Facility Management

The International Facility Management Association defines facility management as a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process, and technology.

The skills of a facility manager can be broken down into two sections, the hard skills – tasks performed through physical or technological means – and the soft skills – tasks performed through mental intuitiveness.

Hard Skills - Electrical wiring and power distribution - Carpentry - Plumbing and water-works - Operation and maintenance of HVAC - Spatial Planning - Civil and structural engineering principals

Soft Skills - Customer Relations - Contractor coordination and support - Team-building - Technical Judgment - Time Management - Business Continuity - Financial Awareness

Facility management is an interdisciplinary field devoted to the co-ordination of business support services, often associated with maintenance functions in buildings such as offices, arenas, schools, convention centers, shopping complexes, hospitals, hotels, etc. However, FM supports the business on a much wider range of activities than just maintenance and these are referred to as non core functions.

The scope of FM 'Space & Infrastructure' - planning, design, workplace, construction, lease, occupancy, maintenance, furniture, cleaning, etc. and 'People & Organisation‘ - catering, ICT, HRM, HS&S, accounting, marketing, hospitality, etc.

Facility management is performed during the operational phase of a facility or building’s life cycle, which normally extends over many decades. This is accomplished by managing some of the following activities

Health and safety Occupational safety and health, including compliance with local, state, and national laws and agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Industrial hygiene, including indoor air quality Display Screen Regulations Safety Rules for Contractors Permit to Work System Risk Assessments Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Fire safety Fire protection and safety Smoke/heat detectors Fire alarm systems Sprinkler systems Fire extinguishers wet risers Fire stopping Fire Doors Fire Risk Assessments Facility management activities

Security Access control Security guarding Intruder alert CCTV[10] Facility management activities

Maintenance systems Heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration preventive and predictive maintenance Corrective maintenance/Reactive repairs Building automation systems Building fabric and decorative Grounds maintenance and horticulture Computerized maintenance management system Facility management activities

Periodic statutory testing and inspections Lifting equipment Work equipment Legionella Pressure systems Asbestos Mansafe systems (window cleaning, roof access, etc.) Electrical portable appliances and fixed wiring Lightning conductors Emergency lighting Fire protection systems Compliance audits Facility management activities

Operational Help desk Asset management Disabled Access Cleaning Waste management Environmental Issues Reception Meeting room management Mail Room Photocopying Vending Office space planning, layout, and furniture placement Car Parking Specifying, tendering and contracts' negotiation Pest control Daily inspection of escape routes and fire exits Facility management activities

Commercial property management Lease Negotiations Business continuity planning Disaster recovery Emergency procedures Facility management activities

IFMA Classification of FM Roles and Responsibilities Maintenance Operations Furniture maintenance Finishes maintenance Preventive maintenance Breakdown maintenance Exterior maintenance Custodial/housekeeping Landscape maintenance

Architectural/Engineering Services Code compliance Construction management Building systems Architectural design

Real Estate Landscape maintenance Building leases Site selection Acquisition/disposal Building purchases Property appraisals Subleasing

Administrative Services Corporate artwork Mail services Shipping/receiving Records retention Security Telecommunications Copy services

Facility Planning Operational plans Emergency plans Strategic plans Energy planning

Space Management Space inventory Space policies Space allocation Forecasting needs Furniture purchase Furniture specifications Furniture inventory Interior plans Furniture moves Major redesign Trash/solid waste Hazardous materials

Financial Planning Operational budgets Capital budgets Major financing Health and Safety Ergonomics Energy management Indoor air quality Recycling program Emissions

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