Machinery

A condominium apartment tower contains complex systems consisting of machinery, pipes, pumps, valves and electrical systems. All are needed to make vertical living practical and comfortable.

Elevators make it possible for people to live in high rise towers, at least all that are above six stories. Elevators require machinery rooms, shafts, pits, cabling and electrical systems. They also need ventilation and emergency telephones.

To get next to instant hot water in a highrise, a building needs boilers, boaster pumps and value to allow hot water to constantly flow through hot water pipes.

The constant water flow is what causes pin hole leaks when the piping walls wear out.

The fire alarm system needs monthly and annual testing and defects repaired.

A swimming pool and spa require regular maintenance and they too have a maintenance room with pumps, controllers and supporting equipment.

All of these systems require regular maintenance and when they wear out, repairs and replacements.

Condo towers also have HVAC, sewage, garbage compacting, recycling programs, security and safety systems, a back-up electrical generator, exhaust fans and much more.

Understand all of this?
Condo directors are not expected to fully understand all of these systems but they should regularly, every few months at least, inspect the machinery and maintenance rooms to insure that all appears in order, the record logs are kept up to date and the rooms are clean and orderly.

The directors can't reply on the manager to do this. Some managers have never been in any of the maintenance rooms.


top   contents   chapter  previous  next