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January 2018 | ISE Magazine 49 Although many manufacturers handle their own preventive maintenance programs, it is something that can be outsourced based upon your needs. This depends upon organizational re- sources and desires, as outsourcing could, in theory, give you more time and energy to take care of your core business. Outsourced or in-house, a proper preventive maintenance program puts each piece of equipment on a specific preven- tative maintenance schedule according to the manufacturer's specifications and the experience of the engineers running your program. Monthly inspections are usually performed, in addition to daily rounds and more in-depth quarterly and an- nual inspections. In addition to your equipment, a program should cover HVAC, electricity and lighting, data systems and general facility maintenance. Preventative maintenance for your heating and air con- ditioning systems keeps the facility environment at healthy temperature, humidity and air quality levels for equipment, chemicals, product inventory and people. Preventative main- tenance plans include parts, emergency repairs and, when re- quired, entire replacements. Properly done, preventive main- tenance can: • Minimize downtime and comfort issues • Extend equipment life • Ensure equipment reliability • Reduce operating costs • Maximize efficiency Inspections, cleanings and air quality tests will reveal issues before they become hazards or require costly repairs. For ex- ample, coil cleaning keeps the system operating efficiently and also will improve indoor air quality. It's important to perform checks on the air conditioning before warm weather begins. When the system has been sitting unused all winter, there will be a buildup of dirt and sludge, which can lead to increased odors and allergens, high operating costs and even failure of the unit. Likewise, prewinter checks will ensure the facility is warm when cold weather arrives. In addition, keeping on top of needs for upgrades will help you reap the benefits of lower utility costs while providing the most comfortable and sustainable work environment. Your lighting and electrical distribution systems also will benefit from a proactive and planned service program, which ensures that they will run at optimal efficiency and reduce your costs by minimizing administration and energy costs, system failures and capital investment. It pays to keep equip- ment as safe and serviceable as the day it was installed. Some considerations are: • Thermal imaging helps detect critical updates before emer- gencies occur. • Ultrasonic pole inspections determine whether the interiors of utility poles are sound. Wear and tear, insect infestations and damage from motor vehicles are common problems. An expert facility services program can help management decide on whether to replace or reinforce these poles. • Exit/emergency lighting systems and sign repairs are neces- sary for safety. There's great peace of mind in knowing that your electoral power system will reliably and safely function to ensure that your operations stay productive. Injuries, deaths and heavy OSHA fines can be the result of electrical hazards. As a facil- ity owner/operator, it's your responsibly to protect people and keep the workplace safe. Your program should ensure that your facility complies with NFPA 70E (also called the standard for electrical safety in the workplace), which is the key to minimizing a facil- ity's electrical risks. The NFPA 70E standard helps companies and employees meet OSHA requirements, thereby avoiding injuries and fatalities from electrocution, shock, arc flash and arc blast. Electrical systems maintenance processes and programs should include arc fault/flash prevention and mitigation; cus- tomized training, testing and maintenance programs; reliabil- ity testing and predictive maintenance; electrical protective equipment testing; electrical power system vulnerability and facility system risk assessments; life extension and overhaul services; standby and emergency generator services; and re- mote monitoring and energy audits. Your facility services department or expert can also assist with and advise you on facility upgrades, which have the po- tential to pay for themselves by saving energy. For data system maintenance, make sure that your depart- ment has specialists who are factory trained and have certifi- cations applicable to your facility, such as Liebert/Emerson, Stulz, Data Aire, NETA and CDCDP (certified data center design professional). After all, the cost of unexpected downtime can be millions of dollars in revenue and productivity. System failure can also cause high-dollar damage to your communications and IT equipment. Besides human error, infrastructure failure due to insufficient maintenance is the main reason for downtime and outages. While less technical in nature than the servicing of spe- cialized equipment, handyman and housekeeping services are important pieces of preventive programs. Effective earth- friendly cleaning programs can improve indoor air quality and enhance the health and productivity of employees. By elimi- nating toxic cleaning products, implementing preventive pro- cesses and using energy efficient, highly effective vacuums and other machines, green cleaning programs avoid the problems caused by traditional cleaning. In addition to being better for people, gentler cleaning is also easier on the facility itself and