Certified Facility Manager (CFM) Practice Exam

Which of the following statements about emergency and breakdown maintenance is true?

1. Emergency maintenance is always less expensive than scheduled maintenance.

2. Effective maintenance management systems eliminate the need for emergency maintenance.

3. All statements regarding emergency maintenance are true.

4. Emergency maintenance cannot be planned or anticipated.

The correct answer is: All statements regarding emergency maintenance are true.

The statement indicating that all statements regarding emergency maintenance are true captures the essence of the nature of emergency versus preventive maintenance. Emergency maintenance refers to unplanned repairs essential for the operation of a facility, typically occurring when equipment unexpectedly fails or emergencies arise, requiring immediate attention to avoid further damage or safety hazards. While assessing the nature of emergency maintenance, it's important to recognize that it typically arises from unpredictable circumstances, which may not always lend themselves to budget-friendly solutions. Therefore, the idea that emergency maintenance is always less expensive can be misleading, as it often incurs higher costs due to urgent repairs and potential operational disruptions. Moreover, while effective maintenance management systems aim to reduce the frequency of emergencies by implementing proactive strategies, they cannot completely eliminate the need for emergency maintenance. Equipment may still fail unexpectedly despite regular checks, and unforeseen circumstances can always arise. Lastly, emergency maintenance is indeed characterized by its inherent unpredictability, meaning it cannot be effectively planned or anticipated, aligning with the nature of emergencies themselves. This multifaceted understanding illustrates the true characteristics of emergency maintenance, supporting why the statement about all claims being true holds validity.