Ordinary Maintenance: What it Means and Which Tasks to Plan

Meaning of Ordinary Maintenance

Ordinary maintenance includes all activities necessary to keep buildings and systems efficient without modifying their structure or intended use. According to Italian regulations, specifically D.P.R. 380/2001, it involves works for the repair, renewal, and replacement of building finishes and interventions to integrate or maintain existing technological systems. These works are fundamental to prevent degradation and ensure the safety and comfort of environments.

Why Plan Ordinary Maintenance

Proper planning of ordinary maintenance offers numerous advantages:

• Failure prevention and reduction of risks of major damage
• Economic savings compared to extraordinary or urgent interventions
• Maintaining the value of the property over time
• Greater safety for those who live or work in the building
• Compliance with regulations and condominium rules

Ordinary Maintenance Tasks: Examples to Plan

Here is a list of the main ordinary maintenance tasks to consider in property management:

• Painting walls and ceilings to keep environments clean and protected
• Replacement or repair of worn floors and coatings
• Maintenance of fixtures, doors, and windows to ensure insulation and safety
• Cleaning and periodic verification of systems (electrical, plumbing, heating)
• Repair of gutters, downspouts, and drainage channels to avoid infiltration
• Checking and replacing faucets, sanitary ware, and bathroom accessories
• Maintenance of fences, gates, and railings
• Verification and replacement of light bulbs and lighting fixtures
• Small repairs of plasters, stairs, balconies, and terraces
• Periodic check of alarm systems and intercoms

These interventions are generally programmable and do not require specific building permits.

Ordinary vs. Extraordinary Maintenance: The Differences

Ordinary maintenance is distinguished from extraordinary maintenance by the nature and impact of the interventions. Ordinary works concern the preservation and renewal of finishes and the maintenance of systems, without structural changes. Extraordinary interventions, on the other hand, involve substantial changes (e.g., moving walls, expansions, replacement of structural parts) and often require specific permits like CILA or SCIA. Remember that ordinary maintenance falls under free building activity and does not require municipal authorizations.

How to Plan Ordinary Maintenance

For effective management of ordinary maintenance, it is fundamental to adopt an organized approach. Here are some best practices:

• Draft an annual plan of interventions, dividing activities by frequency and priority
• Create a detailed checklist of tasks to be performed in each area of the building
• Monitor the status of systems and finishes with periodic checks
• Involve qualified suppliers to ensure quality and safety of interventions
• Document every activity performed, archiving reports, photos, and receipts
• Manage reports of failures or anomalies in a timely manner
• Establish an annual budget to cover all planned expenses

Timely organization allows for avoiding emergencies and optimizing time and costs.

The Role of Digital Software in Ordinary Maintenance

Digitalization has revolutionized ordinary maintenance management. Using dedicated software allows for:

• Centralize all information on assets and interventions
• Plan and monitor activities in real-time
• Manage tickets and reports in a quick and traceable manner
• Generate automatic reports for analysis and audits
• Facilitate collaboration between technical teams, suppliers, and administrators

These tools improve efficiency, transparency, and control over all maintenance operations.

Advantages of a Digital Platform for Ordinary Maintenance

An advanced digital platform allows for simplifying planning, reducing errors, and optimizing resources. Key benefits include:

• Centralized management of data, documents, and interventions
• Real-time monitoring of asset status
• Automation of notifications and deadlines
• Ease of access from any device
• Effective collaboration among all stakeholders

Adopting a digital solution means saving time, improving the quality of interventions, and always having everything under control.

Plan Ordinary Maintenance Efficiently

Planning and managing ordinary maintenance is essential to ensure safety, efficiency, and value to properties. Leveraging digital tools and following best practices allows for optimizing time and costs, reducing risks, and improving management quality. Evaluate the adoption of a digital platform to take ordinary maintenance to a higher level.