The Facilities Management Group provides the opportunity for CIBSE members and the building services industry in general to make a substantial contribution to the continuous improvement of building services, design, installation, commissioning and throughout operational life, by effective Facilities Management (FM).
The FM Group's expertise specifically relates to engineering, Systems and the dynamics of components of buildings which result in the Building’s Operational Performance in reality. With continual change the norm, and the pursuit of Continual Improvement, strong leadership is required in addition to good building services engineering practice. Factored with occupants' demand and the need to comply with legislation and safety, then Building Operational Risk Management is an essential element of expertise for Engineering FMs.
The Opportunity of Facilities Management (FM)
The need for management and optimisation of defined activities and resources in support of the overall corporate objectives drives the Group’s mantra ‘To promote the application of effective Building Services Engineering to the continuing improvement of FM’. Organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of building services expertise to successful Facilities Management. The Group has also identified the following issues as being of major importance in the field of FM:
- Obtaining and interpreting feedback from occupants in order to improve occupant satisfaction, efficiency and productivity via Building performance.
- Engineering Service Risk management of buildings in the Design Stages, not just operational life.
- Engagement with other industry/sector organisations to promote and improve buildings services expertise, particularly in FM sector.
- Education and training needs for those who wish to follow a career in FM with particular emphasis on those with a building services background.
Above all, the group is well placed to link with all other CIBSE groups and industry with regard to operational service risks associated with building services. As well as a programme of events, publications and industry engagement, the group passionately believes in raising the FM profile and has achieved results of good cross-team working with other Groups, Regions, BIFM and BCIA (through MOUs) and providing valued input into guidance documentation.