Optimum safety and efficiency for citizens

Municipalities and local authorities often don’t have an easy life. On the one hand, they want to fulfill the wishes of the citizens, but on the other hand, they have to act carefully with the citizens’ money and for the benefit of all.

Real estate, facilities and properties make a deep dent in the municipal budget right from the start, and the resulting running costs are an increasing burden on local authorities.

Schools, kindergartens and sports halls in particular have particularly high usage costs compared to the construction costs. The follow-up construction costs already exceed the construction costs after 3-6 years[1] and the long usage periods of usually over 40 years result in enormous life cycle costs until demolition.

It is therefore all the more important to keep existing buildings, systems and equipment safe and cost-effective to use for as long as possible through reliable maintenance and care.

Which systems are particularly important to maintain?

Municipalities and local authorities often make infrastructure available to people who have a special need for protection or care (e.g. children, senior citizens, disabled people). The safe functioning of facilities and equipment is therefore particularly important for these user groups.

Playground equipment/playgrounds – are a magnet for children and the choice of equipment is constantly increasing. However, playground equipment in particular poses a high risk (25% of 1 million accidents involving children and young people in Germany happen on playgrounds), as children simply lack experience when it comes to risk assessment. This must be compensated for by a risk-reducing design, including an acceptance test after installation, an annual main inspection (in accordance with DIN EN 1176 + 1177) and regular inspections (visual inspection – daily to weekly, functional inspection – monthly to quarterly). Although these standards are not legally binding, they are used by judges and experts to clarify liability issues in the event of damage and accidents and are therefore recommended by us.

Nurse call systems – are used particularly in hospitals, retirement homes and public WCs for the disabled. It is used to alert nursing staff in the event of emergencies. As with any alarm system for personal protection, it must be kept in proper working order (in accordance with §3 ArbStättV) by means of a professional inspection and annual testing and maintenance. The minimum requirements for planning, installation and operation are described in DIN VDE 0834-1.

Stair lifts – are an important system for creating accessibility in buildings. They are available for straight and spiral staircases and must (in accordance with BetrSichV) be inspected at least They must be inspected at least every 2 years (interval according to risk assessment) (note – they are subject to inspection but not to monitoring!). Furthermore, depending on the frequency of use, you should check the proper condition at least Depending on the frequency of use, you should inspect the proper condition and function at least every 3 months.

Surface drainage – has become an important topic – especially due to the ever-increasing sealing of surfaces. In many cases, the local authority is responsible for cleaning and keeping gutters, drains and sewers clear. Grass, trees and garbage must be removed to effectively prevent flooding.

Swimming pools – especially outdoor pools – are usually operated by local authorities. For this purpose, it is important to employ trained staff (pool attendants – 3-year training period) who ensure safe and hygienic operation.

The most important tasks include the organization, control and documentation of the operation, the regular control of the water quality (contamination) and the chlorine content as well as the safe functioning of all systems (hair trap safety (according to DIN EN 13451).

To meet this responsibility, at least when it comes to maintenance/inspection, and to avoid missing any more appointments in future, it’s best to download our MyBuilding24 app(for Android, for Apple) right away.
You can record all your devices and systems that require inspection and maintenance and manage the associated appointments there.
With a complete list of maintenance work available at all times, you are always on the safe side.

Glossary

Legislation:

Occupational Health and Safety Act – ArbSchG:
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arbschg/

Workplace Ordinance – ArbStättV:
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/arbst_ttv_2004/

Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health – BetrSichV:
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/betrsichv_2015/index.html

DGUV Information – recurring inspections of el. systems and equipment:
https://publikationen.dguv.de/widgets/pdf/download/article/787

Technical rules for operational safety – TRBS:
https://cust980373stdlrsweu001.blob.core.windows.net/staticweb/Vorschriften/Betriebssicherheit/Technische-Regeln-fuer-Betriebssicherheit-TRBS/trbs/start.htm

Chemicals Climate Protection Ordinance – ChemKlimaSchutzV:
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/chemklimaschutzv/

[1] Hellerforth: Handbuch Facility Management für Immobilienunternehmen, 2006, p. 36