In this Facility Maintenance Decisions magazine roundtable discussion read the insights and suggestions offered by facilities consultants including our own Christopher Hodges, PE, CFM, LEED® AP, IFMA Fellow, FRICS on the challenges that managers face with deferred maintenance and their unique perspectives on how to turn the tide.
Chris Hodges is a founding Principal of Facility Engineering Associates, with over 30 years of experience in building operations and facility management. He is a Registered Professional Engineer, Certified Facility Manager (IFMA -International Facility Management Association), and LEED™ Accredited Professional (USGBC-U.S. Green Building Council). Chris earned his Master’s Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University. He holds the designation of Registered Roof Consultant from the Roof Consultant’s Institute. Chris is an active member of IFMA, and has served terms as President of the Capital Chapter and member of the Board of Directors. Chris is also an IFMA Fellow, and Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He currently serves as Chair of IFMA’s Sustainability Committee and has authored numerous articles on Sustainable Facility Management and is the author of the “Getting Started” Guide on sustainability in facility management for the IFMA Foundation. Chris is also a member of IFMA’s Education Committee, and is a Master Instructor on the IFMA faculty; teaching IFMA credentialing and core competency courses (FMP, CFM, SFP), and routinely participating in new course development. Chris was the lead Subject Matter Expert for the development of IFMA’s Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) credential. He is also a member of the adjunct faculty for George Mason University’s certificate program in Facility Management, and Sustainability in Existing Buildings. He also teaches in the professional programs for Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. Chris has written, presented, and conducted workshops in the U.S. and internationally for IFMA (World Workplace), USGBC (GreenBuild), APPA, and numerous other organizations. The latest book by Chris Hodges and Mark Sekula offers a comprehensive and fresh approach to current sustainability trends and practices in the built environment. Sustainable Facility Management: The Facility Manager’s Guide to Optimizing Building Performance.
Questions addressed in the article:
- What impact is deferred maintenance having on institutional and commercial facilities?
- Has the deferred maintenance issue changed in recent years?
- In general, what are the roadblocks to addressing deferred maintenance?
- What are the most important first steps managers should take in addressing deferred maintenance in their organizations?
- What can managers do regarding finances and budgeting to address deferred maintenance?
- What role does reliable data on maintenance activities play in managers’ efforts to make the case for addressing deferred maintenance?
- What role can marketing and communication play in managers’ efforts to secure more funding for deferred maintenance?
- What issues am I overlooking related to deferred maintenance?
