Structural maintenance plan: how to draft it, regulations and practical examples

What is the structural maintenance plan and why it is fundamental

The structural maintenance plan is a mandatory technical document that accompanies every building project, both public and private. Its main purpose is to ensure the safety, durability, and functionality of the works over time, through a programmed management of maintenance activities. Drafting an accurate plan means preventing structural damage, optimizing management costs, and ensuring compliance with current regulations.

Reference regulation: what the law provides

Italian regulation requires the drafting of the structural maintenance plan in various contexts:

• NTC 2018 (Technical Standards for Construction): obliges to prepare the plan for all new works and relevant structural interventions.
• Procurement Code (D.Lgs. 36/2023): requires the plan both in the design and execution phase, with particular attention to the management of the entire life cycle of the work.
• CAM Construction: introduces minimum environmental criteria and integrates maintenance with sustainability and digitalization aspects.
• UNI 11257:2007: provides operational guidelines for the drafting and implementation of the maintenance plan.

The mandatory nature of the plan is aimed at maintaining structural performance over time and protecting the safety of users and managers.

Structure and contents of the maintenance plan

An effective maintenance plan consists of three fundamental documents:

• User manual: describes the correct ways to use the structures, providing practical indications to avoid behaviors that could compromise their integrity.
• Maintenance manual: details ordinary and extraordinary maintenance activities, specifying necessary resources, frequency of interventions, minimum expected performances, and anomalies to monitor.
• Maintenance program: organizes the planned activities temporally, indicating deadlines, responsibilities, and control methods for the structures.

Clarity, traceability, and updatability of information are essential elements for a truly useful and compliant plan.

How to draft a maintenance plan: operational steps

Drafting the maintenance plan requires a methodical and structured approach. The main steps are:

• Structural analysis: identify all structural parts and technological units that make up the work.
• Decomposition into maintainable elements: divide the building or infrastructure into components that are homogeneous in function and materials.
• Identification of maintenance activities: define for each element the necessary operations (inspections, cleaning, repairs, replacements).
• Definition of responsibilities: assign specific tasks to users, managers, and specialized maintainers.
• Intervention scheduling: establish the periodicity of activities and methods for verifying results.
• Integration with digital tools: use BIM software and platforms to centralize data and facilitate plan updating.

A well-drafted plan reduces risks, optimizes costs, and ensures regulatory compliance throughout the life cycle of the work.

Practical examples and digital tools for drafting

To better understand how to apply these principles, here are two practical examples:

• Residential building: the plan provides for periodic checks on foundations, floors, roofs, and facades, with detailed cards for each element and maintenance calendar.
• Public infrastructure: the plan includes scheduled inspections on bridges, viaducts, and tunnels, with monitoring procedures and timely interventions in case of detected anomalies.

Digital tools such as CMMS software and BIM platforms allow to automate plan management, monitor the state of structures in real time, and archive all documentation securely and accessibly.

Advanced management of the maintenance plan with digital solutions

The adoption of digital solutions such as Digital Twin and CMMS systems allows to centralize all information relating to the maintenance plan, integrating BIM data, IoT sensors, and technical documentation. These tools allow to easily update activities, monitor deadlines, and collaborate in real time between all subjects involved, improving efficiency, transparency, and regulatory compliance.

Summary and next steps

A well-drafted structural maintenance plan is essential for the safety, durability, and efficient management of any work. Following the regulations, using practical examples, and relying on advanced digital tools represents the key to truly effective and sustainable maintenance.