WHAT DOES A BUILDING DO?

Published: May 21, 2025 – The Building Professional manages the planning, design, and execution of building projects with strict adherence to safety codes, structural standards, and environmental guidelines. This position utilizes expertise in construction methods, materials, and project coordination to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery. The individual also works closely with engineers, architects, and contractors to overcome challenges and achieve high-quality, sustainable outcomes.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Building

1. Building Automation Maintenance Technician Functions

  • Cleaning: Ensure that buildings and surrounding areas are free of garbage and other debris daily
  • Software Management: Maintain work orders in the YARDI software program and respond appropriately.
  • Graffiti Removal: Daily check buildings for graffiti and remove when necessary.
  • Security Monitoring: Check the building for security issues and respond.
  • Surveillance Handling: Download security footage.
  • Law Enforcement Coordination: Take responsibility for meeting with the authorities.
  • Roof Maintenance: Inspect roofs and drains semi-annually, clean and repair.
  • Alarm Inspection: Inspect all security and fire alarm systems regularly to ensure they are in proper working order.
  • Lighting Maintenance: Maintain all lighting systems within buildings on time.
  • Mechanical Maintenance: Perform maintenance on mechanical systems.
  • General Repairs: Perform maintenance, including preventative maintenance, plumbing, electrical, and other minor repairs.
  • Appliance Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot appliances, replace parts, and clear drains.

2. Building Automation Operations Coordinator Overview

  • Turnover Maintenance: Perform maintenance for apartment turnovers and coordinate with the residential property manager and vendors for smooth and timely transitions.
  • Room Cleaning: Keep electrical, phone rooms, shops, and all other common-use rooms clean at all times.
  • Lock and Door Repair: Help maintain the building key log, perform lock and door repair.
  • Contractor Coordination: Schedule and meet with contractors and inspect completed work.
  • Supply Purchasing: Purchase supplies, as directed, in compliance with Samis’ policies and procedures.
  • Professional Representation: Represent Samis with a high level of integrity and professionalism.
  • Policy Adherence: Adhere to Samis’s policies and support management decisions and goals in a positive, professional manner.
  • Tenant and Contractor Relations: Serve as a representative of Samis with tenants and contractors.

3. Building Engineer Details and Accountabilities

  • System Oversight: Oversee daily operation and maintenance of all building systems.
  • Preventive Maintenance: Perform preventive maintenance on building systems.
  • Building Inspection: Conduct inspections of buildings and grounds.
  • Service Call Management: Prioritize service calls and follow up upon completion.
  • Automation Systems Knowledge: Understand building automation systems.
  • Safety Compliance: Understand and comply with all safety policies.
  • Work Order Execution: Receive, execute, and complete work.

4. Building Engineer Additional Details

  • Inventory Management: Order parts and supplies, maintain stock and inventory control
  • Contractor Coordination: Coordinate maintenance efforts with outside contractors and technicians
  • Budget Execution: Work with the Asset Manager to create and execute annual and capital budgets
  • Emergency Response: Respond quickly to emergencies.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Comply with all applicable codes and regulations of governmental agencies
  • Backup Support: Serve as backup for other buildings in the portfolio

5. Building Services Inspector Responsibilities

  • Project Surveying: Manage and undertake project surveys, including site inspections, stock condition, and refurbishment.
  • Project Attendance: Attend a wide range of projects, including residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial and educational.
  • Meeting Participation: Attend meetings with internal groups, clients and contractors.
  • Documentation Preparation: Prepare high-quality information, including technical reports, schedules, survey reports, and contract documentation
  • Design Review: Review and comment on building services design drawings and specifications.
  • Client Communication: Maintain regular contact with all clients and the internal project team.
  • Financial Reporting: Report resource and project financial information to group partners.

6. Building Inspector Essential Functions

  • Claims Oversight: Oversees all aspects of claims assigned.
  • Insured Communication: Communicates with insureds to obtain information necessary for processing claims.
  • Coverage Determination: Determines coverage on all cases assigned.
  • Coverage Letter Issuance: Issues coverage letters timely manner for management approval.
  • Reserve Management: Establishes preliminary reserves within 3-7 days and regularly reviews them for accuracy.
  • Claim Review: Reviews all files assigned and takes appropriate interim action to move the claim to resolution using a regular diary system.
  • Claim Investigation: Conducts timely and thorough investigations of claims and makes assignments to independent adjusters.
  • Liability Decision: Investigates claims and makes liability decisions within appropriate Division of Insurance (DOI) guidelines, or issues a letter requesting additional time based on continuing investigation.
  • Underwriter Notification: Alerts underwriters to pertinent issues.
  • Reserve Adjustment: Creates and adjusts reserves on time to ensure reserving activities are consistent with company policies.

7. Building Inspector General Responsibilities

  • Regulatory Compliance: Adheres to Fair Claims Settlement Practices and Department of Insurance Regulations and time frames.
  • Reinsurance Management: Manages reinsurance recognition, reporting, and ceding.
  • Jurisdictional Claims Handling: Handles claims in diverse jurisdictions and states.
  • Interdepartmental Communication: Communicates effectively with other Company departments.
  • Relationship Management: Maintains a good working relationship with insureds, independent adjusters, and other employees.
  • Inspection Scheduling: Schedules and coordinates building inspection schedules based on assignments from underwriters throughout the assigned territory.
  • Building Inspection: Conducts building inspections and completes inspection reports utilizing assigned software.
  • Report Submission: Submits reports timely manner based on statutory deadlines.
  • Underwriting Support: Provides additional advice to underwriters based on inspections, including any preexisting damages noted.

8. Building Maintenance Shipping Associate Tasks

  • Forklift Operation: Load/unload trucks using LPG counterbalance forklift.
  • Shipping Coordination: Coordinate with the Shipping department.
  • Equipment Crating: Assist with the packaging and crating of finished equipment by constructing skids and/or crates in addition to positioning and fastening equipment into wooden crates built by others.
  • Tool Utilization: Use a variety of hand and power tools and material handling equipment while performing duties.
  • Workplace Safety: Comply with safety regulations and maintain clean and orderly work areas.
  • Building Maintenance: Participate in various aspects of building maintenance requirements, including updates and new constructions.
  • Supply Management: Maintain adequate supplies for the maintenance department.
  • Inspection and Repair: Perform regular workplace inspections to determine areas that need maintenance or repair.
  • Timely Repairs: Ensure that any required maintenance and repairs are completed on time.
  • Lighting Inspection: Inspect the premises for burnt-out light bulbs, ensure these are replaced immediately.
  • Maintenance Checklists: Complete daily, weekly, and monthly checklists on building equipment maintenance procedures.
  • Maintenance Records: Maintain records of scheduled maintenance procedures.

9. Building Services Manager Key Accountabilities

  • Subcontractor Selection: Assist with the selection of subcontractors to tender from the supply chain
  • Bid Strategy Review: Review the MandE tender to agree on the bid strategy
  • Project Handover: Attend the handover meeting and pass the MandE file to the construction teams and surveyors
  • Consultant Management: Lead, manage and motivate the project’s external consultants to establish their full commercial contribution to the organisation
  • Subcontractor Evaluation: Review the performance of the MandE subcontractors to assess their suitability to remain in the supply chain
  • Commissioning Management: Assist with the management of the commissioning process and compliance with as-built and maintenance manuals
  • Project Input: Provide input into the monthly project so that it reflects a true/accurate position regarding the service aspects of the project
  • Defect Resolution: Assist the contracts manager with the resolution of defects
  • Reporting: Monthly, collate the team’s Project reports and provide a summary report to the Technical Director relating to the projects that the team has supervised
Relevant Information
What Does A Building Engineer Do?