Facility condition assessment questions answered.

If you work in facility management, you’re probably no stranger to facility condition assessments (FCAs). As organizations seek to contain ever-rising costs, the myriad of responsibilities that fall to facility managers continues to change. At the core of these duties remains the FCA, so at FOS we wanted to make sure any and all questions surrounding this crucial asset management procedure get answered.

What is a facility condition assessment?

A facility condition assessment is a physical survey of buildings and infrastructure that gathers deferred maintenance and capital renewal data. Discipline specialists observe current field conditions of your built assets, estimate expected remaining life based on professional experience and define replacement or renewal timelines with assigned cost estimates by system and component. By understanding what you own, the condition of each asset, what needs exist and what is an actionable recommendation, an FCA can help you prioritize maintenance and capital renewal.

What should my facility condition assessment deliver?

An FCA should convey information from concept to detail, helping to secure and prioritize the funding needed to achieve and maintain high-performing facilities. FCAs help building owners and managers properly communicate the importance of proactive facilities stewardship.

Who typically provides a facility condition assessment?

Typically, an FCA is provided by highly trained assessment professionals. This team of assessors can be a multidisciplinary team led by licensed architects and engineers.

Who will benefit from a facility condition assessment?

A good facility condition assessment provides data-informed planning solutions to support strategic investment in your physical assets, which allows everyone, from facilities staff to stakeholders, to win.

What can I expect in terms of duration and cost for a facility condition assessment?

The duration and cost of a facility condition assessment depends on the size and scope of your project. There is no one-size-fits-all FCA. Each should consider the specific needs of the client through tailored level of detail.

To put it simply, a facility condition assessment is the cornerstone of effective facilities management. It will allow facility managers and owners to address deferred maintenance backlog and create strategic capital planning and asset management solutions.