Key Takeaways:
For Galu, one of the biggest advantages of a facility condition assessment (FCA) is not necessarily uncovering problems his team did not already suspect but the level of detail behind the findings and the validation that comes with them.
“One of the most valuable aspects of the FCA was the way it validated and prioritized infrastructure needs across the hospital,” Galu says. “Based on the items identified, particularly those tied to health and life safety, we incorporated the FCA recommendations, equipment condition data and remaining useful life projections into our five-year capital plan.”
A prominent example was the large number of now-obsolete electrical panels still in service throughout the facility.
“These panels are widely recognized within the electrical industry as obsolete and have known reliability concerns. As a result, their replacement was ranked among our highest priorities,” Galu says. “We are currently working with a vendor to develop a replacement strategy that utilizes equipment designed to fit within the existing panel backboxes. This approach is expected to reduce both project costs and installation time by minimizing rewiring requirements.”
The FCA also identified the hospital’s elevator infrastructure as a highly urgent need.
“The FCA confirmed that key components of the elevator systems have exceeded their expected service life and that replacement parts are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain,” Galu says. “Based on these findings, capital funding has already been secured, and we have begun planning a phased elevator modernization program to improve reliability and maintain continuity of operations.”
Humidification systems were another area where the FCA helped shape the hospital’s long-term strategy.
“We currently operate a blend of original and newer systems, and the assessment reinforced the need to modernize aging equipment to ensure occupant comfort and infection control,” Galu says. “Projects addressing these systems are being developed for inclusion in future capital budgets.”
But perhaps the most valuable takeaway Galu gets from the assessments is its outsider perspective.
“Even though we know the building well, another set of eyes greatly helps,” Galu says. “My guys go past a compressor at minimum three times a day doing their shift checks. But when somebody else walks by it for two minutes, they can find something new.”
The fresh set of eyes has helped turn observations into actions, providing the data needed to plan for the future of Galu’s campus. While an FCA does not eliminate deferred maintenance, it gives owners something even more important: the ability to make informed decisions before failures become system-wide emergencies.
Elaina Myers is the assistant editor of the facilities market. She has covered various topics from pest management to resilience to sustainability and writes about all the holidays and special days in the facilities field. She also manages the FacilitiesNet social media accounts.
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