What is the difference between Maintenance and Construction?

Maintenance can generally be submitted through a purchase order (PO). Maintenance is defined as the ongoing upkeep of buildings, equipment, roads, grounds, and utilities required to keep a facility in a condition adequate to support the university's academic, scientific, and public service functions. It consists of preservation rather than the improvement of buildings and grounds. Maintenance is generally performed on a routine or recurring basis and may involve bringing equipment back to a fully functional state. However, if a replacement is intended to upgrade a system, it is not considered maintenance.

Construction is the act, art, or business of moving, demolishing, installing, or building a structure, facility, or system according to a plan or by a definite process. Construction involves applying these techniques to physical plant facilities such as structures, utilities, excavations, landscaping, site improvements, drainage systems, and roads, as well as additions, deletions, or modifications of such facilities. Exterior and interior painting of new structures is a form of construction. Note that painting, while seemingly maintenance, is generally deemed construction.

If you are unsure whether to work through Facilities Management (FM), Design and Construction Services (D&CS), or Procurement, please refer to this decision matrix (Document).

To submit a work order request to FM or D&CS, please visit the UCSB Work Request portal.