Job Book 9th Edition - Book - Page 276
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Stage 5 > Construction: Supplementary Material: 5/SM11
5/SM11: Preparing for handover
(actions for the contract administrator)
Although not usually referred to in building contracts, the process of completion
and handing over the building should nevertheless be subject to careful planning
and procedures. These should comprise:
• final commissioning, testing and witnessing of services installations
• pre-completion checks by the contract administrator
• preparation for the formal handing over
• issue of the Practical Completion certificate
• the formal handover meeting.
I n accordance with Regulation 38 (Fire Safety Information) of the Building Regulations
2010, ensure that the building control body is in receipt of a complete description of
the fire safety measures. The absence of this information can be used as a reason for
the Building Regulations completion certificate to be withheld.
Normally, the contract administrator can expect to be advised by the contractor
when the works are approaching Practical Completion. Sometimes this indication
is premature. Sometimes the client will pressure the contract administrator to
certify prematurely. The contract administrator should act strictly in accordance
with the conditions of the Building Contract. The parties are free to agree an
expedient arrangement outside the contract terms if they so wish.
Final commissioning, testing and witnessing of services installations
Commissioning is the process whereby an installation that has reached static
completion is brought to the state of full working order for proving. Testing is a
matter of checking a commissioned installation and evaluating its performance
measured against specified requirements. Commissioning and testing are
operations which, on a sophisticated project, might need to be carried out
by specialists, will need to be effectively managed, and should be subject to a
commissioning specification and system for commissioning. They might also
need to be phased, and although the installations will need to be commissioned
before handover, some adjustment and testing might not be possible until after
installations have been in use for a certain period.
Almost every project includes a service installation, and proper thought is needed
at the outset concerning design, installation, inspection and arrangements for
commissioning and testing. Many larger client bodies expect particular codes to
be observed and stated procedures to be followed. The Chartered Institution of
Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) publishes a series of Commissioning Codes
which clearly itemise the checks necessary for various installations. The Building
Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) publishes a guide to
