Standard Job Times For Miscellaneous Maintenance Tasks

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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.

This standard includes a list of miscellaneous maintenance tasks along with estimated performance times required for completing each task. These figures may be used to estimate the amount of time required to perform a group of tasks; however, they are based on estimations for commercial and industrial structures and may need to be adjusted for applications in historic buildings. Therefore, local estimates should be adjusted based on observation and experience.

Frequency of tasks should be analyzed prior to determining the total performance time for a group of tasks. Outside contractors should be employed when maintenance tasks require special skills, expensive equipment or tools and materials that are not readily available. These more complex tasks should be omitted from any calculations involving in-house employees.

Results of these calculations may be used for planning purposes to calculate staff size which can be adjusted based on specific needs. Assume 2000 man-hours/year for the average full-time employee. Once the time required for performing a group of maintenance tasks has been calculated, staff size can be determined by dividing the maintenance time (in hours) by 2000 man-hours.

Calculating Work time Units

Dusting

Maintenance Task

Time in Seconds
Ash Tray 15
Book Cases
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
13” x 35” x 12” 22
36” x 30” x 8” 33
42” x 24” x 11” 49
Cabinets
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
36” x 77” x 18” 106
30” x 66” x 18” 42
Chairs
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Large 63
Medium 5
Steno 22
Clock
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Wall 20
Desks
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Large 48
Medium 43
Small 38
Doors
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Without glass 25
With glass 40
Fire Extinguishers
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Fire Extinguishers 16
Lamps and Lights
Maintenance Task Time
Table Lamp, Shade 35
Floor Lamp, Shade 35
Radiators and Window
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Ledge (124” x 15”) 45
Sand Urns
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Sand Urns 60
Tables
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Large 60
Medium 65
Small 58
Vending Machine
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Vending Machine 60
Venetian Blinds (Standard)
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Ledge (124” x 15”) 210
Wastebaskets
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Wastebaskets 15
Miscellaneous
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Door (Washing) 150
Drinking Fountain (Cleaning) 90
(Large Divan) Vacuuming 190
Doors
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Commode With Partition (Cleaning) 180
Door (Spot Wash) 50
Door Latch 10
Mirrors (Cleaning)
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
25” x 49” 20
60” x 21” 20
88” x 31” 40
Paper Products
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
Napkin Dispenser (Loading or Replenishing) 13
Napkin (Disposal) 10
Paper Towel Dispenser (Loading or Replenishing) 7
Paper Towel (Disposal) 10
Shelving (Cleaning)
Maintenance Task Time in Seconds
20” long 8
126” x 6” 60
Toilet Room related
Urinals - (Complete Cleaning) 120
Wainscoting (Cleaning) 75-100 Ft. Long 25
Wash Basin, Soap Detergent (Cleaning or Replenishing) 120
Walls, Ceilings and Glass
Door (Wash both sides) 150
Glass part. (Clean, wash) per sq. ft. 5.5
Wall, marble (Wash) per sq. ft. 5.5
Wall, tile (Wash) per sq. ft. 9
Glass part., opaque (Wash) per sq. ft. 3
Wall, painted (Wash) per sq. ft. 9
Wall (Vacuum) per sq. ft. 4.7
Windows (Wash) per sq. ft. 7.5

Standard Job Times for Floor Cleaning Operations

Sweeping
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 9
Slightly Obstructed 1
Obstructed 12
Heavily Obstructed 16
Dust Mopping
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 7
Slightly Obstructed 9
Obstructed 12
Heavily Obstructed 16
Damp Mopping
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 16
Slightly Obstructed 23
Obstructed 27
Heavily Obstructed 32
Wet Mop and Rinse
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 35
Slightly Obstructed 45
Obstructed 50
Heavily Obstructed 55
Hand Scrub
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 240
Slightly Obstructed 300
Obstructed 330
Heavily Obstructed 360
Hand-Scrub - Long Brush
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 75
Slightly Obstructed 105
Obstructed 120
Heavily Obstructed 135
Machine Scrub
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 25
Slightly Obstructed 35
Obstructed 40
Heavily Obstructed 45
Machine Polish
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 15
Slightly Obstructed 25
Obstructed 30
Heavily Obstructed 35
Vacuum - Wet Pick-Up
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 20
Slightly Obstructed 27
Obstructed 31
Heavily Obstructed 35
Vacuum - Dry Pick-Up
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 14
Slightly Obstructed 17
Obstructed 19
Heavily Obstructed 23
Strip and Re-wax
Floor Cleaning Operation Time in Minutes per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Unobstructed 100
Slightly Obstructed 120
Obstructed 140
Heavily Obstructed 180

NOTE: Add additional time to the total work time determined for a group of tasks for room preparation (i.e. moving, stacking and returning furniture back to its original location) and for assembly, set-up and clean-up of equipment used. For sample time estimate forms and additional information relating to maintenance, see the publication “Cyclical Maintenance for Historic Buildings”.

References:

From the publication “Cyclical Maintenance for Historic Buildings”, by J. Henry Chambers, AIA, National Park Service - Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, 1976.