About this book:

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the handover and early operations phase of commercial buildings, emphasizing that successful long‑term performance begins with a well‑planned transition from construction to facility management. It defines operational readiness as the condition where all systems perform to specification, documentation is complete and verified, and the operations team has the training and authority to manage the building effectively. The text stresses that handover should be treated as a managed, governed process—not a single event—and that early involvement of the facility‑management team, clear accountability, and structured communication are essential to avoid costly gaps between physical completion and true readiness.

Core elements covered include developing a robust commissioning strategy and plan, executing thorough functional performance testing with measurable acceptance criteria, producing high‑quality as‑built documentation (leveraging standards such as COBie and BIM), compiling detailed O&M manuals, and building an accurate, tagged asset register that feeds into computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). The book also addresses warranty and defect liability management, preventive and predictive maintenance planning, integration of building automation systems (BAS/BMS) with FM tools, energy performance baselines and ongoing commissioning (M&V), water‑system safety and Legionella risk management, life‑safety system compliance, indoor environmental quality, vendor procurement and SLA management, staffing models and knowledge transfer, operational risk and resilience, budgeting and lifecycle cost analysis, capital planning and asset renewal, change management for FM culture, and the use of KPIs, dashboards, and continuous‑improvement cycles to drive ongoing optimization. Throughout, real‑world cross‑sector case studies illustrate best practices and lessons learned, reinforcing that the quality of the handover process determines a building’s reliability, safety, efficiency, and total cost of ownership over its operational life.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Comprehensive handover process from construction completion to steady-state operations, covering commissioning, documentation, and knowledge transfer
• Detailed guidance on commissioning strategy, functional performance testing, and acceptance criteria for building systems
• Standards and best practices for as-built documentation, O&M manuals, asset registers, and tagging systems
• Implementation frameworks for CMMS, BIM/digital twins integration, and building automation systems handover
• Lifecycle management approaches including preventive/predictive maintenance, energy performance tracking, and capital planning

Who's It For:

This book is designed for owners, facility managers, commissioning providers, and contractors involved in commercial building projects. It will be particularly valuable for professionals responsible for ensuring operational readiness at project closeout, managing the transition from construction to operations, and establishing sustainable facility management practices. The content serves both those new to handover processes and experienced practitioners seeking to improve their approach to building lifecycle management.