Collaborative construction procurement should use efficient systems through which the team members can develop, share and apply information in ways that improve the safe design, construction and operation of a project. In order to optimise safety and quality, to manage risks and to resolve problems, an information management system needs to support transparent decision-making and to avoid the risks of:
■ Information coming too late or going to the wrong place
■ Information being only a record rather than a tool
■ Information being collected in order to allocate blame rather than seek solutions.
The absence of complete and up to date information gives rise to safety-related difficulties, including:
■ Uncertainty as to whether unauthorised changes have been made to approved designs or specifications at any stage during design development or during supply and construction
■ Building owners not having the accurate information they need to manage the building effectively and safely throughout its entire lifecycle
■ Difficulty in ascertaining or predicting what impact future alterations to a building may have on its safety.
For new buildings, Dame Judith Hackitt's Independent Review identifies the following non-exhaustive list of information to be recorded and maintained:
■ Size and height of the building
■ Full material and manufacturer product information
■ Identification of all safety critical layers of protection
■ Design intent and construction methodology
■ Digital information capture of completed buildings e.g. laser scanning
■ Escape and fire compartmentation information
■ Record of inspections/reviews/consultations.
Access to reliable information will also support dutyholders in fulfilling their roles in relation to works on existing buildings, where Dame Judith Hackitt's Independent Review indicates that the following information is required:
■ Size and height of the building
■ Structure
■ Fabric
■ Escape and fire compartmentation information
■ Systems in operation
■ Permanent fixtures and fittings.
Dame Judith Hackitt's Independent Review highlights 'almost unanimous concern surrounding the ineffective operation of the current ru/es around the creation, maintenance and handover of building and fire safety information. Where bui/ding information is present, it is often incomplete or held in paper form and is not accessible to the people who need to see it.' (Section 8.1, page 102) |