Hard FM and gas compliance services
Supporting safe, compliant and resilient estate operations through specialist maintenance, responsive technical support and close collaboration with Durham University’s in-house teams.Hard FM and gas compliance services
Supporting safe, compliant and resilient estate operations through specialist maintenance, responsive technical support and close collaboration with Durham University’s in-house teams.
Key partnership facts
Key partnership facts
Overview
Equans helps Durham University maintain a safe, compliant and resilient estate through specialist hard FM and gas compliance services delivered across a complex portfolio of academic, residential and operational buildings.
Equans’ relationship with the university dates back to 2011. Under the current FM contract, which has an initial two-year term with the potential for two further two-year extensions, Equans is primarily responsible for gas compliance, alongside planned and reactive maintenance, repairs, plumbing, in- and out-of-hours call-outs and technical support. Working closely with the university’s in-house maintenance team, Equans helps keep critical heating, hot water and gas infrastructure safe, compliant and reliable.
The service covers assets across a geographically dispersed portfolio of academic, residential and operational buildings in Durham, including around Palace Green, Stockton Campus and beyond. The scale and variety of the estate require detailed asset knowledge, careful coordination and a flexible response to maintenance needs.
The partnership combines long-standing estate knowledge with specialist engineering expertise and responsive service delivery, helping minimise disruption for students, staff and visitors and supporting the university’s wider estate operations.
Our work
Supporting a safe and compliant estateMaintaining critical infrastructure across a complex estate
Equans maintains 522 gas assets across the university estate, helping ensure critical teaching, research and residential facilities remain safe, compliant and operational throughout the year. This includes 147 commercial and 71 domestic installations, ranging from smaller 6kW–16kW cookers and heaters to boiler systems from 20kW to 1.4MW.
Work includes maintaining and repairing cookers, boilers, water heaters, unit heaters and radiant tube heaters, alongside carrying out plant room inspections and gas testing.
Engineers also replace pumps, zone valves, isolation valves and heating system filters to improve reliability and extend the life of older assets.
This work supports statutory gas compliance and the safe, reliable operation of essential heating and hot water systems. Through planned preventative maintenance, inspections, testing, repairs and emergency response, Equans helps safeguard critical infrastructure while supporting the university’s operational priorities.
Alongside day-to-day maintenance, the team carries out asset upgrades and component replacements to improve reliability, enhance system performance and extend asset life. Recent activity has included replacing two heat engines in the Business School’s Garden Block plant room, installing a new Mikrofill unit at the Williamson Building and replacing three damaged burner lids in the Maths and Science Building without interrupting the building’s operation.
Where appropriate, pressurisation units are installed to maintain system pressures and reduce the need for manual filling loops, supporting the university in meeting its Legionella management obligations. Equans also draws on specialist delivery partners for pumps, fabrication, flue works, scaffolding, welding, boiler rebuilding and manufacturer-specific support, giving Durham University access to additional expertise for complex technical requirements.
Responsive support built around the university's needs
Between 1 January and 31 July 2026, the team supported the university across 374 reactive work orders. This responsive service complements planned maintenance and out-of-hours support, helping address faults and emergencies while minimising disruption to teaching, accommodation and day-to-day operations.
The team has a track record of supporting the university beyond core contractual requirements. Before plumbing was included in the current scope, Equans supported the university with plumbing needs when required. Engineers also regularly work outside normal hours to support gas meter works and emergency situations where needed to protect service continuity.
Long-standing knowledge of the estate enables experienced engineers to identify issues early, provide informed technical advice and understand the operational implications of faults. It also helps the team work closely with the university’s maintenance specialists to agree the most appropriate response and support longer-term asset planning.
Together, planned maintenance, reactive support and out-of-hours response help critical systems perform effectively throughout the year, supporting the university in managing risk, maintaining compliance and providing a safe environment for students, staff and visitors.
Collaboration, digital visibility and continuous improvement
Equans and Durham University both use the Planon CAFM platform to manage workflow and maintenance information, with API-enabled access giving the university visibility of Equans’ CAFM data. During 2026, a Planon and site-schedule alignment project resolved discrepancies between the two systems and improved the consistency of PPM reporting.
Equans is also supporting data-led asset management, providing greater insight into asset performance and helping inform future investment decisions. Alongside this, older appliances have been replaced with more efficient equipment, with breakdown frequency reducing over time.
Impact
Delivering safe, compliant and reliable operations
Through a proactive and collaborative approach, Equans is helping Durham University maintain a safe, compliant and resilient estate while supporting the long-term performance of critical infrastructure.
The partnership supports the continued reliability of heating and gas systems across the university, reducing operational risk, minimising disruption and helping provide a positive experience for students, staff and visitors.
From 1 January to 31 July 2026, PPM completion reached 99.7%. Monthly reports from February to June 2026 also recorded 100% PPM completion.
By combining specialist engineering expertise with planned maintenance and responsive support, Equans helps extend asset life, improve system reliability and support broader estate objectives. The team also works alongside the university’s energy and estates specialists on infrastructure improvements and efficiency initiatives.
Replacing older appliances with more efficient equipment has helped reduce breakdown frequency and improve the reliability of heating and gas systems. Durham University’s internal energy team leads energy management and efficiency activity, with Equans supporting where appropriate.
Key outcomes include:
- Maintenance and repair of 522 gas assets across commercial and domestic installations.
- 99.7% PPM completion from 1 January to 31 July 2026.
- Reduced breakdown frequency, supported by proactive maintenance and equipment replacement.
- Improved visibility and consistency of maintenance data through shared Planon processes, API-enabled access and system-alignment work.
- Greater insight into asset performance to support future maintenance and investment decisions.
- Close collaboration with the university’s in-house maintenance and energy efficiency teams.
Creating social value and supporting local skills
Beyond service delivery, Equans is supporting Durham University’s wider social value ambitions through community volunteering, employability initiatives and skills development.
Equans has committed 48 volunteering hours each year to support causes that matter to the university and the local community. This has included volunteers redecorating an office at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, alongside wider community events, careers engagement and fundraising.
The team is also working with Durham Works and Durham Enable to widen access to employment opportunities. This includes promoting roles on the contract and careers across Equans to people who are not currently in education, employment or training.
Looking ahead, the partnership is exploring opportunities for local work placements and the recruitment of a gas apprentice from the Durham area. These initiatives aim to bring new talent into the industry and support the transfer of knowledge and skills from experienced engineers.
Testimonials
“The Equans mechanical maintenance contract is in a good place. Equans has developed a strong understanding of our estate and works closely with our in-house maintenance team to help keep critical gas and heating systems safe, compliant and reliable. We have built strong relationships with the regional manager, contract manager and on-site engineers, which has helped us to progress the contract and make continuous improvements.”
Luke Coad, Senior Maintenance Engineer, Durham University
Frequently asked questions
Hard FM and gas compliance services can include planned and reactive maintenance, repairs, plumbing, plant room inspections, gas testing, technical support and out-of-hours response. These services help keep critical heating, hot water and gas infrastructure safe, compliant and reliable.
Planned preventative maintenance, inspections and testing can help identify issues early, maintain statutory compliance and reduce operational risk. Combined with responsive repairs and emergency support, this helps essential building systems operate safely and reliably.
A combination of planned maintenance, responsive technical support and out-of-hours assistance helps address faults and emergencies quickly and effectively. Close collaboration between specialist engineers and in-house maintenance teams can also help minimise disruption to building users and day-to-day operations.
Consistent, accessible maintenance data can provide greater visibility of workflows, asset condition and performance. This can support more effective maintenance planning, continuous improvement and informed future investment decisions.
Our expertise
Equans supports businesses, communities and the public sector by mobilising its expertise to provide low-carbon energy solutions, offer cutting-edge technical and FM services and transformative regeneration across the UK & Ireland.
