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.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.





















Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.