Building Maintenance and the Impact Insurance

BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND THE IMPACT ON YOUR SHORT-TERM INSURANCE

Lack of maintenance is often a reason for disputing or denying storm and other weather-related insurance claims on your roof, building, and walls. Building maintenance is typically carried out in various ways, depending on a company's speciﬁc business or industry or, for residential buildings, the materials used to construct the building and roof. The location of the premises may also inﬂuence the type of maintenance. It is important to have a formal maintenance plan for a commercial building. This plan ensures that the building functions properly and complies with National Building Regulations, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). On the home front, regular checks should be conducted on the roof, building walls, and boundary walls to ensure no areas of disrepair, blockages (such as gutters and drainage holes), or trees and their roots that could compromise a structure’s eﬀectiveness.

WHY IS THE MAINTENANCE OF YOUR PROPERTY NECESSARY?

Short-term insurance policies do not cover damage caused by wear and tear, gradual deterioration, corrosion, rust, damp, and lack of waterprooﬁng.
Regular building system maintenance ensures the safety and comfort of occupants, contents, and equipment.
Regular maintenance can help property owners save money and increase the value of their property.
Poorly maintained buildings can quickly become hazardous for occupants; regular building maintenance creates safer environments.
Organisations such as OSHA and NFPA have safety codes that must be maintained to ensure a safe working environment and prevent unsafe workplaces. Adhering to these codes and performing ongoing general safety maintenance practices can help prevent signiﬁcant health issues and hazardous work and living areas.
Taking precautions through regular building maintenance is cost-eﬀective because urgent repairs or replacements of major systems are more expensive than ongoing preventive maintenance. Budgeting for the regular upkeep of building systems is more straightforward than facing an unexpected repair or replacement bill.
A maintenance service team can help save money over time and contribute to overall property value; well-maintained buildings that meets code requirements are more valuable, potentially leading to increased income from selling, renting, or leasing spaces.
A well-maintained building is protected by insurance against risks such as storms, ﬁre, and the like.

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TYPES OF MAINTENANCE TO CONSIDER

1. Preventive Maintenance
Regularly maintaining the condition of the roof and walls to ensure that nuts and bolts are secure, roof tiles are in place, gutters are clean, and solar panels, air-conditioning units, and waterprooﬁng are in good condition. It is also important to check for any potential damage caused by trees and their roots.

2. Corrective Maintenance
This type of maintenance includes repairs and upkeep needed after a problem arises, whether due to general wear and tear or a complete breakdown after an incident such as storm-related damage.

3. Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance includes simple visual inspections and electrical monitoring. A reporting system to address any faults or issues is crucial for the
maintenance plan.

MAINTENANCE PLAN BREAKDOWN

1. Day-to-Day Repairs:
This includes service repairs for regular issues such as water supply and plumbing and tasks like replacing blown fuses, repairing faulty switches, and landscaping maintenance.

This kind of maintenance service aims to ensure that all services in the buildings and surrounding areas continue to function properly.

2. Annual Repairs:
These repairs focus on maintaining the appearance and longevity of buildings and services, and include tasks like whitewashing, cleaning, and painting, done yearly to prevent major issues and handled by maintenance technicians.

3. Special Repairs:
Special building repairs involve replacing deteriorating parts of buildings and services to prevent further damage and restore original conditions as much as possible.

4. Additions and Alterations:
These are changes made to buildings to meet the speciﬁc needs of occupants for better functionality. Workers conducting such tasks must follow current building regulations to update the facilities.

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