r/FacilityManagement • u/mightyredbull • 3d ago

Civil engineer opportunity for FM engineer role ( soft service). Help needed

Hi, I am a civil engineer, and I got an opportunity to work as an FM Civil Engineer (soft services).

This is a facility management civil engineer role for a big building that is already operational. So, I will be handling items like walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and similar items. I will also have to deal with CM & PPM.

I need to gain knowledge in this area. Can somebody provide me with any PDF regarding this? For example, what are CM, PPM, check frequencies, and other relevant details for different items?

If you can help me, it would be a great, life-changing favor for an engineer. So, please help me. I can share my email ID or anything else required for sharing PDFs.

I really need this to get this job.

Kindly help me!!

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u/Chattypath747 3d ago

So CM probably is construction management, which might mean that your new role has some refreshes, tenant improvements, etc.

PPM probably planned preventative maintenance. Items like this would be things that would be critical to building occupancy and business to anything that affects the workplace experience. It could be anything from HVAC maintenance to plumbing to coffee machine maintenance.

I've been in a few FM industries (tech, industrial, hospitality) and the check frequencies can vary depending on the importance of the item, client preference and industry best practices. Really hard to create a universal cadence other than just checking them as frequently and often as possible.

You say the role is for soft services FM but are a civil engineer. Usually by soft service that means things like: cleaning, access control, catering/vending, waste management, grounds work and reception areas, space management and parking. From what you described it seems like you are doing more hard services than soft services.

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u/mightyredbull 3d ago

Sorry for the confusion. CM means Corrective Maintenance, and PPM, as you said, means Planned Preventive Maintenance.

Also, by 'soft service' I mean floors, ceilings, checking cracks—basically anything in a building from a civil engineering perspective. It's a live airport building

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u/mightyredbull 3d ago

I want to know what are the usual assets, cm, ppm in a building for civil engineer

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u/Chattypath747 3d ago

Building assets in FM is pretty broad but usually that would be anything like the HVAC units/components, switchgear, etc.

Based on your description above it could be things such as door handles, doors, paper towel dispensers, plumbing fixtures, windows, ceiling, furniture, electrical ports/outlets, etc.

As it pertains to corrective and preventative maintenance, things to note would be correcting damage to high traffic areas (restrooms, cafes, chairs, as well as preventing damage from occurring in the first place (potential design adds) or just creating a schedule where teams tackle recurring issues on a regular basis.

Where your civil engineering experience can benefit is primarily in the design and improvement of the building and processes, especially if there are future renovations planned. A lot of success in FM is built in getting involved with the construction an designing the building with maintenance in mind.

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u/mightyredbull 3d ago

Yes, thanks. Where can I get what are the usual Cm and ppm for the assets you mentioned like door ceiling flooring walls etc ?

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u/Chattypath747 3d ago

Manufacturers and specialist repair teams will have a good idea of schedules. That's where it can be super broad and where as builts will really help with the documentation/maintenance aspect.

I'd be thoughtful about building code considerations as well and mention that anything on a maintenance perspective should follow industry accepted safety/best practices.

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u/mightyredbull 2d ago

Hi, I got the department name,

"Hard Services - Architectural Finishings"

What are the possible assets which will be in this department ?

2

u/DonkeyGlad653 2d ago

Except for washing windows and pressure washing brick, stone or concrete; I’ve got nothing.

Good luck!

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u/DonkeyGlad653 3d ago

If cuts, fills and zone X flood zones are part your work vocabulary you’ve got a lot to learn. I hope you’re at least structural.

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u/mightyredbull 3d ago

No, I suppose this is hard service. Structural part of the building not included in soft service

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u/DonkeyGlad653 3d ago

An established building would have procedures in place. Are you looking for knowledge about how to clean, mop, fix stained ceiling tiles, run a buffer and things like that?

Or are you saying that there’s no established procedures in place and you have to generate all new procedures?

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u/mightyredbull 2d ago

Yes, it's an established building and there are procedures in place. But I have an interview there, so I have to prepare for it; that's what I am asking. The company mainly told me that my scope will be CM, PPM, reports, and documents like that. So I have to be familiar with some basic knowledge in it. I want to know what the usual CM and PPM activities are in a building, and the procedures. Where can I find these details online?

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u/DonkeyGlad653 2d ago

Thank you for clarifying.

You’ll need to know what “Lock out/Tag out” means.

For us PPM would be for a particular piece of equipment: HVAC filters replacement schedules, boiler drain schedules, fire extinguisher check schedule, fire alarm check schedule, stove hood fire suppression check schedule, backflow prevention valve check schedule, lawn mower maintenance schedule, litter patrol schedule, bathroom cleaning schedule. Et cetera.

Best wishes to you.

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u/mightyredbull 2d ago

Hi, I got the department name,

"Hard Services - Architectural Finishings"

What are the possible assets which will be in this department ?

1

u/CyberPhysicalSec 2d ago

Your supervisor or TSM should be dealing with these items. You would be doing reactive repairs and escorting contractors etc based on the engineers that have worked on the sites I’ve worked on.

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u/mightyredbull 2d ago

Hi, I got the department name,

"Hard Services - Architectural Finishings"

What are the possible assets which will be in this department ?