Guiding surveyors and protecting the public : The new RICS guidance note ‘Planned Preventative Maintenance of Commercial and Residential Property’

Managing the operational risk to commercial property lies not only with those investing in the assets but also with those advising on the planned preventative maintenance (PPM). With a need to consider the life cycle of building components, defect evolution and compliance of assets with legal requirements, surveyors are under increased pressure to deliver professional advice with often limited access to both site and documents. While most surveyors have devised their own methods in the undertaking and delivery of PPM, there has historically been no bespoke guidance on this from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The lack of formal guidance was exposed by the tragic events of Storm Doris in 2017, where wind damage to a commercial property resulted in the fatality of a member of the public. The subsequent investigation identified failings in the PPM process at the property. In response to the report of the coroner, the RICS embarked upon preparing a global guidance note with the intention of delivering high-quality surveying services as well as guiding surveyors and protecting the public.