Responsibilities
This page provides a framework for a common understanding of what is funded under direct institutional budget appropriation to Facilities Services and is “mission-funded work”. All other building, grounds and infrastructure needs outside of this framework cannot be funded by Facilities Services.
Facilities Services is responsible for the maintenance of Educational and General Support (E&G) facilities. Facilities Services is not funded to provide remediation, change of use, capital construction or capital renewal.
- Routine cleaning
- Building structure, roof and façade
- Mechanical System (HVAC)
- Electrical System
- Plumbing System
- Elevators
- Standard university building signage
- Other built-in and installed equipment when it is an integral part of the completed facility at the time of original building construction and not installed for programmatic purposes, such as: hoists, cranes, electronic controls and devices for boiler combustion, automatic temperature controls, thermostats and humidistats. This does not include FF&E or research support equipment.
- Utility plants
- Campus grounds
- Steam infrastructure from the utility plant to the building supply valve.
- Chilled water infrastructure from the utility plant to the building supply valve.
- Electrical distribution infrastructure on the secondary side of substations from the substation to the building entrance, to include transformers, switches, vaults and underground duct banks.
- Sanitary & Sewer – from building to the back-flow preventers and valves.
Reimbursable Work
Facilities Services provides reimbursable services to all departments though our work order system. Reimbursable services include:
- A full range of minor renovations and interior upgrades, including cabinet construction, carpentry & painting to suit departmental needs
- Non-routine/out of cycle cleaning, including cleaning before or after events
- Flooring installation
- Electrical, plumbing or HVAC work to accommodate new equipment or departmental needs
Additionally, maintenance or minor construction services may be provided, upon mutual agreement, to non-E&G facilities on a reimbursable basis. One-time service requests are accommodated though the work order system, and ongoing services are established by formally entering a memo of understanding with Facilities Services. Responsibility for the fiscal and operational decision making resides with the Non-E&G unit.
Entities Responsible for Work Outside of Facilities Services
- Non-standard cleaning due to events, abuse, neglect, or failure
- Nightly locking of buildings
- Collateral or Auxiliary Equipment – equipment added to the building during or after construction for programmatic purposes
- Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E)
- Kitchen Equipment
- Building modifications or upgrades required for ADA accommodations
- Interior Aesthetics- carpet, paint, non-standard/departmental signage (see section on classrooms for special programs related certain classrooms)
- Research laboratory items, systems, and sub-systems within E&G facilities (See section on research laboratory support)
- Fraternity and Sorority buildings (managed by Student Affairs, maintained by individual house corporation)
- University Housing
- Campus Recreation facilities, to include the Strom Thurmond Wellness Center and all designated campus recreational fields
- Student Health facilities
- Fire Suppression Systems
- Fire Alarm Systems
- Hydraulicly-operated vehicle barriers
- Security cameras
- Security and panic alarm systems
- Domestic Water distribution system
- Storm Water
- Natural Gas distribution system (responsible for infrastructure up to the meter)
- Athletic facilities (Athletics responsibility, work permitted as reimbursable services only)
- Digital access control systems (contact the Carolina Card Office)
- Housing or recreational facilities, including fraternity and sorority houses (Student Affairs responsibility, work permitted as reimbursable services only)
- Information Technology and Telephony (Department of Information Technology responsibility)
- Food service facilities, to include contractual obligation of the Aramark/Carolina Food Company
- Koger Center for Performing Arts (College of Music responsibility)
- Foundation Property & Buildings (Foundation responsibility)
- Leased Property (Lease dictates terms, typically landlord or lessee responsibility)
- Parking Lots, Decks and Transit Facilities (Parking and Transportation responsibility)
- National Advocacy Center and Floors 2&3 at 1600 Hampton
Classroom and Research Laboratories inside Education and General (E&G) Buildings
Every room within the university has been specifically assigned a space use code in accordance with the National Center for Education Statistics Postsecondary Education Facilities Inventory and Classification Manual (FICM). Within an E&G facility, there are often many types of space uses.
There are many types of classrooms on our campus that can be classified using the following FICM codes:
- 110’s (Classrooms)
- 210’s (Class Laboratories)
- 220’s (Open Laboratories)
Classrooms with the designation of 110 may be eligible for renewal and upgrade funding though a special classroom renewal program managed by the University Provost. Spaces classified as Class Laboratories and Open Laboratories are used for specific instructional purposes, and the programmatic and renewal costs are the sole responsibility of the college or unit assigned to the space. These costs include but are not limited to:
- ADA accessibility upgrades
- Chalk and marker/dry erase boards
- Furniture
- IT/AV and telephones
- Network equipment
- Paint, carpet, and general renewal
In general, all research-related needs are funded by the college or unit, as these units receive the indirect cost (IDC) allocations from research activities. University Facilities Services does not receive any funding from research grant indirect cost (IDC) allocations. University Facilities Services provides maintenance for the E&G facility; however, any system or subsystem that is directly connected to research activities is treated as a reimbursable service. Examples of research-related equipment and non-mission work include:
- All laboratory equipment, including freezers and refrigerators
- Biological safety cabinets
- Chemical fume hoods and associated controls, ducts, and exhaust fans
- Environmental chambers
- Water filtration systems (RO, DI, Nano-pure, vivarium watering, etc.)
- Eye washes and safety showers (Install, test, maintain, renew)
- Clean power requirements of voltage or amperage sensitive equipment
- UPS devices
- Vibration dampening
- Noise abatement or isolation
- Emergency power/generators beyond the capabilities of equipment installed during the building construction
- Temperature or humidity requirements beyond those required by code for human occupants
- Specialty lighting
- Cleaning greater than the levels or frequencies provided by the university
- Air filtration beyond that provided by the installed building mechanical equipment
All equipment connections to university buildings and infrastructure (power, domestic water, chilled water, heating water, steam or sanitary sewer) must be coordinated in advance and approved in writing by the Chief Operating Officer or the Associate Vice President of Facilities Services. Equipment connections are subject to the existing building and system limitations and may require departmentally-funded engineering analysis and improvements to the infrastructure to support the connection. Additionally, equipment weighing more than 250 pounds must be approved in advance and may require a structural evaluation prior to the approval of equipment placement.
Note: Facilities Services is required to prioritize work for E&G spaces prior to providing services to E&G units and is not a first responder to facilities emergencies for non-E&G units. Reimbursable services for non-E&G units are provided only if resources permit unless a formal service level agreement exists between University Facilities Services and the non-E&G unit.
Definitions
The process of adapting a whole or part of a building, system, equipment, assembly, or component for a new use purpose.
The design and construction of new facilities or significant remodeling, reconstruction or expansion of existing facilities.
The process of one-for-one installation of a new or improved version of a system, equipment, assembly, or component based on both expected lifecycle and the actual condition and performance.
Space designated by the University explicitly for education and the support of education purposes. Space is owned by the University and assigned to individual colleges or departments as tenants.
Items installed into a building either at the time of construction or at any point during the occupation that are not part of the original and permanent building components. FF&E is the sole responsibility of the building occupants.
The process of ensuring the optimal and continuous operation of a building or building system. Maintenance is performed in the form of preventative maintenance (inspection, servicing, cleaning) and corrective maintenance (repair of system components to return a system to operational status).
The process of returning a system, equipment, assembly or component to operational status. Items that cannot be reasonably repaired must be capitally renewed. Repair does not include replacing items (systems, sub-systems, finishes, coatings, parts, technology or electronic upgrades, etc) that have worn out due to routine use, wear and tear, neglect, abuse or items that have exceeded their predicted useful service life.
The process of removing asbestos, lead-based paint, or other harmful substances.
*Framework for the above definitions and responsibilities is as of Dec. 1, 2023.