Understanding the Life Expectancy of Commercial Building Systems
Investing in commercial buildings requires ownership of the building and everything associated and included in it. We are talking about its systems, such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and more. A fundamental aspect of its system management requires a thorough knowledge of the expected duration of commercial building life expectancy. Understanding them allows businesses to prepare their budgets accurately and to prevent unexpected expenses before they occur.
This blog provides insights into the standard lifespans of commercial building systems, explores their importance, and explains how you can use this information to your advantage.
Why Commercial Building Life Expectancy Matters
A commercial building contains various systems that face the same natural deterioration process as found in cars or any other asset we use. Commercial building systems show signs of failure upon reaching the end of their service years. They might need expensive fixing or replacement.
Every commercial property owner or investor requires knowledge about the predicted useful life span of their building’s systems. The knowledge about commercial building life expectancy enables property owners to decide when each system should undergo repairs or need replacement.
Important Commercial Building Systems And Their Age
Commercial buildings include multiple interconnected systems that enable their normal operations. Here are the expected lifespans for the major systems that operate in a commercial building:
HVAC Systems (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
HVAC systems provide commercial buildings with their essential climate control systems. The systems manage indoor temperatures for summertime cooling and wintertime heating. HVAC systems operating in commercial buildings usually work between 15 to 25 years unless maintenance practices and building usage patterns differ alongside system types.
Why It Matters
Commercial buildings need regular maintenance for their HVAC systems since replacement costs run high. Prior to replacing or upgrading your building’s HVAC system, start setting aside money for this purpose. A dysfunctional system may incur higher energy costs and result in a substandard workplace environment.
Roofs
Roof shields every part of the structure against environmental conditions. The average lifespan of commercial buildings’ roofs ranges from 20 to 40 years, regardless of their flat or sloped shape. The actual durability of the roofing system depends on the choice of materials. Asphalt shingles usually survive for twenty years, but metal roofing systems will remain usable for forty years.
Why It Matters
Roof replacement is one of the most expensive parts of building maintenance. Performing regular maintenance and inspections allows building administrators to detect leakages, thus extending the roof’s lifespan.
Plumbing Systems
The plumbing network includes water supply and drainage pipes. It constitutes the fundamental operation of commercial buildings. The life expectancy of commercial building plumbing systems mainly depends on their material. Copper pipes may last for 50 years, and PVC pipes normally survive between 25 and 40 years.
Why It Matters
Plumbing faults like leaks or blockages result in destruction that may halt operational activities inside your building. Routine inspections and prompt maintenance work prevent major plumbing replacements and avoid substantial water damage.
Electrical Systems
Electrical systems act as the power source that distributes energy to commercial buildings through their smart illumination systems. Commercial buildings experience different lifespans for electrical systems because they typically survive for 20 to 30 years. Since modern technology requires more energy, older electrical equipment may be inadequate. It might require upgrades and improvements.
Why It Matters
Electrical deficiencies in buildings create multiple safety concerns because they can lead to fires and equipment breakdowns. Modern building safety standards require all electrical systems to maintain new code compliance and be energy-efficient.
Elevators
The operational activities of multi-story commercial buildings heavily rely on elevators. Commercial elevators can function properly for twenty to twenty-five years, yet proper maintenance can extend their operational period even further.
Why It Matters
Elevators are more than just a convenience. They may be required by law if the building reaches a certain height. However, elevators’ operational lifespan diminishes with time because they develop issues that affect performance and safety while becoming costly to fix. Always look for potential problems to determine when it’s appropriate to plan repair jobs and system replacements.
Windows And Doors
Windows and doors in commercial buildings usually last twenty to forty years, but their lifespan depends on their materials and proper maintenance. Windows that fail to insulate the building space cause higher energy expenses and decreased indoor comfort for building occupants.
Why It Matters
Upgrade windows and doors should be considered whenever they display signs of deterioration. Installing advanced, modern windows with energy-saving capabilities allows you to minimize utility expenses while generating a better commercial property appearance.
The life expectancy of commercial buildings depends on various influential factors.
Factors Affecting Commercial Building Lifetime Expectancy
The following important aspects need attention to enhance the expected lifespan of your commercial buildings:
Maintenance
Regular maintenance is the most effective method for extending the building system’s lifespan. Scheduled air filter replacements and HVAC unit cleanliness can slow the system’s aging effects. Routine evaluations of plumbing infrastructure with leak inspections protect buildings from more serious breakdowns.
Building Usage
Building usage determines the total damage the structure will undergo. The life expectancy of these systems reduces with increased and heavy usage, putting stress on the overall building’s systems.
Materials Quality
The lifespan of building systems depends highly on the quality of materials used during construction or renovation. Construction components with high-quality materials survive longer regardless of their initial cost.
Environmental Factors
Building system durability depends on various weather and environmental factors. Excessive heat, rainfall, snow, and high humidity levels speed up the deterioration process of roofs, hydraulic systems, and plumbing networks.
Planning for Future Replacements and Repairs
Knowledge about the commercial building life expectancy will help plan repairs and replacements. Proper budgeting is possible when you have accurate information about system maintenance timelines, thus preventing sudden financial burdens. The following guidelines will help you in this regard.
Schedule Regular Inspections
A periodic professional inspection provides awareness of existing issues before these problems become major complications. Experienced inspectors can detect different types of system concerns, including roof leaks, inefficient HVAC, and signs of aging electrical elements.
Create A Long-Term Maintenance Plan
A well-planned long-term maintenance schedule enables you to anticipate expensive maintenance before it occurs. Consider the estimated operational duration of your building systems and schedule replacement funding to prevent unexpected expenses.
Stay Informed About Industry Trends
Regularly seek information about modern building materials and new technology developments. Recently developed HVAC technologies, modern roofing elements, and energy-efficient windows allow you to improve system longevity and simultaneously minimize operational expenses.
Conclusion
Knowledge about the projected life span of critical building systems in commercial properties will help you set the timeline for repair tasks and replacements, so your facility remains operational without any issues. Regular inspections of each system, alongside lifespan management, allow you to prevent expensive repairs, which helps your commercial property last for many years.
Elite Commercial Inspections provides extensive commercial property inspections to help clients understand the systems’ lifespan in their facilities. Contact us to set up an inspection appointment, which will protect your commercial property against potential failures.
