Regarding AMA

[Igen]

Hello everyone!

I'm old and went to college when AMA was considered a rule and guarantee.
Now it's not so simple anymore. The concept of hidden defects, construction errors/fraud are such different terms that can be hard to grasp.

To those of you building yourselves:
Do you follow the current AMA, regarding materials, overlap, etc.?

Question to everyone:
What do you think one can demand from a renovation when buying a house, have they done it according to the current AMA, taken photos, and what's the value of that?

Can we trust that all builders operating in Sweden follow the current building regulations so we can avoid hidden defects they've nailed in nicely when selling?

Bonus question:
What significance does AMA have for you?

 

[huggan]

Large parts of the AMA could probably be mandatory for the contractor in a consumer construction contract since it is considered building code.

However, I would probably say that if you hire contracting firms with a maximum of 5 employees, I believe there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the new regulations. AMA costs a fair amount to subscribe to, and I see many examples where people often do as they have always done, and it usually doesn't cause any problems if it is a skilled contractor.

AMA is very important to me and greatly facilitates my work since I am involved in procuring contracts for a real estate company.

 

[Igen]

Large parts of AMA could probably be binding for the contractor in a consumer contract as it is considered a building standard.

However, I would say that if you hire contracting firms with a maximum of 5 employees, I think there is a big knowledge gap regarding the new regulations, AMA costs a fair amount to subscribe to and I see many examples where they often do as they have always done and usually this does not cause any problems if it is a skilled contractor.

AMA is very important to me and makes my job much easier as I, among other things, procure contracts for a property company.

Thank you for your answer, really. I became a bit worried when no one even replies. It's like it's taboo to ask about it. I guess that's how it is.

There are many here asking about hidden defects and many are building themselves, but AMA is not something people want to discuss.

Perhaps a new term real estate agents should add to their questionnaire there, maybe, that renovations are carried out according to AMA. Now they ask for "professionally" executed work, which some incorrectly assume is when they hire a firm and make use of ROT deductions. Who wants to buy a cosmetically "newly renovated" house if all fresh, expensive surfaces are improperly laid so you have to redo everything, costly? Or have problems with hidden defects when you sell?
Not me. I would rather buy unrenovated

 

[Johan456]

AMA=Work and Material Guidelines.

The manufacturer's instructions for how things should be assembled and possibly installed are what apply. I don't see it as if AMA automatically applies, and it cannot be invoked unless it has been agreed upon. When creating inquiry documents and construction documents, AMA is applied for each discipline, e.g., AMA EL. If a code is referenced in the description, it refers to what is stated under that code in AMA, as well as underlying codes according to the Pyramid rule. For example, SCC.8, then SCC.8, SCC, SC, and S apply. However, no other codes apply, and it's not very serious to write in all codes even if it would be possible.

 

[Igen]

AMA=Arbets- och Materialanvisningar.
What applies are the manufacturer's instructions for how things should be assembled and possibly installed. I don't see that AMA automatically applies and it cannot be invoked if it has not been agreed upon. When producing tender documents and construction documents, AMA is applied to the respective discipline, e.g. AMA EL. If a code is invoked in the description, what is stated under that code in the AMA applies, as well as underlying codes according to the Pyramid Rule. For example, SCC.8 means SCC.8, SCC, SC, and S apply. However, no other codes apply and it's not particularly serious to write in all the codes even if it would be possible.

Keep in mind the surface layers, for example, a nice floor. Is the preparation work done, or did the tape run out, the plastic wasn't enough, skimped on or completely skipped the preparations because you don't know it's supposed to be there?
That's more the level I'm asking about.

 

[Johan456]

Just think about the surface layers, like a nice floor. Was the prep work done or did the tape run out, the plastic wasn't enough, they've been stingy or completely skipped the prep work because they don't know it's supposed to be there.
That's more the level I'm asking about.

I actually don't understand what you mean.

 

[C.Lundin]

AMA=Arbets- och Materialanvisningar.
The applicable guidelines are the manufacturer's instructions for how things should be assembled and possibly installed. I don't see it as AMA automatically applies and you can't cite AMA if it hasn't been agreed upon. When preparing tender documentation and construction documents, AMA is applied for the respective discipline, e.g., AMA EL. If a code in the description is cited, what is stated under that code in AMA applies, as well as underlying codes according to the Pyramid rule. For example, SCC.8, then SCC.8, SCC, SC, and S apply. However, no other codes apply and it's not very serious to write in all the codes even if it would be possible.

You probably mean General Material and Work Description.
And yes, the fact is that it automatically applies fairly often. Not on all points, but tolerances and similar can always be referenced to AMA, for example.

 

[Igen]

I actually don't understand what you mean.

That the construction company had "its own standards" when building. Whatever it concerns, but for example laying a floor and ignoring the usual groundwork. Moisture barrier, when needed, foam, etc.
It might last a while, but then it's those who live there and possibly those who sold it, who have the problem.

I actually found a thread here where they had issues, but I haven't had time to read it yet.

https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/ojaemna-golv-och-lutande-vaeggar.136707/

It is locked, but it's about newly built turnkey homes where the buyers didn't realize that settling would occur, that the slab might not be dry, etc.
I'm only on the first page so far.

 

[Johan456]

You're probably referring to General Material and Work Description.
And yes, the fact is that it applies quite often automatically. Not on all points, but tolerances and similar can always be referred to AMA, for example.

There you go, I've learned incorrectly.
I just find it hard to see that it would hold legally. If so, it's because AMA coincides with standards and manufacturer instructions.

 

[Johan456]

That the construction company had "own standards" when building. Whatever it concerns, but for example laying a floor and ignoring normal preparation. Moisture barrier, when needed, foam etc. It may last for a while, but then it's those living there and possibly those who sold it, who will have problems.

I actually found a thread here where someone had issues, but I haven't had time to read it yet.

[link]

But then they have failed in the manufacturer's instructions. The manufacturer sets many requirements on the flatness of the subfloor etc.

 

[Igen]

You probably mean General material and work description.
And yeah, the fact is that it applies quite often automatically. Not in all aspects, but tolerances and the like can always be referred to AMA, for example.

Oki, thanks!

 

[Johan456]

I must add that I work with AMA on the electrical side. However, I know very little about AMA on the construction side. C.Lundin is probably right, but I don’t understand how it would hold legally.

 

[Igen]

But then you've failed to follow the manufacturer's instructions. The manufacturer imposes many requirements on the uniformity of the subfloor, etc.

Yes, that's the crux of the matter. Builders and homeowners do some sprucing up, but the stylish finishes you pay so much extra for when buying are just temporary cosmetics that raise the price during bidding. Then you still have to redo them. Pretty sparse with answers here, so it's probably not a fun question.

 

[Igen]

I must add that I work with AMA on the electrical side. However, I know very little about AMA on the construction side. C.Lundin is probably right, but I don't understand how it would hold legally.

I suspected you work with electricity
Sure. If preparatory work is missing or is of the wrong type, it shows, unless they've torn it down wildly and removed the material. But that probably happens too.

 

[huggan]

This applies legally in most cases but only in consumer construction contracts, i.e., the customer is a private individual.

This is regulated in the Consumer Services Act (1985:716):

"Section 4 The trader shall perform the service professionally. Furthermore, he shall take due care to safeguard the consumer's interests and consult with the consumer to the extent necessary and possible.

Unless otherwise agreed, it is part of the service that the trader shall provide the necessary material."

Then there is the term "professionally" which is open to interpretation in this context. Here, it refers to a general concept and what is generally considered standard practice in the industry. AMA has a very strong position in the industry and will generally be accepted as a reference for what is professionally executed. The manufacturer's instructions for materials are also considered to be professionally executed since the product manufacturer specifies how it should be installed/used.