Defects at Handover in Norwegian Construction Projects

This paper reports on a study of the most common buildings defects at the handover, and examines the causes of defects, the consequences for main contractor, subcontractors, users and clients and improvement opportunities. The purpose of the study is to help better planning at handover with less deviation to increase value for client, contractors and users. The case study based research including a literature study and case studies from the respective cases and interviews with key participants from both the clients’ and contractors’ organization. The results show that the most frequent defects registered at the handover are related damage to surfaces. These are usually due to by human errors, fall of tools, locating of heavy materials, transportation of goods and materials and time limits. These are mostly neither difficult nor expensive to correct. Defects related to the technical installations are the next area that has the most frequent negative deviations. The technical installation should work together to complete the whole system functioning, so problem in one component prevents the whole system to fully functioning. The main reason for defects is incomplete and poor design. Economic losses and undermine confidence between the different stakeholders in the construction industry are the main consequences of defects. More attention to technical installations and less on surface appearance during the handover process, following up standard contracts, detailed and realistic forward planning to avoid time constraints and continues dialogue with client recommended to avoid defects.