Building operations: Knowledge hub

Summary

In the context of buildings, “operations” refer to the day-to-day management, use, and maintenance of a building after it has been constructed and occupied. It is part of the building lifecycle, often grouped under “operation and maintenance” (O&M) or “facilities management” (FM). Operations ensure that the building continues to function as intended, remains safe and comfortable for occupants, and operates efficiently and sustainably.

Why do building operations matter?

Well-run operations extend the life of the building and its systems, protecting the owner’s investment. Active monitoring and improvement reduce running costs and carbon footprint, and ensure that the building remains suitable for occupants and visitors, reducing risks of accidents or legal liabilities and maintaining compliance with UK legal and regulatory requirements. A well-maintained and efficiently operated building improves comfort, wellbeing, and productivity for its occupants. This can help support occupant retention and increases market value.

Key articles about building operations

Here are some of the most important and widely read articles about building operations available on Designing Buildings:

Handover and occupation

• Building completion.The stage where all contract requirements are fulfilled and evidenced before handover to the client.
• Commissioning.The process of bringing building systems or contracts into operation and ensuring they function as intended.
• Defects liability period DLP. A contract-specified timeframe, usually six to twelve months post-practical completion, during which the contractor rectifies any defects.
• Early use. Allowing client use of part of the site before practical completion without transferring risk or triggering defect liabilities.
• Extended aftercare for completed construction works. Continued post-handover support over three years to resolve issues and sustain building performance.
• Handover of the construction site to the client. Formal stage when the completed works are certified and control is transferred to the client.
• Initial aftercare for completed construction works. The first-year post-handover phase where issues are identified, training is provided, and systems are fine-tuned.
• Migration strategy. A plan for client relocation into the new facility aiming to minimise disruption and reuse existing assets.
• Occupation. The transition phase where the client moves from a construction site to a functioning, occupied facility.
• Partial possession of the site by the client. Granting client access to part of the site before final completion, while works continue elsewhere.
• Practical completion. The milestone when construction is certified as substantially complete and the client can occupy the building.
• Soft landings. A strategy designed to ensure a smooth transition from construction through initial operation with optimised performance.

Facilities management:

• Access control in buildings. Access control is the selective restriction of entry to buildings, rooms, or resources using authorisation systems like locks, turnstiles, or gates to protect assets and comply with insurance and safety standards.
• Asset management. Asset management involves developing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, and disposing of an asset efficiently to realise value across its lifecycle.
• Building cleaning. General cleaning tasks to maintain hygiene, aesthetics, and the condition of a facility.
• Building energy management systems BEMS. Integrated, computerised systems that monitor and control energy-related building services.
• Building management systems BMS. Systems integrating control and monitoring of various building services.
• Building manager. Oversees safety, maintenance, security, emergency planning, and contract coordination to ensure a building operates effectively.
• Building services. Building services are the installed systems (e.g. HVAC, lighting, fire safety, ICT) that ensure a building is safe, functional, efficient, and comfortable.
• Change management. Supporting moves, refurbishments, or repurposing of spaces.
• Decommissioning buildings. Decommissioning buildings is the structured process of planning, deconstruction, and disposal once a building reaches end-of-life.
• Facilities manager. The facilities manager coordinates and oversees building services, maintenance, compliance, cleaning, and performance to support the facility's operation.
• Hard facilities management. Hard FM covers physical maintenance-related services like HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, and repairs.
• Insurance. Types risk management, liability, and compliance.
• Maintenance. Planned, preventative, and reactive work to preserve building services, fabric, and systems in working condition .
• O&M manuals. Documentation for operation and maintenance of building assets, typically handed over at completion to support ongoing care.
• Operational costs for built assets. Lifecycle costs, budgeting and efficiency.
• Property management. Overseeing investment properties; maintenance, tenancy, compliance, and value retention on behalf of owners.
• Refurbishment. Improvement by cleaning, decorating and re-equipping.
• Renovation. Returning something to a good state of repair.
• Retrofitting. Adding something that it did not have when first constructed.
• Security. Protection measures, including access control, surveillance, and regulation compliance to prevent unauthorised entry.
• Smart buildings. Smart buildings integrate advanced BMS/BEMS and IoT technologies to improve efficiency, automation, and occupant responsiveness.
• Soft facilities management. Soft FM covers non-technical services like cleaning, reception, catering, and mail that support occupant comfort and building operations.

All articles about building operations

There are more than 200 articles about building operations on Designing Buildings. A full index is available here.

You can access our other subject-specific knowledge hubs here.

Stay up-to-date

This hub will be updated regularly with new guidance, policy changes, and innovations. Bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.

This web page is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.