What is a building maintenance checklist?

A building maintenance checklist helps facility managers and maintenance supervisors oversee the upkeep of a facility to make sure that it is safe and that daily operations are running smoothly. Take advantage of mobile-ready building maintenance checklists to never miss another maintenance check, proactively resolve detected issues, and maintain facility management standards.

What to check using a building checklist template?

The following are the 7 main sections of a building preventive maintenance checklist used for regularly inspecting buildings:

• Lighting

• Electrical

• Safety

• HVAC

• Building Interior

• Building Exterior

• Plumbing

You can also view or download the detailed building maintenance checklist in PDF if you like.

To build a preventive maintenance schedule for a commercial building, group these sections into daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks based on how often each system needs attention, then assign an owner and a due date to each task so nothing gets missed.

What to include in a building maintenance checklist

Group your building maintenance inspection checklist items by how often they need attention:

Daily tasks

• Check lighting system and fixtures

• Inspect all electrical equipment

• Ensure all water connections and drainage work properly

Weekly tasks

• Check inventory and restock first aid kits

• Conduct pest control measures

• Check the building’s interior and exterior for signs of deterioration or damage

Monthly tasks

• Inspect the condition of HVAC systems, following the inspection intervals set out in ASHRAE 180

• Test fire alarm and detection systems

Annual tasks

• Schedule a full inspection of major building systems and structural components

• Review compliance documentation against relevant building codes

For a stronger preventive maintenance checklist, prioritize the monthly and annual tasks above, like HVAC servicing and full structural inspections, since these catch problems before they turn into costly failures.

Here's a building maintenance checklist in use for reference:

Building Maintenance Checklist | Mitti (by SafetyCulture)

Items to ask using a building maintenance checklist

The elements of a building maintenance checklist normally consist of very specific areas of a property that need regular assessment to be kept in their best condition. Here are some of the most common questions you can put in your building maintenance checklist:

Safety

A well-maintained building should regularly be inspected for its safety and the availability of safety materials inside. This helps ensure that common building-related hazards are prevented and avoided. Some of the questions you can add in your checklist include:

• Are all first aid kits checked for inventory and restocked as needed?

• Is the availability of eyewash bottles and stations checked?

• Are safety signs and equipment labels in good condition?

Building interior

Methodical checks and random inspections of the building’s interior are necessary for maintaining the property. This enables building owners to proactively address any potential issues, which in turn, maximizes the span of the building’s serviceability. For your checklist, ask questions along the lines of:

• Do floors, ceilings, and walls show no evidence of deterioration?

• Are faucets, toilets, and showers operational and in good working condition?

• Are fire alarm systems tested and working?

These checks reflect requirements under OSHA's walking-working surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D) for floors and walkways, and align with NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, for fire alarm testing.

Building exterior

Aside from the building’s interior, it is an ideal practice to also regularly check its exterior. This provides an opportunity to keep your facility in good operating condition and maintain its value. Building exterior questions can be like:

• Are paint and walls in good condition?

• Are all railings in good condition?

• Do gutters have adequate anchoring and are tightened if necessary?