Estimating life expectancies for facilities, systems, equipment, and other physical structures is important for efficient condition and capital reinvestment management. Life expectancies for new and older systems must be reasonably accurate to plan and manage long term operational and maintenance strategies. As physical conditions change over time, information must be updated on a regular basis, but typically at a minimum of every three (3) to five (5) years to meet established facilities management objectives.
Life-expectancies and/or service life for building, systems, and equipment play a key role in capital asset decision-making with respect to initial cost, maintenance, and repair costs and, when appropriate, replacement costs
The physical and functional lifespan of physical objects must be considered jointly and in concert with the mission of the organization to optimize capital reinvestment. For example, the lifespan of a facility can be expanded indefinitely if there were an unlimited source of capital. Based upon construction type, however, there generally comes a time when it becomes more effective to replace a facility. Facilities management professionals therefore must balance current capital resources against physical and functional conditions for all associated physical assets.
Information and factors associated with material, component, and system life expectancies include:
- General Information.
- Scope (including purpose).
- Material/Component.
- Methodology.
- Use Conditions.
- Degradation Agents.
- Critical Properties and Performance Requirements.
- Reference Service Life.
- Data Quality, Reliability, Transparency, and Granularity.
- Maintenance Strategy.
Material / System / Equipment Years
| ABS and PVC Waste Pipe | 50 to 80 |
| Accessible/ADA Handles | 100+ |
| Acoustic Ceiling Tile | 40+ |
| Acrylic Kitchen Sink | 50 |
| Adjustable Steel Columns | 50+ |
| Air Conditioner (central) | 7 to 15 |
| Air Conditioner (window) | 5 to 7 |
| Air Exchanger | 15 |
| All Wood Floors | 100+ |
| Aluminum Coating | 3 to 7 |
| Aluminum Gutters, Downspouts, Soffit and | 20 to 40+ |
| Aluminum Siding | 25 to 40+ |
| American Red Clay | 100+ |
| Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) | 30 |
| Asbestos Shingle | 100 |
| Asphalt (architectural) | 30 |
| Asphalt Driveway | 15 to 20 |
| Asphalt Shingles (3-tab) | 20 |
| Attic Fan | 15 to 25 |
| Attic Stairs (pull-down) | 50 |
| Bare Copper | 100+ |
| Barometric Backdraft Damper/Fresh-Air | 20 |
| Baseboard Waterproofing System | 50 |
| Bathroom Cabinets | 50+ |
| Batts/Rolls | 100+ |
| Bituminous-Coating Waterproofing | 10 |
| Black Paper (felt paper) | 15 to 30 |
| Black Paper (felt paper) | 15 to 30 |
| Boiler | 40 |
| Brick | 100+ |
| Brick and Concrete Patio | 15 to 25 |
| Built-In Audio | 20 |
| Bulbs (compact fluorescent) | 8,000 to 10,000+ hours |
| Bulbs (halogen) | 4,000 to 8,000+ hours |
| Bulbs (incandescent) | 1,000 to 2,000+ hours |
| Bulbs (LED) | 30,000 to 50,000+ hours |
| Burner | 10+ |
| Carbon Monoxide Detectors* | 5 |
| Cast-Iron Bathtub | 100 |
| Cast-Iron Waste Pipe (above ground) | 60 |
| Cast-Iron Waste Pipe (below ground) | 50 to 60 |
| Caulking | 5 to 10 |
| Caulking (interior & exterior) 5 | 5 to 10 |
| Ceiling Fan | 5 to 10 |
| Cellulose | 100+ |
| Cellulose | 100+ |
| Cementitious | 100+ |
| Central Vacuum System | 20 |
| Ceramic Tile | 70+ |
| Chimney Cap (concrete) | 100+ |
| Chimney Cap (metal) | 10 to 20 |
| Chimney Cap (mortar) | 15 |
| Chimney Flue Tile | 40 to 120 |
| Clay Paving | 100+ |
| Closet Shelves | 100+ |
| Communications Installations / Controls | 15 |
| Compactor (trash) | 6 |
| Composite Decks | 8 to 15 |
| Concrete | 75+ |
| Concrete Block | 100+ |
| Concrete Walks | 40 to 50 |
| Concrete Waste Pipe | 100+ |
| Condenser | 8 to 20 |
| Construction Glue | 20+ |
| Controllers | 15 |
| Copper Downspouts | 100 |
| Copper Gutters | 50+ |
| Copper Water Lines | 70 |
| Copper-Clad Aluminum | 100+ |
| Copper-Plated | 100+ |
| Cultured Marble | 20 |
| Curtain Wall | 35 |
| Custom Millwork | 100+ |
| Dampers | 20+ |
| Deck Planks | 15 |
| Dehumidifier | 8 |
| Dehumidifier | 8 |
| Diffusers, Grilles and Registers | 25 |
| Dishwasher | 9 |
| Disposal (food waste) | 12 |
| Doorbells | 45 |
| Doors (closet) | 100+ |
| Doors French (interior) | 30 to 50 |
| Doors Sliding Glass | 20 |
| Doors Vinyl (exterior) | 20 |
| Doors Wood (exterior) | 100 + |
| Dryer (clothes) | 13 |
| Dryer vent (plastic) | 5 |
| Dryer vent (steel) | 20 |
| Ducting | 60 to 100 |
| Electric Radiant Heater | 40 |
| Electric Range | 13 to 15 |
| Enameled Steel Kitchen Sink | 5 to 10+ |
| Engineered Joists | 80+ |
| Engineered Wood | 100+ |
| Entertainment Center/Home Office | 10 |
| Epoxy Wall Covering (two part) | 15 |
| Evaporator Cooler | 15 to 25 |
| Exhaust Fans | 10 |
| Fabric Wall Covering | 15 |
| Fasteners (copper) | 65 to 80+ |
| Fasteners (electro-galvanized) | 15 to 45 |
| Fasteners (galvanized) | 10+ |
| Fasteners (hot-dipped galvanized) | 35 to 60 |
| Fasteners (stainless) | 65 to 100+ |
| Fasteners Steel (bright) | 25 to 60 |
| Faucets and Spray Hose | 15 to 20 |
| Fiber Cement | 100+ |
| Fiberglass | 100+ |
| Fiberglass (exterior) | 100+ |
| Fiberglass Bathtub and Shower | 20 |
| Fire-Rated Steel (exterior) | 100+ |
| Fixtures | 40 |
| Flooring Bamboo | 100+ |
| Flooring Brick Pavers | 100+ |
| Flooring Carpet | 8 to 10 |
| Flooring Concrete | 50+ |
| Flooring Engineered Wood | 50+ |
| Flooring Exotic Wood | 100+ |
| Flooring Granite | 100+ |
| Flooring Hardboard | 40 |
| Flooring Laminate | 15 to 25 |
| Flooring Linoleum | 25 |
| Flooring Marble | 100+ |
| Flooring Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 60 |
| Flooring Other Domestic Wood | 100+ |
| Flooring Particleboard | 60 |
| Flooring Plywood | 100 |
| Flooring Slate | 100 |
| Flooring Softwood | 30 |
| Flooring Terrazzo | 75+ |
| Flooring Tile | 75 to 100 |
| Flooring Underlayment / Substrate | 50 |
| Flooring Vinyl | 25 |
| Foamboard | 100+ |
| Freezer | 10 to 20 |
| Furnace | 15 to 25 |
| Galvanized Steel Gutters/Downspouts | 20 |
| Garage / Laundry Cabinets | 70+ |
| Garage Door Openers | 10 to 15 |
| Garage Doors | 20 to 25 |
| Gas Fireplace | 15 to 25 |
| Gas Lines (black steel) | 75 |
| Gas Lines (flex) | 30 |
| Gas Oven | 10 to 18 |
| Gas Range | 15 to 17 |
| Gravel Walks | 4 to 6 |
| Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) | up to 30 |
| Gypsum | 75 |
| Hand Dryer | 10 to 12 |
| Heat Exchanger | 10 to 15 |
| Heat Pump | 10 to 15 |
| Heat-Recovery Ventilator | 20 |
| Interior Wood Finish Walls | 15 |
| Home Automation System | 5 to 20 |
| Hose Bibs | 20 to 30 |
| Hot-Water and Steam-Radiant Boiler | 40 |
| House wrap | 80+ |
| Humidifier | 12 |
| Induction and Fan-Coil Units | 10 to 15 |
| Instant (on-demand) Water Heater | 10 |
| Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) | 100 |
| Intercoms | 20 |
| Kitchen Cabinets | 50 |
| Labeling | 25 |
| Laminate | 20 to 30 |
| Laminated Strand Lumber | 100+ |
| Laminated Veneer Lumber | 80+ |
| Lift and Conveyance Systems | 20 to 50 |
| Lighting Controls | 30+ |
| Lighting Fixtures | 20 |
| Liquid-Applied Membrane | 50 |
| Log | 80 to 200 |
| Loose-Fill | 100+ |
| Loose-Fill | 100+ |
| Manometer | 15 |
| Manufactured Stone | 100+ |
| Mulch | 1 to 2 |
| Natural Stone | 100+ |
| Paint (exterior) | 5 to 10 |
| Paint (interior) | 10 to 15 |
| Permanent Wood Foundation | 75 |
| PEX | 40 |
| Piping | 50+ |
| Plastic Water Lines | 75 |
| Polyvinyl Fencing | 100+ |
| Pool Concrete Shell | 25+ |
| Pool Cover | 7 |
| Pool Diving Board | 10 |
| Post and Pier | 20 to 65 |
| Post and Tensioned Slab on Grade | 100+ |
| Poured-Concrete Footings and Foundation | 100+ |
| Poured-Concrete Systems | 100+ |
| Pre-Built Stairs | 100+ |
| Radon Fan | 5 to 8 |
| Range/Oven Hood | 14 |
| Refrigerator | 9 to 13 |
| Residential Propane Backup Generators | 12 |
| Resin | 10+ |
| Rock Wool | 100+ |
| Roofing Adhesives / Cements | 15+ |
| Roofing BUR (built-up roofing) | 30 |
| Roofing Cellulose Fiber | 20 |
| Roofing Clay/Concrete | 100+ |
| Roofing Coal and Tar | 30 |
| Roofing Copper | 70+ |
| Roofing EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) Rubber | 15 to 25 |
| Roofing Fiber Cement | 25 |
| Roofing Green (vegetation-covered) | 5 to 40 |
| Roofing Metal | 40 to 80 |
| Roofing Modified Bitumen | 20 |
| Roofing Simulated Slate | 10 to 35 |
| Roofing Slate | 60 to 150 |
| Roofing TPO | 7 to 20 |
| Roofing Wood | 30 |
| Saunas/Steam Room | 15 to 20 |
| Sealants | 8 |
| Security System | 5 to 20 |
| Service Panel | 60 |
| Sewer Grinder Pump | 10 |
| Shower Doors | 20 |
| Shower Enclosure/Module | 50 |
| Showerheads | 100+ |
| Slab on Grade (concrete) | 100 |
| Smoke/Heat Detectors* | less than 10 |
| Soapstone Kitchen Sink | 100+ |
| Solar Panels | 20 to 30 |
| Solar System Batteries | 3 to 12 |
| Sprinkler Heads | 10 to 14 |
| Stains | 3 to 8 |
| Stair Parts | 100+ |
| Stairs | 100+ |
| Steel | 100+ |
| Steel Beams | 200+ |
| Steel Columns | 100+ |
| Steel Plates | 100+ |
| Stone | 100+ |
| Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) | 100+ |
| Structural Wood Decks | 10 to 30 |
| Stucco/EIFS | 50+ |
| Sump Pump | 7 |
| Suspended Ceiling | 25+ |
| Swamp Cooler | 5 to 15 |
| Thermostats | 35 |
| Tile | 100+ |
| Timber Frame | 100+ |
| Toilet Tank Components | 5 |
| Toilets, Bidets and Urinals | 100+ |
| Trim | 25 |
| Trusses | 100+ |
| Underground PVC Piping | 60+ |
| Valves | 20 |
| Vent Fan (ceiling) | 5 to 10 |
| Ventilator | 7 |
| Vessel Sink (stone, glass, porcelain, copper) | 5 to 20+ |
| Vinyl Gutters and Downspouts | 25+ |
| Vinyl Siding | 60 |
| Vinyl Wall Covering | 10 |
| Wall Finish Interior Paint | 5 |
| Wallpaper | 4 |
| Wall Panels | 100+ |
| Washing Machine | 5 to 15 |
| Water Heater (conventional) | 6 to 12 |
| Water Line (copper) | 50 |
| Water Line (plastic) | 50 |
| Water Softener | 20 |
| Well Pump | 15 |
| Whirlpool Tub | 20 to 50 |
| Wind Turbine Generators | 20 |
| Windows | 30 |
| Wood | 100+ |
| Wood (hollow-core interior) | 20 to 30 |
| Wood (solid-core interior) | 30 to 100+ |
| Wood Chips | 1 to 5 |
| Wood Fencing | 20 |
| Wood Foundation | 5 to 40 |
| Wood Paneling | 20 to 50 |
| Wood/Exterior Shutters | 20 |
| Wrap Tape | 80+ |
References (Uncited)
ISO. 2008. ISO 15686-5:2008 Buildings and Constructed
Assets—Service-Life Planning—Part 5: Lifecycle
Costing. Geneva: ISO.
Trinius, W., and Sjöström, C. 2005. “Service Life
Planning and Performance Requirements.” Building
Research & Information 33 (2): 173-81.
ISO. 1997. ISO 14040:1997 Environmental
Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and
Framework. Geneva: ISO.
ISO. 2004. ISO 15686-6:2004 Buildings and Constructed
Assets—Service-Life Planning—Part 6: Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts. Geneva: ISO.
Blom, I. S., Itard, L. C. M., and Meijer, A. 2010.
“Environmental Impact of Dwellings.” Buildings and
Environment 45 (11): 2526-38.
Klunder, G., and Van Nunen, H. 2003. “The Factor of
Time in Life Cycle Assessment of Housing.” Open House
International 28: 20-7.
Huffmeijer, F. J. M., Hermans, M. H., and Van Egmond,
H. C. M. 1998. Levensduur van Bouwproducten.
Praktijkwaarden (Service Lives of Building Products in
Use). Rotterdam: SBR (Building Research Institute). (in
Dutch)
ISO. 2000. ISO 15686-1:2000 Buildings and Constructed
Assets—Service-Life Planning—Part 1: General
Principles. Geneva: ISO.
Van Nunen, H. 2010. Assessment of the Sustainability of
Flexible Building. The Improved Factor Method: Service
Life Prediction of Buildings in the Netherlands Applied to
Life Cycle Assessment. Boxtel: Aeneas.
CEN (European Committee for Standardization). 2010.
European Standard (prEN) 15804:2010, Sustainability of
Construction Works—Environmental Product
Declarations—Core Rules for the Product Category of
Construction Products. Brussels: CEN.
ISO. 2001. ISO 15686-2:2001 Buildings and Constructed
Assets—Service-Life Planning—Part 2: Service Life
Prediction Procedures. Geneva: ISO.
Daniotti, B., and Re Cecconi, F. 2010. Test Methods for
Service Life Prediction. Rotterdam: CIB (International
Council for Building).
Shohet, I. M., and Paciuk, M. 2004. “Service Life
Prediction of Exterior Cladding Components under
Standard Conditions.” Construction Management and
Economics 22 (2): 131-48.