with statutory requirements;
  • keep up appearance; and
  • avoid expensive repairs and replacement of components or elements.

Economic significance of maintenance

Maintenance may not be a glamorous aspect of construction but it contributes significantly to the UK economy:

  • Maintenance expenditure in 2013 represented just over 3% of the Gross Domestic Product.
  • In 2013 the total expenditure on maintenance was estimated at over £54,000 million.
  • Maintenance expenditure represents around 1% of the replacement cost of all building types.
  • Repair and maintenance accounts for just under 40% of all construction output.
  • Housing accounts for just over 42% of all expenditure on repair and maintenance.

(Figures based on BCIS Report on the economic significance of maintenance 2015.)

Economic significance of building services maintenance

Building services work accounts for about 20% of all construction value. In 2003 construction output was valued at £75,000 million; building services accounted for just under £16,000 million.

In 2004, repair, maintenance and improvement of building services was expected to account for 60% of all mechanical and electrical (M & E) work. This 60% comprises:

  • 20% related to repair, maintenance and improvement of housing; and
  • 40% related to non-housing.

(Figures based on Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) The Building Services Report by King, A. and Samuelsson-Brown, G., 2004.)

Maintenance and the chartered surveyor

For chartered surveyors, involvement with maintenance, planned maintenance in particular, represents an opportunity for a constant income stream.

Involvement may be at various levels:

  • strategic: determining the role of maintenance in an organisation's business plan and overall objectives;
  • technical: assessing the condition of built assets or specifying planned maintenance work;
  • managerial: organising planned maintenance;
  • safety: CDM co-ordinator.