Building Health Check: What Gets Maintained & When
Building Health Check: What Gets Maintained & When
Your maintenance fee doesn’t just disappear. Behind the scenes, the MO manages a complex maintenance calendar for dozens of systems across 5 blocks.
The Scale of Maintenance
| System | Count | What’s Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Lifts | ~10 | 2 per block (B1, B3, B5, B7, B9) |
| Water Pumps | ~15 | Domestic, booster, fire, sump |
| Water Tanks | ~10 | Roof tanks per block |
| Fire Alarm Panels | ~5 | 1 per block |
| Fire Extinguishers | ~100 | Hose reels, extinguishers everywhere |
| CCTV Cameras | ~30+ | Lobbies, corridors, car parks, perimeter |
| Gensets | ~5 | Emergency generators per block |
| Gate Barriers | ~5 | Vehicle entry/exit per block |
| Access Card Readers | ~20+ | Lobby, car park, facilities |
Maintenance Cadence
Daily
- Security patrols — check all common areas
- Cleaning — lobbies, corridors, facilities
- Waste collection — from common bins
- Water pump check — pressure log reading
Weekly
- Lift operation check — door function, emergency call, illumination
- Fire alarm test — system functionality
- Genset run test — start and run for 15 minutes
- Pest control — bait station check, spraying schedule
Monthly
- Lift servicing — lubrication, brake adjustment, door alignment
- Water quality test — sampling and treatment as needed
- CCTV system check — recording, camera alignment
- Fire extinguisher visual check — pressure gauge, seal, access
Quarterly
- Fire drill — evacuation practice with residents
- Water tank cleaning — drain, scrub, disinfect, refill
- Genset full service — oil change, filter replacement
- Sump pump check — basement drainage test
Annually
- DOSH/JKKP lift inspection — mandatory safety certification
- Fire system inspection — by certified fire safety contractor
- Electrical switchboard inspection — by registered electrical contractor
- Building structural assessment — cracks, waterproofing, facade
- External paint inspection — condition assessment
Every 5-10 Years
- Major lift overhaul — complete replacement (15-20 years)
- Building repainting — exterior (5-7 years)
- Roof waterproofing — membrane replacement (10-15 years)
- Pipe replacement — internal plumbing (20+ years)
What “Preventive Maintenance” Means
Reactive: “The lift broke, call the technician.” → Unit trapped, everyone angry. Preventive: “Check the lift monthly, replace worn parts.” → Lift stops working less often. Predictive: “This lift motor is making a sound — replace it before it fails.” → Almost zero downtime.
| Approach | Cost per year | Downtime | Resident satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reactive (fix when broken) | $$$$$ | 🔴 High | 🔴 Low |
| Preventive (regular schedule) | $$$ | 🟡 Medium | 🟡 Medium |
| Predictive (condition-based) | $$ | 🟢 Low | 🟢 High |
The problem: Reactive maintenance is what happens when the budget is too tight. You fix what breaks, you don’t replace what’s aging. Over time, everything breaks at once.
Why the Lift Is “Always Broken”
If the lift fails frequently, here’s what’s usually happening:
- It’s old — lifts have a 20-25 year lifespan. After that, parts get harder to find.
- Parts are on order — lift parts can take 2-8 weeks to arrive.
- Monthly servicing was skipped — sometimes MO cuts costs by reducing service frequency.
- High usage — 1,120 units = thousands of trips per day. More usage = more wear.
- Misuse — children pressing all buttons, moving furniture without padding.
What you can do: Report each lift failure to the MO with the exact date, time, and lift number. A pattern of reports helps the JMB justify a lift overhaul.