Lucy - BQ Magazine EditorPreventative maintenance is the act of monitoring and inspecting different aspects of our businesses regularly to help you avoid breakdowns, downtime, and failure.
Employing preventative maintenance can benefit the company in multiple ways, including increased output, improved compliance, standardisation, and significant cost savings due to reduced emergency repairs and downtime.
But what should be included in your preventative ambience schedule is to avoid issues and ensure everything is running as it needs to be.
HVAC
If you rely on your HVAC, be it for an aperture-controlled area for stock or for keeping the office at a comfortable temperature for topical working, then you need to make sure your HVAC is on the site for preventative maintenance.
Maintaining your HVAC cna includes cleaning ducts, changing filters, unit inspections, cleaning external parts, repairing coils, and checking refrigerant levels. You can hire internally to complete these tasks or use an expert third-party company like Kinlochs and Son Limited to complete them for you regularly.
Electrical Systems
Your electrical system is an integral aspect of the building, and a code violation can lead you to a range of risks and potential damage. Electrical failure, even minor, can be deadly even if you’re only running a small store or office, for example.
Regular inspections and maintenance, including checking the wiring, circuit breakers, outlets and emergency lighting, among the electrical aspects of your premise, can help you stay on top of any issues and give you peace of mind your electrical system is in good working order and compliant with all current requirements.
Plumbing
Imagine the consequences of a flood in your business. Would you have to close? Write off stock? Repair damage to flooring, ceilings, etc.? A leak in your plumbing system or a complete failure can be disastrous. Regular inspections of your plumbing system are crucial to identify problems and rectify them before they escalate.
Regular checks for leaks, clearing drains, and inspecting pipes, cisterns, and faucets can help you ensure the safety and status of your plumbing.
Machinery and Equipment
Any type of machinery or equipment you use needs to be inspected regularly and checked over as part of your preventative maintenance schedule. All working parts need to be checked and signed off as in good condition, and repairs reported and actioned immediately.
This ensures that all your equipment is fit for purpose and safer for people to use. By planning for downtime and arranging business operations if needed, and by making decisions on upgrading and replacing based on the results of your maintenance inspections, you can make a more cost-effective exercise in terms of upgrades or replacing older equipment.
Security
Preventative maintenance in terms of security can include physical security options you have in place, such as alarm systems, looks and handles, doors, and all of your windows. This means you can identify possible breaches and weaknesses and get them resolved quickly to dissuade security issues. However, it can also include your technology’s cybersecurity and internal security measures.
Having efficient firewalls and security practices in place to block out cyber criminals is vital, and having regular audits and maintenance on your systems to reinforce your security measures is essential and helps you update what you need to meet ever-evolving threats.