Facilities managers are excluded from building specifications, according to a recent survey on building design.
The specifications are written collaboratively by surveyors, architects and project managers, although the study suggests “FMs should become part of the briefing loop.”
“FMs should be custodians of information on building facilities systems,” said the Construction Research Innovation Strategy Panel (CRISP) which commissioned Geoffrey Reid Associates to carry out the research.
The survey also showed that over-complicated building management and maintenance systems were not fully used, that the frequency of building inspections diminishes with building age, and the levels of occupant satisfaction with a building facility decrease over time.
CRISP suggests clients should invest in further research i.e. occupancy feedback, building life standards and design responsibility and that there should be a focus on simpler building management and maintenance systems.
As part of the research, workshops discussed how to refine feedback from the initial stage. Participating FMs suggested that a “keeper of information” on building facilities systems was necessary. They also believed that using anonymous information to help the brief making process would be an ideal way forward.
—Jessica Jarlvi
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2001 i-FM
