3 Things Facility Managers Should Look for in New Construction Projects

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Not all facility managers have a background in construction, but odds are that you’ve have dealt with (or will deal with) a big construction project at your facility at some point. Knowing what to look for in the Project Manual can help ensure a successful project and prevent the project from going over budget.

Inspections

Structural construction must adhere to the International Building Code, and it requires the verification and inspection of work. It also requires the owner (or design professional) to employ the agency for the verification and inspection. You’ll want to make sure that you are budgeted to pay the cost for verification and inspection to avoid any surprises. You’ll also want to make sure that these specifications are written correctly and included in the project manual. Field quality control for elements of the building envelope and for building fenestration is also good practice!

Warranties

The specifications should call for certain warranties to be included, such as roofing systems. The warranties can vary, so carefully review to see what is included and what is covered by the warranty. At the end of the project make sure that all warranties are in submitted and recorded properly on your side. It’s important for you and your team to be aware of what is covered under warranty so that you don’t waste resources repairing something in the future.

Attic Stock

If you’re organization is a private entity, then the specifications should call for extra stock to be included. As you know, materials will become damaged or worn over time and having extra stock can help speed up the repair time while keeping a consistent look (nothing is worse than trying to match materials if you can’t get the original materials used). We use the term attic stock, but make sure that you have the proper location and conditions to store the extra materials.

Ensuring that these three items are included and that you have an understanding of exactly what is included will help set your facility up for a successful construction project!