What is The Book of Building?
The Book of Building is a combination of graphic and written documents that every building, regardless of being public or private, undergoing construction, remodeling or refurbishment, ought to have.
These documents make up the file and registration of the history and technical, legal, and administrative issues of a building. It makes this information available to the owner and the resident’s association. It also includes relevant facts and the necessary instructions for adequate use of the different spaces in the building, the construction elements, and the installations. Knowing this information makes it easier to do any remodelings, repairs, or refurbish the building down the line. The documents also recognize the duties of the resident’s association and make it accessible to contact services and suppliers.
It is a mandatory book for every building that has been constructed after the Law 2/1999 of Medidas para la Calidad de la Edificación (quality measures for the quality of a building) was made effective on March 17.Buildings constructed prior to this date are not obliged to have this book except in the case of having undergone refurbishments or integral reformations after the effective date of the mentioned law.
What makes up The Book of Building?
The Book of Building is made up of the following elements:
- The project. It contains the full project. This part of the book collects a report, maps, budgets, and other elements. These documents are used to define and determine the technical requirements of the construction process.
- Certificate of acceptance Document signed by the developer and constructor of the building.
- Relationship of the actors involved. It identifies the relationship between all agents that have participated during the building process.
- Legal information of the building. Property deed and taxes on the plot of land.
- Use and maintenance guide. This documents all of the use and maintenance instructions of the building, and its installations.
- Documents on the controls upon reception on site of the materials and equipment. Quality checks, supply control, tests, and others.
- Energy efficiency certificate of the building
- Technical report or thermal installation project implemented. Materials and equipment installed with their respective guarantees
- Relationship of all installations and renovations done during thermal installation.
- Thermal installation certificate and checks.
- Conclusiones on the tests upon the thermal installation.
- Copy of the subcontracting book that the contractor handed to the Project Manager.
- Technical or administrative documentation that is generated throughout the building’s lifetime
Any Book of Building must at least contain the previously mentioned points.
What is The Book of Building for?
The Book of Building contains a detailed description of the building at all its parts and usage, conservation, and maintenance guides. It also contains instructions on how to act in case of emergencies. In addition, it includes the guarantees held by the owners over the quality of the activities, the agents, and the materials involved in the construction.
When you consult The Book of Building, this one helps you to know who to contact in the case of having to file a complaint related to any defect in construction or refurbishing of the building.
Who creates The Book of Building?
The Project manager is in charge of writing and signing The Book of Building with all the documentation of the construction of it and with the documentation received from all the businesses and contractors who participated in the process.
The Project Manager puts together and hands The Book to the developer.
Afterward, the developer hands it to the final user of the building, meaning the people who buy a home or an establishment in a building. The owners are in charge of keeping the book and pass it on to the succeeding owners.
How often should you update The Book of Building?
Any time that a construction project of extension, renovation, or refurbishing of the entire building or any of its levels, The Book of Building should be updated as well as when regular elements intervene.
Where can you find The Book of Building?
According to article 7 de la Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (law on building), the book of the building must be handed to all its users. In case of not having direct access to such document, the president of the community should hold a copy for the entire building.
Every member of the community must hold the part of The Book of Building on their exclusive property (home, parking spot, storage room, for instance).
If the book of the building is not handed to the other residents nor the President of the Community it can be asked for to the College of Architects or the Town hall in the location of the building.
What if you can’t find The Book of Building?
The most common scenario is to be able to find it in any of the previously mentioned spots. If that is not the case, your next step should be to file a complaint at the Town Hall of your place of residence.
You should also know that the Book of the building refers to the adequate use of the spaces in a building, construction elements, and installations, but when it comes to the maintenance of our own home, there is another document known as Usage and Maintenance Handbook.
What is the Usage and Maintenance Handbook of the dwelling?
The Usage and Maintenance Handbook is a document or guide that the construction company hands the owner of a home so that they are able to understand the details of the construction work, its process, and functioning.
The document contains the main characteristics andspecific details of the home, considering both the property and the residential complex. It also holds recommendations for its proper use and maintenance. This guide is given to every owner the day when keys are handed.
Keep in mind that when you’re buy a home, you are acquiring a material good. To keep it in good shape, you should give it appropriate maintenance to avoid its deterioration. This is called preventive maintenance, and can to all the elements that make up a home: walls, sealings, flooring, paint, and many others.
There is another type of maintenance called corrective maintenance. This one takes care of repairing and fixing issues and other damage resulting from the usage of the home once they become evident. We understand this as refurbishment or renovation.
Preventive maintenance is more affordable and safe than corrective maintenance.
In conclusion, the Usage and Maintenance Handbook is a separate document from The Book of Building, which helps the owner with the conservation and maintenance of a property. It helps to know procedures in case of any damage in the structure of the home or in case of any failures. It guides the user on what to do in case of an emergency, it advises them on good sustainable practices, and it helps to know the services that the property offers, its rights, and its obligations.
Who creates the Usage and Maintenace Handbook of the dwelling?
The construction company is who, together with the technical team and specialists, are in charge of creating the Usage and Maintenance Handbook where the following details are usually included:
- General description of the project
- Specifications of the residential complex, common goods and areas, accounts, expenses, taxes, and public services.
- Specifications of the home.
- Details of the construction of the building.
- Certifications of the housingproject.
- Suppliers and contractors to request warranties
- Requesting warranties procedure
- Recommendations on proper use and maintenance of the home: maintenance of the garden, doors, different floors, windows, ventilation, openings of the walls, paint, appliances, power meter, pipes, connections, etc.
- Recommendations on common areas.
- Safety recommendations
- Administrative duties
- Regulations on industrial ownership and rules of coexistence
- Duties of the co-owners
- Terms of extension or modification of the home.
The Law of Ordenación de la Edificación (LOE) includes the duty for the owner to preserve the property in a good state through an adequate use and maintenance, doing so according to the instructions included in the documentation.
GRUPO PAGÈS BCN recommends following all advices contained in the handbook. It might seem basic, but it is still important to maintain the good shape of a home through the appropriate steps, ensuring the correct functioning of all the elements and systems that make it up.
Remember that you can always contact us when facing any doubt related to The Book of Building or the Usage and Maintenance Handbook of the dwelling.
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