The Non Domestic Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) market is a mature market and as such performance tends to mirror that of the overall economy. The market therefore exhibited good growth through much of the decade, before declining in 2009 as the UK went through a recession. In 2010, the market for non domestic RMI products was estimated to be worth £2.26 billion. The RMI market has outperformed new build construction with growth continuing through 2008 and a relatively low level decline in 2010 as end users continue to carry out essential works and some low level improvements. The market was further supported by expenditure in the public sector through 2008 and into 2009. However, this positive influence will decline as public sector expenditure is revised down.

Factors influencing the RMI market in recent years include underlying development and investment in end use sectors, a backlog of maintenance needing urgent attention in the public sector and increasing prices of construction materials, adding value to the market. Legislation regarding health and safety and increased energy and resource efficiency has benefited the market in recent years, with upgrading of systems and increased maintenance requirements, although this has slowed somewhat as poor trading conditions are forcing direct replacement rather than improvements where possible.

The supply chain for RMI products is complex and fragmented due to the wide variety of products available and differing methods of delivery. As more RMI work is being outsourced, contractors are becoming an increasingly important channel of distribution for products, with general building contractors, HVAC and M&E contractors and also FM providers of growing importance in the supply chain.

Lighting is the largest single product category within non domestic RMI, with other electrical products, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hardware, tools and ironmongery also significant sectors.

Commercial offices were the largest end users of RMI products in 2010 driven by a need to maintain facilities to a high level in order to project a good image, with education and healthcare also supporting the market with programmes such as the Primary Capital Programme and improvements to GP surgeries and community clinics aiding this.

The maturity of the non domestic RMI products market is likely to limit growth potential, with the market remaining reliant on growth of the economy and expansion of organisations to add value. Levels of new build construction output have a strong impact in the market, with RMI contracts often set up on the uptake of new business premises and increasingly linked to full or bundled FM services. London is leading the recovery in the office market and while vacant space in the capital is now reducing, difficulties in raising finance are constraining the commencement of speculative development. Bearing in mind the long lead times for major office developments, construction output is forecast to improve only in the medium to longer term.

From 2011 the market is expected to return to marginal growth, increasing to average growth levels of 3-5% from 2012, with a resultant market of £2.7 billion forecast for 2015.