Life Cycles - Why They Matter So Much

I was reading a Sky News article this morning about the UK weather forecast. According to the Met Office, temperatures could plunge again towards the end of January, bringing another chance of snow and wintry conditions across large parts of the country.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with a school leader a few weeks back about the importance of life-cycle management. The one thing they couldn’t stress enough was how important it is for school leaders to understand their assets: when they were installed, how much they cost, what the manufacturer’s recommended life cycle is, and, most importantly, how close they are to that point.

It sounds simple, right? Yet so many schools overlook such an important task.

If your school is caught in the next spell of freezing temperatures, snow and icy conditions, would all of your key assets cope?

Your heating systems. Your water pipework. Your roofs. Your electrics.

When assets only get attention after they fail

The problem is, most schools only replace assets after complete failure. And the issue with that approach is that failure usually happens at the worst possible time.

Cold weather hits. Systems are pushed harder than normal. And suddenly, a boiler, pipe or roof that’s been limping along for years can’t cope anymore.

If more schools used proper life-cycle planning, many of the problems we see during harsh weather could be avoided.

So what does “life cycle” actually mean?

When we talk about asset life cycles, we’re not talking about replacing things early for the sake of it.

And we’re not talking about spending money unnecessarily.

A life cycle is simply the journey an asset goes through:

1. It’s planned and installed

2. It’s used day-to-day

3. It’s operated and maintained

4. It gradually ages

5. Eventually, it needs replacing

That’s it.

Every boiler, roof, pump, fire system, lighting circuit or drainage run follows this pattern.

If there is one thing you take from this

Put some time in your diary next week to properly think about your assets. Maintenance isn’t a cost — it’s an investment.

If you have a spreadsheet, review it and make a plan.

If you already have a system in place, use it properly.

And if you don't have either, consider investing in a robust asset management solution. They’re not all the same, and the right one can make life-cycle management far simpler and more effective.

Statlog… more than just a compliance and premises solution