BSI defines facilities management as: “The integration of processes within an organization to maintain and develop the agreed services which support and improve the effectiveness of its primary activities”.

Facilities management helps to ensure the functionality, comfort, safety, and efficiency of buildings and grounds, infrastructure, and real estate.

Within the context of the built environment, it is performed in a strategic and systematic manner. It satisfies day-to-day delivery operative objectives so that the environment remains safe and efficient.

Download our facilities management infographic here to discover everything you need to know about how our standards can support your facilities management activities.

How do Facilities Managers Benefit Businesses?

Facilities managers contribute to the organization’s bottom line through their responsibility for maintaining what is often a business’s largest and most valuable assets, such as property, buildings, equipment, and other environments that house personnel, productivity, inventory, and other elements of the operation. Here are some of the ways that facilities managers contribute to a business’s strategy and bottom line:

• Impacting operational efficiencies

• Supporting productivity of facilities and personnel

• Managing risks to facilities and personnel

• Mitigating environmental impact

• Promoting sustainable tactics for long-term cost management

• Leveraging technological solutions

• Reducing or overcoming effects of natural disasters

• Guaranteeing compliance

• Leveraging security

BIM and the Future of Facilities Management Standards

Buildings are getting smarter and so are the technologies and processes used to govern them.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a topic that should be high on the agenda of many facilities managers but is often misunderstood and therefore not utilized to its full extent. Some feel the process of implementing BIM is too big a job, or that it involves knowledge of CAD software and 3D modeling to make use of the information – both of which are untrue. 

BIM is now a mandatory requirement on UK public sector projects (with all project and asset information, documentation, and information in electronic format) and it’s now gaining momentum across the world, so the sooner facilities managers can engage with BIM, the better.

The benefits of BIM for facilities management include:

• Cost savings at both delivery and operational stages: BIM can help businesses strip waste from their processes, as they can test processes against their asset information. This also provides cost certainty

• Improved efficiency and faster project delivery: As all parties work together collaboratively, mistakes, discrepancies, and duplicate work is avoided

• Improved client satisfaction: The client receives an asset that matches their expectations and needs

• Reduced safety risk: Information structured through BIM can be used to optimize assets for public safety

• Greater project predictability and early modification: Projects can be visualized at an early stage, giving owners and operators a clear idea of design intent and allowing them to modify work with the project team to achieve the outcomes they want

To read more on the topic of Building Information Modelling (BIM), click here.

Key Facilities Management Standards and their Benefits

The key facilities management standards businesses can implement include:

BS EN ISO 41001 Facility management. Management systems. Requirements with guidance for use

BS EN ISO 41001 is the most important facilities management standard produced to date. It specifies what’s needed to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain, and provide a documented integrated facilities management system within the context of managing an organization’s operational activities and risks.

Benefits: It defines and clarifies, globally, what facilities management is so that companies tendering for facilities management services and those providing the services will all have the same understanding. It will also help any organization demonstrate that it has a robust process for designing, managing, and improving an integrated facilities management system.

BS EN ISO 41001 and over 100,000 more internationally recognized standards are available for simple and flexible access with a BSI Knowledge subscription. Our tailored subscription service puts the control in your hands, with traceability to monitor and demonstrate your business's access to standards. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM48 Construction in General module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your facilities management strategy. Request to learn more.

BS 8572 Procurement of facility-related services. Code of practice

BS 8572 covers how to procure facility-related services (such as cleaning or waste management) in the most efficient way. It applies to new and existing facilities and especially to commercial and industrial property.

Benefits: More accurate definition of services to be procured, leading to more efficient use of resources, a consistent way of working, a roadmap for successful procurement, confidence that services are defined in accordance with needs.

BS 8892 Transition management of facility-related services. Code of Practice

BS 8892 gives recommendations on processes and procedures by which facility owners, operators, and tenants can manage the transition from one facility-related service arrangement to another.

Benefits: Users can be assured that it embodies good practices in all areas and is supported by explanations and key examples. A master schedule for managing a major transition is included, along with a detailed checklist of actions that can be used through the transition process to ensure that relevant issues are adequately addressed.

BS 8536-1 Briefing for design and construction. Code of practice for facilities management (Buildings infrastructure)

BS 8536-1 gives recommendations for facility management briefing to ensure that design takes account of the expected performance of the facility in use.

Benefits: Gives guidance on how to extend the supply chain involvement through to operations and defined periods of aftercare.

BS 8544 Guide for life cycle costing of maintenance during the in-use phases of buildings

BS 8544 gives guidance and recommendations on undertaking LCC of maintenance during the in-use stages of facilities or assets. It covers buildings, systems, assemblies, components, tasks/actions, resources, and materials. It also gives guidance and recommendations on the planning and prioritization, budget-setting, optimization, implementation, and monitoring of life cycle programs of maintenance and/or renewal works.

Benefits: The guidance includes asset surveys and employer’s maintenance management aspects of operation (as defined in BS ISO 15686-5) that are needed to plan and manage maintenance delivery including life cycle works.

BS 8210 Guide to facilities maintenance management

BS 8210 outlines a process approach to maintenance management at the strategic and tactical levels, with links to operational activities.

Benefits: Helps businesses and individuals to formulate strategies and policies for maintenance management.

Add all the key facilities management standards to your collection today.