Evaluation of defect in hospital buildings

Abstract

There are many complaints and criticisms in media and research literature on defects in hospital buildings despite the consistent increase in maintenance expenditures. This research investigated the nature of defects in private hospital buildings. Primary data for the study were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to hospital building users. Based on the findings, the defects that often require frequent maintenance are leaky faucets, defective doors, defective windows, broken lights, and faulty ventilation. The major conclusion drawn from the survey was that although there are many different defects in the buildings, the urgency at which they require maintenance interventions varies. Therefore, in order to avoid value mismatch and resource misallocations, resources and attention should be directed to the defects that are more important to the users and the other should be included in the next maintenance rolling programme. Maintenance management should be implemented to achieve good maintenance, capable to meet the expected requirements of the end-user and increase building performance and reduce the maintenance backlog.