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Physical Facility Assessments
Healy | Bender provides a range of services designed to help meet your unique needs. We’ve prepared this overview to explain Physical Facility Assessments.
A Physical Facility Assessment is not the same as a mandated Life Safety Survey for public schools. Foremost, it is meant to provide a general overview of existing physical conditions including building envelope, building interior, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection and low voltage systems. Whereas a Life Safety Survey reports on health and life safety violations, a Physical Facility Assessment analyzes the age and condition of major site and building components of which poor or aging condition may not necessary be a health and life safety or code violation. An example of this might be the existence of non-insulated, single-pane glazed windows. Non-insulated windows may not necessary be a code violation in older buildings, but they certainly should be considered for replacement.
The process begins with an initial walk-through by Healy | Bender and it's consultants. We also review existing plans and information made available by the client and discuss with operating personnel any known deficiencies. This helps ensure that we address and make recommendations for aspects which are known issues but may not be readily evident. For example, a mechanical system that does not supply adequate air conditioning to a remote classroom may not be experienced during a December visit.
As site observations are completed, draft reports are prepared for review by the client. The reports are organized by building component allowing a quick read of existing systems, general conditions and deficiencies, life expectancies, and recommendations for repair or replacement. The report is supplemented with photographs where appropriate to document and describe the findings. As feedback is obtained from the client, a final report is prepared. The resulting report is meant to be a planning tool to assist with budgeting for short and long-term capital improvement projects.
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