Maintenance and operational strategy
The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 defines the Maintenance and Operational Strategy as: ‘The strategy for the maintenance and operation of a building, including details of any specific plant required to replace components.’
The RIBA Passivhaus Overlay, published by the RIBA in 2022, states in relation to maintenance and operational strategies: “These define how systems will be maintained and by whom, and should also cover commissioning and user guidance. The maintenance and operational requirements of various systems inform and influence the initial project brief. Therefore, knowing who and how systems will be maintained, and filters will be changed, impacts upon the location and space planning of the mechanical ventilation heat recovery units. Also, to assist with the measurement, calibration and commissioning of building services equipment, a Commissioning Plan and Programme should be developed, reviewed, updated, and implemented by the project team. Commissioning may be undertaken at various points prior to completion – to allow fault finding/remediation – and then at agreed intervals during the defects liability period (and later) – to verify that the systems comply with the construction documents/contract and design intent. More broadly, to support the daily use and operation of the building, appropriate guidance for each user group should be provided in the form of a quick start user guide. Refer to RIBA Plan for Use for supporting information.”
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