12 Facilities Management Checklist Essentials

Facility management teams have the job of external and internal facility asset upkeep. Whether it’s a building’s structural integrity, a fire alarm system, or the health of the lawn, there’s a lot for facilities management to track. An industry-leading software solution is the ideal tool for preparing and monitoring a facilities management checklist compilation, enabling maintenance teams to work more efficiently and promptly attend to preventative maintenance tasks. 

What is a Facilities Management Checklist?

A facility checklist is crucial in keeping a facility running smoothly. Also often called a preventive maintenance checklist, the facility checklist outlines the courses of action to be taken in a specified facility maintenance task. As each checklist item is completed, it gets recorded and added to the facility maintenance record.

Why Use a Facility Checklist?

A facility maintenance checklist helps to ensure that personnel conducts inspections and performs upkeep duties the same way every time. Monitoring the status of all assets in a facility helps facility management to assess maintenance needs and avoid unexpected and costly repairs.

Types of Checklists

There are many different kinds of facilities management checklists, each focusing on other areas of a business facility to ensure all assets are in good working order and all equipment is functioning properly. Different industries will use checklists that are appropriate to the type of business. A retail store checklist will differ greatly from a restaurant maintenance checklist. A restaurant’s checklist may share some elements with a hotel maintenance checklist. 

These are a few commonly used facility checklists to consider for your organization.

Building Maintenance 

A building maintenance checklist focuses on the condition of a building’s internal and exterior elements. A company may use more than just one maintenance checklist for a single building. A cleaning checklist prioritizes visible cleanliness and sanitary conditions of building spaces. A building maintenance checklist for internal systems would focus on items such as lighting, wiring, and HVAC systems.

Equipment Maintenance 

An equipment maintenance checklist focuses on internal equipment and building automation systems. The security system and all your elevators, plumbing, and system control units are examples of equipment your maintenance crew would inspect using an equipment checklist.

Energy Usage 

An energy usage checklist monitors elements that use electrical power. Recording gauge readings for assets such as cold storage for restaurants or energy-efficient equipment for a green business enables facilities management to make an at-a-glance determination as to whether or not to make any adjustments.

Safety Protocols 

A safety protocol checklist helps maintain and improve safety by focusing on critical facility safeguards. Some common items on a safety checklist include ensuring the security system works properly, fire extinguishers are at the proper pressure and up-to-date, and making sure emergency exit route signs are in place and exits are unobstructed.

Outdoor Facility Management

An outdoor facility management checklist focuses on a facility’s external elements. An outdoor checklist outlines safety conditions, such as potential tripping hazards on sidewalks and parking lots. It makes sure ADA parking spots are clearly marked and ramps are accessible and stable. Aesthetic items like lawn care and landscaping may be part of the same inspection checklist or may have a checklist of their own.

Facilities Management Checklist Essentials

Regardless of its area of focus, a facilities management checklist template will prioritize one or all of four key elements. The four pillars of facilities management are:

• People – this pillar prioritizes the well-being of staff and visitors.
• Processes – this pillar focuses on the procedures involved in maintaining a facility. 
• Building – this pillar targets facility maintenance budgets and planning. 
• Technology – this pillar prioritizes software and information technology (IT) hardware integrations for updating and upgrading processes and operations.

I. Safety and Security

Facility managers look to safety and security essentials to ensure the well-being of anyone who walks onto the property or enters the building. From visitors to personnel, these checklists prioritize the protection of everyone in the building from various threats. Commonly targeted safety and security essentials include emergency response plans, fire alarms and extinguishers, access control, video surveillance equipment, and carbon monoxide detectors.

II. Maintenance

Maintenance essentials focus on preserving a facility’s physical condition and keeping facility equipment functioning correctly. A facilities maintenance checklist prioritizes tasks such as preventive maintenance, reactive maintenance, tracking work orders, and managing third-party vendor activities.

III. Energy Systems

Energy system essentials prioritize energy usage and assets that rely on electricity to function. Companies often put a strong emphasis on energy conservation and lower energy bills. Environmental sustainability is another strong driver in energy system monitoring. HVAC, heating systems, lighting, and utility monitoring are commonly tracked for energy checklists.

IV. Space Management

Space management focuses on layout and design, space planning and allocation, and workplace flexibility. Internal spatial elements frequently factor into implementing just about any facilities management checklist. A regular maintenance checklist for space management might include ensuring automatic doors and windows function properly, inspecting floors for tripping hazards or making sure storage areas are adequately maintained.

V. Sustainability

Sustainability prioritizes environmental considerations. Energy-efficient equipment and green cleaning practices are two frequently utilized elements for sustainability essentials. A checklist focused on sustainability will often monitor waste management practices, cleaning solution ingredients, and the energy consumption of critical equipment.

VI. Compliance and Regulations

Compliance essentials focus on maintaining the health and safety of everyone within the facility. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are three of the most prevalent agencies that govern health and safety standards. Local and state agencies often enforce commercial and industrial building codes, considerably impacting occupant well-being.

VII. Asset Management

Asset management essentials entail monitoring and maintaining a facility’s assets, such as equipment and inventory. Asset management checklists might include manufacturing and packaging equipment, stockroom supplies, or end-product inventories.

VIII. Equipment Repairs

Equipment repair essentials fall under regular maintenance tasks but specifically address breakdowns. An equipment repair checklist ensures facility managers can rely on their teams to promptly address crucial equipment and machinery issues to avoid production disruptions and unplanned downtime.

IX. Financial Management

Financial management essentials involve allocating financial resources, budgetary planning, and tracking expenses. These high-level tasks usually fall on executives and management to analyze and manage facility-related finances effectively and cost-efficiently.

X. Communication and Collaboration

When management and teams update each other on progress, everyone can respond more promptly to unexpected situations. Communicating thoughts and ideas between teams and departments encourages creative solutions and innovations. As a facility management essential, this element often appears in performance reviews rather than a maintenance checklist.

XI. Technologies and Tools

Tools and technology can efficiently use data analytics and reporting to stay up to date and help anticipate maintenance and replacement needs. Internet of Things (IoT) devices let equipment talk to a control center, keeping teams updated on real-time equipment conditions and performance. Mobile apps enable personnel to view specific asset information anywhere in the facility.

XII. Disaster Recovery

Preparing for a variety of potential incidents is critical to effective facilities management. Incorporate disaster recovery, emergency response, and crisis management into your company’s operating procedures. Create teams to carry out response and recovery efforts and provide continuing education to ensure preparedness.

Maximizing Facility Management with ServiceChannel

Today’s software options simplify the creation and utilization of facility checklists. A robust facility management software solution empowers personnel to focus on real-world work duties. It takes on the task of tracking and analyzing critical asset and facility information. Streamline facility management and keep your teams informed in real-time with Service Channel. Request a demo today!