BYTNAR - TALKS
EPISODE 008 - STAGE 6 - HANDOVER
This episode is for people who want to know more about the process of project design and delivery.
If you ask yourself questions:
What is the handover in the construction project?
Why is handover an important step in the construction project?
What happens during the handover?
This episode should give you a broad idea of how the construction stage of the project in Architecture Engineering or Construction is concluded leading to completion.
This is Bytnar Talks the Engineer Takes on Construction episode 8 hi I'm Piotr Bytnar each day I help my clients plan and design building projects through Bytnar Limited a Consulting Chartered Structural Engineers practice my biggest passion and the cornner stone on which I've built my business is find finding clever solutions for construction projects I am a chartered structural engineer and a bing software developer so you can rest assured that I will strive to talk about the best practices and the use of new technologies in the industry and if you're embarking on a construction project or are involved in planning designing and building the world around us you'll find this podcast useful this episode is about stage six of the plan of work called [Music] Hanover hi there on the other side of the speaker I'm glad you've popped in to find out more about the plan of work for the past seven episodes we went on the Journey of project commissioning AKA briefing then designing and construction stages of project definition process the building is now in occupation but there is still a little bit more to tie up together before we can call the day but let me start by recapping the last episode in the last episode I told you that in stage five construction and Manufacturing the roles of Engineers and Architects are diverse and pivotal we act as project custodians and troubleshooters and we take on the responsibility of overseeing the construction process hopefully with enough precision and expertise to make it a success consider us the conductors of a construction Symphony meticulously ensuring the realization of our design Vision we address our foreseen challenges adeptly manage inside queries and change requests while safeguarding the fundamental Integrity of the building our daily tasks Encompass diligent progress tracking stringent quality assurance and effective management of construction contracts demonstrating a commitment to Excellence and keeping their sustainability Targets on track in our capacity as Engineers we play a crucial behind the scene role ensuring the seamless execution of various components from reviewing temp Works to facilitating a Handover our contributions are integral to the products overall success I've picked up on the procurement rots from the high level perspective and tolds you how different options like traditional route the design and build approach and the management route change the way projects are delivered the Strategic decision upon which way to go at the briefing will significantly influence the structure of our team and the trajectory of the project But whichever way we choose we can fall back on the guidance of the plan of work which by the way is not mandatory yet indispensable it help us steer the project with Precision avoiding unnecessary deviations and ensuring a methodical and successful Journey from initiation to completion after all what I like to say is a welldefined path a well planed journey is preferred over an unpredictable Adventure in the definition and construction of construction projects all right then so what else is there to consider after all building is built and occupied let me tell you in the main part of this episode so without further Ado let's get to [Music] it so at stage six building is in place people are moving in or have been already living in it for some time elements are being commissioned but not all maybe that well and great yet in this stage it is the time to correct any mistakes and defects and to conclude the obligation of the building contract here is the question if the stage is not in the contract should we do it I bet we should the other question is where should this stage happen in fact it is very often the case it happens as a result of the definition of the pro project through the update and development of the plan of view strategy strategy where the expectations are set some part of this stage begins at the approach to the end of stage five to allow for the issue of the Practical completion certificate prior to occupation and creation of a building manual but continues past that stage with the discharge of the remaining consideration and issue of the final certificate so following this stage the building is handed over the after K is ongoing and the building contract is over in this stage we conclude on the process and draw lessons from it so without further Ado let's get to the main part of this podcast shall [Music] we so what is all about then what should we conclude here well the stage six as if I've picked up few points on the subject that we should consider in no particular order but here they are I think it's the most importantly we need to make sure the building can be occupied safely right and that means the building is built well and all aspects are certified and approvals granted prior to occupation but also that the people living in the building as well as the people responsible for the operation of the building can do it safely as it is naive to approach the design of the building project without the plan or indeed start constructing the building without the plan such as the one of the last seven episodes were about it is likewise outright irresponsible to let the people occupy the building without proper knowledge on how to use it so Handover is Thinking Beyond blueprints picture this a beautiful designed building with all the bells and whistles but it is safe but is it safe to be lived in Handover is about ensuring safety it's not just about what's on the paper it's about making sure the building is not just robustly constructed but also officially approved this phase urges us to consider the safety of the end users and the folks managing day-to-day operations you see we need to leave the process by equipping the end user hand over that doesn't stop at bricks and morar it zooms in on the people who will call this building home or work there daily it's about empowering them with the knowledge to navigate the building safely it's not just saying here's your new space it's about saying here's your new space and here how to use it safely it is very important to emphasize the safety in design and construction ever thought about it as part of the architectural Masterpiece Reba plan of work and CDM regulation certainly do it emphasizes weaving safety measures into the design and construction process it's not an afterthought but an integral part of creating a space that's not just aesthetically pleasing but also a fortress of safety if you like but this is not the end the end user has his own responsibilities you see safety is a two-way street while Architects engineers and Builders and sure a safe structure the end user have a responsibility too they need to understand how the building work in order to ader to safety protocols it's the fusion of design and responsive living that makes a building truly safe safety is not just a checkbox it's a continuous thread woven through every step of the project definition construction occupation and the commissioning process certainly a different amount and level of information is needed for a family occupying a flat a restaurant owner or an office renter and other for the people responsible for the management of the entire building you could look at it in the perspective of an iceberg there's more underneath the surface more responsibility the more information you need so the single unit owner will be considered with as little as can be as little more than what is needed for him but the management company will need to know it all here also a multi-tier level definition of information is advisable so the person does not get inundated with too much information so high level overview with the links to more detailed information construction of the manual is recommended the appropriate people should be trained to ensure ke Personnel can safely manage the day-to-day operation of the building in the context of rebba stage 6 which focuses on Handover and building use the analogy of a iceburg becomes particularly relevant the theed approach to information dissemination aligns with best practices different stakeholders need specific information tailored to their roles the need for Clear communication and information flow during the post construction phase is very important the te information approach ensures that occupant are not overwhelmed with unnecessary details all needed documents should form part of the comprehensive Handover file things like operation and maintenance manuals as buil drawings warranties maybe even envisage loading at different parts restriction of use operation risk assessments and methodologies in the transition from construction to operation the importance of a comprehensive Handover fight cannot be overstated operation and maintenance manual form the backbone of smooth transition the meticulous compilation of this Handover fight aligns with the previously specified documentation requirements this stage accentuates the need to provide a comprehensive set of documents that not only meet immediate needs but also serve a guide serve as a guide for ongoing maintenance and future Renovations and demolition now is the time we need to ensure we need to assure that all snugging have been satisfactory rectified and that the final account for work can be agreed on and certified for final payment the importance of this stage lies in ensuring that all outstanding issues are satisfactory addressed before finalizing the project this marks the culmination of the construction journey and sets the stage for finalizing payments ensuring that both the project team and the client are satisfied with the completed work and that the contractor is reimbursed accordingly by the time the lat and defect liability period Runs Out typically All Seasons I mean 12 months we can assess the use of the building and update our models with the actual use of the building emphasizing the importance of feedback loops and continuous Improvement this real world evaluation feeds back into the design and construction processes allowing for the updates to model and plan based on observed usage patterns it's only throughout one year is very often called light touch evaluation next stage will treat more in depth about more involved evaluation the project team should be available to assist with the transition of the occupier into the use of the building transitioning into a new building involves more than just bringing your luggage in the project teams availability during the face is critical aligning with the collaborative ethos of project delivery process the team role extends Beyond construction ensuring a smooth transition of occupants into the building's daily operations this collaborative approach contributes to a positive user experience emphasizing the human Centric aspect of architectural design and construction this is also the time to review and identify the good bad and dagly within the project team but also to interview the client and other stakeholders to inform our approach and to improve on the delivery of the next similar project and to update the office practice the Handover marks a pivotal moment for reflection and evaluation as you can imagine the evaluation involves not only scrutinizing the performance of the project team but also delving into the qualitative aspects of the project client and stakeholder interviews become valuable tools for Gathering feedback shaping future projects and updating office practices this reflective approach cements the cyclical nature of any Consulting practice emphasizing a commitment to learning and enhancing project delivery with each iteration [Music] so here you have it in the G in Reba plan of work stage 6 AKA Handover the construction project reaches completion key tasks include verifying construction quality compiling documentation manual safety files rectifying defects and issuing completion certificates the stage involves a moveth Handover process including transferring keys and essential information to the client post occupancy evaluations GA the user feedback for future improvements this stage represents the finalization and successful delivery of the construction project [Music] as I'll close with a few words from me it is Sunday the 3rd of March 2024 which means that in a couple of days time A Feast of sustainable thinking in architectural engineering and construction as well as the technological thought in the sphere of software development Solutions will take place in the Exel Arena London I will be enjoying both future build and the tech show events from Tuesday for 3 days in a row so if you are there and would like to catch up I will gladly grab a coffee or just exchange a few thoughts between the seminars and talks that I'm looking forward to hearing I hope you found something useful for yourself in this episode maybe you've never known there is such a stage or real of consideration within the building process but anyhow this is it in this words from me I will not share any new stories of clients reaching out to us needing help due to being taken for a ride by not so scrupulous architectural drawing providers which is every week by the way but but do me a favor and remember the old construction Maxim whatever you write whatever you draw paper will take it all what does it mean it means you can draw whatever nonsense you want on your drawings it can be approved but then you get stucked with them when it comes to construction all right guys thank you again for listening please voice up your opinions I'm waiting for you on LinkedIn and I want to hear from you Toodloo!
Piotr Bytnar BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIStructE
Chartered Structural Engineer who deals with the Architecture of buildings. His Master's Studies led him to an in-depth understanding of risk and contract arrangements in construction as well as specialist knowledge in soil mechanics.
He and his team help homeowners and property developers to design and deliver construction projects reducing waste in time and the cost. He believes that the construction project is an iterative process that can be well managed and it is best managed if all the aspects of the project definition and management are dealt with in-house or coordinated by one organisation. His team works to all stages of RIBA and ISTRUCTE stages of work and enables contractors to deliver projects on-site providing risk evaluations, methodologies for execution of works and temporary works designs.
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