Industrial buildings are heavily stressed by production processes. In particular, the buildings of a paper mill are affected by heat, humidity, vibrations and chemicals over the years, which attack the building structures. The maintenance effort is therefore significantly higher than for ordinary properties.
Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is a tool to determine and evaluate the condition of buildings and infrastructure, and subsequently implement modern maintenance.
“Through BCA, companies can plan the necessary measures in advance and include them in the budget. This can extend the lifespan of a property and achieve optimal cost-effectiveness” – explains Michael Häusle, member of the management at BHM INGENIEURE, responsible for the BCA services.
The Austrian engineering company specializes in overall planning for the paper industry. Nearly ten years ago it developed the necessary services for BCA and now implements them across Europe and even beyond. For a long time, maintenance in the paper industry focused primarily on the complex process plants, not on the building structures. Leading hygiene paper manufacturers such as Essity and Wepa now have their factories inspected by BHM.
Building Condition Assessment
What exactly is BCA? In the first step, plans and other existing documents are recorded, digitized if necessary and reviewed. During an on-site appointment, BHM employees conduct a visual inspection of the buildings, particularly of the building structure, roof, facade and interior.
The building condition is documented, problem areas are highlighted. Necessary maintenance measures are explained in a report and prioritized. An initial rough budget estimate for the necessary measures over the next five years is provided. After that period, another audit is scheduled.
“Industrial buildings typically reach their lifespan after 30 years if they are not regularly maintained” – says Häusle. Many paper mills were built between the 1960s and 1980s. “Some damage that appears small at first glance and can be repaired at low cost can grow into a major problem over the years” – adds Häusle.
Continuously implemented measures can avoid unforeseen, acute and costly renovations. Even more so, as unplanned works have a greater impact on the production process, even potentially stopping it, and thus causing additional costs. Based on the recommendations from the BCA report, companies can begin the detailed planning and implementation of the maintenance measures.
Where it makes sense due to geographical proximity, BHM INGENIEURE also takes on such assignments itself, particularly in the Central European region. “It is foreseeable that this area will continue to grow in the coming years” – Häusle predicts. BHM has carried out inspections in Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and most recently also in the USA.
For the engineering company, BCA is integrated into the corporate philosophy of 360° customer service. This includes consulting, integral planning with all specialist areas under one roof, monitoring by the site supervision and value preservation of the completed property.
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