Attachment 7 - BUILDER Inventory and Assessment Complete Guide (18 Jul 25).pdf

UNIVERSAL GUIDANCE

A10 – FOUNDATIONS

A20 – BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION

B10 – SUPERSTRUCTURE

B20 – EXTERIOR ENCLOSURE

B30 – ROOFING

C10 – INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION

C20 – STAIRS

C30 – INTERIOR FINISHES

D10 – CONVEYING

D20 – PLUMBING

D30 – HVAC

D40 – FIRE PROTECTION

D50 – ELECTRICAL

E10 – EQUIPMENT

Army BUILDERTM SMS Inventory and Assessment Guide

Army BuilderTM SMS Inventory and Assessment Guide CL - 1

Version Date: 18 July 2025

Change Log GLOBAL (Applicable to All Systems)

Update “Version Date” above when material changes are made to Guide content. Version Date (in red) is dynamic and will update the date in the document footer.

# Date Section- Page#

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1 3/3/2025 ALL ALL

An editable document is needed to make ongoing updates to the guide when changes are required.

Revisions/Additions:

Complete reformatting and content transcription into MS Word of the 741-page Army Builder SMS Inventory and Assessment Guide (last version dated June 1, 2019), to enable adequate and readable updating when changes need to be made. Content is editable in MS Word format, including dynamic page numbering in the document footers. Style follows guidelines in the US Army Corps of Engineers® Graphic Standards Manual. MS

Word document is used to make updates only and should not be distributed for general use. Guide is printed to PDF version for use in the field.

2 4/20/25 B30-16 106 Since the implementation of BUILDER for the Army, additional guidelines have been established through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Earth cover over munitions magazines. B301090 OTHER ROOFING - Berm Roof for Earth-Covered Magazines" replaced "B301002 Low Slope Roof Systems-Other" in the Detailed Inventory Guidance and moved to the appropriate order in the list of components.

3 4/20/25 D30-39 261 Since the implementation of BUILDER for the Army, additional guidelines have been established through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Heating capacity for the hot water piping system. New information and Formula added to the Detailed Inventory Guidance for component “D304003 HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS – General” under Business Rule.

4 4/20/25 D50-4 335 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Panelboards. New information added to 1 new table row to the Inventory table for D50 General Guidance.

5 4/20/25 D50-2 333 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Lighting Rating. New information added to 1 new table row to the end of the Inspection table for D50 General Guidance

6 4/20/25 D40-8 315 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Fire Alarm Control Panel. “Reinspection” description was added to the Detailed Inventory Guidance for “D401001 FIRE ALARM DISTRIBUTION - Fire Alarm Control Panel – non addressable”

Section-Page#: Refers to the page number in the footer of the document.

PDF Page#: Refers to the absolute page number in the PDF Guide document.

Revisions/Additions: Should describe the changes in detail. Example: Date: 3/7/2025 | Section-Page#: B30-19 | PDF Page#: 124 | Reason: “12H / Invalid data” | Revisions/Additions: “Updated b301090 catalog table, changed value from UOM = EA to UOM = SF per error discovered in document data audit.”

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7 4/20/25 D30-2,4 224,226 Since the implementation of BUILDER for the Army, additional guidelines have been established through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Refrigerant. New information added to existing table row (row 2) in Inspection table

(D30-2), and in new table row at the end of the Inventory table (D30-4) for D30 General Guidance.

8 4/20/25 D30-77 299 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Kitchen Equipment. New information added under “General” for Detailed Inventory Guidance for “D305006 PACKAGE UNITS - Packaged DX Refrigerant System - Air Cooled, 5 Ton”

9 4/20/25 D30-8 230 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Glycol Systems. Added “Lessons Learned” for Detailed Inventory Guidance for “D301005 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - Closed Loop, Space/Hot Water Systems”, updated photo in Detailed Inventory Guidance.

10 4/20/25 D30-11 233 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Solar Energy Systems. Changed “Age-based” to YES under “D301005 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - Solar Panel System” Detailed Inventory Guidance and Component Catalog.

11 4/20/25 UG-2 7

through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Missing Buildings in BUILDER. Added description and table in Universal Guidance under Site Preparation, last table row.

12 4/20/25 UG-13 to

UG-15

18 to 20

Since the implementation of BUILDER for the Army, additional guidelines have been established through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Estimated Component Checkbox & Sampling Guidance. Flowchart process for utilizing the Check Estimate Box and Sampling Guidance instructions added to the Universal Guidance section.

13 5/20/25 D30-77 299 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Under “General” for D305006 PACKAGE UNITS - Packaged DX Refrigerant System - Air Cooled, 5 Ton, ADDED “(i.e. RPIE)” to the end of the sentence: Refrigerant DX condensing units are to be inventoried when they serve the building opposed to the mission of the building (i.e. RPIE).”

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Date Section- Page#

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14 5/20/25 UG-4 9

Since the implementation of BUILDER for the Army, additional guidelines have been established through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: “TEAM LEADER/COMMENT” added to end of paragraph: 1) Missing Systems: A20, C10, C20, C30, D10, D20, D30, D40, E10; 2) Renovation Dates: None; 3) Areas Not Accessible: None; 4) Drawings Provided: No; 5) Other: None

15 5/20/25 UG-11 16

through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Sectioning Rules: DELETED “Floor 1, Floor 2, Floor 3” under Standard Section Names and Format Rules

16 5/20/25 UG-20 25

through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Visual Aid How to Inventory, change column heading for Floor Construction from B1010 to B101001

17 5/20/25 C10-7 114 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: Detailed Inventory Guidance for C101001 FIXED PARTITIONS - Wall - Concrete Block:

Changed “Lessons Learned” subheading to “Typical Distress”

18 5/20/25 B10-14 56 through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re: B102003 ROOF DECKS AND SLABS – General, changed ‘General’ to 'Other' component type under “Business Rule”

19 5/20/25 multiple multiple through the Quality Assurance (QA) review of data since the release of the Army BUILDER I&A Guide dated 1 Jun 2019.

Revisions/Additions:

Guidance provided by USACE Mobile on 5 Feb 2020 re Component Catalogs – ALL COMPONENT CATALOGS REMOVED from each section, Section TOCs updated accordingly. File size reduced to 397 pages.

Revisions/Additions:

Revisions/Additions:

U G

Universal Guidance

SAFETY AND SITE PREPARATION GUIDANCE

EXECUTION GUIDANCE

HOW TO PERFORM DCR ASSESSMENTS

HOW TO WRITE INSPECTION COMMENTS

INSPECTION/INVENTORY RULES

SECTIONING RULES

ESTIMATED COMPONENT CHECK BOX

SAMPLING GUIDANCE

SECTIONING EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS

EXTERIOR SECTIONING COMPONENTS

SECTIONING DETAILS EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS

VISUAL AID HOW TO INVENTORY COMPONENTS

Jump to TOC

Universal Guidance: BUILDER™ Safety and Site Preparation Guidance

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Safety

The following items should not be interpreted as 1) Safety Plan, 2) OSHA, or base safety requirements. These are recommendations. The contractor should operate in accordance with the SOW and approved safety plan.

Safety is of the utmost concern and should always be at the forefront of any activities taking place in the field.

There are many potential safety hazards associated with building assessments. Prior to performing building assessments, the assessing staff/team must ensure that field activities are in accordance with the 1) Safety Plan, 2) OSHA, and 3) Installation safety guidelines.

Safety Preparation Activities

Do not perform a task that may harm or endanger the health and safety of oneself or others.

Consult with the installation safety representative to review installation-specific safety requirements.

Conduct a daily “stand-up” safety meeting.

Ensure new assessors have been properly trained.

Review the assessment plan/schedule for the day.

Ensure proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available. This includes, but is not limited to, a hardhat; hearing protection; eye protection; safety shoes, gloves; and a safety-colored vest.

Prior to conducting assessments, the team leader must check with the safety office or building POC to determine if there are any building/site-specific safety rules or hazards. For instance, some manufacturing areas may require steel toe shoes, hearing protection, or eye protection.

Safety Recommendations

Do not walk and write, or talk on a mobile phone, at the same time; this can lead to trips/falls.

Do not review documents or write while walking on steps or stairs.

Do not enter posted or suspected confined spaces such as crawl spaces, tanks, chases, or pits.

Mechanical rooms, attic spaces, or other areas with piping/ductwork may require the use of hard hats to prevent against head bumping hazards. Refer to the project specific safety plan for further clarification.

Do not enter areas with hazardous material signs posted or that appear to contain hazardous materials (asbestos, gases, visible mold, etc.).

Be careful when walking through/across vehicle maintenance or staging areas.

Be aware of loose-fitting clothing and lanyards that may get caught in tight areas or on piping such as in mechanical/electrical rooms, etc.

Be careful of wildlife and insects when walking around a building or opening seldom-entered mechanical/electrical rooms.

Assessors may encounter snakes, spiders, stray cats/dogs, rats/mice, etc. in these areas. Do not enter or place hands in spaces that are not completely visible.

If a life safety problem is observed, do not try to fix it. Report it to the proper authority or building manager prior to leaving the building or area.

Before the assessment team leaves a building, ensure all team members are accounted for.

Ladder use should be done in accordance with 1) Safety Plan, 2) OSHA, and 3) Installation safety guidelines.

Designate a safety POC to enforce the safety accident prevention plan.

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Safety Recommendations cont.

Perform a daily safety briefing before field work. Document the attendees and the topics covered.

Halt outdoor field operations at the sign of lightning or thunder.

Do not access pitched roofs. They may be assessed from a nearby building or using binoculars.

Use proper techniques to place, secure, and climb ladders. Never climb a ladder while holding anything. Always use the three-point technique for climbing. Equipment should be placed in a backpack or an over-the-shoulder satchel to free hands for climbing.

Do not operate powered equipment, Weight Handling Equipment (WHE)/cranes, or remove access covers from powered equipment to perform assessments.

BUILDER™ assessments are commonly performed without electrical test equipment. Do not use electrical test equipment to test circuits or equipment unless qualified by a local authority. Only open panel box doors or enter electrical/mechanical rooms following proper training. Consult the local safety representative.

Site Preparation

Site Preparation Activities

Coordinate with the base to determine building access requirements, such as: escorts; camera passes; classified/secure area restrictions; or keys.

Locate buildings on a map and develop a schedule. Coordinate with the base to identify the appropriate building manager from the POC list. Notify the building managers of the upcoming assessment as needed.

Obtain a set of mechanical/electrical room master keys from the installation POC.

Extract all BRED™ files from BUILDER™ and have them loaded onto tablets (if using tablets). Verify all tablets are charged.

If multiple buildings are to be assessed by one team, confirm the schedule and plan of action with the team leader. A schedule may have building start times detailed to the hour.

Review the building names for the types/sizes of buildings that will be assessed to determine/confirm the needed tools and safety equipment. For instance, if the facilities are not climate-controlled, prepare accordingly (for cold weather bring hats/gloves).

If a facility is missing from the BUILDER database that is in alignment with the Army BUILDER™ Inspection Criteria a request may be submitted to CERL Support to add the facility. As part of the request, a copy of the Real Property information from HQIIS should be included.

FIGURE 3.2 Army BUILDER™ Inspection Criteria

Inspect Exclude

RPA Type Code B L, S, LS

Facility Construction Type Code PERM, SEMI

RPA Operational Status Code ACT, SEMI, NONF, EXCS, CARE

OUTG, SURP, CLSD,

DISP, ENVH, TBA

RPA Interest Type Code FEE, ONFG (IMCOM Only), ONST (ARNG – Federally Funded Only)*

EASE, GVPV, LEASE,

LESS, MHPI, ONFG (non-

IMCOM), ONFA, PDOM,

PRIV, ONST (non-ARNG)

*ONST (ARNG – Federally Funded Only) include partially/fully federally funded buildings (Appendix F)

If the facility does not align with the above Inspection Criteria an exception to policy must be submitted to the corresponding Land Holding Command for review and approval prior to upload to BUILDER.

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Recommended Assessor Gear/Tools

Assessment Forms & Schedule Flashlight Measuring Wheel

Backpack Footwear, OSHA Approved Paper/Notepad

Bug Spray Graph Paper Pen/Pencils

Building Floor Plans/Base Map Graphite Powder (for stuck locks) Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), any Other Required PPE

Cell Phone and Team Cell Phone List Hardhat Refillable Water Bottle

Cleaning Pad (to clean/help read nameplates)

Hearing Protection Reflective Safety Vest

Clipboard Laser Measuring Device Safety Glasses

Compass Magnet, Small (for determining door/window type)

Sunscreen

Digital Camera with Extra Battery(s) Measuring Tape

Execution Guidance

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Operating efficiently in the field is key to the success of the assessment. The following guidance is detailed by

1) Team Leader and 2) Assessor. Bold items are drivers for client deliverables.

Team Leader

Upon arrival, check in with the building manager and QA representative (if present).

Conduct the building manager interview. The entire team should be present for the building manager interview. The following questions should be asked:

Question 1: Are there any mission-related deficiencies in the building?

Question 2: Are there any safety-related deficiencies in the building?

Question 3: Have there been any upgrades or remodels of the building?

Question 4: Are there any building deficiencies (HVAC not working, electrical breakers tripping, maintenance issues, roof leaks, etc.) present?

The team leader (ONLY the team leader!) should populate the building level comment with the following information: 1) Missing systems, 2) Renovation dates, 3) Areas of the building not accessible during the assessment, and 4) If drawings were/were not provided, 5) Other: None - utilized to capture any additional information, i.e. if the real property information was incorrect, if sampling was done, etc.. Below are some examples of building level comments:

Comment 1: The Building Level Comment will indicate those that have been sampled. The standard comment to be used is:

[John Doe-DPW-MM/DD/YYYY]

1) Missing Systems: A20, C10, C20, C30, D10, D20, D30, D40, E10

2) Renovation Dates: None

3) Areas Not Accessible: None

4) Drawings Provided: No

5) Other: None

Comment 2: No A20 systems present. Renovated in 2010. 2016: 5% of building not accessible. Drawings provided.

The team leader should review the real property data in BRED™ and compare it to what is found during the assessment. The following should be confirmed: 1) Number of stories, 2) Building square footage, and 3) Building install date and 4) Building number in BRED™ matches the building. Variances between real property data and actual field data should be recorded for inclusion into the client deliverable.

Team Leader and Assessors

Best Practice: Each assessor should first take a photo of the building number to identify the subsequent photos associated with the building when they are downloaded. Take a second picture that captures the overall building view with respect to nearby buildings/streets. This should help refresh/remind the assessor on what the building looks like, while performing data-entry.

A team caucus should occur to discuss the sectioning strategy for the building and confirm which side is facing north.

Each assessor should have a consistent approach to each building. Assessors should move around the building exterior and interior in a clockwise (or counterclockwise) manner making notes and taking photos.

If a safety item is found, notify the team lead. The team lead will notify the building manager. Capture a photo of the safety item for inclusion into the safety log. Follow all other project-specific procedures when a safety item is encountered.

Upon return to the office perform the following steps:

Step 1: Download all photos from the day to a building-specific folder. Review the photos and delete any that are blurry or unreadable.

Step 2: Complete all calculations and counts. Complete all data entry into BRED™.

Execution Guidance

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Data Entry

With the technology that is available today, the need to use forms in the field and do data entry at the office has been mitigated. Tablets can be used to run BRED™ to complete data entry while in the field. It is understood that there are challenges to accomplish this for certain disciplines. It is only mentioned here as a best practice recommendation and is not a requirement to execute the work. There will be instances where electronics will not be allowed in a facility. Assessors should have a paper/pen data collection system ready as a backup.

Universal Guidance: How to Perform DCR Assessments

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The most critical part to an assessment is having all assessors aligned on how to perform an assessment. To reach an accurate DCR of a component, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Consider the level of degradation and the performance of the component:

OPERATIONAL

CAPABILITY

OPERATIONAL

CONDITION RATING DEGRADATION DCR

Fully Operational Green

Free of observable or known degradation. Green (+)

Normal wear requiring normal preventative maintenance. Green

Normal degradation requiring corrective maintenance. Green (-)

Impaired Operation

Amber

Minor degradation requiring corrective maintenance. Amber (+)

Moderate degradation requiring corrective repair. Amber

Significant degradation requiring moderate repair. Amber (-)

Inoperable Red

Extensive degradation requiring major repair. Red (+)

Severe degradation requiring major rehabilitation or partial replacement.

Red

Complete degradation requiring full replacement. Red (-)

Step 2: Consider the maintenance requirements of the component:

Type Green (G+/G/G-) Amber (A+/A/A-) Red (R+/R/R-)

Dynamic (Equipment)

Distresses present are of no impact to the component’s operation.

Distresses present are of impact to the component’s operation. A repair is needed to bring the component back to proper operating condition

Distresses present are of impact to the component’s operation.

The component needs to be replaced.

Example: The fan component is fully operational.

Example: A fan has corrosion on the housing. A sand and paint would remove the distress.

Example: A fan motor has overheated and no longer functions. Replacement of the component is required.

Non-Dynamic The architecture component is in good condition requiring no maintenance outside of normal operations.

The architecture component has a distress that requires an extra level of maintenance outside of normal operations. This extra maintenance (or repair) would be an action such as a cleaning or a painting of a surface.

The architecture component has a distress where a maintenance operation will not fix the problem at hand. A replacement of the component is required.

Example: The carpet component is fully operational.

Example: A carpet component has stains. A cleaning would remove the distress.

Example: A carpet component is damaged (ripped). The component needs to be replaced to fix the distress.

Dynamic: Refers to equipment in the D10, D20, D30, D40, D50, and E10 systems.

Non-Dynamic: Refers to architectural components in the A10, A20, B10, B20, B30, C10, C20, and C30 systems. Note: There are some Non-Dynamic components (for instance, toilets under D20) in the Dynamic systems.

Universal Guidance: How to Perform DCR Assessments

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Step 3: Adhere to the following requirements:

Requirements

Maintainability and obsolescence should not be the driving factor when conducting a condition assessment unless it has led to actual deterioration of condition that can be observed or reasonably inferred.

G+ ratings should only be given to inventory that is in pristine condition and is free of any observable defects.

Do not downgrade an assessment rating simply because an item is dirty.

Do not downgrade an assessment rating because the item does not meet current code compliance standards

Do not downgrade an assessment rating because the item is not deemed energy efficient.

Do not downgrade an assessment rating because the item is deemed to be a safety violation/hazard unless otherwise directed.

Do not downgrade an assessment rating because of a code violation.

Ratings should not be anticipated based on planned repairs or replacement.

Assessors should not expend field time and effort to determine the cause of a deficiency. If the cause is easily identified it should be included in the inspection comment.

Ratings shall be based upon the observable and documentable condition of the component.

A component should be downgraded if its operational capability, performance, reliability, etc. is compromised according to the direct rating definitions.

Incorporate user interviews, work order histories, or other information sources when determining the condition of the component. Include this information in the inspection comment.

The assessor should calibrate their mindset on what the expected DCR should be based on condition. The assessor should consider the maintenance requirements of the component in the current condition. The assessor should factor in the requirements/business rules for completing an inspection.

One factor that can play into an assessment is if the assessor receives information from a POC that results in a lower rating. For instance, an assessment takes place in July and there is a heating water pump that looks brand new, but has a blown motor. The assessor would assume the pump is supposed to be off due to being off season, but if the POC informs the assessor about the blown motor, this can be factored into the assessment (and indicated in the inspection comment).

One factor that should not play into an assessment is pending replacements of components. Assessors should rate components in the condition they are at the time of assessment. If the carpet is being replaced next month, that should not factor into a rating. Now, if the carpet contractor is on site (the work is currently taking place), this could be factored into the rating and a G+ rating provided with the current date of inspection chosen as the install date.

Service Life: No distresses present, and component is nearing (or past) its service life.

The following comment can be used as an inspection comment for components that have no signs of distresses, are rated either Amber (A) or Amber Plus (A+), and are over 75% through their service life. This negates the need to have 4 parts of an inspection comment. Also, an inspection photo is no longer required.

[First Last-AE-Date] - The component is in proper working condition and is showing no signs of distress. The DCR was based on estimated remaining service life.

Universal Guidance: How to Write Inspection Comments

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Step 1: Understand the 5 parts of the inspection comment.

Part # Part Type Type Description

1 Component [First Last-AE-Date] OR [First Last-DPW-Date] (ex: [John Doe-AE-

7/4/2017])

2 Distress Identifies the distress of the component

3 Severity Identifies the amount of the distress.

4 Location Identifies the location of the distress

5 Quantity Identifies the quantity of the distress

Step 2: Use the DCR of the component as the basis for the severity.

DCR Severity

To aid in the inspection comments reading correctly the severity can be modified slightly. For instance, 'moderately' can be used for an 'A' DCR comment. This approach also applies to the distresses where one of the 23 MUST be selected. If 'Cracked' is selected as the distress, the wording

'cracks' may be used.

Amber (+) Minor/Mild

Amber Moderate

Amber (-) Significant/Major

Red (+) Extensive

Red Severe

Red (-) Complete/Total

Step 3: Identify the distress of the component:

Distress

Blistered Displaced Overheated Capability/Capacity Deficient

Broken Efflorescent Patched Animal/Insect Damaged

Clogged Holes Rotten Moisture/Debris Contaminated

Corroded Leaks Stained/Dirty Noise/Vibration Excessive

Damaged Loose Cracked Operationally Impaired

Deteriorated Missing Electrical Ground Inadequate or Unintentional

Step 4: Location and Quantity

Location on non-dynamic assets - 'lobby area' or 'northwest corner'.

Quantity on a SF UOM will typically be a %. On an EA UOM will typically be a count.

Step 5: Put all 5 components together to form an inspection comment.

DCR Component Distress Inspection Comment (colors correspond to part)

A+ Front End CRACKED. The walls have minor cracks present on 10% of the gym.

A Front End DETERIORATION. The carpet has moderate deterioration over 50% of the lobby.

A- Front End DAMAGED. The door has significant damage to the lower half of the door.

R+ Front End CRACKED. The windows have extensive cracks present in 4 panes.

R Front End LEAKS. The roof has severe leaking around the HVAC penetrations.

R- Front End OPERATIONALLY IMPAIRED. The 3 north doors are completely operationally impaired.

Universal Guidance: I n spection/Inventory Rules and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Inspection Comments

Rule # Rule

1 Required on all inspections with a DCR of A+ and below.

2 Paint DCRs do not have an inspection comment requirement. Only the component DCR A+ and below.

3 Should include any component specific information obtained from the base or POC interview.

4 Should be in complete sentences and use industry standard terminology. Comments can be typed into MS Word for spelling/grammar checks and then pasted into the comments box.

5 Do not use all capital letters for the entire comment. The distress should be all capital letters.

6 Do not use abbreviations, jargon, or slang.

7 Should give enough information for a follow-on assessor to locate the problem area/equipment.

8 Should accurately describe the problem/observation that is the basis for the rating. Someone unfamiliar with the particular item should have an accurate picture of the component’s current condition and the justification for the assigned rating.

9 Should accurately describe the location of the distress if the component is only showing a distress in a single location. For instance, if an office has a stain in the carpet, it would be necessary to call out the room number of the office.

10 Each comment should start with the assessor name (First Last), assessor affiliation/company, and date within square brackets. For instance, assessor John Doe at firm AE: [John Doe-AE-7/4/2017].

11 After #10 front end information in the brackets one of the 23 distresses should be provided in capitalized form.

Building on #10 for an example if stained carpet: [John Doe-AE-7/4/2017] - STAINED.

12 After #10 and #11 a sentence should be provided that provides the distress, severity, location, and quantity.

Quantity/Location refers to the amount/location of the distress present.

Inventory Comments

Rule # Rule

1 Used to identify components that were not visible for inspection. See standard comments.

2 Used as a bread crumb for follow-on inspections. Can provide useful additional information such as location or type to help the next assessor understand what was being inventoried. Ex: This component is the stone wall located behind the receptionist in the lobby area.

3 Should describe the component inventoried where 'OTHER' is used to allow follow-on assessments to understand what was inventoried in the previous assessment.

4 Used to provide the location of the component (especially used for architecture components where there are no Section Details provided that have a location): Roof, NW Corner, Room Number

5 Do not use all capital letters, abbreviations, jargon, or slang.

6 Used to further describe an asset if it is not adequately described in the component type selection.

7 Each comment should start with the assessor name (First Last), assessor affiliation/company, and date within square brackets. Example: [John Doe-AE-7/4/2017].

Section Detail Comments

Rule # Rule

1 Used to identify data that was not able to be populated in the Details fields. See standard comments.

2 Used to provide information that is specific to just that component section detail field. This can be a location of the specific section or something that the section services.

4 Do not use all capital letters, abbreviations, jargon, or slang.

5 Each comment should start with the assessor name (First Last), assessor affiliation/company, and date within square brackets. Example: [John Doe-AE-7/4/2017].

Universal Guidance: I n spection/Inventory Rules and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Standard Inventory Comments

When Use Standard Comment

Assets are not visible for inspection. Component was not visible for inspection. The component condition will be age-based by BUILDER program degradation curves.

Assets are not visible for inspection that also require Section Details to be populated.

The component is not visible for inspection or population of Section Details. The component condition will be age-based by BUILDER program degradation curves and no nameplate data or inventory photo will be provided.

Assets are not visible for inspection that require quantities to be assumed. Hidden mechanical equipment, ductwork, and # of control points are common occurrences.

The component is not visible for inspection and the quantity was estimated based on architect/engineering judgment. The component condition will be age-based by BUILDER program degradation curves.

Assets are located in an area where no electronics area allowed. This prevents an assessor from taking inventory/inspection photos.

The component is located in a secure area of the facility that did not allow electronic devices to be used. Photos were not obtainable.

Assets are visible for inspection but are a system that is not tested (HVAC controls, security system, etc.) so an age-based BUILDER™ CI is desired.

The component condition will be age-based by BUILDER program degradation curves.

Standard Section Detail Comments

When Use Standard Comment

Nameplate is not found on the component. Nameplate not found on the component. All fields with "NA" represent data not found.

Nameplate is found on the component, but it is partial/completely unreadable.

Nameplate on the component was dirty/corroded/damaged/sun-washed. Section Detail fields with "NA" represent data that was not found.

Nameplate is found on the component that is readable but is missing certain Section Details fields.

Nameplate on the component was missing certain Section Detail fields. Section Detail fields have been populated and fields with "NA" represent data not found.

Comment Front-End Clarification

A front end refers to the bracketed information at the start of an inspection/inventory/section detail comment.

The front end must have to following 3 pieces of information: 1) assessor name, 2) assessor company or affiliation, and the date. The BRED™ stamp may also provide the time of inspection which is acceptable.

BRED™/BUILDER™ Clarification

The terms BRED™ and BUILDER™ are used interchangeably throughout this document.

Universal Guidance: Sectioning Rules and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Sectioning Rules

Rule # Rule

1 Components are divided into sections when a significant variation exists in material/equipment category, age, or construction history, which impacts the life cycle characteristics of the component.

Example 1 - If a wing or addition was added to a much older building, the two areas of the building should be sectioned differently because the age and construction history is different.

Example 2 – If the building roof has multiple levels of similar materials in different conditions, these levels should be sectioned differently to capture the difference in condition.

Example 3 – If the building has more than one of a particular type of component, separate component sections.

For example: There is a 5,000 and 10,000 CFM air handler.

2 Multi-wing buildings are always sectioned by wing if the installation date of the wings vary. If a building is an 'E' shape and all wings have the same install date only sectioning by floor is required.

3 Multi-story buildings are always sectioned vertically by floor or level (in the case of a basement or mezzanine).

4 There may be unique instances where sectioning by an area of a building is required. For instance, if a building is split between two companies an installation may request sectioning by company 1 and 2.

5 An on-site discussion must occur at each building among all team members to determine the cardinal direction of the building. All assessors should have North as the same side of the building.

6 An on-site discussion must occur at each building among all team members on how the building should be sectioned. The goal is to avoid one assessor calling it a toilet, one calling it a restroom, and another calling it a bathroom. Standard sectioning naming is important for a consistent data set.

7 The section name should not be repetitive of the component type or material. If the floor is wood, do not have a section name 'WOOD'. Incorporation of the location into the section name is very helpful to be used for follow-on assessments. If the wood floor has the section name 'LOBBY', it provides great

Standard Section Names and Format Rules

Use Standard Section Name

Section by Floor (Business Rule) FL1 or 1FL, FL2 or 2FL, FL3 or 3FL, etc.

Section by Floor (Business Rule) BASEMENT, MEZZANINE, ATTIC, etc.

Section by Wing (applicable if different construction histories or condition only)

MAIN, WING A, WING B, WING C, ADDITION, etc.

Section by Direction (applicable if different construction histories or condition only)

NORTH, EAST, WEST, SOUTH, etc.

Section by Roof Level (applicable if different construction histories or condition only)

UPPER, LOWER, MAIN, etc.

When an equipment tag is included in the section name it should match exactly what was found in the field. Example: if the boiler ID number is B-1, the section name equipment tag portion should read B-1. If the boiler is tagged B1, the equipment tag portion should read B1. See equipment sectioning for further guidance.

Dashes are not required in the section name other than the instance in regard to equipment ID tags above.

The section name field is always entered in all capital letters.

Universal Guidance: Sectioning Rules and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Sectioning Business Rules – Grouping

The following only applies to each (EA) unit of measure (UOM) components. The 'Complete Component Catalog Breakdown' at the end of the section has a 'Group OK?' column. This has the values of 'Yes', 'No', and 'N/A'.

'Yes' = Grouping is allowed for this component type. A quantity of greater than '1' is acceptable. 'No' = Grouping is not allowed for this component type. The quantity must be '1'.

N/A = Not Applicable. Component type is not an EA UOM or is out of scope.

Group OK? = Yes when Section Details and Inventory Photos are Required.

There are several equipment component types (Unit Heaters, small pumps, etc.) that have the following designations in the 'Complete Component Catalog Breakdown': 1) Group OK? = Yes, 2) Section Details? = Yes, and 3) Inventory Photo? = Yes.

In this case, a single section detail and inventory photo representative of the entire section is required. A few more clarifications:

The location field would be for the entire section (FL1/BAY 1/EXTERIOR) and not specific to a single component.

A difference in manufacturer does not drive further sectioning. For instance, 2 KW electric unit heaters from multiple manufacturers can be combined into one section. Capacity (2 KW) is the driver for sectioning methodology.

It is understood that the single section detail field is representative of the entire section. The details should be populated per one component. There is no need to enter multiple details or try to combine multiple manufacturer/model/serial/etc. into to a single section detail field.

Group OK? = No

The quantity for these component types must be 1. For equipment (Section Details? = Yes and Inventory Photo? = Yes) the guidance found on the 'Section Details: D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and E10 Equipment Components', 'Sectioning: D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and E10 Equipment Components', and 'Exterior Sectioning: D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and E10 Components' must be followed.

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Universal Guidance: Estimated Component Check Box

Estimated Component Check Box Instructions

The “Estimated” check box within BUILDER should be used sparingly. Install dates recorded in BUILDER have a significant impact on the condition rating BUILDER assigns to a component. Older buildings can present a challenge when renovation and replacement history is unknown. In these cases, install dates may be based on the assessor’s best professional judgment, and the Estimated box may need to be checked in BUILDER. However, the Estimated box puts more weight on assessor’s Direct Condition Rating and can skew the remaining service life by several years.

It is critical to validate all dates, especially for high-cost components, and update any incorrect install dates based on site knowledge of renovations and replacements. Once dates are corrected, make sure to uncheck the Estimated box in BUILDER/BRED.

Guidance for when to use the Estimated check box can be found via the Help link in the top-right corner of the BUILDER interface, as well as in the flowchart below.

Step 2 Is there reasonable evidence to narrow down the likely install data to within a range of 1-2 years for short lived components (having 8 -20 years design life) or 5-10 years for longer lived components (having 50-100 years design life)? For example, does the type of equipment or manufacturer specs or tags indicate a particular ''vintage" or does installation personnel know work was completed "in the last few years" but an exact year is not known.

Step 1 Is the component-section install year known or can be verified by installation personnel, past work records, or equipment logs?

Record install year and UNCHECK Estimated box.

Record install year as the middle of the likely range and UNCHECK Estimated box.

Record install year as the middle of the estimated range, and CHECK the Estimated box

Default the component-section year installed to the building year built/renewed-date and CHECK the Estimated box.

NO

NO

Step 3 Can the surveyor use sound engineering judgment to narrow down the install year to within a decade with reasonable confidence? For example, the building is 50 years old, but the roof is obviously not original, likely replaced within the last 20-30 years at a maximum.

NO

YES

YES

YES

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Universal Guidance: Sampling Guidance

Building Sampling Overview & Intent

Sampling is not the accepted method for Initial, Reassessment or Rebaseline Army BUILDER™ inventory and assessment work. This is not to be confused with Section Level sampling. The intent of sampling is to conduct BUILDER Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) in a cost-effective manner with minimal impact to data quality.

For exceptions, submit an exception to policy to the LHC BUILDER Program Manager or their appointed representative. Exceptions will be approved by the Army CSP or the Army BUILDER™ Guidance Working Group. No exceptions will be given to Unaccompanied Housing, Child Development Centers, and Army Family Housing.

Waivered BUILDING Types:

Earth Covered Magazines (ECM)

Initial Inventory and Assessment:

Requirements for Sampling

Facilities must be located at the same installation.

Facilities must be built in the same year.

Facilities must have the same design.

Facilities must be the same size.

For initial inventory and assessments, the sample size is 10%, but no less than five facilities.

DPW shall review the list prior to sampling to identify any facilities that may have significantly different condition, improvements, mission, etc. and they will be excluded from the sampling group.

Methodology for Sampling

The Building Level Comment will indicate those that have been sampled. The standard comment to be used is:

[John Doe-DPW-MM/DD/YYYY]

1) Missing Systems:

2) Renovation Dates:

3) Areas Not Accessible:

4) Drawings Provided:

5) Other: A full assessment was performed on Facilities (building #s). Data obtained from those facilities was used to update BUILDER data with no travel required to this building. Templating methodology applies to a total of (sampling size) facilities of this size and construction.

When sampling, inventory should be consistent across all facilities included in that group.

When sampling, the condition ratings should be in alignment with what was observed for the sample set. Condition ratings applied to facilities not physically verified should be an average of the condition found in the sample set.

An exterior photo of each facility will be taken and uploaded into BUILDER for initial inventory.

If during the sampling it is found that different equipment is present or there are significant differences in condition, the sampling group must either be redefined, or sampling is prohibited.

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Universal Guidance: Sampling Guidance

Reassessment or Rebaseline Inventory and Assessment:

Requirements for Sampling

Facilities must be located at the same installation.

Facilities must be built in the same year.

Facilities must have the same design.

Facilities must be the same size.

For Rebaseline inventory and assessments the sample size is 10%, but no less than two facilities.

Existing BUILDER data should be reviewed. Differences in inventory, condition, metrics, etc. should be taken into consideration when developing list for proposed sampling groups.

DPW shall review the list prior to sampling to identify any facilities that may have significantly different condition, improvements, mission, etc. and they will be excluded from the sampling.

Methodology for Sampling

The Building Level Comment will indicate those that have been sampled. The standard comment to be used is:

[John Doe-DPW-MM/DD/YYYY]

1) Missing Systems:

2) Renovation Dates:

3) Areas Not Accessible:

4) Drawings Provided:

5) Other: A full assessment was performed on Facilities (building #s). Data obtained from those facilities was used to update BUILDER data with no travel required to this building. Templating methodology applies to a total of (sampling size) facilities of this size and construction.

When sampling, inventory should be consistent across all facilities included in that group

When sampling, the condition ratings should be in alignment with what was observed for the sample set. Condition ratings applied to facilities not physically verified should be an average of the condition found in the sample set.

An exterior photo of each facility included as part of the Sample Set will be taken and uploaded into BUILDER. Photos uploaded will be of the actual facility and NOT a representative photo for other facilities.

If during the sampling it is found that different equipment is present or there are significant differences in condition, the sampling group must either be redefined, or sampling is prohibited

Universal Guidance: Sectioning D10, D20, D30, D40, D50, E10 Equipment Components

Army BuilderTM SMS Inventory and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Sectioning of Equipment Components

The business rules stated below are applicable components that have a 'Group OK? = No' designation.

Sectioning of equipment components is of critical importance to provide a data set that is usable by the installation, is able to have Quality Assurance reviews, and is able to be reassessed. To achieve this goal, it is required that equipment be sectioned by 1) floor, 2) area/room, and 3) have the ID number included.

Case Study: Below is a drawing of a large building that has several electrical rooms. If one section of 125 AMP panels is provided with section name 'N/A', the usability of the data is greatly reduced. If the equipment is sectioned by room (FL1 - RM 109, FL1 - RM 141, FL1 - RM 104, FL1 - RM 153, FL1 - RM 149), follow-on assessments, QA, and the installation can easily identify/reassess components.

If equipment is located in a concealed space (such as VAV's) this sectioning guidance is not applicable. A single section can be added per floor with the estimated quantity provided. There are other exceptions (such as panels under 100A) that are noted within the component breakdown part of the manual.

This sectioning provides the benefit that if a remodel/addition takes place between assessments, it will be apparent what has been added/deleted in a specific room without the assessor having to do a complete walkthrough of the building and the deduce what changed (which is a very difficult, if not impossible, task).

The Section Name should include the equipment ID number. For example, the panel LP1 can have the Section Name: FL1 - RM 109 - LP1.-Sectioning of Equipment Components

The inclusion of the room/area into the section name DOES NOT negate the need to fill in the 'location' field in the Section Details.

All general detail population rules must still be followed.

The use of dashes and underscores is not standardized but should be uniform throughout the

BRED tree so data aligns/sorts cleanly. In the example to the left all future users of data can easily find the components inventoried.

Universal Guidance: Exterior Sectioning A10, A20, B10, B20, B30, C20 Components

Army BuilderTM SMS Inventory and Assessment Guide Version Date: 18 July 2025

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Sectioning of Components on the Exterior of a Building

Business Rules

1) Components of like type, condition, and install date should be inventoried in a single section.

(Ex: B201005, B203001 and B301001 above are all like type, condition, and install date). S/N = 'N/A'

2) Components that require multiple sections should indicate cardinal direction for additional sections.

(Ex: B201001 - Damage present on south face - S/N = 'SOUTH'. All other 3 sides were same condition - S/N = 'N/A'.

3) Components that are only found on a single side of a building should indicate cardinal direction in section name (Ex: B203002 GLAZED DOORS are only found on west face in example above - S/N - 'WEST').

4) Component types in which there are multiple sections present, and the respective section is only found on a single side of a building, should indicate cardinal direction in the section name (Ex: B301005 GUTTERS DOWNSPOUTS - S/N 'NORTH' and…