Scheduled maintenance of buildings
Maintenance is the process of ensuring that buildings and other assets retain a good appearance and operate at optimum efficiency. Inadequate maintenance can result in decay, degradation and reduced performance and can affect heath and threaten the safety of users, occupants and others in the vicinity.
There are a number of different types of maintenance. NRM3: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works, defines ‘scheduled maintenance’ as:
'...preventive maintenance carried out in accordance with predetermined intervals, number of operations, hours run, including allowances for access.'
Where preventative maintenance as:
'...the planned and controlled programme of maintenance and inspection carried out at predetermined intervals (or corresponding to prescribed criteria) and intended to reduce the probability of failure or degradation of the functioning of an item. This includes inspections, adjustments, cleaning, lubrication and/or selective replacement of components (e.g. filters) and minor repairs, as well as performance testing and analysis intended to maximise the reliability, performance and life cycle of building systems, equipment, etc. Preventive maintenance consists of many checkpoint activities on items that, if disabled, may interfere with an essential installation operation, endanger life or property, or involve high costs or long lead times for replacement.'
Other types of maintenance defined in NRM3 include:
- Unplanned maintenance (or unscheduled or reactive maintenance).
- Proactive maintenance.
- Reliability centred maintenance.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Business focused maintenance.
- Maintenance.
- Maintenance Repair Operations MRO.
- Predictive maintenance.
- Preventative maintenance.
- Proactive maintenance.
- Reference service life.
- Reliability centred maintenance.
- Repair and maintenance contract.
- Unplanned maintenance.
- Working with lighting maintenance contractors.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.




















