Existing building services: what to establish before refurbishment

Identify what the new design depends on

Start by identifying the services the proposed works intend to retain, alter or connect to. The question is not simply whether equipment exists. It is what the next design decision assumes about its arrangement, duty and operation.

For each dependency, distinguish recorded information from conditions actually established on site. This creates a useful basis for deciding what needs validating.

Understand the records and their limits

Check drawing dates, revisions and whether later alterations are recorded. Gather available operating, maintenance and commissioning information. Where records disagree, identify the discrepancy rather than silently choosing one version.

A targeted review may be appropriate before a wider survey. Its purpose is to define the missing information and the checks needed to obtain it, subject to access and the proposed scope.

Plan around an occupied building

Describe the building’s use, access arrangements and any limits on disruption. Make the responsible team aware of the areas or systems that need investigating.

A proposal should explain the expected survey outputs and any conditions it cannot establish. Inaccessible elements and untested assumptions should remain visible in the design information.

• Services to be retained and their proposed new role.
• The quality and currency of record information.
• Occupied areas and operational constraints.
• Specialist access or attendance required.
• The decisions that depend on the validation results.

Connect the validation to the design

A survey should answer a defined project question. Agree how the findings will inform the design and what happens if they reveal a material difference from the assumed starting point.

For London refurbishment and fit-out enquiries, send Ben the location, available records and the proposed alterations. Engin can discuss the validation and design support appropriate to that project.