CU Home

Maintenance, Repair and Custodial Services for Academic and Administrative Buildings

Effective Date: December 1, 2007
 

Policy Statement

Columbia University Facilities provides a standard level of base (non-chargeable) services and performs preventive maintenance and repair of all academic and administrative buildings on the Morningside campus, Manhattanville, Baker Field, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Nevis Laboratories.  In addition, Columbia University Facilities offers a variety of services on a chargeable basis.   This policy delineates the scope of maintenance, repair and custodial services in the academic and administrative buildings and surrounding environs managed by Columbia University Facilities.  

Reasons For The Policy

Columbia University Facilities is responsible for the operation of the buildings and grounds on the Morningside campus, Manhattanville, Baker Field, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Nevis Laboratories.  This policy describes the standard level of service that Columbia University Facilities provides for students, faculty, staff and visitors to enjoy a safe, functional, clean and scenic campus environment.  Columbia University Facilities provides a standard level of base (non-chargeable) services and performs preventive maintenance and repair of all academic and administrative buildings and campus environs.  In addition, Columbia University Facilities offers a variety of services on a chargeable basis. 

This policy describes the levels of services provided by Facilities that are non-chargeable and chargeable. 

Primary Guidance To Which This Policy Responds

There is no primary policy to which this policy responds.

Responsible University Officer and Office

The Associate Vice President for Operations is responsible for the overall development, implementation and maintenance of this policy. 

The Assistant Vice President for Campus Operations is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of this policy as it relates to the general maintenance and repair of the buildings and surrounding environs.

The Assistant Vice President for Plant Engineering and Utilities is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of this policy as it relates to building heating and cooling, utility systems, fire safety, elevator maintenance and energy management.

Columbia University Facilities Operations is the responsible office. 

Revision History

This policy was established on May 1, 2007

Who is Governed by This Policy

All members of the University community who are responsible for managing space or overseeing events within academic and administrative buildings or in campus environs covered by this policy.

Who Should Know This Policy

All employees responsible for the administration of buildings and grounds on the Morningside campus, Manhattanville, Baker Field, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Nevis Laboratories. 

Exclusions & Special Situations

Leased spaces are excluded from this policy.

Residential properties are excluded from this policy.

Policy Text

Columbia University Facilities provides a standard level of base (non-chargeable) services and performs preventive maintenance and repair of all academic and administrative buildings and campus environs.  In addition, Columbia University Facilities offers a variety of services on a chargeable basis. 

A standard level of response is provided for three classifications of service requests at no charge (non-chargable).  Upon request, Columbia University Facilities also provides chargeable services above the standard level. 

The standard (non-chargable) levels of service are:

a. Emergency:  service requests shall be classified as an emergency when the work requires immediate action to eliminate hazards that could endanger life or cause serious injury to personnel, to prevent loss or damage to University property, or to restore essential services.

b. Urgent:  service requests shall be classified as urgent when repairs or restoring services do not immediately endanger personnel or property, but which would soon lead to property damage, or affect the health or well being of personnel, or a user group priority (i.e. fume hoods, etc).

c.  Routine:  service requests shall be classified as routine when they do not qualify as Emergency or Urgent, or when further work is required after arresting emergency conditions.

The standard response and completion times for services are: 

Emergency: respond within 30 minutes from receipt; completion in time required to arrest emergency

Urgent: respond within two hours from receipt; completion within 48 hours

Routine: completion within 45 days*

*Does not include work scheduled to be done at a future time at the user group's request.

Columbia University Facilities provides standard Custodial Services based on APPA Leadership in Educational Facilities standards, Level 3 service.  The appendix to this policy provides details of what is performed under Level 3 service. Upon request, Columbia University Facilities also provides chargeable Custodial Services above standard. 

Members of the University community can contact the following to confirm whether a service is chargeable or non-chargeable and request an estimate the cost of the chargeable service:

The appendix to this policy contains a detailed listing of chargeable and non-chargeable services. 

Responsibilities

The Associate Vice President for Operations is responsible for the overall development, implementation and maintenance of this policy. 

The Assistant Vice President for Campus Operations is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of this policy as it relates to the general maintenance and repair of the academic and administrative buildings and campus environs.

The Assistant Vice President for Plant Engineering and Utilities is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of this policy as it relates to heating and cooling, utility systems, fire safety, elevator maintenance and energy management.

Definitions

Non-chargeable and chargeable services fall into the following categories:

  • Carpentry  (CP)
  • Electrical  (EL)
  • Locksmith (LS)
  • Masonry  (MS)
  • Plumbing  (PB)
  • Painting  (PT)
  • Grounds  (GR)
  • Waste Management  (WM)
  • Labor  (LA)
  • Special Events  (SE)
  • Custodial (CU)
  • Fire Safety  (FS)
  • Elevator Maintenance (VT)
  • Heating & Air Conditioning  (EC & HV)
  • Steam & Chilled Water (SM & CM)

Contacts

General Inquiries or Requests: Facilities Services Center, 212-854-2222 http://www.facil.columbia.edu/services

Buildings & Grounds: Don Schlosser, 212-854-7739; ds523@columbia.edu

Plant Engineering & Utilities: Frank Martino, 212-854-0794; fm2231@columbia.edu