What is the expected life of the various components of a school building?

Ongoing maintenance and upkeep can extend the life of a school. Building materials and equipment are selected with regard to cost and durability. For example, carpet that will last about 20 years is typically selected over cheaper carpet which will have to be replaced more often and end up being more expensive over time. The expected life of school components is shown below.

• Roof, 20-30 years
• Plumbing valves, 15 years
• Paint, 7 years interior, 10 years exterior
• Asphalt, 20 years
• Hockey rinks, 10 years
• Carpet, 20 years
• Fencing, 20 years
• Floor tile, 20 years
• Lights, 20 years

• Boiler, 30 years
• Cabinets, 25 years
• Fans, 30 years
• Intercoms, 20 years
• Gym floors, 30 years
• Fire alarms, 20 years
• Playgrounds, 20 years
• Ceiling tiles, 20 years
• Door hardware, 25 years
• Window treatment, 20 years

By the time a building is 25-30 years old, all major components should have been replaced.