Who's responsible?
Facilities Management is often asked who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment. Two factors govern this responsibility.
- University funding
- National standard for universities and colleges
The information on this page will give you a brief overview of funded and non-funded services and what's considered routine and preventive building and equipment maintenance. It is paraphrased or excerpted from A Classification of Accounts for Physical Plant (APPA). Please contact Facilities Management with further clarification of our policies.
University Funding
Facilities Management is funded for general fund facilities (i.e., a permanent facility of the main campus that houses academic or administrative functions and is supported by the University's General Fund).
National Standard for Universities and Colleges
The APPA publication, A Classification of Accounts for Physical Plant, serves as the national basis for determining the physical plant funding responsibility. However, institutions do vary from this standard. For example, research facilities differ on each campus and historical agreements may take precedence. However, each institution can apply the general principles to its own unique circumstances.
The following is an excerpt from A Classification of Accounts for Physical Plant outlining what building and equipment maintenance items are considered routine and preventive.
2. Building and Equipment Maintenance
- Building maintenance includes all items related to routine repair of buildings, structures, and appurtenances, including normally recurring repairs and preventive maintenance. The following are included:
- 2.1 Interior and exterior of buildings:
- 2.1.1 Plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation
- 2.1.2 Electrical repairs of all types including primary and secondary systems, certain lamp replacements, and maintenance of outdoor lighting fixtures
- 2.1.3 Carpentry
- 2.1.4 Maintenance painting and glazing
- 2.1.5 Hardware, locks, keys, closers, etc.
- 2.1.6 Roofing and sheet metal work
- 2.1.7 Welding and necessary machine work
- 2.1.8 Elevators and similar equipment
- 2.1.9 Miscellaneous building repairs
- 2.2 General purpose fixed classroom furniture and equipment within buildings but not inventoried to a department
- 2.3 Utility distribution systems inside buildings—electrical, heating, process steam, water lines, gas lines, and sewer lines
- 2.4 Operating and replacement costs of all equipment, materials and tools used in building maintenance
- Building maintenance also may provide services on a reimbursable basis to other accounts. Examples of these are auxiliary enterprises, alterations and improvements, new construction, experimental and special teaching support facilities, and departmental inventoried equipment.