When you're responsible for managing a campus full of aging buildings, limited budgets, and growing capital demands, making data-informed decisions becomes mission-critical. That's where the Facility Condition Index (FCI) comes in.
Used across higher education, healthcare, and public infrastructure sectors, the FCI is a widely accepted metric for benchmarking the physical condition of buildings and facilities. But what does it really measure—and how can you use it to drive smarter capital planning decisions?
Let's break it down.
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The Facility Condition Index (FCI) is a standard industry formula used to assess the condition of a building or facility. It compares the cost of needed repairs to the current replacement value (CRV) of the asset.
FCI = (Total Repair Costs ÷ Current Replacement Value) × 100
The result is a percentage that reflects the overall condition of a facility. The lower the FCI score, the better the condition.
Example:
If a building has $1.2 million in deferred maintenance and a replacement value of $10 million:
FCI = ($1.2M ÷ $10M) × 100 = 12%
This means the building needs repairs equal to 12% of its total value.
|
FCI Score |
Condition Rating |
Interpretation |
|
0–5% |
Good |
Facility is in excellent condition |
|
5–10% |
Fair |
Maintenance needed, but manageable |
|
10–30% |
Poor |
Major repairs needed; capital investment likely |
|
30%+ |
Critical |
Consider full replacement |
Each institution may define its thresholds, but these benchmarks are widely used in capital planning and facility portfolio management.
For colleges and universities, the FCI is more than just a metric—it's a strategic planning tool.
Boards and budget committees want precise data before approving capital projects. FCI provides a standardized, visual method to demonstrate need and justify why one building should be prioritized over another.
When you're juggling dozens (or hundreds) of buildings, FCI helps facilities leaders make objective, portfolio-wide comparisons. It identifies which assets require immediate attention and which can be addressed later.
FCI isn't a "set it and forget it" number. When used within a modern capital planning system like FOUNDATION, your FCI scores update dynamically—so you can track improvements after projects are completed or detect when conditions worsen.
Facilities executives can use FCI to simulate different capital planning scenarios. What happens to your overall campus FCI if you invest $10M this year vs. deferring maintenance? These insights help you build defensible 5-, 10-, or 20-year capital strategies.
Learn more about Smarter Facilities Planning with Intellis.
Manually tracking FCI across multiple sites using spreadsheets or static reports is time-consuming and error-prone. That's why leading institutions use the FOUNDATION Solution by Intellis to calculate, manage, and optimize their Facility Condition Index portfolio-wide.
With FOUNDATION, you can:
Hear our CEO talk about why data-backed FCI is crucial for justifiable capital plans on the Intellis Podcast.
While FCI is a powerful tool, it doesn't tell you everything. It doesn't account for:
That's why FOUNDATION combines FCI with other critical data points—so your capital planning decisions are holistic, not one-dimensional.
Understanding your Facility Condition Index is the first step toward transforming capital planning from a reactive to a strategic approach. For higher education institutions facing tight budgets and high expectations, FCI provides the clarity needed to move forward with confidence.
But the real value lies in how you apply that data—and that's where the FOUNDATION Solution helps you turn insight into action.
Let us show you how FOUNDATION can help you assess, plan, and justify your next capital improvement project with confidence. Smarter Facilities Planning with Intellis starts here!
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