BSRIA Handover Information and O&M Manuals guidance

1 BSRIA Handover Information and O&M Manuals Set (HOM1)
2 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] BSRIA Handover Information and O&M Manuals Set (HOM1)

This set of BSRIA guides comprises of three publications: BG 78/2021 Project Information Process, BG 79/2020 Handover Information and O&M Manuals and BG 26/2011 Building Manuals and Building User Guides. Link here.

[edit] Project Information Process (BG 78/2021)

The goal for any construction project is to produce the required information at the right time, thus enabling a project to be delivered that meets the client’s needs. This guide describes the process of identifying the client’s information needs and disseminating these to the project team. The process described in this guide is based on an owner-occupier case, such as a university or other organisation with buildings which they commission and then occupy themselves. However, many of the principles described in the guide can also be applied to other types of use case. Throughout this guide, the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 is used as a reference point and the Soft Landings Phases are shown alongside the information needs process steps.

Product details - Published: February 2021 by BSRIA. Authors: John Sands & Nick Blake. ISBN: 978-0-86022-782-3.

[edit] Handover Information and O&M Manuals (BG 79/2020)

This guide covers the various documentation delivered and activities carried out at handover of a building, with particular focus on operating and maintenance (O&M) manuals.

The O&M manual is the key part of the information needed during operation of a building, and as such is discussed in the guide in detail. The guide also covers other handover deliverables such as record drawings, certificates and BIM models, with a focus on legislative requirements and the need for handover documentation to reflect the operating and maintenance strategy of the building.

This guide replaced BG 1/2007 Handover, O&M Manuals, and Project Feedback, no longer including guidance on the topic of project feedback; instead, referring extensively to the Soft Landings process and in particular BSRIA guide BG 54/2018 Soft Landings Framework 2018. The guidance is provided in an easy-to-follow format, making use of diagrams and checklists where possible. Editable versions of the appendices of the guide, including a model specification for O&M manuals and a checklist for documentation, can be downloaded by users of the guide, for use on their projects.

BG 79/2020 was authored by BSRIA staff with the assistance of technical experts, and was supported by industry sponsors. Our thanks to the sponsors of this guide who have aligned with us in this goal and have demonstrated their commitment to the highest standards of practice.

Product details - Published: August 2020 by BSRIA. Author: Nick Blake. ISBN: 978-0-86022-779-3

[edit] Relevance to the Golden Thread

Colin Goodwin, BSRIA Technical Director, said of the Handover Information and O&M Manuals (BG 79/2020) guide at the time of publication; “This guide comes at an important time and is a significant step to improving the flow and quality of handover information from the construction team to the end client and building operators, and in essence supports the 'golden thread' for building services related information and documentation.”

More than ever, it is essential for buildings to operate in a safe, energy-efficient and cost-effective manner, supporting the aims of the business and the wellbeing of the occupants. However, the effective operation of a complex asset such as a building relies on the availability of accurate information about the asset itself. Much of the information about the asset is delivered at handover of the construction project to the client. All too often, the information that the facilities management team is provided with is incomplete, inaccurate or poorly assembled so it’s hard to find the information that’s needed. By following a clear process of identification and route planning, the client, designers and constructors can work together to produce a building that’s in much better shape from handover.

[edit] Building Manuals and Building User Guides - Guidance and worked examples (BG 26/2011)

This publication aims to help those responsible for creating the building log book and the building user guides. The complexity of modern buildings demands that we all have a greater understanding of how to operate buildings to achieve the optimum benefits and cost savings. Under Building Regulations, new buildings require some form of log book. BSRIA recommends the delivery team compile a Building Manual and Building User Guide. These will also satisfy the Building user information BREEAM credit. Although not compulsory, the completion of these documents is also recommended for existing buildings.

The Building Manual is intended to be an operator's guide to the building and will capture the building's design and operation needs. It is a single document that can be used to capture all future building changes and annual summaries of energy use and maintenance work. The Building User Guide provides the occupants with a simple, quick and easy guide to the everyday functions of the building.

BSRIA's new guide provides worked examples and links to editable templates. These provide building information compilers and building operators with a standard method of capturing information about their buildings. Editable Word versions of the templates are attached to the pdf of this guide, and are available as a free download to anyone purchasing a hard copy of the guide.

The Building Manual and Building User Guide will be invaluable as an easy-to-use reference tool for: