Managing and maintaining school buildings
Responsibility for effectively managing and maintaining school buildings lies with the school and is the responsibility of the Governing Body. Advice can be found from a variety of sources including:
Gov.UK: Good estate management for schools
Gov.UK: Managing older school buildings
Guidance to help school building owners and maintenance staff identify building systems and prioritise maintenance and repair of their school estate.
Roof maintenance for schools
During the leaf-fall season, where the weather becomes more unsettled, there some day-to-day measures that you can take to both minimise rainwater leaks and know who to call for assistance if they occur.
Ideally, general maintenance of roofs includes clearing leaves, balls, silt etc. from the gutters and drainage channels and should be undertaken a minimum of four times a year. This could be more frequent depending upon weather, proximity of trees etc. You may also wish to consider ensuring that any overhanging tree limbs are regularly cut back and that vegetation or growth on the roof itself is removed.
In the event that you do have a roof leak please ensure that any roof outlets / gutters etc. are not blocked with leaves or balls etc. If so, clear the blockage and monitor to see if the leak continues. After a heavy storm check your roof, where possible, for damage and ponding and clear away any leaves and debris. You may find it useful to refer to the O&M manual if a roofing project has taken place to assist you in planning your maintenance schedule as well as the details of any guarantee that is in place for your roof.
Please ensure that regular maintenance of roofs, gutters and drainage channels is carried out so that this can be eliminated as a potential cause of leaks/flooding before raising potential works defects with consultants/contractors. Ensure a record is kept for each trip onto the roof for maintenance in the event there is a need to call upon the warranty.
Falls from height are one of the most frequent causes of serious accidents in the workplace so when undertaking any maintenance at height, a task specific risk assessment must be in place. Those who are in control of any work at height should make sure that the work is:
- suitably planned, using suitable access equipment
- appropriately supervised, carried out by competent people with sufficient skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the task
There must be no lone working when working at height.
Detailed guidance on work at height is provided: