Operation & Maintenance Manuals (O&M) Basics
An operation and maintenance (O&M) manual is a valuable tool. It defines the requirements and procedures for the effective
operation, maintenance, decommissioning and demolition of the building, and includes details of the building's construction,
history and maintenance, instructions for its operation and maintenance, and guarantees and warranties.
O&M Summary
- Keep accurate records of your buildings.
- Comply with the ever increasing health, safety and environmental legislation.
- Limit the costs of using buildings.
Computer-based operating and maintenance manuals
With increasing complexity and capability of buildings, so grows the quantity of operation and maintenance (O&M) information
required to ensure the services are operated correctly.
- paper copy O&M manuals largely fail to keep pace with the increasing demands of building operators.
- paper based documentation is often proven to be inadequate for managing, presenting and updating large amounts of O&M
related information.
- the use of hard copy manuals represents a significant barrier to the on-going use of computer-based information created
during a building's design and construction phases.
Overcome these limitations and move from hard copy manuals to a computer-based format. This will provide a highly flexible
and dynamic information medium, which can include tools to help manage assets and perform maintenance activities.
Computer-based advantages include:
- Multiple-user access, via a client network or internet link.
- Required information can be quickly located and retrieved.
- Storage space required for hard copy manuals is avoided.
- Ease of keeping information up to date.
- Avoid pages or whole manuals becoming misplaced.