INTRODUCTION TO

FACILITY PLANNING
PHYSICAL PLANT
The term physical plant refers to the grounds, building structure, building systems,
interior finishes (that is paint/ wall paper and so forth) and furniture, fixtures and
equipment of a lodging facility. Many of these components of the physical plant are
highly visible, such as grounds, the exterior building, structure and the furniture,
fixtures and equipment.

Other portion of physical plant such as structural steel in the building, the plumbing and
the large routes of the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, are
seldom seen by the guests or most of the employees.
Essential Components of the Physical Plant

The Essential Components of the Physical Plant are:

 Layout (skeleton, framework for operations)
 Material handling (muscular system for movement/activity)
 Procedures/communications (nervous system for control of activity)
 Utilities/auxiliaries (respiratory, circulatory, & digestive systems)
 Building (skin, hair, ―protective covering‖)
 Estate: land and buildings.
 Comfortable furniture / fittings to rest or work.
 Air conditioning plant: to maintain the temperature within the comfortable parameter.
 Kitchen: to take care of customers‘ hunger with proper taste and flavours to liking.
 Transport system: include lifts, escalators, a fleet of buses and taxis.
 Audio and video system: to entertain the customers.
 Telecommunication system: to receive and send massages.
 Safety provisions: systems, for personal safety, fire and theft.
 Staff to manage all above.
ROLE OF FACILITIES IN A HOTEL
BUILDING
Facilities provide an appealing visual environment (ambience, experience and comfort of the guest). All
lodging properties including hotels, resorts, theme parks, water attractions, casinos – the facilities themselves
are an attraction (engages & entertains the guests).

Facilities of a five star hotel includes well equipped front office, 24 hrs running hot and cold water supply,
ala carte restaurants, coffee shop, banquets and conference rooms, swimming pool, gym, spa, 24hours in
room dining, well furnished accommodation with attached bath room, and so on.

Unseen facilities create a good thermal environment – air conditioning, clean water, elimination of unwanted
sound and basically protection from the elements Safety is another important factor related to facilities –
protection from injury, from loss of their possessions.
Cost Associated with Hospitality Facilities
Cost associated with hospitality facilities varies from type of hotel as well as location of the hotel. Total Cost of a hotel
project includes the following:
 Cost of land
 Cost associated with land development
 Building and Construction cost
 Cost of land escaping
 Cost of Building systems such as Heating ventilation, and air conditioning, lighting system, building transportation
system, water supply system, safety and security system, waste and garbage
management system, energy management system, rain water harvesting system, property management systems and so on.
 Cost of furniture, fixtures and equipment
 Cost of interiors
 Cost associated in legal aspects
 Fee of hotel consultants, engineers, interiors and legal experts etc.
Building and System Operation
Lodging building does not operate without continuous attention. The building and the
systems installing in these buildings require basic maintenance, repair or replacement of
failed parts, calibration of controls and equipment, attention to factors which may pose safety
problems and inevitably a major renovation or rehabilitation.

The safety of the guests and employees and the profitability of the operation. Many of the
system in the building never are noticed if they are working properly.

It is the failure of systems to work properly which draws unwanted attention and create
managerial nightmares.
Building Maintenance
The actual physical structure of the building may initially seem like something which
requires relatively little effort on the part of the engineering department. The stone, brick,
asphalt, and steel of the most of the building would appear last for ever. However, there are a
large number of basic maintenance activities which must be undertaken if the building is to
preserve its initial appearance and function.

The element of building maintenance which is unavoidable and continual problem is roofing.
Whether it is the repair of minor leaks or the de-roofing of the entire building (a capital cost),
roofing system maintenance is important concern.
Maintenance of Guestrooms, Furnishings and
Fixtures
From the perspective of the lodging property guest, the guestrooms, furnishings and
fixtures of the property are very visible features which contribute to the overall experience
of the establishment either positively or negatively. The proper maintenance of these
elements is usually a direct responsibility of the engineering department staff.

The department replaces the items itself or supervises outside contractors, the yearly
expenditures on the maintenance of guestrooms, furnishings and fixtures of the
establishment are charged against the POM account.
Equipment Maintenance and Repair
The repair and maintenance of all the equipment is the responsibility
of the engineering department. Maintenance means to maintain
something or is to keep in an existing state or to preserve from
failure or decline.

Unfortunately with respect to equipment a large fraction of the time

spent in some engineering operations is directed at repair rather than
at maintenance. Repair expenses have a significant effect on the cost
of building maintenance.
Security / Safety Maintenance
Security involves physical assets of the property, employees, suppliers and the
guests while safety involves the potential injury to both employees and guests.
At smaller establishments, it is not unusual for building safety and security to
be largely the responsibility of the engineering department.

Some specific safety and security concerns with exist within the engineering
area including key control, lock rotation, control of tools and supplies,
emergency response to fires and other potentially dangerous situations, safe
operations of equipment and tools and outside contractor interactions.
Parts Inventory and Control
The nature of the work performed in maintenance results in a need for parts and
supplied which are unique in many instances. The uniqueness of these parts or
supplies may mean they require long lead times when they are ordered. However,
the ability to operate portions of the facility safely and comfortably often
requires immediate access to parts or supplies in order to affect repairs.

For this reason an adequate parts and supplies inventory and control over the
purchase and storage of these items are very important.
Renovations, additions and restorations: The need to redecorate and renovate
whether because of wear and tear caused by use, because of changing needs for
space or in order to support a new concept is a common feature of all lodging
properties. For many lodging chains expenditures in these areas are greater each
year than the expenditure on new properties.
Depending on the magnitude of the project and the organization of the property
and company the work performed in some or all of these tasks may be the
responsibility of the property‘s maintenance department.
The responsibility may include the actual performance of the work or the
supervision of outside contractors as they perform the necessary tasks.
Special Projects
With the introduction of new technologies and the needs of lodging customers to special
services, the engineering department is called upon to perform many special projects. For
example: new communication, solar system, water treatment plant, optical fiber lighting
etc.
Special events may require the construction of display stands, protective barriers. Trade
shows may require additional electric services, phone connection and special lightings.
These projects require the input of the engineering department early in the negotiating
stages of the contract for the event to ensure that costs are recovered and that the necessary
services are ready to use for the customers upon their arrival.
Training of Staff
The training activities within the maintenance area may differ some what
from those in other areas of the property, many people hired in the
maintenance department (electricians, painters, carpenters) already possess
specific skills or abilities.

While some responsibility exists to maintain their skill levels, the primary
focus of training is to inform these employees the standards and specific
requirement of the property at which they are employed. This training may
be grouped in the categories of general training, departmental training and
job- specific training.
 Impact of Facility Design on Facility
Management
A holistic view of the subject facilities management (FM) will involve looking at it from the
definition and history of the development of facilities management, through the practice of
facilities management. It touches on some very important areas of the subject in relation to
customer satisfaction and providing good value for money. It looks at achieving better facility
that is easy to run, maintain and manage by applying whole life costing and risk management
techniques.

FM is examined at the preoperations stage to see how early involvement can create effective
operations, greater value for money and customer satisfaction while also providing better
facility that is attractive and user friendly. FM at the design stage will add value to the facility
by ensuring less ‘rework‘, emphasizing value for money, efficient control of the supply chain
and team work.‘
THANK YOU!