Perceived influence of building design on maintenance of TETFUND sponsored buildings in tertiary institutions in Benue State

Abstract

The maintenance of buildings has consistently presented significant challenges, with tertiary institutions being no exception, as their facilities frequently require repairs. This study aimed to explore the potential for reducing maintenance issues by emphasizing considerations during the design phase of buildings. The objective was to identify the perceived architectural, structural engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering design deficiencies that influence maintenance of buildings. A cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study. Utilizing the census sampling technique, all tertiary institutions with buildings sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) were included. Data were gathered from 99 staff members working in the Physical Planning and Maintenance Departments of nine Institutions through a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that within the category of architectural design deficiencies, issues related to drainage system design (M = 4.01, SD =0.90) were particularly prominent. In terms of structural engineering design, inadequate detailing of beams and columns (M=3.93, SD=0.85) was identified as a major contributor to maintenance challenges. Furthermore, within the domain of electrical engineering design, insufficient load calculations (M= 4.06, SD = 0.84) were found to significantly impact building maintenance. Additionally, the failure to consider climatic factors in building orientation (M =3.86, SD = 0.87) was highlighted as a critical mechanical engineering design deficiency influencing long-term maintenance outcomes. Based on the findings, design deficiencies were perceived to influence maintenance of buildings. It was therefore recommended that feedback from maintenance personnel be incorporated during design stages in order to create systems that are both functional and maintainable.