This new guidance note has global application to both commercial and residential property, and is an essential addition to the suite of documents produced by RICS in relation to building surveying and health and safety. It sets out the general principles that should be adopted when undertaking a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) survey and report for built assets, and provides RICS members, regulated firms and their clients with a source of best practice.

Its focus is on PPM reports for built assets (the type a building surveyor would undertake), rather than the type of planned maintenance reports for MEPF asset/component replacement an MEPF engineer or facilities manager might undertake.

PPM surveying has become a core service provided by chartered building surveyors. It is key to helping clients understand the current condition of their real estate assets, which enables them to plan the necessary investment to ensure each element of the building performs as intended. Although the term PPM refers to ‘preventative’ maintenance, it should be acknowledged that maintenance is not always preventative. This guidance note concerns all aspects of planned maintenance.

Key topics include:

• client instruction, expectations and requirements
• survey preparation, including competence, information gathering, equipment, health and safety and third-party consultants
• conducting the inspection, including recording data, access and building elements
• legal and technical, including health and safety, fire engineering and accessibility, and
• producing a report, including the PPM schedule, report contents and cost data.

The guidance also includes a PPM services checklist which is provided as a separate download.