Anything within the domain of managing and maintaining buildings is a part of building management.
When buildings and facilities are well maintained and supervised, the occupants can experience a comfortable and functional environment around them.
In this blog post, we delve into building management, why it’s important, how it works, its types, and the best practices in building management.
What is building management?
Building management involves maintaining and supervising the physical infrastructure of a building. This includes facilities, equipment, and overall systems within a building. From HVAC systems to lighting, plumbing, elevators, and security systems; building management encompasses the maintenance and supervision of everything within a building.
Careful planning, execution, and ongoing maintenance are required for effective building management. As a result, this ensures the comfort, safety, and efficiency of the occupants.
Building management is a part of facility management that involves facility maintenance, operations, and repairs. The main goal of building management is to keep the building in optimal condition so that it continues to function smoothly.
Building management can involve the maintenance and management of commercial buildings like office buildings or shopping malls (building maintenance), and residential buildings like apartments, houses, villas, and condominiums (residential buildings).
Let’s discuss an example of building management. Suppose you have a building whose HVAC equipment requires maintenance planning and scheduling. You can opt for equipment maintenance scheduling to prevent the HVAC system from breaking down and ensure safety.
Why is building management important?
Building management is crucial. We have listed down several reasons to understand why.
Managing complexity
The functions and operations of manufacturing facilities and commercial buildings are complex. Several functions must be managed to ensure the facility or building offers a safe and comfortable environment to its occupants. It must also be ensured that the performance of the building is cost-effective and up to standards.
Promoting sustainability
Building management systems are considered vital for sustaining green buildings or green data centers. They help reduce an organization’s carbon footprint by monitoring energy usage and identifying energy savings opportunities. Examples include switching off lighting when specific buildings or rooms are not occupied or at specific times to reduce the consumption of electricity.
Enabling real-time monitoring
The majority of the building maintenance applications can be accessed through various devices like laptops, workstations, and mobile devices. This enables facility or building managers to monitor the conditions of the buildings and other facilities in real time.
Facilitating remote access
The ability to remotely access the functions of building management enables the facility managers to quickly respond to emergencies and manage building systems remotely. This increases operational responsiveness and efficiency.
How does building management work?
Let’s understand how building management works. A basic building management system comprises software, a server with a database, and smart sensors connected over an internet connection.
The sensors and other smart building technologies gather data throughout the facility and transmit it to the building management system, where it is stored in a database. Later, the data is analyzed and displayed on dashboards.
In case any sensor reports data that goes beyond predefined limits, the building management system notifies the user. For example, the building management system might send an alarm in a data center if a server rack becomes too hot or water spills on the floor.
In the majority of cases, a centralized building management system is required, which is equipped with specialized maintenance management software connected to several sensors that are responsible for monitoring conditions throughout the building over wired or wireless internet networks.
Large organizations may use advanced CMMS programs or multiple building management systems to manage different facilities like data centers, office buildings, and manufacturing plants.
The sensors within the building management system can monitor several functions of a building, like:
- Building automation systems
- Fire safety systems
- Physical security systems
- Smart building functions
- Energy use
- Sustainability systems
- Energy-efficient windows
- Air handling and quality control
- HVAC systems
- Electrical systems
- Water detection systems
- Elevators
- Overall building operations
Types of building management system
There are several types of building management. Let’s discuss them below:
Commercial building management
It involves managing and supervising shopping malls, office buildings, and other commercial buildings and properties.
Residential building management
It includes overseeing properties and buildings like condominiums, villas, townhouses, and apartments.
Facility management
It includes managing and overseeing specific facilities within a building like laboratories, manufacturing plants, and data centers.
Corporate real estate management
It involves managing an organization’s real estate assets like leasing, acquiring, and disposing of properties.
Best practices in building management
Let’s discuss some of the best practices in building management.
Regular maintenance
One of the key practices in building management is to regularly maintain the building’s equipment and systems to ensure they operate safely and efficiently. Regular upkeep can include timely cleaning, repairs, and inspections.
Energy efficiency
Another best practice in building management is to increase energy efficiency by using HVAC controls, LED lighting, and smart building technologies. This will help with energy conservation.
Safety and security
Ensuring the safety and security of occupants within the buildings is another best practice in building management. This can be done by using robust measures like installing security cameras, implementing comprehensive emergency plans, and using access controls.
Effective communication
Effective communication helps improve building management processes. It is essential to keep open and clear lines of communication with stakeholders and tenants to resolve their needs and concerns quickly.
Sustainability initiatives
Another best practice in building management is to pay attention to sustainability initiatives. This can be done by starting recycling programs, reducing waste, and using eco-friendly materials in building processes.
Budget management
Last but not least, it is essential to maintain a detailed budget to monitor spending and look up opportunities to minimize costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is building management?
Building management is a part of facility management that involves the maintenance, repair, and operations of a building. The main purpose of building management is to keep the building in the best working condition to continue to fulfill its purpose.
What is involved in building management?
Building management involves the supervision of the operations and maintenance of a building or property. It also includes tasks like managing repair and maintenance, ensuring the safety and security of a building, handling tenant relations, and supervising the financial aspects of the property.
What is an example of building management?
An example of building management can be scheduling routine maintenance and routine inspections of elevators, HVAC systems, and other building infrastructure to avoid breakdowns and ensure safety.
