1.1 What is Facilities Management?
Facilities management (FM) involves the maintenance and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructure to ensure the comfort, safety, security, and efficiency of the place, processes and people working on the property.
Physical infrastructure that requires management and maintenance are known as hard services. These include equipment; building systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); utilities, such as lighting; and physical structures, such as windows and roofs.
Facilities management also includes non-physical elements, known as soft services. Soft services focus on creating a productive, safe, and comfortable environment for the staff. These services include security, custodial, catering, and waste management.
Image Description
A circle with Facilities Management written in the middle. Hard Services is in the top semi-circle, and Soft Services is in the bottom semi-circle.
Hard Services: Facility maintenance, HVAC, Fire safety systems, Electrical, Occupancy (leasing, relocation, purchasing), Lighting, Construction & Renovation, Plumbing, Grounds & pest control.
Soft Services: Staffing & space planning, Energy management, Information technology, Custodial & waste management, EHS compliance, Administrative services, Public safety & security.
The following table outlines various facilities management (FM) services and provides examples of tasks associated with each category. It emphasizes the diverse responsibilities of maintaining a functional, safe, and efficient environment.
| FM Service | Example of Service Task |
|---|---|
| Property Services | Building Maintenance, Repairs to Infrastructure or Preventative Maintenance Activities |
| Security Services | Security Guards, Closed-Circuit Television CCTV, Fire Protection Systems, Locked Entrance or Code Systems for Entrance |
| Health and Safety | Joint Health and Safety Committee, Ergonomic Equipment, Safety Policy and Protocols for Equipment Use such as Lock Out/Tag Out |
| Cleaning/Housekeeping | Routine Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, and Special Cleaning, such as Hood Vents |
| Contract Service Management | Plumbers, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Electricians, Waste Management, Hood Cleaning, Grease Trap Cleaning |
| Strategic Planning | Participating in the Process that determines Objectives (tasks) to be completed with a specific timeline in the future (usually a five-year plan) |
Watch: This is FM
Video: “This is FM” by International Facility Management Association (IFMA) [1:51] is licensed under the Standard YouTube License. Transcript and closed captions available on YouTube.
Watch “This is FM” by International Facility Management Association (IFMA) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUALysiJ49U
