N IO T A M R O F IN G IN D IL U B P R O M O T I N G G O O D B U I L D I N G P R A C T I C E

Transcription

1 PROMOTING GOOD BUILDING PRACTICE BUILDING INFORMATION

2 BUILDING INFORMATION PROMOTES GOOD BUILDING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Building Information is an organisation consisting of the Building Information Foundation RTS and Building Information Ltd. The Foundation is an independent actor in the construction sector, whose aim is to foster good planning, building and property management practices. It provides tools for guidance and quality work and develops cooperation in the construction industry. In practice, the Foundation directs committee work, where the entire sector commits itself to common development projects. Hundreds of the best industry experts are involved in this work. The comprehensive structure of the Foundation and the exceptionally consistent and unbiased way of working have also inspired international confidence, and Finnish representatives have been elected to leading positions in the International Union of Building Centres (UICB). Furthermore, the Foundation participates in activities promoting good building practice with several other international parties. Building Information Ltd is a limited company owned by the Foundation. It implements the Foundation s mission by producing and selling information service products that enable construction professionals to comply with good building practice in their daily activities. The company publishes building and property management guidelines, regulations, contract documents and product information in print, on CD and online. Building Information publishes annually about 50 books on architecture or construction as well as magazines. It has units in five Finnish cities as well as in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia and St. Petersburg, Russia. The company s annual turnover is approximately 10 million, and it employs a staff of 95 in Finland and 20 abroad. THE HISTORY OF BUILDING INFORMATION Publication of Rakennustaito (the Finnish Construction Magazine) begins The first Rakentajain kalenteri (Builders Yearbook) published Helsinki Building Centre opened under the name of Permanent Building Products Exhibition The reconstruction office of the Finnish Association of Architects established on Alvar Aalto s initiative ( Town Planning and Standardisation Organisation as of 1947) The first RT Building Information File was published The Building Information Foundation RTS established by the Finnish Association of Architects and the Central Association of Construction Engineers. The entire construction industry is represented in the Foundation through 50 organisations. Building Information Ltd was founded under the name of Building Book Ltd Publication of the Ratu Construction Productivity Information File begins Basis created for the Building Information Foundation RTS s knowledge assets

3 The aim of complying with good building practice is to create a healthy and highquality living environment for Finns and keep it that way throughout its life cycle. The quality of living and building go hand in hand. This can be seen in well-planned and practical building, a clean environment as well as good and comfortable housing, where the cost and quality of housing are in the right proportion. Photo Jussi Tiainen Publication of the KH Property Management File begins Publication of the HEVAC Information File begins Building Information expands to Estonia, Russia and Latvia Tools for sustainable development were created and Building Forums, open discussions for the building sector were launched Publication of the RT Building Information File was the first of the information files to be published on CD and partly on the Internet Publication of the SIT Interior Decorations Information File begins, magazine publishing expanded First part of the InfraRYL 2006 Handbook was published

4 WELL -KNOWN PRODUCTS AND NEW WAYS OF WORKING Building Information s best-known product is the RT Building Information File, which has been the leading information system for good design for over 60 years. A basic tool for every professional designer, the file is updated several times a year to comply with new regulations and user requirements. Our information service covers a range of construction industry needs. The RT Building Information, HEVAC, SIT Interior Decorations Information, Ratu Construction Productivity Information and KH Property Management Files and contract documents constitute a building information system for all professionals. We also offer a broad selection of books, magazines, electronic publications and software, exhibitions and training. These can be used by construction professionals as primary tools for making their daily work easier, be it design, building, installation or property management. CUSTOMISED NEW INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS In situations where information on a special field is not available, Building Information can produce it by setting up a committee and asking experts to comment on the situation in question. The customer can then receive the required information and services. There are several examples of this kind of information provision in public administration, for instance.

5 EFFICIENT AND MODERN INFORMATION PROVIDER Building Information operates throughout Finland and has three foreign units. A significant proportion of Finnish building guidelines is provided by Building Information. We have determinedly worked towards becoming the leading publisher in the field, and we have also had a clear vision of the contents of the published information. With the help of the best experts, we produce information encompassing all stages of the construction life cycle from design to maintenance. In addition to house building, the areas include building services, property management and civil engineering. We serve our customers in a flexible and modern way. We offer reliable and accurate information in an easy-to-use form. Our information service supports professionals in their work and brings added value to their contribution. Photo Jussi Tiainen

6 BUILDING INFORMATION SYSTEM The Building Information Files contain professional information about construction, interior decoration and property management, from design to implementation. The contract documents represent the contractual practice in the sector. The files are published in print, on CD and online (in Finnish at The information is updated on a regular basis. RT Building Information File, RT Net Online Service The RT File is a rich source of information for construction contracting, design, construction, repair and maintenance. It is a tool for everyone involved in a project the builder, designer, contractor and the authority supervising construction. The file includes standards, regulations and product files, the RYL 2000 and InfraRYL 2006 Handbooks (General Specifications for Infrastructure Construction Work) as well as the Building Products Index. In print, on CD and online in Finnish (RT Net in autumn 2007) HEVAC Information File, HEVAC Net Online Service The HEVAC File contains building engineering information about construction contracting, design, construction, repair and maintenance as well as HEVAC products. It includes standards, regulations and product files as well as summaries of research results and articles. Also included is the TalotekniikkaRYL 2002 Handbook (General Specifications for Building Services). On CD and online (in Finnish) SIT Interior Decorations Information File The SIT File contains a wealth of information about interior decoration styles, space planning instructions, materials, furniture, building components, finishes and lighting. The file is aimed at interior decoration professionals, furniture designers and architects. It consists of standards, regulations and product files. In print and on CD Ratu Construction Productivity Information File The Ratu File and the complementary Ratu Handbooks provide solid basic information on construction planning. The file contains information about work methods in line with good building practice, work and material requirements as well as work planning, quality assurance and occupational safety. The information on both new building and renovation work is based on observations and studies at actual work sites. On CD KH Property Management File, KH Net Online Service The KH File is a tool for proactive and systematic property management, aimed at property management professionals, property owners and designers. The file includes guidelines for drawing up contracts and conducting and using a condition assessment and maintenance book. It contains standards, regulations and product files as well as summaries of research results and articles. Also included are property management handbooks, a loan calculator, Asuintalon ATK-huoltokirja (Maintenance Manual for Residential Buildings) and Asuintalojen käyttöohjeet (Instructions for the Use of Residential Premises). On CD and online (in Finnish) Contract Documents Construction contracts are based on established contractual practice in the sector. To enable this practice to be implemented as flexibly as possible, Building Information has produced models for various contract documents, from general contracts to consumer contracts and condition assessments. To find out more about the documents and fill in forms, please visit the Sopimuslomake Net (Contract Documents Net) online service at (in Finnish). In print and online (in Finnish)

7 BROAD RANGE OF PRODUCTS FROM A FULL-SERVICE INFORMATION PROVIDER Building Information produces information on the construction sector in a format desired by the customer. If certain information is not included in our selection, we can acquire it in accordance with the customer s wishes. Books We publish books on good building practice for construction professionals, students and self-builders. Our publications include yearbooks, handbooks, architecture books, textbooks, research reports and books for self-builders. In addition to printed books, we publish digital products, such as CD publications and calculation software. Multilingual architecture books are also available for international markets. Magazines Building Information publishes four significant professional magazines: Rakennus taito (Finnish Construction), RY. Rakennettu Ympäristö (Built Environment), Locus (for real estate and construction sector professionals) and Kehittyvä Kiinteistö (for property management professionals). The Finnish Construction Magazine has been published over 100 years. Kodin Rakennustieto (Building Information for Home Owners) is the customer magazine delivered to households. Sustainable Development The Emission Classification of Building Materials and the Cleanliness Classification of Air-handling Components are national classification systems maintained by the Building Information Foundation RTS. They are also known and noticed internationally. Low-emitting products can be recognised by the M1 label. The RT Environmental Declarations inform designers and builders of the environmental aspects of building materials, such as energy consumption and emissions into the air and water. The products are available on our website. Building Information Regional Units Exhibitions, Consultation, Training Building Information s domestic units are located in Helsinki, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Oulu and Tampere. They house permanent exhibitions on building products and materials (except for Lappeenranta, which only has a bookshop). They also offer the services of construction industry experts, who provide customers, professionals and self-builders with practical advice, faceto-face and over the phone. The exhibitions also organise training and theme events. The annual number of visitors is about 100,000. International subsidiaries are located in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia and St. Petersburg, Russia. Bookshops and Online Shop Each of our units has a bookshop selling all available titles of Finnish building sector-related literature, and their selection of foreign literature on building and construction is the best in Finland. Books, contract documents, forms and standards files more than 4,000 items are also available from our online shop at Unparalleled Media Package in the Construction Sector Building Information s information products and exhibitions offer reliable and up-to-date expert information to users. They also constitute a diverse media package, enabling the building products industry and trade as well as industry service providers to efficiently target both professionals and self-builders. Product information in foreign languages also reaches international customers.

8 Building Information Foundation RTS Building Information Ltd Runeberginkatu 5 P.O. Box 1004, FI Helsinki Tel rts@rakennustieto.fi rakennustieto@rakennustieto.fi DOMESTIC UNITS Helsinki Building Centre Building Bookshop Runeberginkatu 5, FI Helsinki Tel Building Information Kuopio Kauppakatu 40-42, FI Kuopio Tel kuopio@rakennustieto.fi BUILDING CENTRES ABROAD Estonian Building Centre (Eesti Ehituskeskus) Rävala pst. 8, EE Tallinn Tel ehituskeskus@ehituskeskus.ee ET-INFOkeskuse AS Rävala pst. 8 C 401, EE Tallinn Tel etinfo@ehituskeskus.ee St. Petersburg Construction Centre Ltd Torzhkovskaya ul. 5, RU St.Petersburg Tel infstroy@list.ru Building Information Lappeenranta Raatimiehenkatu 20 P.O. Box 233, FI Lappeenranta Tel lappeenranta@rakennustieto.fi Building Information Oulu Uusikatu 32, FI Oulu Tel oulu@rakennustieto.fi Building Information Tampere Satakunnankatu 18, FI Tampere Tel tampere@rakennustieto.fi Building Information is a member of the International Union of Building Centres (UICB). MJ/ /400/KYRIIRI