RIBA has updated its Outline Plan of Work (OPW) in a move ‘to reflect current terminologies and procurement methods’.
The current work stages A-L will remain, but five new ‘super’ stages – into which the existing work stages will fall – have been created. They are: preparation (A+B), design (C+D+E), pre-construction (F+G+H), construction (J+K) and use (L) – the latter of which will match the International and CIC Consultants’ contract work stages.

Other revisions include changes to nomenclature, to reflect what RIBA says is ‘modern common parlance’. Stage B changes from ‘strategic brief’ to ‘design brief’; stage C from ‘outline proposals’ to ‘concept’; stage D from ‘detailed proposals’ to ‘design development’; and stage E changes from ‘final proposals’ to ‘technical design’.

Under the old OPW, so-called ‘milestone’ activities could vary widely between different procurement methods and tender processes. In the new document these activities will be moveable between different work stages and noted in italics.

Finally, stage L has been extended into three sub-stages. L1 covers ‘contract administration during construction’, L2 deals with ‘initial occupation services’, and L3 will cover ‘review of project performance’.

The new ‘RIBA Appointment Agreements 2007’, available in September, will be based on the revised Plan of Works, as will all new RIBA technical publications including RIBA’s forthcoming ‘Job Book’.

The changes, which RIBA said were the result of ‘extensive consultation with the construction industry’, came into effect on Friday (6 July).

by Max Thompson from AJ Online 10 July 2007