--- title: "Types of maintenance and why needed" subject: "Construction Management" chapter: 9 key: "semester_8/construction_management:maintenance-types-importance" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/maintenance-types-importance site: BCT Engineering --- # Types of maintenance and why needed Construction Management · Chapter 9: Project Maintenance - Asked in: 2079 Shrawan, 5 marks; 2077 Chaitra, 3 marks; 2074 Bhadra, 6 marks; 2073 Magh, 6 marks; 2071 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2078 Chaitra; 2066 Magh (old course); 2064 Poush (old course) (asked 8 times) - Video: [Building Maintenance 101: A Comprehensive Overview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBnPVrAUdM) — Limble - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/maintenance-types-importance - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-9 ## Question Describe the types of maintenance in a project (buildings). Why is maintenance necessary and what is its importance for already built projects? ## Short answer Maintenance types include routine, preventive, corrective, emergency, predictive, and special repairs. It is necessary because buildings deteriorate, and small defects become costly; it ensures safety, prolongs life, saves money, protects investment, maintains functionality and appearance, and meets legal requirements. ## Answer **Maintenance** is the combination of all technical and administrative actions needed to keep a building or facility in a condition in which it can perform its required function safely and economically throughout its life. #### Types of maintenance (buildings) 1. **Routine (day-to-day) maintenance:** regular small jobs such as cleaning, painting touch-up, checking drains, lubricating doors, replacing bulbs. 2. **Preventive (planned) maintenance:** scheduled inspection, servicing and minor repair before failure, e.g. repainting every 3–5 years, cleaning water tanks, servicing lifts and generators. 3. **Corrective (breakdown) maintenance:** repair after a defect or failure, e.g. repairing a leaking roof or burst pipe. 4. **Emergency maintenance:** immediate work to deal with dangerous conditions, e.g. after a fire, flood or earthquake damage. 5. **Predictive / condition-based maintenance:** based on inspection and tests (cracks, NDT, vibration) to predict when repair is needed. 6. **Special repairs and rehabilitation:** major repair, retrofitting or strengthening, e.g. jacketing of columns, waterproofing a roof, renewal of services. #### Why maintenance is necessary - Buildings deteriorate due to weather, use, ageing, water, chemical and biological action, and settlement. - Without upkeep, small defects grow into major and costly repairs. - It keeps the building safe and healthy for the occupants. #### Importance for built projects 1. **Prolongs the life** of the structure and finishes. 2. **Safety:** prevents failures and accidents (falling plaster, electrical faults, leaking gas). 3. **Economy:** a small cost for timely work saves large repair or replacement costs later. 4. **Protects investment and property value.** 5. **Functionality and comfort:** services, lighting, water and sanitation work properly. 6. **Appearance and image** of the building; better rental income. 7. **Reduces downtime and disruption** to users. 8. **Legal and insurance compliance:** fire safety, lift and electric inspections. 9. **Conserves resources** and the environment by avoiding early demolition and rebuilding. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is an example of preventive maintenance? A. Repairing a burst pipe B. Repainting every 3-5 years and servicing lifts C. Retrofitting columns after damage D. Repair after a flood Answer: B. Preventive maintenance is scheduled servicing and minor repair before failure. (Key point: Preventive maintenance) 2. Emergency maintenance is carried out when? A. On a yearly calendar B. To predict future cracks C. Immediately to deal with dangerous conditions such as fire or earthquake damage D. During routine cleaning Answer: C. Emergency maintenance is immediate work to deal with dangerous conditions. (Key point: Emergency maintenance) 3. Predictive (condition-based) maintenance depends on what? A. Fixed calendar dates B. Inspection and tests such as NDT to predict when repair is needed C. Waiting for failure D. Replacing every part yearly Answer: B. It relies on inspection and tests (cracks, NDT, vibration) to predict repair timing. (Key point: Predictive) 4. Why does a building need maintenance? A. Buildings do not deteriorate if designed well B. Only to improve rent C. Because codes forbid ageing D. Weather, use, ageing and water cause deterioration and small defects grow into costly repairs Answer: D. Deterioration is continuous and untreated small defects become major costly repairs. (Key point: Why necessary) ## Related in Construction Management - [Preventive maintenance in roads and buildings](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Apreventive-importance-roads-buildings) — Construction Management, chapter 9 - [Objectives of maintenance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaintenance-objectives) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 3× - [Planned maintenance, planning and scheduling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aplanned-maintenance-scheduling) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 2× - [Importance of repair and maintenance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaintenance-importance-prolong-life) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 2× - [Importance of specification in road projects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aspec-road-importance) — Construction Management, chapter 12 ## Related in other subjects - [Types of projects; effect of project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-types-effect-of-management) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Planning levels and types of maintenance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Aplanning-levels-and-maintenance) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Built-in potential and depletion width derivation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Felectrical_engineering_material%3Apn-builtin-depletion-derivation) — Electrical Engineering Material, chapter 6, asked 4× - [Built-in potential and depletion width defined](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Felectrical_engineering_material%3Abuiltin-depletion-definition) — Electrical Engineering Material, chapter 6, asked 4×