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Effect of Building Maintenance Practices on the Service Life of Public Buildings

Abstract

The study examines the effect of building maintenance practices on the service life of public buildings, with emphasis on how regular and appropriate maintenance activities contribute to the preservation, functionality, and durability of public building components. Public buildings are exposed to continuous use, environmental conditions, and physical deterioration, making effective maintenance important for sustaining their performance over time. Poor maintenance may accelerate deterioration, increase repair requirements, and reduce the period during which building facilities can perform effectively. The study will assess selected building maintenance practices, including routine inspection, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, cleaning, repair of building components, servicing of building services, replacement of deteriorated elements, and maintenance scheduling. Attention will also be given to the condition of major building components such as roofs, walls, floors, doors, windows, finishes, plumbing systems, electrical installations, and external works. The service life of buildings will be considered in relation to the condition, functionality, and durability of these components. A descriptive cross-sectional research design will be adopted for the study. Selected public buildings will be assessed through physical inspection, maintenance-condition checklists, review of available maintenance records, and structured questionnaires administered to building managers, maintenance personnel, and relevant users. Data obtained will be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while appropriate correlation or comparative tests may be applied to examine the relationship between maintenance practices and indicators of building service life. The study is expected to reveal that buildings with regular inspections, preventive maintenance, timely repairs, and appropriate maintenance scheduling may demonstrate better physical condition and longer functional service life. Buildings characterized by delayed repairs, inadequate maintenance planning, poor record keeping, or predominantly reactive maintenance practices may experience faster deterioration of building components and increased maintenance requirements. Differences may also be observed according to building age, usage intensity, construction materials, environmental exposure, and availability of maintenance resources. The findings will be useful to architects, facility managers, building owners, maintenance personnel, public-sector administrators, quantity surveyors, and other professionals involved in the management of public buildings. The study may provide useful information for improving maintenance planning, budgeting, inspection procedures, and maintenance management practices. The findings may also support more efficient use of public resources by encouraging timely intervention and reducing avoidable deterioration of building facilities. The study will conclude by establishing the effect of building maintenance practices on the service life of public buildings. It is recommended that public buildings should be supported by structured maintenance programmes that emphasize regular inspection, preventive maintenance, timely repairs, proper documentation, and adequate allocation of maintenance resources. Further studies involving different categories of public buildings and longer periods of observation are recommended to provide broader evidence on maintenance practices and building durability.

Keywords: Building maintenance practices, service life, public buildings, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, building deterioration, facility management, building condition, maintenance planning, building components, maintenance scheduling, public facilities, building durability, building performance, sustainable building management.