Building manual
The RIBA Plan of Work 2020, suggests that a building manual is: ‘A summary of all key information about a building, including the Health and Safety File and Fire Safety Information, which are regulatory requirements. The Building Manual is used to ensure that Asset Management and Facilities Management are effectively implemented and might contain tasks that the users must consider in order to get the most out of the building.’
The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 suggests that building manuals (which may have been referred to as building owner's manuals, or operation and maintenance manuals) were traditionally been prepared to satisfy statutory requirements and were large, unwieldy and often poorly structured volumes that were difficult to for the client to use.
The Inclusive Design Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work published by the RIBA in 2023, states: ‘The Building Manual helps to ensure that operations and maintenance activities are effectively implemented. It includes a summary of all key information about a building, including the Health and Safety File and Fire Safety Information, which are regulatory requirements and might contain tasks that the users must consider to get the most out of the building.’
Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2023, states: ‘The Building Manual should contain details of how measures included in the Security Strategy are incorporated into the Building Systems and how these will be operated at RIBA Stage 7, which might be outlined in the Security Plan. The Security Strategy might be included as an appendix to the Building Manual to provide useful decision-making information to users.’
Digital building manuals can provide structured links to information about the products and systems used in a development and information about maintenance, replacements and so on.
Ideally, the client should define what they want to be in the building manual other than statutory requirements.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.