RIBA Plan of Works - Stage 5-7

RIBA plan of work

Stage 5 - Manufacturing and Construction

The RIBA Plan of Work is published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and sets out the key stages of a building project.

Architects and construction professionals use RIBA work stages to denote stage payments and identify team members tasked with different responsibilities.

The RIBA Plan of Works is split into 8 key stages.

It is important to clearly specify what activities fall within which stage, and what level of detail is required in order to prevent any confusion.

Stage 5 - Manufacturing and Construction

Manufacturing and construction is a new stage introduced by the RIBA Plan of work 2020.

This reflects the increasing prevalence of manufactured systems and components and volumetric construction.

Stage 5 comprises the manufacturing and construction of the Building Systems in accordance with the Construction Programme agreed in the Building Contract.

Stage 5 deals with the project delivery once the construction team are appointed.

Increasingly, digital technologies are being used to rehearse different construction activities.

Offsite manufacturing in the form of modular construction and panellised systems, allows Stage 5 to be faster and safer.

Greater emphasis is also placed on the logistics of getting materials and large-scale components to the site on time, and on the management of supply chain partners

Stage 5 concludes by issuing a practical completion certificate which allows the completed development to be handed over to the client.

Stage 6 - Handover

Handover is the final process of the construction process.

Once the project has reached Practical Completion the building is returned to the client.

This is sometimes referred to as handover and closeout.

Stage 7 - Use

This is when the building is in use by the client.

Following the handover, there may be an agreed retention period where the works are inspected for faults after 6-12 months, subject to contract terms.

The contractor is to make good any defects for the retention to be released.