Clearview National January 2020 - Issue 218 | Page 12

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INDUSTRYNEWS
2020 focus: commercial glazing
maintenance in the FM sector
» MAINTENANCE, IN ALL ITS FORMS,
is a crucial part of facilities managers’ roles
– in the simplest sense, it centres around
the efficiency, safety and functionality of a
company’s building, services and equipment.
It’s no secret that window and door
maintenance is a priority that often features
on the facilities management (FM) agenda,
but why will it be higher on the list than
ever before in 2020? James Sutherland,
managing director of Huddersfield-
based Dortech Maintenance,
explores this in more depth.
THE ERA OF THE
SPECIALIST
It’s true that facilities managers
are no strangers to frequently
servicing their capital equipment
to maximise efficiencies and the
operational lifespan of their machinery.
However, during the last 12 months, shrewd
FMs have been increasingly recognising that
their glazing is actually an asset that also
requires a planned maintenance strategy to
minimise disruption and maintain security
throughout.
However, while 2019 has been a key
year for catalysing this change in mindset,
there’s still a long way to go. The glazing
maintenance industry has witnessed a large
number of issues, such as installations of
incorrect glass specifications – stemming from
cost-cutting procurement strategies. This is
where a more specialist, and less generalist,
approach prevails.
CHALLENGES FACING THE
FM INDUSTRY IN 2020
There’s no doubt it’s been a turbulent year
for the country’s economy, and this has put
the FM sector in a very difficult position –
especially where budgeting and contingency
planning is concerned. In 2020, it will be all
about shifting from a reactive to a preventative
mindset.
With uncertainty still very much in flux
surrounding Brexit and economic stability,
it’s likely that FM budgets will continue to
be impacted – with less money allocated for
upkeep projects – business models will have to
12 » JAN 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
be adjusted to align with
this reduction in funds.
Yet, while being more cautious
with corporate expenditure isn’t a bad thing,
sometimes this can lead to greater issues when
it comes to making decisions around building
upkeep – commercial glazing maintenance
being a prime example.
For instance, it’s probably because they
rarely fail, that the importance of commercial
windows and doors maintenance has so often
been overlooked – and this will go on to
challenge industry professionals next year. In
truth, because windows and doors are usually
regarded as a day-to-day, functional element
of a building – their importance is often
underappreciated. It’s only when they fail to
work correctly that they receive the attention
they need.
However, there’s irony in not prioritising
glazing maintenance, because this has the
potential to actually cause more pricey
replacement issues – which could have been
avoided if a planned preventative maintenance
(PPM) strategy had been in place. In essence,
with a reduction in budgets and more
consideration given to the cost-effectiveness
and ROI of departmental spending, more
facilities professionals will be faced with the
choice of continually optimising the lifecycle
of their existing installations, or footing the
higher bill of a full replacement job at a later
date.
In addition, 2019 has seen an increasing
number of organisations introduce initiatives
to enhance energy efficiency – with the aim
to make their sites more future-proofed
and sustainable. This is a trend which will
undoubtedly continue throughout 2020,
as more companies implement measures to
improve their green credentials.
One easy way to ensure an efficient energy
footprint and healthier bottom line – in terms
of heating bills – is regularly maintaining
windows and doors. For example, if the seals
are broken, or moisture is appearing between
windowpanes, it’s a sign that valuable warmth
is being lost. So, if it’s not on the radar already
this year, this is a key area which facilities
managers should look to consider in 2020.
REPAIR VERSUS REPLACE
Where possible – and, of course, safe –
restoration should always be recommended
over renewal. That’s because taking care of
windows and doors – keeping them clean and
checking their functionality – can ward off any
nasty, and financially-damaging, surprises. It
can also prevent any unnecessary downtime
for a company too.
As a result, it’s looking like 2020 will be the
year that repair truly overtakes replacement,
as more industry experts recognise that PPM
presents both a long-term economic benefit
as well as a priceless tool of reassurance that a
building is safe, and corners haven’t been cut.