Operator tips for municipalities and communities - Austria

November 3, 2022
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Unkategorisiert

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.

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

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, play equipment in particular poses a high risk (approx. 8,200 accidents/year in Austria), 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 periodic inspection (in accordance with ÖNORM EN 1176 + 1177) and a minimum quarterly inspection. quarterly inspection. 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. They are used to alert nursing staff in the event of emergencies. As with any alarm system, it must be kept in proper working order on an ongoing basis (in accordance with §13 AStV) 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.

Stairlifts – are an important piece of equipment for creating accessibility in buildings. They are available for straight and spiral staircases and must be inspected annually (in accordance with AM-VO). 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. It is therefore important to employ trained staff (lifeguards, pool attendants, pool technicians in accordance with ÖNORM S1150) who not only ensure safety and order, but also the hygiene of the pool water. They must regularly check and document the water quality (contamination), the chlorine content and the function of the system components (hair trap safety (in accordance with EN 13451)) (operating log). Before the start of the season, it is particularly important to refresh the chlorine gas training of the operating personnel.

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

In the enclosed checklist you will find the most common components and systems that should be subject to regular inspection. In the event of above-average loads and exceptional environmental conditions, the intervals should be shortened accordingly based on your own and/or professional assessment. It is better to check once too often than too seldom!

2022-06-29_Checklist-recurring-examinations-municipalities-municipalities-Vers.-1 Download