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Home User Guides

Home User Guides

TECHNICAL NOTE: Home User Guides

Home User Guides (HUGs) and Apartment User Guides (AUGs) are occupant focused operational documents designed to support the safe, efficient use of building services and installed equipment within residential dwellings.

  • RELEVANT Projects
The Oneoneroa townhouse development in Auckland, New Zealand.

Oneoneroa Townhouses

View Case Study
The 82 Mount Street luxury apartment building in Mayfair, central London.

82 Mount Street

View Case Study
The Bagshot Manor residential apartments and townhouses development in London.

Bagshot Manor Apartments and Townhouses

View Case Study

Patterson Mews

View Case Study

Home User Guides: Technical Overview

Dewick & Associates’ in-house Chartered Registered Engineers convert detailed technical information from Operation & Maintenance Manuals (O&M Manuals) and Building Handover Manuals into clear, user-friendly instructions for non-technical occupants, improving accessibility and usability.

These documents help residents understand how to operate key systems within their home or apartment, maintain comfort, safety, and energy efficiency, and reduce the risk of incorrect use that could lead to system damage, reduced performance, or increased energy consumption.

Content

HUGs / AUGs are structured to deliver essential operational information in a clear, intuitive, and occupant-focused format, enabling key building systems and features to be easily understood and used in practice.

Content is carefully organised and supported with visual aids, simplified diagrams, and step-by-step instructional flow, improving clarity, usability, and confidence in day-to-day operation while reducing the risk of incorrect system use.

Dewick & Associates consider the following content as a minimum standard requirement:

  • Description of the dwelling and development (if applicable)
  • Key emergency contacts and service provider information
  • Overview of Building Facilities (specific to apartment buildings)
  • Details on the building services installed, how to operate them and what to do if you have a fault or problem;
  • Waste management and recycling arrangements
  • Guidance on maintaining good indoor environmental quality, including ventilation and condensation control
  • Maintenance responsibilities
  • Basic maintenance and care guidance
  • Snagging and Settlement: space available for occupiers records;
  • Certification specific to the home or apartment;
  • Drawings – layout plans of the space.

Regulatory Requirements

Home and Apartment User Guides are prepared in alignment with:

  • Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
  • Building Regulations 2010 (as amended)
  • National Construction Code (NCC)
  • New Zealand Building Code
  • National Building Code of Canada
  • Project-specific Employer’s Requirements and developer standards
  • Fire safety and occupant safety obligations (where applicable)

This ensures information provided to occupants is accurate, accessible, and supports safe building operation.

Format

Dewick & Associates deliver professionally prepared Home User Guides (HUG) and Apartment User Guides (AUG) in flexible formats to suit your project and client requirements. Each solution is designed to ensure compliance, accessibility, and efficient long-term asset management.

We provide Home User Guides (HUG) and Apartment User Guides (AUG) in the following formats:

  • Hard copy folder sets for traditional handover requirements
  • Fully structured digital O&M manuals
  • PDF delivery via email
  • nucleus online cloud-based O&M manual platform (in-house delivery solution)
  • Technical authoring or upload to third party Common Data Environment (CDE) / portals

Related Construction Documentation Services & Capability

Dewick & Associates provide a wide range of complementary construction documentation, technical writing, compliance, and digital information management solutions designed to support every stage of you project lifecycle. Supported by experienced technical writers, engineers, and industry specialists, our coordinated approach ensures accurate, professionally managed project information that improves compliance, streamlines handover, supports operational efficiency, and delivers long-term value for building owners, contractors, consultants, and facility managers.

BHM

Content: Architectural and Structural 

nucleus, Digital Handover Platform 

Collation of certificates and content

Format: Digital, D&A Standard, PDF

Learn more about BHM

H&S File

CDM 2015 Compliant
Collation of certificates and content 

Authoring of document by Chartered Engineers
Format: Structured digital file

Learn more about H&S Files

Regulation 38 Files

Speficic to high risk multi-occupied residential buildings
Forms part of “The Golden Thread”
CDM 2015 Compliant

Learn more about Regulation 38

Building User Guide

Content: Details the building facilities and amenities

Format: Digital, online, D&A standard

Technical authoring by Chartered Engineers

Learn more about BUG

Green Building

Contractor support for BREEAM  / Green Star / LEED submissions
Evidence Reports
Drawings Mark Ups

Learn more about Green Building