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Housing & Conference Services

Living At McMaster

Work Order Priority Guidelines

Is there something in your residence room that’s in need of repair? Let us know by submitting a work order via the Residence Portal.

How long does it take for repairs?

This is one of the most common questions our team gets and the answer can be a little complication. Repairs are prioritized by the seriousness of the problem using the system below. For example, emergency repairs are completed first and then followed by maintenance jobs and finally, aesthetic work.

Priority 1: Immediate Response

  • Water leaks i.e. toilets overflowing, pipe leaks, broken plumbing, roof leaks, etc.;
  • Live faulty electrical fixtures or devices;
  • Power outage to an entire building, wing or floor;
  • Faulty locking mechanisms or card access systems, not allowing exit or entrance to an area or room (eg. Personal rooms or apartment doors); Keys broken in locks
  • Fire system failures on a building-wide level i.e. building alarm bells will not activate, individual smoke detectors in rooms going into false alarm;
  • Elevator problems in buildings of 6 floors or more with only one elevator;
  • People trapped in an elevator;
  • Fire or Explosion;
  • Items left in corridor requiring removal.
  • No heat on a building-wide level or individual room.
  • Shower, toilet, sink, fridge or stove completely not working in Bates or Keyes Residence;
  • Shower, toilet, sink completely not working in Les Prince
  • Snow removal from front doors of Residence buildings or where snow removal equipment cannot access Residence Buildings
  • Broken beds (cannot be used). The following items will also elicit an immediate response in order to render a situation safe, to render a situation secure or report a situation to an outside agency for service or repair (i.e. pest control). The subsequent repairs and/or service that are required to fully correct the problem are not likely to occur immediately or the results of this work will not be immediate (i.e. pest control). These items, however, once addressed initially, will be prioritized in accordance with the guideline document.
  • All fire safety device malfunctions i.e. missing or non-functioning fire extinguishers, exit signs, exit lights, smoke and heat sensing devices, fire pull stations, fire bells, and the #2 elevator in Brandon Hall;
  • Damaged doors, (where security of student compromised) i.e. kicked in and can’t be secured, pulled from hinges and could fall off or jamb, doors in stairwells and corridors that form fire separations, personal rooms or apartments that are not latching when closed.
  • Emergency Cleanups (spills, floods, vomit, obscene graffiti)
  • Broken glass clean up and render area safe;
  • Fixtures in danger of falling and causing personal injury i.e. drop ceiling that has become unanchored, hanging light fixtures, eaves hanging, slate roof tiles off, cupboards or balcony railings that have come unattached;
  • Pest control (bait is placed at this time).

Priority 2: 48 Hour Response

  • Tripping hazards i.e. large sections of carpet ripped up, elevator is not levelling, large hole in exterior walk or grounds;
  • Broken glass in non-critical areas;
  • Faulty lock mechanism not allowing an area to be secured i.e. personal rooms and apartment doors, entranceways, mechanical, electrical and storage rooms;
  • Clearing of ice and snow i.e. walkways, large accumulations hanging from the roof or eaves;
  • Fixtures in danger of falling and causing personal injury i.e. drop ceiling that has become unanchored, hanging light fixtures, eaves hanging, slate roof tiles off, cupboards or balcony railings that have come unattached;
  • Power outages i.e. receptacles and lights out in student rooms and common areas that cannot be corrected by resetting the breaker;
  • Blinds and drapes off bedroom windows.
  • Shower, toilet, sink, fridge or stove completely not working in Bates Residence;
  • Fridge or stove completely not working in Mary E. Keyes Residence;
  • Elevator malfunctions.
  • Garbage overflowing /removal, bins or pails required.
  • Building or area exhaust fans not working.

Priority 3: 3 to 5 Working Days

  • Plugged washroom/bathroom fixtures;
  • Identification of damage;
  • Leaking washroom/bathroom fixtures;
  • Door closers and other door malfunctions;
  • Malfunctioning light fixtures, Exit signs, hand dryers, (switches, outlets which cannot be repaired by resetting breaker) i.e. light burnt out, device has stopped working; Exterior lighting.
  • Pest control;
  • Broken beds, desks and desk chairs. If item cannot be used, a replacement will be given;
  • Replacement of broken televisions, microwaves, toasters, and kettles, DVD players;
  • Missing shower, bathtub or bedroom curtains;
  • Mechanical system failures on a local level i.e. bathroom ventilation, loose dampers or grills.
  • Repairs/Cleaning, Garbage around building entrances or exits, smoke shelters etc.
  • TV Cable problems in common rooms and Bates and Keyes living rooms.
  • Housing Fridges leased through Coldex.
  • Fire Extinguisher Service – recharge/replace.
  • Key cutting, lock changes.
  • Vacuum repairs/maintenance

Priority 4: More than 10 Working Days

  • Broken furniture not listed above;
  • Malfunctioning soap dispensers;
  • Broken or missing towel bars or hooks;
  • Window screens;
  • Cracked or damaged drywall;
  • Common room refrigerators and stoves;
  • Securing or re-securing hall equipment;
  • Affixing or repairing ceramic tiles.
  • Signage
  • Replacement/repair of hall equipment.

Priority 5: Aesthetics & Summer Work

  • Painting;
  • Extra cleaning duties;
  • Carpet cleaning.