This guide focuses on the handover process and particularly the process leading up to handover. It introduces pre-inspection as a structured method to ensure fewer errors and defects at the legal handover, and provides practical tools to improve the concluding process in construction projects.
2014
22
A well-prepared handover process significantly reduces errors and defects while creating value for both clients and contractors. Get tools to plan and execute a handover process that ensures quality and minimizes subsequent remedial work.
The handover is a crucial process for construction project success, and the extent of defects at handover is often a central topic in discussions about improving construction quality and productivity. These defects cost time and money for both clients and contractors, creating a mutual interest in improving the process leading up to handover and thereby coming closer to the goal of defect-free handover.
Active and constructive collaboration between the client, consultants and contractors throughout the construction process is an essential condition for achieving handover without defects. By investing in early action, prevention and focus, subsequent remedial work will be reduced or become entirely unnecessary.
The guide introduces the pre-inspection activity (sometimes also called pre-handover) as a dialogue and process between parties leading up to handover. Pre-inspection is already used in practice on many construction projects at the initiative of clients, consultants and contractors. This is not a new type of handover in the legal sense, but rather a process that works with registration as preparation for the actual handover procedure.
Summary
The guide provides the construction industry with practical methods to improve the handover process through structured preparation and proactive quality assurance. It presents pre-inspection as an effective tool to reduce errors and defects at handover, without changing the legal framework in AB92.
The guide contains:
- Methods for structured planning of the handover process
- Tools for pre-inspection and registration of work status
- Templates for progress reports and defect lists
- Checklists for quality assurance before handover
- Examples of agendas and meeting structures
- Documentation requirements and O&M materials
Facts about this guide
The guide was prepared by Værdibyg as part of the initiative for value-creating construction processes. It was developed in close collaboration with practitioners from across the construction industry and builds on experiences from Danish construction projects where structured handover processes have led to significantly fewer defects. The guide includes eight appendices with concrete tools and templates that can be used directly in projects.
Who is the guide aimed at?
The guide addresses all parties in the construction process: clients who want fewer defects when receiving the building, contractors and sub-contractors who wish to optimize their handover process, as well as consultants and construction managers who must coordinate and quality-assure the handover. Both large and small companies within new construction and renovation will benefit from the systematic methods.
What you get from the guide
By implementing the guide’s recommendations, you achieve significantly fewer errors and defects at handover. You get tools to create a structured process that gives all parties better overview and opportunity for timely completion. This results in reduced costs for remedial work, fewer conflicts, higher customer satisfaction, and a more efficient transition to operation.
Background
Many construction projects experience extensive defect lists at handover, leading to costly rework, delays and dissatisfied clients. Traditionally, handover has been viewed as a control function at the end of the project where errors and defects are identified. This reactive approach often results in time pressure, discussions about responsibility, and extensive remedial work. The guide addresses these challenges by introducing a proactive approach where the handover process starts early and involves all parties in structured preparation.
Expert group
This guide has been produced and published by the industry initiative Værdibyg with assistance from the industry associations behind Værdibyg and from Realdania.
In producing the guide, the authors received input and comments from the following experts:
The Danish Building Trade (BAT):
Mich Johansen (Chr. Johannsen Entreprenør A/S)
Danish Association of Construction Clients:
Finn Bloch (New Hospital Hvidovre), Carsten Gotborg (Kolding municipality), Jens Svane (Copenhagen Property Company)
The Danish Construction Association:
Peter Haugaard (Hoffmann), Kurt Frederiksen (NCC Property Development), Jens Johansson (Skjøde), Henrik Carlsen (B.
Nygaard Sørensen)
Danish Association of Architectural Firms:
Charlotte Algreen (Algreen Architects)
FRI (The Danish Association of Construction Engineers:
Christian Tolstrup (Grontmij A/S), Poul Henrik Due (Grontmij A/S), Carsten Pietras (Rambøll)
Værdibyg:
Rolf Simonsen (Værdibyg), Nina Koch-Ørvad (Værdibyg), Line Maj Aagreen (Værdibyg), Henrik Bang (Danish Association of Construction Clients), Niels Nielsen (The Danish Construction Association)
Author:
Rolf Simonsen (Værdibyg)
Layout:
Larsendesign.dk
Illustrations:
Morten F. C.
