Maintaining large, complex facilities is a significant undertaking. When those facilities are essential to public services, the stakes are even higher. WSSC Water, one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, requires its operational centers to function flawlessly around the clock. To ensure this level of reliability, they entrusted CBI with comprehensive building maintenance services for their key locations: the Service Center and the Consolidated Lab.
This case study explores the scope of CBI’s work, detailing our role in providing day-to-day operations, preventative maintenance, and emergency response to uphold the integrity and efficiency of WSSC Water’s critical infrastructure.
A Partnership Built on Total Responsibility
The contract required a partner capable of managing every facet of building maintenance. CBI assumed full responsibility for providing the management, supervision, personnel, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to deliver effective and timely services. Our role was not just to fix problems as they arose but to proactively manage the facilities to prevent them.
This total ownership model meant WSSC Water could focus on its core mission of providing safe and reliable water services, confident that its buildings were in expert hands. We managed all materials and supplies responsibly and safely, ensuring that every task met the highest service standards required by the contract.
Scope of Work: A Comprehensive Approach
Our engagement with WSSC Water covered the complete spectrum of building operations and maintenance for the Service Center and the RGH Building at the Consolidated Lab. This included:
- Scheduled Maintenance: A robust program of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual preventative and predictive maintenance to keep systems running at peak performance.
- Unscheduled Maintenance and Repairs: Responsive service for any unexpected issues that occurred during business hours.
- Emergency Service Response: A critical component of the partnership that requires CBI personnel to be on call 24/7. Our team guaranteed a one-hour response time to the facilities after being notified of an emergency.
A Full Suite of Maintenance Services
To support WSSC Water’s complex operations, CBI delivered a wide range of specialized services. We managed everything from the aesthetic upkeep of the grounds to the building’s complex internal systems.
Core Maintenance Services:
- Electrical Services: Our team maintained all electrical infrastructure, including indoor and outdoor lighting, distribution panels, fire alarm systems, motor controls, transformers, and switchboards up to 480 volts. We also managed complex systems such as 15 kV switchgear and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, including battery replacements.
- Mechanical Services: We were responsible for the full range of mechanical equipment. This included the fire alarm and sprinkler systems (both wet and dry), the fire pump, kitchen hoods, exhaust fans, and all general HVAC equipment.
- Building and Structures Maintenance: Our work extended to the physical structure of the buildings. We handled repairs and maintenance for doors, locks, furniture, cabinetry, and windows. We also performed painting, wallpapering, and caulking to maintain the facilities’ professional appearance and structural integrity.
Specialized Facility Support Services:
In addition to core M&E services, CBI managed numerous vendor-supported functions to provide a proper turnkey solution. These included:
- Janitorial, Trash Removal, and Recycling
- Landscape and Grounds Maintenance
- Fire Extinguisher Service
- Integrated Pest Management
- Grease Interceptor Services
- Geese Control
Expertise Across Diverse and Critical Systems
The facilities at WSSC Water house a vast array of specialized equipment, each requiring expert knowledge for proper maintenance. CBI’s team was responsible for the upkeep of dozens of critical systems, including:
- Life Safety Systems: Fire Alarm Systems, Sprinkler Systems, and Stairway Pressurization Fans.
- HVAC and Environmental Control: Chillers, Cooling Towers, Air Handlers, Humidifiers, Boilers, and Strobic Exhaust Fans.
- Power and Redundancy: Generators, UPS Systems, Electrical Systems, and Underground Oil Tanks with Fuel Pumps.
- Water Management: Domestic Water Pumps, Garage Sump Pumps, and Lake Fountain Pumps.
- Building Operations: Elevators, Energy Management Systems (EMS), and Security Systems.
Our proactive maintenance schedules for these systems were designed to maximize uptime, improve energy efficiency, and extend asset lifespans.
Unwavering Commitment to Safety and Compliance
Operating within a highly regulated environment, CBI ensured strict adherence to all relevant codes and standards. Our commitment to safety and compliance was non-negotiable and integrated into every aspect of our work.
We operated in full compliance with all federal, state, and local laws. All work was performed in accordance with the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 and Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) standards. This rigorous adherence to safety protocols protected our personnel, WSSC Water employees, and the facilities themselves.
The CBI Difference: Reliability and Expertise
CBI’s successful partnership with WSSC Water demonstrates our capability to manage complex, mission-critical facilities. By providing a comprehensive, single-source solution for all building maintenance needs, we enabled our client to operate more efficiently and with greater peace of mind. Our proactive approach, rapid emergency response, and unwavering commitment to safety and quality make CBI the ideal partner for organizations that depend on facility reliability.
To learn how CBI’s trusted facility maintenance services can optimize your property portfolio and enhance your facility standards, contact us to schedule a consultation.
